About

Recent High Sheriffs of Kent have supported and promoted the activities of a wide range of charities and organisations operating in the county. These include:

Safer Kent (formerly Kent People’s Trust) – for encouraging crime reduction initiatives, especially by young people, and supporting the victims of crime.

https://saferkent.org.uk

National Crimebeat – for rewarding crime reduction initiatives.
http://www.national-crimebeat.org.uk

Public Servants And Voluntary Groups Honoured At High Sheriff Awards
Individuals and voluntary groups from Canterbury, Herne Bay, Faversham, Northfleet, Ramsgate and Maidstone were honoured at the annual High Sheriff of Kent Awards at Leeds Castle on 12 March.

The High Sheriff of Kent’s Award Fund is managed by Kent Community Foundation and was set up to recognise public servants, voluntary groups and individual volunteers, whose selfless acts have benefited communities across the county.

This year’s winners are:

Regina Padden: for her work in developing the Listener Scheme at Canterbury Samaritans, a peer support service which aims to reduce suicide and self-harm in prisons.

John Ottaway (Managing Director): Group Award to Nu Steps, a Community Interest Company (CIC) that provides vocational education to teenagers who have become disengaged from school. It operates through three Kent schools, including Spires Academy, Sturry, Canterbury. This early intervention initiative has had several successes.

Robbie Humphries (Artistic Director) and Ann Duke (Founder): from the Walk Tall charity in Northfleet, which uses innovative ways to build confidence in all ages. The charity has its own repertory company and provides counselling for adults, vulnerable and young people who have faced challenging times.

Alison O’Neill (Founder and Director): established an all male performance group in 2008 at Herne Bay High School. The Boys Dance Company aims to give opportunities to those who want to dance, and promotes dance as a positive activity for boys that builds confidence and self-esteem.

Alison Miglorine (Manager): the Play and Learn Scheme is a targeted service for families with babies and toddlers living in Ramsgate, many of whom have been referred by health visitors or other specialists due to their particular needs. The aim is to support individual families with parenting skills, child development, relationship building and behavioural enhancement.

Dawn Riach-Brown: for her work as a District Support Warden based in Maidstone. KCC Community Wardens are a reassuring uniformed presence on the streets of Kent, helping communities to work together and make things better for everyone. They work closely with Kent Police and other professional authorities, offer information and advice, and participate in local community activities.

Chaska Iglesias, Rosemary Robinson and Nicolette Cole (all volunteers): the Canterbury & District Early Years Project combines nursery provision with training for parents in basic skills. The charity works with families facing the challenges of domestic abuse, mental health, substance abuse, learning needs and unemployment.

Carol O’Malley (Maidstone) and Cathie Burton (Faversham): two nurses honoured for their loyal and committed service to the community. The Family Nurse Partnership is a free programme for first time mums (and dads/partners, if mums want them to take part) aged 19 and under, aimed at giving additional support to this vulnerable and often neglected group. Intervention starts early in pregnancy and continues until the baby is two, and involves regular home visits by specially trained family nurses.

Bryn Price: Special Award for loyal and committed service to the county of Kent. Through his tireless efforts and steadfast commitment, Bryn has contributed much to improving the lives of people across the county. His work to create a safer community, together with his personal support for the current and many previous High Sheriffs, has proved invaluable. He has been Director of Kent People’s Trust (a community safety and crime reduction charity) since 2008 and Chairman of the Volunteer Council for the Red Cross in Kent since 2006. Bryn is an experienced fundraiser and leader, as well as a former Associate Programme Director for Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue Service through Canterbury Christ Church University.

Commenting on the awards, High Sheriff of Kent Hugo Fenwick said: “In my year as High Sheriff, I’ve focused on supporting initiatives for young people who are at risk of falling into the Criminal Justice System and organisations that seek to reduce youth crime and reoffending.

“The Awards are a highlight and culmination of my shrieval year. I have had the privilege of visiting many organisations over the past 12 months to learn at first hand the invaluable work they do to support vulnerable people. I have been struck by the huge contribution that volunteers make to our communities in Kent. It is a huge pleasure to be able to honour these unsung heroes of the county.”

Kent Community Foundation (KCF) is a registered charity, and one of 48 Community Foundations across the UK committed to transforming the lives of local people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, isolated and disadvantaged. To make a contribution to the High Sheriff’s Award Fund, or to find out more about ways to help your local community, visit Kent Community Foundation’s website at: www.kentcf.org.uk.

