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Bedfordshire
County News
The year began with my Declaration at the Chellington Centre, an inspirational residential conference venue. It is a converted church building set in stunning Bedfordshire countryside overlooking the Ouse valley and run by ReachOut, a charity creating opportunities that change people’s lives, especially those of the young, disabled or disadvantaged.
I aimed to make a personal mark by combining the crime prevention and voluntary aspects of the High Sheriff role in a new initiative. I was inspired by the Queen’s 2010 Christmas message when she said that one of the best ways to build communities and create harmony was through sport and games, adding that it can teach vital social skills and bring people together from all walks of life and from all age groups. Success requires cooperation between the players. ‘This sort of positive team spirit can benefit communities, companies and enterprises of all kinds. A love of sport also has the power to rehabilitate, speed recovery, renew a sense of purpose, enjoyment and comradeship’.
It is my belief that a significant contributory cause to the social disorder problems we see today is the lack of state school sporting opportunities and the demise of many school playing fields. Something needs to be done to address these issues.
I decided to focus on cricket and raise funds so we could create more opportunities for the youngsters in the more deprived areas of Bedfordshire to participate, whether it be playing, coaching or ground maintenance. I received an inspirational letter of support from Buckingham Palace. The project involved Bedfordshire and Luton Crimebeat, The Prince’s Trust and the Bedfordshire Cricket Board. I had fantastic support from the Head Master of Bedford School and his staff and organised a Twenty20 match with Old England Test stars. The Head Master’s team, captained by John Lever of Essex and England and including Derek Randell, the Bedford School cricket coach, played my High Sheriff’s XI, and narrowly won. We had tremendous support from local people and businesses, about 300 people attended and with all fundraising activities and generous donations we raised well over £20,000, far exceeding my expectations.
Whilst this has been time-consuming it has not diverted me from all the other High Sheriff activities. I have attended the Crown Court in Luton, hearing a nasty drug-dealing case, and presenting Court Awards. My wife, Elisabeth, and I have entertained a visiting High Court Judge at home. Being present with the Lord Lieutentant at the first ever Homecoming Parade for the RAF Police (HQ RAF Henlow) through the streets of Bedford, returning from service in Afghanistan and Iraq, was a moving experience. I have presented long service and good conduct police awards and attended the Volunteer Police Cadets Passing Out Parade involving 76 cadets. The new Chief Constable of Bedfordshire, Alfred Hitchcock, is a very impressive individual and is certainly living up to the reputation of his namesake, making Bedfordshire a very scary place for criminals!
There have been school visits and prize givings, Sea Cadet inspections, civic receptions and church services including the Alban Pilgrimage, processing with the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Lord Charles Cecil, and the Bishop of St Albans, of whose diocese Bedfordshire forms a part. There have been three Armed Forces days, Army presentations, charity visits, Buckingham Palace and High Sheriff garden parties as well as taking the Salute at the Bedford District Scouts St George’s Day Parade. I have attended the Bedford Magistrates Court and taken part in the 650th Anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Magistracy. A visit to Bedford Prison and the Coroner is lined up. Citizenship ceremonies take place in Bedford every fortnight, morning and afternoon, and I have given certificates out at most of those and occasionally in Luton too. In all this my eyes have been opened to the amount of voluntary work being done by some outstanding people, without whom I doubt the County could function.
All this and I am only halfway through! Another exciting six months to come, including a very well supported Crimebeat golf day and six Services for Her Majesty’s Judges. The address at my own Service was by the Rev Dr Gordon Gatward OBE, FRAgS, FIAgrM, Director Arthur Rank Centre, a charity serving the spiritual and practical needs of the rural community, developing greater understanding between urban and rural communities and between different faith groups, reaching out to those in hardship and distress. Having had a lifelong career in the rural sector I feel this to be a highly appropriate charity to support. There were about 500 people at St Paul’s Church, Bedford, to hear him.
I am looking forward to it all. My activities are all recorded on the Central Bedfordshire Council website,with photographs.
 With the Lord Lieutenant,Sir Samuel Whitbread KCVO on his presentation to Mr Anthony Holmes for services to the Army Cadet Force on Flag Raising Day, Chicksands, 20th June 2011.
Andrew Slack
High Sheriff of Bedfordshire 2011/2012
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