THE new High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire was today installed in a ceremony at a church in his village.
Graham Cartledge CBE, the chairman of global architecture firm Benoy, has taken up the post for the next year.
He takes over from outgoing High Sheriff Nicky Weston, who was also at today's ceremony at St Andre's Church in Caunton, near Newark.
Mr Cartledge announced that during his year in office he would be supporting several sporting charities.
They include the Trent Bridge Community Trust, which is the charitable arm of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, and Football in the Community, which sees both Nottingham Forest and Notts County run sessions to help disadvantaged young people.
In his speech in the church, he said: "I am honoured to stand here before you as High Sheriff.
"I will bring these groups together with the aim of raising their profile."
Mr Cartledge will also support Maggie's cancer caring centre, which is based at Nottingham City Hospital.
He said he plans to invite Health Minister Jeremy Hunt to the centre "to see the fine work being undertaken in the county both an the centre and in the community".
He added: "There is much to do and Nicky [Weston] has set the benchmark very high. To emulate the work she has done will be very hard."
The office of the High Sheriff is more than a millennium old. It is the longest-serving continuous secular office under the Crown.
The High Sheriff is the Queen's representative in the county for all judicial matters.
Mr Cartledge is the third man from Caunton to gain the honour, following Sir John Peace - now Lord Lieutenant of the county - in 2011-12 and Major Samuel John Markham exactly 50 years before that.
In front of about 150 people in the church, Mr Cartledge swore an oath before receiving his official documents.
He was welcomed into the role by Mrs Weston.
She said: "If he enjoys the challenges only half as much as I have, [he] will still have had a rewarding year.
"I've been very fortunate to get under the skin of our county. I am privileged to have met so many dedicated people within this county, who work so hard to support those in need."
Mr Cartledge selected existing Under Sheriff Deborah Hutchinson to stay in the role.
She said: "I am very honoured and privileged to do so."
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