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Worcestershire
County News
2010/2011
“Love Herefordshire, love Worcestershire”
So ended the excellent homily by the Dean of Hereford at the Shrievalty service in the Cathedral in November and it seems appropriate for me to echo this sentiment at the end of what has been a truly memorable year for the last High Sheriff of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
It has been a year of innovation and of history. The Shrieval separation of the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire has been well documented and it was formalized at the Declaration Ceremony on 24th March, Mr Simon Arbuthnott as High Sheriff of Hereford-shire and The Hon Lady Morrison as High Sheriff of Worcestershire.
I welcome the separation as I feel it will give each High Sheriff the opportunity to concentrate on the strengths of his or her own County whilst benefitting from the service of those organisations that cover both. The West Mercia Constabulary, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Probation Service headquarters and the two prisons are in Worcestershire but cover Herefordshire as well. I have visited them all and know that both High Sheriffs will be equally welcome in the future.
One of the first events of my year was the Homecoming Parade of 3rd Battalion The Rifles to Hereford from Afghanistan. This was a very moving ceremony and it was followed in July by a service of re-dedication at the War Memorial when the Rifles’ Badge was added to the Memorial.
In November, Lady Kilmaine (Warwickshire 2009-2010) arranged an excellent Regional Day in Warwick. Amongst the speakers was the representative from the Heart of England Community Foundation. On the strength of this, my husband Ray and I have founded a High Sheriff’s Fund within the Community Foundation of Herefordshire. With matched funding from the Government as well as Gift Aid, it is a most efficient way of enabling the serving High Sheriff to make grants to deserving organizations. Its launch is to be later this year but I have been very encouraged by the support received so far.
Having had little direct experience of how the legal system works, I have been fascinated by my visits throughout both Counties to the Crown, Magistrates and Coroners’ Courts and was, I understand, the first High Sheriff to have sat in on a MAPPA meeting, as an observer, with the Hereford Probation Service. It was an eye-opening experience.
It has been heartwarming to visit many charitable organisations and to see what life-enhancing services are being provided in our communities, particularly to our younger citizens, both able-bodied and less so. Towards the end of my Year I organized, in Ledbury Church, a Celebration of all the voluntary organisations in the area. It has become very clear to me over this year that there are a huge number of people who work tirelessly, and very often without recognition, to help others. The Celebration was to thank them all for their kindness, generosity and hard work. It was a mixture of church service and informal celebration with a jazz band to entertain us and the presentation of three High Sheriff’s Awards. All this was followed by tea. It was well received and was a first – to join that of being, with my sister, Ann Shuttleworth, (Lancashire 1999-2000) the first twins to have served as High Sheriff in their respective counties! o
Mrs Elizabeth Hunter
High Sheriff of Herefordshire and Worcestershire 2010/2011
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| Twin High Sheriffs – Mrs Elizabeth Hunter with her sister Lady (Ann) Shuttleworth High Sheriff of Lancashire 1999-2000. |
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Declaration of two High Sheriffs. Mrs Elizabeth Hunter, High Sheriff of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (left) with The Hon Mr Justice McFarlane, The Hon Lady Morrison (Worcestershire) and Mr.Simon Arbuthnott (Herefordshire). |
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