Christine Holmes JP was born in Horsforth, Yorkshire and grew up in Guiseley, also in Yorkshire, settling in Shropshire in 1990.
Christine trained in hotel, catering and institutional management and has worked for a number of major UK companies, also lecturing in this field at a college of further education. More recently she has been a Company Director, Company Secretary and Administrator.
She is married to David, a civil engineer, and together they have two sons. When her children were young, Christine was an active member of the Shrewsbury branch of the National Childbirth Trust providing support to new mothers. Her sons both attended state schools in Shrewsbury, commencing at St Giles’ Church of England primary, at which Christine served as a parent governor.
In 1994 Christine was appointed Justice of the Peace on the Shrewsbury bench. She has undertaken a number of responsible roles for the Bench including Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Chairman of the Advisory Committee and member of the bench training and development committee. She continues in this role today.
Christine served as High Sheriff of Shropshire in 2016-17. Her theme for her Shrieval year was a celebration of volunteering in the county.
Christine is a freeman and trustee of the Shrewsbury Drapers’ Company, actively supporting its charitable work in the provision of almshouses. She served as Master in 2020-21.
She also served on the Shropshire Probation Board until its amalgamation with the West Mercia Probation Trust. Currently she is a trustee of its successor, the West Mercia and Warwickshire Probation Care Trust.
Christine has worked to enhance the perception and understanding of the magistracy and the criminal justice system through working with ‘Magistrates in the Community.’ This is a group of volunteers working under the banner of the Magistrates’ Association, who go out to visit and make presentations to schools and community groups. Christine has also participated in the valued and acclaimed annual ‘Mock Trial’ competition, where Shropshire schools take part in acting out and participating in the decision making process of a criminal trial.
“Raising awareness of the challenges facing the Probation Service, and supporting and promoting the work of rehabilitation groups is what I would like to focus on during my Shrieval year, and I intend to do so to the very best of my ability.”
– Katy Tanner