New Isle Of Wight High Sheriff To Be Sworn In This Morning

The Island’s new High Sheriff, Jacqueline Gazzard, will be sworn in at a declaration service held in Newport Minster at 11.00 on Monday 7th April.

In attendance will be the Island’s Vice Lord Lieutenant Brigadier Maurice Sheen and Resident Judge HHJ Michael Bowes KC.

The oldest continuous secular Office under the Crown, high sheriffs have held county responsibilities for at least one thousand years.

The High Sheriff is still the Sovereign’s representative on all matters appertaining to civil law and order and they act as the Returning Officer for parliamentary elections.

It comes second in precedence to the Island’s Lord-Lieutenant.

This is a Royal appointment, made at a meeting of the Privy Council, however the nominated high sheriff is only confirmed when the monarch takes up a bodkin and pricks a hole through their name, written on a vellum roll.

It is not clear when the practice started, however at least one Sheriffs’ Roll dating from the reign of Henry VII (1485-1508) has the names pricked through vellum.

It is thought the costs of taking on the role, along with the challenges of collecting taxes for the monarch, may have led some sheriffs to erase a pen mark.

A hole was harder to cover up and so the practise stuck! 

Jacqueline said:

“I am very proud to represent the Island and looking forward to meeting many local groups during the coming 12 months. I will work to support and promote opportunities for young Islanders, building chances for them to achieve their ambitions.

“I also want to support the many people who make up the magnificent voluntary sector on our Island. Without them we simply couldn’t function.”

The appointment runs for one year starting in April. It is a non-political and unpaid, voluntary role.