Important for High Sheriff of West Sussex to support volunteer groups

This year's annual general meeting of the West Downs Neighbourhood Watch Task Force on September 27 featured a wide-ranging presentation by our welcome guest Caroline Nicholls, High Sheriff of West Sussex, which left her audience in no doubt as the sheer amount of work undertaken in that capacity.

Mrs Nicholls described the role of the high sheriff as being that of Her Majesty’s representative for all matters relating to the judiciary and the maintenance of law and order; the office is more than 1,000 years old and formerly involved tax collection. Nowadays it is ceremonial in nature, and wholly voluntary.

The role involves greeting dignitaries and A-list celebrities, but one of its most important aspects is the support of volunteer groups and Mrs Nicholls said she had not realised, until she had toured the county extensively, how important volunteers are.