By Press Release
Kay Marriott – The duty of a High Sheriff to the Sovereign
Five years ago I was invited to be the Island’s High Sheriff and on March 16, 2022, my name was officially pricked by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll.
The office of High Sheriff is the oldest secular office in the United Kingdom, after the Crown, dating from Saxon times and the practice of the Sovereign choosing the High Sheriff by pricking a name on the Sheriffs’ Roll with a bodkin through vellum, dates back to the time of Henry VII. The pricking through vellum was because the office was not always a welcome honour, due to the challenges faced in collecting taxes, and a mark with a pen could easily be erased, but a hole in the vellum could not be removed!
When I was nominated I could not have envisaged what a significant year 2022 would be. I have met many people from such a diverse range of backgrounds. Some highlights for me: digging allotments with some young people; joining others on their practice Duke of Edinburgh walks and watching them all grow in confidence, having great admiration for their leaders who inspire them to succeed and literally go that extra mile.
I was able to join families with a disabled person to get out on the water in specially adapted boats, the whole family being excited, giving them confidence and making memories. The smiles on their faces were truly heart-warming, and it was a privilege for the High Sheriff’s Trust to sponsor the trip.
Thanking our volunteers with a High Sheriff Award, is such an honour, especially those who give up their time to make our Island a special place to live. These are just a handful of examples of the amazing people I have met to date.
This year, 2022 is a truly significant year, emerging from a pandemic when everyone is making up for lost time, as well as the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. Throughout the celebrations I attended many events and it was a joy to see so many people on the Island enjoying such an auspicious occasion.
The Solent Platinum Jubilee Celebration was a truly memorable day. it was a real privilege to have HRH The Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence taking the salute from the guard ship HMS Severn. The Solent was ablaze with bunting and flags. We could not have asked for a better day for our tribute.
It was therefore my great sadness, as for many, a shock to learn of the death of Her Late Majesty, less than five weeks later.
Following the death of a Monarch, it is the duty of the High Sheriff to announce the Proclamation of the new Sovereign in the area of their jurisdiction, a very old tradition traced back many centuries, a task, which I felt very humbled and privileged to perform. On Sunday crowds gathered outside the Minster in Newport to witness the ceremony, including my reading of The Proclamation announcing the start of His Majesty King Charles III’s reign.
Thank you to all those who attended to mark such an historic event and the wonderful comments received since. If you missed the moment it can be viewed on the ‘High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight’ Facebook page.
In my first six months it has been a great honour and privilege to have served Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as the High Sheriff of Isle of Wight. I now look forward to a new era with King Charles lll.
GOD SAVE THE KING
