Shropshire’s High Sheriff for 2021-22, Tony Morris-Eyton

I plan to use the High Sheriff costume quite sparingly during my year but wore it today for a traditional ceremony in Stafford. This was the ceremonial opening of the Easter session of Stafford Crown Court, which was marked with a service at The Collegiate Church of St Mary’s, Stafford.

Tourism, and how it can help Shropshire’s economic recovery from the pandemic, is a central theme of my year. I held a Zoom call with Paul Goulbourne, Anne Wignall, Nicky Stokes and Joan Mowlin of Ellesmere to discuss how one of the county’s most attractive towns, which already holds great appeal to visitors because of…

I had an online meeting today with Steve Adams and Jo Cooper of the Shropshire Community Foundation. They are overseeing a new award scheme, Shropshire’s Outstanding Community (SOC). I’m on the steering committee and the initiative aims to cast a spotlight on all that is positive about the county and its people. Communities across Shropshire…

I met Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Jones and Chief Superintendent Paul Moxley on Zoom. We were joined by High Sheriff of Herefordshire Joanna Hilditch and High Sheriff of Worcestershire Richard Amphlett. ACC Jones is responsible for local policing while Supt Moxley, who lives in Shropshire, covers all five police areas. There are currently around 2,500…

I had an online meeting with Kathryn Jones, manager of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, which covers Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire. I’m studying the LEP’s draft Economic Recovery Strategy and background about the Marches Growth Hub. I am due to receive briefings from Yasmin Sulaman, LEP’s Business Support Lead, and Dave Courteen, the…

I had a Zoom meeting with Joanna Hunt of The Children’s Society, whose ethos is to try to help children and young people from infants up to 25 with minor mental issues. A major challenge is that Shropshire is very rural and difficult to service properly. The charity is considering a pop-up service in places…

I had a very informative Zoom call with West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion and his assistant, Gareth Boulton. While the Chief Constable Anthony Blagden has total executive authority for policing, the Commissioner is responsible for budgets and setting the overall strategy. West Mercia Police Authority encompasses Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, within which…

I held a Teams call (from the car) with Cllr Raj Mehta, former Mayor of Telford & Wrekin. He is a doctor and practice manager in Birmingham and his wife is a doctor based in Telford. Cllr Mehta is a very interesting man. He speaks seven languages and has had various professions including being a…

While the bulk of my meetings are virtual, it was nice to get out of the office – and the frock coat and gaiters – for a more conventional meeting this afternoon. I had the pleasure of visiting Bradford Estates to chat to managing director Alexander Newport. I was interested to see the newest addition…

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.…