Magistrates' Association honorary officers

• John Fassenfelt, Chairman
• Malcolm Richardson, Deputy Chairman
• Richard Monkhouse, Deputy Chairman
• Mike Dodden, Honorary Treasurer

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John Fassenfelt
Chairman

National experience

Member of Council since 1995; Kent Branch Chairman 2001-2003; member of the Communications Committee 1999-2001; Chairman Communications Committee 2001; member of the Youth Courts Committee 2002- 2007; Deputy Chairman of the Youth Courts Committee 2002-2004; Chairman Youth Courts Committee 2005-2007; member of the Magistrates’ Association Board of Trustees since 2008. Deputy Chairman MA from November 2008.

Magisterial experience

Appointed to the Faversham and Sittingbourne Bench in 1992; Chairman in Adult and Youth Courts; Youth Court Panel Chairman 2001-2004; Deputy Chairman of the Bench 2002-2004; Committee work - Kent MCC, Bench Training and Development Committee.

Background

Qualified as a chartered statistician then become a member of the Institute of Personnel and Development; spent his career in local government prior to retiring.

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Malcolm Richardson
Deputy Chairman

National experience

Joined Council first in 1994 after joining his branch executive committee in 1992. He has served on Council continuously since 1998, joining the Family Proceedings Committee in 2001 and being its chairman from 2002-2005. He served on the Board of Trustees from 2005-2008, resigned for business reasons but rejoined in 2009 when he was also appointed to the Sentencing Policy and Practice Committee. He was Chairman of the Family Courts Committee from 2010 – 2011 and was elected Deputy Chairman in 2010.

Magisterial experience

Appointed to the North Avon bench in 1989, joined the family panel in 1991. Family Panel Chairman 1996-2002; Bench Deputy Chairman 2001-2003; Bench Chairman 2004-2006; Avon and Somerset Justices’ Issues Group Chairman 2006. Bench Training and Development Committee member 2001-2003, previously a mentor, subsequently an appraiser. Magistrate member of the national Family Justice Council 2004-2007 and the Local Family Justice Council 2005-2007. Chairman of the Avon and Somerset MCC and Police Selection Panel 1997-2002.

Other experience

Working in a global organisation and then in his own small business with clients ranging widely in size, geography and business sectors, together with his MA activities, Malcolm has collected valuable insights into marketing, sales and organisational models which he has used for the benefit of a range of charities (as well as for his clients!).

Background

After taking a degree in mathematics, Malcolm had an international career with IBM in IT consultancy and sales. He now runs his own consulting practice focused on sales and marketing processes and competences. He and his wife, Judith, have just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary: they have one son.

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Richard Monkhouse
Deputy Chairman

National experience

Richard was elected to Council in November 2007 and immediately became a member of Judicial Policy and Practice Committee. He was elected as Chairman of its replacement, the Judicial Policy Committee from 2011. Elected to Board of Trustees in 2008 Richard was re-elected in 2011. He was elected Deputy Chairman with effect from November 2011, with the specific portfolios of Membership and the MA’s Community Engagement programmes (MIC and LCCS). Richard has represented the MA on a number of Home Office and Ministry of Justice working parties.

Magisterial experience

Appointed to Trafford Bench, Greater Manchester 1997 Richard chairs adult courts and has recently resigned from the Youth Panel where he was a chairman, to enable younger, newer magistrates to develop. He was selected onto Greater Manchester Magistrates Court Committee from 2003 until its demise in 2005; elected Bench Deputy Chairman 2004 and Bench Chairman from 2005 – 2007, Richard chaired BCF and JIG in 2006 and 2007; he was the NBCF representative for North West 2006/7. Always involved with local MA activities, he was MA Bench Rep 2003 – 2006 and Branch Secretary from 2007 - 2011; Richard has represented the magistracy on many local bodies, such as the Sentencers Liaison Group and continues to be heavily involved in community engagement work, having been Bench MIC Adult Co-ordinator since 2006 and a regular speaker at schools, colleges and a wide cross section of the community. He was an inaugural member of the Greater Manchester LCCS Steering Group and was closely involved with the You Be The Judge series of events in Greater Manchester. Richard has represented the MA in the media, both on radio and TV, nationally and locally. He set up and managed Bench, Branch and local MIC websites.

Background and other experience

Born in Cumbria and initially educated in Carlisle, Richard read Mathematics and Statistics and later Business Management at university. He joined Unilever as a post-graduate entrant in their export trading division. He left 15 years later to manage a start-up company developing and marketing statistical manufacturing solutions and appointed and supported distributors in industrial markets around the world. He left in 1995 to concentrate on providing training and advice in same market and still operates on a part time self employed basis.

Richard is married to Jayne, a diversity professional specialising in Police and Fire Service matters.

He is a keen but now sedentary sports enthusiast supporting and attending his local football club, Manchester United, Super League club Wigan Warriors, and current cricket champions (at last) Lancashire, at the other Old Trafford.

Richard is a music lover with wide taste in musical genres from choral and opera to contemporary. The Guardian crossword occupies any spare time he has left.

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Mike Dodden
Honorary Treasurer

National  experience

Appointed Treasurer of the Association and Trustee in May 2007. Member of the Focus Group for the Sentencing Guidelines Council in 2005. Founder Regional Representative for the South West on the National Bench Chairman’s Forum when established in 2004. 

Magisterial experience

Appointed to Sedgemoor Bench in 1989, he served on the youth panel, probation forum, and was vice chair of the Somerset Magistrates’ Courts Committee before joining the Avon & Somerset MCC on amalgamation. He remained on this committee, serving as vice chair of the Finance Sub Committee until being appointed Bench Chair in 2002. In 2004 he chaired the Avon & Somerset Bench Chair and Justices’ Clerks’ Forum. Mike has a special interest in the Domestic Violence Courts, Sedgemoor having run one since 2005. He has served on the Domestic Abuse Court Steering and Operations Groups. He is a member of his Bench BTDC.

Other experience

Mike qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1977, established an accountancy practice in Bridgwater in 1979 and now has two partners and nine staff. He and his wife have recently retired from a general insurance brokerage and independent financial advisor business which they set up in 1994. He is a past president of the Bridgwater Club Lions Clubs International, and served as zone Chairman for that organisation in 1984. He has been Governor of Enmore Church of England Primary School for over twelve years, serving as Chair for the past six years.

Background

Mike was educated at Dr. Morgan’s Grammar School in Bridgwater and is active in organising an Annual reunion Dinner. He married Kim in 1979, they have two children and in his spare time Mike is Chairman of the local operatic society, and is an avid supporter of Somerset and England Cricket. He has a keen interest in the musical theatre and enjoys foreign travel.

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