Author: Sal
Alan Titchmarsh As High Sheriff: Many Not Happy
Monday, 31st March, 2008 at 8:45 am, Isle of Wight
It seems that her maje’s appointment of celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh, as High Sheriff to the Isle of Wight has upset the apple cart somewhat.
It’s been reported across several publications that the fact that his property on the Wight is his second home and that he is not a caulkhead makes his appointment a bad decision.
Talking to the Daily Mail, Cllr Patrick Joyce said:
There are many people on the Isle of Wight who could have been picked.
There are many people who have done very great service on the island, and actually live here. I would have thought it would be better to choose one of those.
Choosing Alan Titchmarsh was not the most sensible thing to do. It just seems a bit strange that someone who has a holiday home has been picked as the High Sheriff.
Generally speaking, they pick prominent people from the Isle of Wight.
[Image courtesy of Tracey’s Yachting TV Blog - copyright remains with photographer]
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March 31st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Having only lived on the Island for 35 years I am not sure I am qualified to comment, so I will. Having known or met previous High Sheriffs from observation it is a purely ceremonial position requiring the holder to speak clearly and entertainingly at various local events. The appointment only lasts for one year and personally I can’t see any great problems in Alan Titchmarsh’s appointment. I think he will do it well and perhaps it shows some commitment by him to the Island.
From the Privy Council Web Site
“High Sheriffs are appointed for a year. The post is unpaid (except for a nominal court attendance allowance), and the general expenses of the office are borne personally by the holder. The system of appointing Sheriffs reflects the antiquity of the office. It is the responsibility of each High Sheriff to provide the names of people suitable to serve in the future. These names are added to the list of Sheriffs, and every November at a ceremony in the High Court the Lord Chief Justice and three other judges formally add as many new names for each county as are needed to ensure that there are Sheriffs in nomination for each of the next three years. A Sheriff needs to own property in the county for which he or she is nominated. The following March The Queen, at a meeting of the Privy Council, formally selects one of the three nominated Sheriffs to serve for the next twelve months by literally pricking a hole through his or her name on the List with a bodkin.”
March 31st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
At the risk of being shot down in flames, cos I’ve only been here five minutes - I have to agree with you L Pinkerton.
Titchy being High Sheriff should attract lots of media attention to the Island which can only be a good thing seeing as IWC haven’t done much to promote tourism this year.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:15 am
if the death penalty is reintroduced, alan will have the wonderful perk of being able to personally oversee and enjoy the execution of major island crims!
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(from the wacky world of the interweb - i won’t post the link as it’s a bit grisly!)
[in these days of gender equality there’s no reason why a modern `hangman` shouldn’t be female.]
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The role of the sheriff of the county.
Each county had a High Sheriff who was appointed for a year and who had the responsibility, amongst other things of carrying out the punishments ordered by the courts.
In capital cases it was the sheriff’s responsibility to organise the execution and appoint the hangman.
He also had to pay the hangman and later the assistant(s) and then claim the money back through “sheriff’s pleadings” from the Home Office.
The sheriff would proceed with the foregoing, irrespective of the fact that there may be a reprieve, even at the last minute.
The Capital Punishment (Amendment) Act of 1868 required that the High Sheriff or the Under Sheriff be present at the execution.
From 1891 the sheriff appointed the hangman from the Home Office list. Prior to that the hangman for London was generally used, i.e. James Berry, William Marwood and William Calcraft.
Before Calcraft most counties still had their own hangman and he was generally appointed. The sheriff had the authority to admit witnesses and newspaper reporters to executions after they became private in 1868.
This practice had ceased in most places by the early 1900’s. After the execution it was the sheriff’s duty to notify the Home Secretary that the execution had taken place
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:48 am
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