Arbroath Sheriff Court’s most prominent figure, Sheriff Norrie Stein, has stepped down after almost 20 years.
Since being installed as the town’s sitting sheriff in September 1991, Sheriff Stein has become renowned not just for his legal position but also for his active involvement with the wider Arbroath community.
Born in Glasgow, he was educated at Glenalmond School in Perthshire and Durham and Edinburgh Universities before being appointed as a temporary sheriff in 1988.
Upon his arrival in Arbroath, he became involved with the Oasis drop-in centre which aimed to prevent young people becoming involved with drugs. This formed part of the inspiration for the Community Alcohol Free Environment (CAFE) project, which Sheriff Stein was instrumental in establishing in 1996.
After almost 15 successful years, the centre at the site of the former Arbroath FC Supporters Club in the town’s Brothock Bridge continues to provide alternative entertainment for the youth of the town.
As well as winning numerous awards, it has been hailed by many past and present participants as having been key to helping them avoid the problems associated with alcohol abuse, and now also provides services for adults with learning difficulties.
Although he now plans to spend his time between his homes in Perthshire and Edinburgh, Sheriff Stein said that his retirement came with “mixed emotions” and that he hoped to return to the town as often as possible.
“I love Arbroath and its people and I will miss them greatly. I have come to admire them and their resilience I imagine I will be a fairly frequent visitor.
“The staff are wonderful here, too, and I am really going to miss everybody.”
Sheriff Stein now plans to spend time pursuing his many hobbies, including reading and classical piano. He and his wife Linda, to whom he has been married for 31 years, are also planning trips to visit their only son Richard who has emigrated to the Cayman Islands.See Wednesday’s Courier for a special feature on Sheriff Stein’s time in Arbroath.