TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the region's former soldiers and top legal minds.

Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Cohen, of Stockton, Teesside, died on Tuesday, aged 92.

Lt Col Cohen, who was born on January 13, 1908, and educated in the town and at Chilton College, was a Freeman of Stockton borough.

He became a solicitor and then joined the Territorial Army in 1926.

He was called up in August 1939, and served from 1945 to 1949 as the senior legal officer in Corinthia, Austria.

From 1949 to 1958, Lieutenant Colonel Cohen was president of the sessions courts in Malaya, and in 1954 he was called to the Bar. The Sultan of Johore awarded him the Diamond Jubilee Medal, and in 1956 he was awarded the Colonial Police Medal for meritorious service.

He worked in Cyprus for the next three years, and on his return to Stockton took an active role in the community.

From 1966 to 1978 he was a justice of the peace for Cleveland, and for two years served as a member of the social service committee on Cleveland County Council.

The leader of Stockton Borough Council, Councillor Bob Gibson, said: "He was involved in many community activities in the borough and he will be sadly missed by us all."

He was also heavily involved in the Royal British Legion and was awarded the Legion's gold badge.

Lt Col Cohen was also president of Stockton's Physically Handicapped Club and Stockton and Thornaby's St John Ambulance brigade. He was awarded the OBE in 1990.

The Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Peter Andrew, said: "He was an officer and a gentleman, a very fair and gentle man of the old school."