John Kenneth Ernest Slack first came to public attention as a cricketer for Cambrige University in 1954, when he achieved the rare distinction of scoring a century on his first-class debut - 135 against Middlesex, the county of his birth. He was born in Marylebone in December 1930.

In 1967, he was appointed captain of Bucks and led them from three years. In 1969, his tactical acumen helped Bucks win the Minor Counties Championship, on which point he stepped down.

A right-handed batsman, he played his club cricket for UCS Old Boys and latterly Beaconsfield, until the mid-1970s and served on the Beaconsfield CC conmmittee for a number of years.

A talented sportsman, he also played rugby for Middlesex and at the time of his death was a member of Beaconsfield Golf Club.

A solicitor by profession, he took advantage of a change in the law to become a Judge, one of the first do so. He sat for more than 20 years in Aylesbury Crown Court.

A funeral service for Judge Slack, who lived in Cuddington, Bucks, will be held at Chilterns Crematorium, Amersham on Tuesday May 22nd, at 2.30pm.