County History

THE SOVEREIGN’S reeves have operated in Kent since Saxon times, and as early as 669 King Egbert of Kent sent his reeve, Redfrid, to Paris to escort Theodore of Tarsus back to Canterbury to take office as Archbishop. The King’s Reeve administered agriculture and justice and collected rents on the King’s land.

The County claims the first recorded instance of the use of a new title, Scirgerefa (shire reeve or guardian), when Athelwine, the King’s Reeve, was described thus in a marriage contract drawn up in the presence of Canute (reigned 1017-35). Significant shrieval dates have been:

1086 – At the time of the Domesday Book, Hamo de Crèvecoeur, William the Conqueror’s cousin and owner of much of Kent, was Sheriff of the County.

1215 – Reginald de Cornhill was the long-serving Sheriff at the time of Magna Carta, but took the rebel barons’ side and opened the gates of Rochester Castle to them.

1258 – Shrieval tenure of one year only was enacted, earlier Sheriffs having often served for several years in succession, although the annual change of post-holder did not operate universally until the mid-14th century.

1264 – Sir Roger de Leybourne, a marauding soldier who switched allegiance from Henry III to Simon de Montfort and back to the King, became Sheriff, and was also Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

1272 – Although High Sheriffs’ early responsibilities gave them opportunities to acquire valuable perquisites, the office was often onerous, as Henry Malmains of Pluckley discovered. As Sheriff of Kent at the time of Edward I’s coronation, he was required to send to Windsor 40 oxen and cows, 40 hogs, sheep, poultry and other provisions for the royal banquet.

1404 – The Sheriff that year, Richard Clitherow, of Ash in Sandwich, was constituted Admiral of the Seas “from the Thames mouth westward”.

1436 – Sheriffs’ lives could be tumultuous. James Fiennes, of Kemsing and Seal started an illustrious career as Sheriff in 1436, followed two years later by becoming Sheriff of Sussex and Surrey. In 1447 he was created Lord Saye and Sele and was appointed Lord Treasurer of England in 1449, only to be beheaded in 1450 by Jack Cade.

1450 – As the Sovereign’s agents for most purposes within their counties, High Sheriffs were obliged to put down insurrections. In 1450 Jack Cade started his rebellion in Kent against Henry VI’s ministers, and slew the High Sheriff (and Lord Saye’s son-in-law), William Crowmer, who was attempting to put it down. Cade, in turn, was slain by one of Crowmer’s successors, Alexander Iden, who then married Crowmer’s widow, Elizabeth.

1511 – Sir Thomas Boleyn, of Hever Castle, was High Sheriff in 1511 and 1517. Despite being the grandfather of Queen Elizabeth I, he may have rued the day he first entered office and became one of Henry VIII’s chief advisers, as he lived to see the execution of his daughter Anne in 1536.

1554 – The High Sheriff, Sir Robert Southwell, contributed to the defeat of Sir Thomas Wyatt, who had served as Sheriff in 1550, in his rebellion against the proposed marriage of Queen Mary I (1553-58) and King Philip of Spain. In Wyatt’s army was Thomas Fane, who was pardoned on account of his youth, but himself became High Sheriff in 1572.

In the centuries that followed, the High Sheriff’s rôle became more peaceful, although they retained many official responsibilities.

1638 – the High Sheriff held a meeting at the Red Lion, Sittingbourne, to decide what proportion of ship money should be paid by the Cinque Ports to ships of war of 450 tonnes.

1650 – Henry Crispe, of Quex, Birchington, was the first High Sheriff to serve during the Commonwealth (when they continued to be appointed), soon handing over to his son Sir Nicholas Crispe.

1660 ‒ Sir Robert Austen, Bt, first Restoration High Sheriff, served for two years.

1682 – Archibald Clinkard, High Sheriff for three years until elected MP for Maidstone in 1685.

1722 – Peter Burrell, concurrently MP for Haslemere, Surrey (until 1754), legitimate because this was in another county.

1757 – William Glanville Evelyn, kinsman of John Evelyn the diarist.

1780 – John Cator, a timber merchant and MP for Wallingford 1772-80.

1797 ‒ George Grote, banker, father of George Grote the radical historian.

1812 – John Wells, ordered a general meeting of the Commissioners of Land Tax in Maidstone; MP for Maidstone 1820-30.

1831 ‒ Baden Powell, grandfather of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouting  movement.

