Essex's next High Sheriff has been officially nominated in a 1,000-year old ceremony that pre-dates the Norman Conquest, and takes her place in history as one of the latest incumbents of the oldest secular office in Britain.
Jennifer Mary Tolhurst, of Gay Bowers House, Danbury, will take up office next March.
In one of the most ancient official ceremonies still practised in this country, dating back to Saxon times, bewigged judges and court officials, wearing official court clothing that dates back centuries, presided over the nomination of 51 High Sheriffs and their deputies from all over England and Wales.
Ms Tolhurst's nomination took place on Friday as part of a time-honoured tradition staged in the country's finest court room, the Lord Chief Justice's court, at Court 4 in London's Royal Courts of Justice, before the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, Lord Justice Maurice Kay, Mr Justice McCombe and Mr Justice David Clarke.
Since before the days of the Norman Conquest, sheriffs - or Shire Reeves as they were originally known - of each county went to the Kings or Queens Court, known in Latin as the Curia Regis, to give account for the money they collected on behalf of the monarch.
Now, of course, High Sheriffs no longer collect money for the monarch, but their annual attendance at court has continued and has been used to mark the annual nomination of the new High Sheriffs.
Published Monday November 15, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article