News and Events
When 'life' happens - sometimes good, sometimes not so good - we want people to know as soon as possible. This page shares news about the Association, past and current Sheriffs, the Cities and Towns to which they belong and any events that may be of interest to our Members.
Past Newsletters
Firstly, welcome to the Chair of the Association, Andrew (Andy) Swinburne. Andy was Sheriff of Berwick-upon-Tweed
2010-11 and has contributed a great amount to the Association in his role as Treasurer from 2012 - 2020 and as Vice Chair from 2020-2024.
His first Newsletter - November 2024 can be viewed via the link on the left.
Read his latest Newsletter, Spring 2025
Below:
Daffodils, Daffodils and more Daffodils
Thank you to Haverfordwest, hosts in 2024, for the fabulous daffodil bulbs that most of us planted and have now blossomed
Xena Dion, Poole
Chris Higgins, Norwich
Derek Burke, Southampton
Melanie Tointon, Lincoln
York's Assize of Ale 2023
Sheriff of York, 2023-24 Sue Hunter led York's Assize of
Ale in August 2023. Sue reintroduced the 'Bread' into the event (making it, once again, the Assize of Bread and Ale)
by holding a competition for the best Artisan loaf for local bakers.
The photographs below show there were pillories (stocks), and birds of prey on show before the Sheriff set off with the obligatory posse around the city hostelries to test the quality of the city's ales.
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In December, the traditional Sheriff's Riding took place, which was very popular with many people joining in along the way listening to the proclamation read out at 4 different entrances into York permitting all dice players, whores, thieves and other unthrifty folk.
TAKE PART
If you wish to take part in the Assize of Ale, and would like to accompany the Sheriff to test the ales in the city’s hostelries, medieval costume is very much encouraged.
Please could you also let civic@york.gov.uk know if you will be in attendance.
Here are some places to hire costumes, with discounts for the Assize.
Fantasy World
Unit H Auster Road
Clifton Moor
York
YO30 4XA. 01904 621328
Will give 15% discount if you mention Assize of Ale
York Theatre Royal Costume Hire
Unit 3
Birch Court
Osbaldwick Link Road
York YO19 5JA
Offering 10 % discount
Gloucester's Assize of Ales got a really good coverage from the local press which will help in promoting the role of Sheriff.
News from Berwick
On April 17th Canon Alan Hughes is to be presented with The Maundy Money by The King in Durham Cathedral. The usual route to being nominated for this position is through a Diocesan Bishop. Canon Hughes was nominated directly by The Crown for Service. 'This is an enormous once-in-a-lifetime privilege' says Canon Hughes, 'especially as it was the the King who invested me with my MBE'.
The history behind this event is given below:
Since The Restoration of Charles II and the founding of Berwick Parish Church in 1660 there have only been a little over 1000 men and 1000 women nominated to receive Maundy Money directly from the hands of their Monarch. The ceremony in one form or another dates back to 600AD and echoes the
story of Jesus humbling himself and washing his disciples feet.
Some monarchs reigned long. The late Queen was 96 when she last distributed the Maundy Money to 192 recipients - 96 men and 96 women; Edward V was only 12 when he was deposed after distributing the money to 24 people.
The first English monarch to be recorded as distributing alms at a Maundy service was King John who on 15 April 1210 donated garments, forks, food, and other gifts to the poor of Knaresborough, Yorkshire.
He was also the first English monarch to be recorded as giving gifts of small silver coins to the poor when in 1213 he gave 13 pence to each of 13 poor men at a ceremony in Rochester and this continued down the centuries in different forms.
The first modern Maundy Money ceremony took place in the reign of Charles II, when the king gave people undated hammered coins in 1662. The coins were four penny, three penny, two penny, and one penny pieces. By 1670, the king started giving out a dated set of all four coins. The tradition of the king or queen washing the feet of the poor faded out in the eighteenth century, but the monarch still gave people food and clothing. By the nineteenth century, the tradition had changed again, and the monarch simply gave people the Maundy money.
Former Sheriff’s Lady Susan Hughes is proud that her drawing of Berwick’s Jacobean Bridge now comprises part of a permanent plaque marking its recent restoration.
Susan Hughes with Mayor John Robertson
Berwick-upon-Tweed's 2021 Sheriff, Canon Alan Hughes is the chosen Chaplain for the new High Sheriff of Northumberland, Colonel James Royds. Colonel Royds was installed in an ancient ceremony at Hexham Abbey on Saturday April 9th. He and Canon Hughes have served together in various military roles for over 35 years
Sheriff of Berwick, Canon Alan Hughes stands to the left of the newly appointed High Sheriff of Northumberland, Colonel James Royds.
The year is proving a busy one with many traditional ceremonies in which to participate across the county of Northumberland. Recently the Legal Services have been held in Durham Cathedral, Newcastle Cathedral and York Minster where Canon Hughes was reunited with the Sheriff of York, Suzie Mercer.
