The High Sheriff's Diary - August 2025
Once again my latest month in the role as High Sheriff of Derbyshire took me from Parish to Parish across the 1000 square miles of the County . During my year I am determined to reach as many places as I possibly can. In the middle of our Well Dressing week I entertained the magistrates from both Chesterfield and Derby Justice Centres for a tour of the wells and refreshments back at Tissington Hall . Arising early the next day I was off for breakfast in Derby to see the great work at Derby City Mission benefitting those less fortunate as they took in people off the streets and gave them succour and a bed for the night. Then a visit to the Royal School for the Deaf in Derby and a wonderful tour of the school with Principal Paul Burrows seeing the amazing work that his team do for the hearing impaired at their site on Ashbourne Road with that week ending with a visit to Weston on Trent and the Ukrainian Remembrance Service where along with Tony Walker DL , I represented Derbyshire at the Ukraine equivalent of our Armistice Day. A sobering yet uplifting end to another week as the High Sheriff of Derbyshire.
Onto Pride Park with the slogan
SERVING with FAITH, PROTECTING with PRIDE
as I attended the Eid Celebration organised by the Derbyshire Association of Muslim Police and Derbyshire Fire Rescue Service. We heard some uplifting presentations from serving officers including Chief Constable Rachel Swann and Deputy Chief Fire Officer Clive Stanbrook as well as from Iram Ditta, Valeed Ahmed PC Abdul Rafique and from the former Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain Zara Mohammed who spoke about the themes of unity in community. The evening ended up with myself dancing to a rather fascinating one man drummer as I gainfully danced around my ceremonial sword. The Police Service and the Fire Service are promoting diversity and inclusion in their organisations in their brilliant efforts to protect and connect with all the communities in the county.
In mid June I was delighted to host members from RASE , The Royal Agricultural Society of England to show what working farmers in the countryside can produce to contribute to food production, social cohesion and community engagement. The eminent group of land managers were very impressed with our new farming couple on the Estate, Sharlotte and Tom Worsey who explained their new thinking about their project to go back into dairying on the Estate. Inspired by their enthusiasm one senior dairy farmer volunteered to ‘mentor’ the couple after the splendid tour of the farm .
Regular readers will know that I chair the tourist board for Peak District and Derbyshire. In my tole as High Sheriff as I travel between appointments I make it my objective to stop the car and take photographs outside many of the excellent attractions and hostelries in the county. After my mayor-making exploits in Chesterfield I decided to drive to Chatsworth at 7pm and posed on the bridge opposite the house where I was fortunate to persuade a group of 4 Chilean tourists to take the picture of myself in full Court Dress. They were much amused so I persuaded them to follow me to Haddon Hall where a similar photo was taken but this time we had to breach security to get to the relevant bridge! Other times I have stopped at both the rejuvenated Ashford Arms and the Peacock at Rowsley for similar opportunities causing much consternation on my arrival. The results however can be admired on the social media pages posted by the Tourist Board’s PR team.
Tee first University Graduation day of my life took place in late June at the Dome in Buxton. Readers may be unaware but I never attended University after school… except to party. So my first ‘Grad Day’ was as a guest of the Vice-Chancellor sitting in a grand chair on stage next to the Lord Lieutenant Liz Fothergill. It was quite a ceremony as we applauded all the students from the online nursing and midwifery courses that had travelled (often from abroad) to Buxton to collect their awards. It was joyous and enchanting highlighted by the most amazing array of shoes!! Imelda Marcos would have been in her element.
Finally this month Fiona and I would like to congratulate Louise Potter on being awarded an MBE. Louise was High Sheriff in 2021/22 and it was she who kindly asked me if I would take on the role. Louise has worked tirelessly to further not just her home town of Buxton but also the County and the recognition is much deserved. We wish her all the best for a fantastic day when she attends Buckingham Palace. Bravo!