High Sheriff rides into town

During the Easter holidays the Chairman of the School Council, Mr Peregrine Massey, was installed as the High Sheriff of Kent during a ceremony at his parish church in Woodchurch supported by the Ashford School chamber choir.

The Office of High Sheriff is an independent non political Office which enables the holder to bring together a wide variety of individuals and Office holders for the good of the community in Kent. The High Sheriff receives no remuneration and no part of the expense of his year of Office falls on the public purse.

High Sheriffs are responsible in the Counties of England and Wales for duties conferred by the Crown through Warrant from the Privy Council including:

• Attendance at Royal visits to the County.
• The well being and protection of Her Majesty's High Court Judges when on Circuit in the County and attending them in Court during the legal terms.
• The annual appointment of an Under Sheriff.
• Acting as the Returning Officer for Parliamentary Elections in County constituencies.
• Responsibility for the proclamation of the accession of a new Sovereign. The maintenance of the loyalty of subjects to the Crown.