The High Sheriff of Lancashire

The High Sheriff of Lancashire 2009-2010, Susan Reynolds

THE High Sheriff of Lancashire for 2009-2010 was officially sworn-in on Tuesday 7 April 2009, at County Hall in Preston.

Mrs Susan Reynolds of Leighton Hall, Carnforth, continues an office stretching back to at least the middle of the 10th Century. The appointment of High Sheriff is made by Her Majesty The Queen, in her right as Duke of Lancaster.

Mrs Reynolds said: "It is an enormous honour to have been invited to be High Sheriff. Having lived and worked in Lancashire for nearly forty years, I have a great affection and respect for the county. In accepting this ancient office, I have no doubt that it is going to be a wonderful opportunity to get to know Lancashire and my fellow Lancastrians even better. I will do everything I can during the year to encourage and support the county and the many unsung heroes and organisations who make such a valuable contribution to its wellbeing."

At the installation ceremony, The Queen’s Commission is read in the presence of two Commissioners. The High Sheriff will then make a declaration to “serve The Queen’s Writs and execute the good laws and statutes of the Realm”. The Commissioners will check whether the declaration has been correctly delivered and the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire will then hand over the Sheriff’s Patent, which is her authority to act throughout her year in office.

Although many of the powers of the High Sheriff have been reduced over the years by the emergence of local government, the police, the court administrator’s office and the Lieutenancy, the High Sheriff still has many significant functions, as well as important social and ceremonial duties. The High Sheriff’s main duty is to "protect and assist in upholding the dignity and well being of Her Majesty’s Judges and to represent The Queen’s executive powers in respect of the administration of justice in the county". Through the Under-Sheriff, the High Sheriff is also responsible for the execution of High Court Writs.

Mrs Reynolds (61) is married to Richard and has two daughters and one grandson. She previously lived in London and South Wales; and was educated in Hampshire and at St Clare's Hall, Oxford. In 1966, she started work in advertising and broadcasting with the BBC World Service and the Reader’s Digest, before helping to run her husband’s business. She returned to Lancashire in 1975 and with the help of her husband took over the running of Leighton Hall.

Mrs Reynolds is involved with a number of voluntary organisations including the local children’s charity A Breath for Life, CancerCare Lancaster, Friends of Lancaster Concerts Trust and Ashton Hall Lancaster Organ Restoration Appeal Fund. She is also President of The Disabled Drivers Voluntary Advisory Service and Warton Horticultural Society.

Her interests include the arts, literature, music, the theatre and gardening.

She was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire in May 2000.

The office of High Sheriff is held for a year. The new High Sheriff took over the post from Colonel Alan Jolley from Leyland.