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Cumbria
County News
2010/2011
Cumbria is one of the larger shrieval counties, populated by a wide range of differing communities. The west contains a collection of isolated coastal towns and townships which are dominated by the nuclear industry but is otherwise somewhat depressed economically. The Morecambe Bay coast has Barrow to the west with BAE’s submarine construction providing high-quality jobs but always seemingly under threat of closure. The east of the county is culturally quite different and is dominated by the M6 corridor which runs through the relatively prosperous Lune and Eden valleys. Kendal, Penrith and Carlisle are the dominant towns. These communities surround the Lake District, magical in so many ways and with a thriving tourist industry though its mountainous terrain means that roads are narrow and slow. Within the County movement goes around this central area causing travel times and distances to be long, thereby contributing to the isolation felt by some of the more remote areas. Prior to my Declaration it was important for me to identify how I could contribute most to this very disparate county during my twelve months in Office.
The relationship between the High Sheriff and the judiciary is central to the role. As I talked to members of the legal profession and to friends it appeared that the magistrates in Cumbria might welcome some support and recognition. I sat in each of the magistrate courts in Cumbria and was enormously impressed with what I saw. I invited all the 270 magistrates to attend the Judges Service held in Carlisle Cathedral in early November. After a buffet lunch at Police Headquarters, the Chief Constable arranged for a presentation to explain the current approach the Police take to community policing.
I wanted my work for charity to have some clear direction. I chose to work with the Cumbria Community Foundation of which I am a trustee. Without overtly fundraising I have throughout the year raised the Foundation’s profile and with their guidance have visited approximately 80 different charitable organisations throughout the County. It was humbling to witness the dedication and commitment of so many volunteers towards helping the less fortunate in our various communities.
In the last week of Office I held two small receptions, one in the Police HQ at Carleton Hall and one in west Cumbria to which I invited a number of organisations that had made a particular impression on me during my Year and to each I awarded a High Sheriff’s Award Certificate together with a High Sheriff Shield to be held for a year by the two charities that I felt deserved something special. This ended a busy and fulfilling year before I handed over to my successor, Mrs Iona Frost-Pennington.
James Carr DL
High Sheriff of Cumbria 2010/2011
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