High sheriff has community role

James Richard Boughey, 41, a farmer from Piddletrenthide, near Dorchester, will take up the role of high sheriff in March, following royal approval.

He was nominated by four of the country's top judges in a ceremony at London's High Courts.

Mr Boughey said he felt a great sense of history in accepting the nomination.

With wife Katy, he has four children - Victoria, 11, George, nine, William, six, and Charlotte, three.

He said: "It is a great honour to take on the office and I look forward to it enormously. It is an office that is over 1,000 years old, although it has changed hugely."

It was the job of the original high sheriffs to protect judges visiting the county from friends or relatives of those whose cases they were trying.

The modern day high sheriff still offers help and advice to visiting judges, but also plays an official role in civic ceremonies across the county.

Mr Boughey said: "Today it's also about making communities safer places. Everyone would want to help reduce crime. It's important to target young children in their formative years and to work closely with the police and the probation service."

He said he was talking to previous high sheriffs and other groups to formulate plans for the coming year.

Mr Boughey said the nomination ceremony was 'fascinating', with 51 high sheriffs' names put forward for roles across the country.

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, presided over the ceremony, with Lord Justice Mummery, Mr Justice Gibbs and Mrs Justice Hallett.

Proceedings took place in the Lord Chief Justice's court, at the Royal Courts of Justice.

The high sheriff is the oldest secular office in the country. He can act as returning officer in parliamentary elections and is considered one of the top dignitaries in each county.

Each nomination is given royal assent in an ancient ceremony performed by the Queen at the Privy Council in London. She pricks each name on a parchment list, using a silver bodkin.