What is the Role of a High Sheriff? Come meet him to ask
Reading Civic Society AGM and the HS reflects on his year in Office
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We invite you to join members of Reading Civic Society for their first AGM since 2020 on 6th April at 1:30pm. After the formal business, which will be brief, there will be a discussion about coming events and current major planning impacting on central Reading. After the break the High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire, Willie Hartley Russell MVO DL, will talk about the Office of High Sheriff. He will reflect about the many groups he has met and what he has learnt during his year, which ends on 8th April.
The Office of High Sheriff is an independent, non-political, Royal appointment for the period of one year. It is the oldest secular office in country apart from the monarchy. Today, the role is now largely ceremonial, but carries the status of being the Queen’s highest judicial officer in the county. The role involves a mix of ceremonial, charitable and community functions. One of his themes this year has been to support the Friends of Reading Abbey.
You may also wish to ask him about his work in support of Alms houses in Berkshire including his role as Chairman of the Donnington Hospital Trust . Founded in 1393 it has been under the patronage of the Hartley Russell family since 1632. http://donningtonhospital.com/
The meeting is open to all.