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Southampton is Awarded Lord Mayor status
On 20th May 2022, Southampton was awarded Lord Mayor status as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours. Her Majesty the Queen was the final decision maker.
Southampton City Council’s bid demonstrated the city’s proud and distinct identity, a welcoming and friendly character, and a passion and commitment to the Mayoralty and the important role it plays in bringing people and communities together.
The bid also laid emphasis on the importance the City places on protecting its history, traditions and heritage whilst encouraging growth and opportunity for the future.
Only two Lord Mayors have been appointed by Her Majesty the Queen in the 21st Century, and Southampton is the first English city to receive the honour since Exeter in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee year of 2002. It joins 27 of the 63 districts with city status in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland that are headed by a Lord Mayor.
The title of Lord Mayor will be taken by the current Mayor, Councillor Jacqui Rayment, Sheriff of Southampton in 2021-2022 once the 'Letters Patent' has been presented to the city.
Councillor Jacqui Rayment, Sheriff of Southampton in 2021-2022
Remembering Past Sheriffs
Giving thanks for their lives and to the service they gave to their communities and to the Association
We were very sad to hear of the unexpected death of a very active Member of NACTSEW, Cllr Chris Thomas, Haverfordwest. Tributes have been paid to the Town's Sheriff who served in Office for three periods: from 2015 to 2016; 2018 to 2019 and 2019to 2020.
It is understood that he died on Sunday, November 21 following a short illness.
Chair of NACTSEW in 2015, Peter Barrett was a very active and enthusiastic member of the Association and a valuable member of the Lichfield community. We were saddened to hear of his death in September 2021, just prior to the AGM and Conference.
Sheriff of Berwick 2007-2008 Alan Bowlas passed away on February 12th 2025. His address by Canon Alan Hughes can be read here:
Obituary - Les Burden, Poole
(our old Ref!)
Poole's councillors are sad to announce the death of former Mayor and Sheriff, Les Burden who passed away at his home on 29th December. Les was elected to Poole Borough Council in 1999 and was Sheriff of Poole in 2003-4 and then Mayor of Poole 2004-5. Following his retirement from the Council in 2019 Les continued to be a fully active member of Poole and Cherbourg's Twinning Association. Many of you will remember Les for being a very active and proud member of NACTSEW and attended most, if not all the AGM weekends camping nearby in his trusted camper van with his beloved wife Mary Rose (RoRo). Les played a key role in the arrangements and organisation of the Sheriff's Convention when it was Poole's turn to host in 2015. He was immensely proud of the event and especially the record turnout of 190 guests.
Les was a very keen footballer and was a professional referee, of which he frequently reminded people, especially during any unruly meetings when he would hush proceedings with an unexpected blast of his ref's whistle and threaten a yellow card!
Doris English, Lichfield, was a very active member of NACTSEW. She was Sheriff in the year 2000.
We heard of the death of Brian Watson - Sheriff of York 2013-14, in June 2024. Brian served as a Councillor in York for a record-setting 36 years. He was a strong supporter of the role of the Civic Party and keen to uphold the City's heritage.
Gordon Williams past Sheriff of Gloucester died peacefully in January 2024 aged 94.
Older News
From Berwick:
On August 3rd-4th, Berwick Upon Tweed is marking the 400th anniversary of the opening to traffic of Berwick Bridge in 1624. This historic and iconic Jacobean bridge was ordered by King James after uniting The Crowns.
The celebration has its own Facebook Page ‘Berwick Bridge 400’
Past and present Sheriffs are invited and encouraged to join the group and read people's recollections of the bridge and view the many postings of the bridge, photographs, sketches, ancient and modern watercolours and engravings.
This sketch below is by Susan Hughes, Sheriff’s Lady 2021/22, and the photograph by former Sheriff Alan Hughes. Susan’s sketch is postcard size and can be ordered via skypilot60@btinternet.com £12 including frame, post and packing.
And now, sadly we have just lost another Berwick member.
It is with deep sadness that we announce that Sheriff John Reay passed away, peacefully at home on Sunday, 1st May 2022.
A former senior partner of the Berwick Solicitors T.C. Smith, John leaves a
widow, Hilary and family.
An officer of NACTSEW for many years, John and Hilary are well known
throughout the NACTSEW cities and towns.
Chester's Annual St George's Day Dinner
The City of Chester Sheriffs' Association held their annual St. Georges' Day Dinner at the Mill Hotel, Chester, on Saturday 23rd April 2022, having had to miss both 2020 and 2021. It was a great delight that amongst the select guests the Sheriff's Association were able to welcome the National President, Cllr Andrew Gravells, and also the National Chairman Cllr David Brown with his wife Cllr Joanne Brown (now the new Sheriff of Gloucester) who had all travelled up from Gloucester to join the event.
Guest Speaker was Dame Lorna Muirhead, the past Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, who gave a wonderful account of her life and also told guests about her many meetings with Queen Elizabeth II. Jeannie Storer reports that members had "a lovely dinner with superb company, but everyone agreed that the speaker was the highlight of the evening."
