It has been a busy start – here’s how April has panned out . . .
9th April: I zoomed into office – literally! My online induction as High Sheriff of Shropshire was the type of detached ‘get together’ we’ve all sadly become used to over the past 13 months with the ban on group gatherings.
Virtual guests included Lord Lieutenant Anna Turner, outgoing High Sheriff Dean Harris, Under Sheriff Madeleine Butcher, my chaplain Rev Christine Simpson, my wife Clare, sons Marcus and Tom and daughter Lucy.
The formality of the occasion, with the legal and traditional oaths and ceremonial costumes, combined with the fact we were all in our own homes, made it a slightly surreal experience. Nonetheless, I think it went well. I certainly felt a great sense of honour. The many messages of support I had on the day from Shropshire and beyond were greatly appreciated.
I must thank Dean for her terrific year in office in hugely challenging circumstances.
The gloss was taken off the day, however, by the sad news, which broke almost as the ceremony was coming to end, of the death of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He was a great statesman with an enormous sense of duty and a fantastic consort to the Queen for over 70 years. He will be sadly missed by the whole country.