A 'working class lad' from a mining community in Wrexham who went on to become a Circuit Court Judge has died at the age of 83.

His Honour Geoffrey Kilfoil died at Chirk Community Hospital on Boxing Day, 2022.

Mr Kilfoil was originally from Acrefair and had first studied Law at the Jesus College in Oxford.

But much to the disbelief of his fellow workers, after earning his Law degree, he decided to return home to work in the Hafod Colliery in Rhos.

But, as expected, a career in Law soon followed and that officially began when he qualified as a barrister in the 1960's. 

READ MORE: Wrexham man secures dream job thanks to support and funding from Welsh Government

Mr Kilfoil went on to work at Kings Chambers and was also a pupil of Sir Robin David - one of Chester and North Wales' most well-respected senior judges who sadly died in 2018.

He became a fully qualified barrister in 1966 and went on to serve solicitors in north Wales.

He then qualified as a Recorder for the courts in 1980 and later a circuit judge in 1987, before retiring in 2004.

His Honour Judge Niclas Parry had known Mr Kilfoil since the 1980's.

Speaking to the Leader, he said: "Mr Kilfoil's life was the remarkable story of a working class lad who just wanted to achieve the very finest of things in life.

"Being in his courtroom could be an ordeal - and that was just for the lawyers. But, he was hard because he had high standards.

"He felt that some criminals - the decent working class men who were poor - were betraying their own backgrounds by committing crimes.

"He expected everyone to be as decent as the communities that supported him when he was growing up."

Outside of his working life, Mr Kilfoil was a keen Wrexham AFC fan and being a part of the Rhos Male Voice Choir had also been a huge passion of his.

He was also a teacher at the Wrexham Tech College, as well as a director of the Stiwt Arts Trust and was selected as a candidate for political office in Ludlow at the time he qualified as a barrister - but eventually chose the latter as a career path.

He married wife Llinos - who was also a teacher during her career - and they had two children together; Bethan and Niall.

Mr Kilfoil also leaves behind his four grandchildren; Mari, Denis, Rudi and Sidney.

His funeral will be held at the St John the Baptist Church in Pontfadog at 12.30pm on Friday, January 27.