The Isle of Wight’s new High Sheriff, Jacqueline Gazzard, was sworn in at a declaration service held at Newport Minster this morning (Monday).
Jacqueline, a born and bred Islander, starts her 12-month voluntary term in what is the oldest continuous secular Office under the Crown.
She takes over from Graham Biss DL BEM.
The High Sheriff is still the Sovereign’s representative on all matters appertaining to civil law and order and they act as the Returning Officer for parliamentary elections. It comes second in precedence to the Island’s Lord-Lieutenant.
This is a Royal appointment made at a meeting of the Privy Council, however, the nominated high sheriff is only confirmed when the monarch takes up a bodkin and pricks a hole through their name, written on a vellum roll. It is not clear when the practice started, however, at least 1 Sheriffs’ Roll dating from the reign of Henry VII (1485-1508) has the names pricked through vellum.
This morning’s service was attended by the Island’s Vice Lord Lieutenant Brigadier Maurice Sheen and Resident Judge HHJ Michael Bowes KC.
April Newtown was appointed Under Sheriff.
Speaking about her appointment, Jacqueline says:
“I am very proud to represent the Island and looking forward to meeting many local groups during the coming 12 months. I will work to support and promote opportunities for young Islanders, building chances for them to achieve their ambitions.
“I also want to support the many people who make up the magnificent voluntary sector on our Island. Without them we simply couldn’t function.”
How bloody ridiculous. Why the hell do we actually a high sheriff, they serve no purpose except to look pompous. A load of old tosh that should be left in the past.
Ah no, leave her be! Gives us all something to laugh at. Or to wonder at the mindset of someone being asked, ‘here, we’ve got a job for you. There’s no pay, you don’t have to actually do anything constructive and you get to wear the silliest costume ever, whadaya think?’…and she DIDN’T say ‘hell no, do you really think I’m that desperate for recognition???’
Bless her. It must have been that or the local knitting circle’s ceremonial stitch keeper.
Such a shame the Islands Sheriff cannot sort
out the speeding problems on the island.
The island needs a Rosco P Coltrane.
Did you not know there’s a voluntary position going? You get to wear a large yellow cone with a peacock feather and all you have to do is stand in the middle of Brading high street and screech ’20 MILES AN HOUR’ at every passing motorist, kid on a bike, vaper, single mother, you choose. You’d be brilliant at it. And we’d all have something to aim for.
Like it,… what a perfect job for him…
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha…
you obviously have a bad memory as well
Rosco P Coltrane,.. was corrupt, childish, bungling and moderately incompetent