One of Kent's best loved judge's, who each day told juries she was "modern and up-to-date" when it came to social media, kept her word this afternoon by saying farewell by Skype.

Judge Adele Williams - who sat at both Canterbury. Maidstone Crown Courts as well as the Court of Appeal - has retired after 20 years on the bench.

But because of of Coved restrictions her final day sitting as judge meant court six wasn't packed with her judicial colleagues, senior barristers and court staff.

Instead, the judge was joined by 163 people on a Skype call all wanting to wish her well.

The set up was a fitting end to her career, who after warning members of the jury not to check social media and listing off a few would quip: "I am only listing those to show you what a modern and up-to-date judge I am," which always made nervous jury members smile.

Maidstone's senior Judge David Griffith-Jones QC told the gathering: "This is a sad but momentous day - an end of an area!"

He told the gathering how the proud Welsh woman was called to the Bar in 1972 and began practising as a barrister in Kent and was made a judge in 2000.

Six years later she was made a Recorder of Kent and served as resident judge in Canterbury one half of a "dream team" as her husband Andrew was resident judge in Maidstone during the same period.

Judge Griffith-Jones praised her as the court's "Queen Bee", "magnificent team player" and a "legend in her lunchtime" and revealed that husband and wife now plan to write their joint memoirs.

He added: "They may be the new Richard and Judy."

Judge Williams was described by another colleague, Judge St John Stevens, as "irrepressible and irreplaceable" and Judge Philip Statman said she had been a "dear friend".

Canterbury's Resident Judge Simon James - toasted her with as glass of Champagne, recalling the advice he was given on his arrival to take his his new appointment - to buy two bottles of Champagne on his birthday, on anniversaries and when his racehorse wins.

"This is a sad but momentous day - an end of an area..."

Kent Bar Mess' senior barrister Don Ramble read from Kent Messenger's senior court reporter Paul Hooper's report about how she once threatened to jail a prosecution expert who refused to obey one of her orders.

Mother-of-two Judge Williams' son David Patience, also a barrister, also paid tribute for her long and successful career and Maidstone's Court Manager Roy Phipps told how he had worked with her honour since 1992.

He added that the only people who were pleased to see her retiring were "Kent's criminal fraternity".

Mr Phipps said she was so efficient in dealing with cases she was nicknamed "Billy the Whizz" by staff.

Judge Williams told the court: "I am nearly lost for words...almost. But I would like to thank all of the staff at Canterbury and Maidstone who have supported me through thick and thin."

She also praised her husband who she described as her "rock" as she recalled: "I never thought I would sentence a defendant from ,my kitchen over Skype!"

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