1856 – High Sheriffs’ responsibilities for greeting and ensuring the welfare of High Court Judges continued through the centuries, although by 1856 they no longer met the Assize Judge in his carriage at the county boundary. That year the High Sheriff Richard Paterson, a railway company chairman, welcomed the Judge at Maidstone Station, from where he was conducted to the Sessions House (now part of County Hall) for refreshments, followed by a church service.

1862 – the High Sheriff, Alexander Randall, presented to Maidstone Borough Council the statue of Queen Victoria, located at the top of the High Street in the County Town.

1890 ‒ Henry Arthur Brassey, MP for Sandwich 1868-85.

1922 ‒ John Wheeler Wheeler-Bennett CBE, hospital philanthropist, served two successive years because his successor resigned.

1937 and 1941 Sir Edward William Meyerstein, hospital philanthropist, served twice. permitted if three years apart.

1956 – Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, previously had the rare distinction of being elected Mayor of Maidstone no less than 12 times.

1981 – The first lady to be appointed High Sheriff of Kent was the Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley.

1989 – the Earl Marshal granted the Office of High Sheriff of Kent a coat of arms to be used by High Sheriffs, either on its own or impaled (arranged side by side on one shield) with their own arms, described as Gules a sword erect point upwards hilt pommel and quillons Or and overall within a chaplet of hop vines also leaved and fructed with apple a horse rampant Argent.

The High Sheriff is an ex-officio trustee of Safer Kent (formerly Kent People’s Trust), an independent registered crime prevention charity dedicated to improving community safety throughout the County. In 2005 the Trust became affiliated to National Crimebeat, the High Sheriffs’ Association’s national charity, and the High Sheriff nominated The Joint youth club for a National Crimebeat award. The club was delighted to receive third prize out of a total of 20 county submissions in 2005. Kent history was made again in 2013 when the ‘Fighting Chance’ judo project was nominated by the High Sheriff and won first prize, and more recently in 2016 when the High Sheriff nominated the Quarter Deck youth club which won first prize for its initiative in reducing drug and alcohol abuse and violence.

The High Sheriff is also an ex-officio member of the Court of the University of Kent and President of the Canterbury Shrievalty Association.

Recent High Sheriffs of Kent
1970 Major W M Robson
1971 Sir Derek Greenaway Bt TD JP
1972 A J H Taylor TD
1973 K McAlpine
1974 D W G Barham JP
1975 J G Phillimore CMG
1976 Lieutenant Colonel G L Doubleday TD JP DL
1977 A P Leschallas JP
1978 Major I M Calvocoressi MBE MC
1979 J K Shipton
1980 E St J Brice
1981 The Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley
1982 Captain R V J Evans
1983 Brigadier M A Atherton CBE JP
1984 R J Corben
1985 Major Sir Marc Noble, Bt
1986 Theda, Mrs Brian Fitzgerald Moore
1987 Captain R D Neame
1988 Lieutenant Colonel J Yerburgh
1989 Hon H C Maude
1990 J St A Warde
1991 D McA Holman
1992 H H Villiers JP
1993 Hon R C Denison-Pender
1994 Chloe, Mrs A J M Teacher
1995 R J Baker White
1996 P J C Smallwood
1997 E R P Boorman
1998 J P Merricks
1999 J B Sunley
2000 R F Loder-Symonds
2001 R H B Neame CBE DL
2002 C L Dawes
2003 A H V Monteuuis
2004 J R H Loudon
2005 W A A Wells TD
2006 Amanda, Mrs Michael Cottrell JP
2007 N L Wheeler JP
2008 R J Oldfield
2009 Jane, Mrs John Rogers
2010 P T E Massey
2011 Georgie, Mrs Charles Warner
2012 M W S Bax
2013 The Lord Colgrain
2014 H M Fenwick
2015 W Alexander
2016 Kathryn, Mrs Matthew Smallwood
2017 G E Jessel DL
2018 Jane, Mrs Hubert Ashton

Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Kent: The Viscount De L’Isle MBE
Lord Lieutenant’s Office, Penshurst Place, Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 8DG
Tel 01892 870343
Fax 01892 870866
Email enquiries@kent-lieutenancy.org.uk

Kent County Council
County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ
Tel 08458 247 247
www.kent.gov.uk

The Kent People’s Trust
Police Headquarters, Sutton Road, Maidstone, Kent ME15 9BZ
Tel 01622 653208
Fax 01622 652729
www.kentpeoplestrust.org.uk