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Leicestershire

County News

2009/2010
On 12th September 2009 we hosted a dinner at Lubenham Lodge for High Sheriffs of the East Midlands, past High Sheriffs of Leicestershire, and Leicestershire High Sheriffs In Nomination. Some six months into the job I thought that it would be valuable to exchange views with other serving High Sheriffs in the region with whom I had spent a little, but not enough, time. In addition, I had received many questions – and much support – from previous High Sheriffs of Leicestershire who were interested to hear how the year was going and were curious as to how the Office had evolved in recent years.

Three guest speakers attended: Paddy Dent, Chairman of the High Sheriffs Association, Steven Whitaker, the Queen’s Remembrancer and Edward Garnier, the Shadow Attorney General. They were able to remind us of the traditions and values of the office, give us their views on our current role and their thoughts on the future. All delivered excellent speeches. Current High Sheriffs attending included John Rowen (Nottinghamshire), Elizabeth Mills (Rutland), Maurice Thompson (Leicestershire), Deidre Fenwick (Northamptonshire), Sir Henry Every (Derbyshire), The Lady Kilmaine (Warwickshire). In all there were 23 current and former High Sheriffs present, as well as the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Jennifer, Lady Gretton, and the Under Sheriff of Leicestershire, Martin Symington, together with our spouses. The evening was interesting and enjoyable and signalled the great strength and vitality of the Shrievalty in the region.

As the Bishop of Oxford told a gathering of High Sheriffs in London just over a year ago, “your role is to discover the good, to speak well of it, and to support it in whatever way you can”.

In this year of varied experiences I have attended a Sikh wedding, joined stick dancing at Navratri and attended the CKI Martial Arts Graduation ceremony with young athletes from the Muslim community. I have witnessed the extraordinary leadership of many in Leicester at the Special Olympics (take note those planning the 2012 Olympics!); accompanied policemen on the beat; joined the Street Pastors in Leicester on a Saturday night in the freezing cold; visited the Fire Service at Southern Station (particularly the Arson Protection Squad and the Urban Search and Rescue Team); the Defence Animal Centre at Melton, where dogs are trained to detect landmines in Afghanistan; the Prince’s Trust; St John Ambulance; the Silent Order at Mount St Bernard Abbey; some of Leicestershire’s great businesses, such as Next, Samworth Brothers, Pantherella Socks and Triumph; and our Universities, which are excellent. I have also raised funds through a Skydive for National Crimebeat.

Leicester and Leicestershire have a strong community with great diversity. I have observed our local leaders committed to maintaining and strengthening a framework of values that will serve us well in the tough climate we face. As the economy makes necessary adjustments, solidarity across the community and compassionate commitment to our common cause of maximising wellbeing for all must not slide down the agenda.

I feel that Robert Martin, who is taking over from me, will be an excellent High Sheriff, as will Resham Singh Sandhu, his successor. The independence and apolitical nature of our Office is its essential strength. It enables us to speak out about what is working and what is not. I am overwhelmingly persuaded at the end of my Year that our community works well. It is led by people with shared concerns and shared values. Long may this continue.

Maurice Thompson
High Sheriff of Leicestershire 2009/2010

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