A POPULAR judge has died at the age of 64 from cancer, suspected as being asbestos-related, contracted during his earlier career in the Royal Navy.

Judge Jonathan Langdon, who was honorary Recorder of Canterbury, lived at Conyer Quay, Teynham, near Faversham. He had been a circuit judge at Canterbury Crown Court.

His sister, Julia Langdon, said her brother was a popular family man who loved the law and was a practical joker all his life.

She said: “He loved being a judge and he loved the law. He loved argument and philosophical puzzles and he passionately believed in justice, fair play, fair and equal treatment for all.

“He hated discrimination against anyone on any grounds and despised prejudice.”

She said the family was upset that Judge Langdon died from a disease caused by working with asbestos on ships during his naval career. “We are very angry that mesothelioma is not widely recognised, especially by the Ministry of Defence,” she stressed.

Judge Langdon died at the weekend, just over a year after he was diagnosed with the untreatable cancer which can lie dormant for as long as 40 years.

He trained as a barrister in the Royal Navy where he served for more than 30 years retiring voluntarily as a captain.

Tributes were paid to him at Canterbury Crown Court. Judge Timothy Nash said Judge Langdon was universally liked.

He was a “great judge who contributed to the system of justice in these courts in his own inimitable way which will not be easily forgotten.”

Tributes were also paid by Oliver Saxby on behalf of the Kent Bar Mess and Recorder and Canterbury solicitor Peter Morgan.

In a tribute at Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Keith Simpson said Judge Langdon was always his own man, “bringing with him a fresh and, dare I say it, breezy approach.”

Fiona Moore-Graham, representing the Bar, said Judge Langdon was a very kind man and fair man. “He was very encouraging to the young Bar especially, she added.

“He never took advantage of any position where it could have been suggested that he had browbeaten anyone at all. Far from it. He was courteous and kind, sometimes to a fault.”

Judge Langdon leaves a widow, Hilary, three children and nine grandchildren. The funeral will take place on Monday at 11.30am at Teynham church. Courts will not sit that morning so judges and lawyers can attend.