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Gwynedd
County News
2009/2010
 I made my Declaration as High Sheriff of Gwynedd 2009/2010 on Friday 27th March 2009 at St Peter’s Church, Aberdyfi, Gwynedd. The Lord Lieutenant of Gwynedd, His Honour Huw Daniel, was among the guests who attended the ceremony. Sir Meuric Rees CBE JP from Tywyn was the chief witness and Her Honour Shirley Anwyl QC from Pennal was the second witness. The Rev. Christina Ten Wolde from St Peter’s Church was my Chaplain.
The High Sheriff’s party, led by a Gurkha piper, processed on foot from the Literary Institute to St Peter’s Church where the assembled guests had been entertained by harpist Angharad Jones, a neighbour of ours. During the ceremony the soprano Ana-Maria Rincon, a friend of the family, sang three traditional Welsh songs accompanied by Angharad Jones on the harp.
After the ceremony a reception was held in Aberdyfi Golf Club. As part of the celebration we arranged for Cor Hyn Ysgol Glanaethwy from Bangor, a youth choir and runners-up in the BBC’s Last Choir Standing 2008, to give a charity concert in the Neuadd Dyfi Theatre in Aberdyfi on the following night, Saturday 28th March. The concert was a sell-out and ended with a standing ovation. Proceeds from the concert will go to Gwynedd Crimebeat and the Gurkha Welfare Trust.
My theme for the year was to raise the profile of the Office especially in southern Gwynedd, the old county of Merioneth (now Meirionnydd) and to support two charities: Gwynedd Crimebeat and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. The goodwill I and my wife encountered and the support we received during the year will remain amongst our many wonderful memories.
Gwynedd Crimebeat was set up in 2002 and the committee of the current and past High Sheriffs meets quarterly. For many High Sheriffs their families have grown up and left home, as in my case. To have the opportunity to once again reconnect with young people was a privilege. It is easy to believe from reading and listening to the media that today’s youth are a bad lot. The variety of challenges that Crimebeat is funding in the county and the enthusiasm of the many young people involved was encouraging and visiting them was very rewarding.
Not as rewarding, but an eye-opener, was my visit to the prisons accompanied by my wife and Chaplain. We found the conditions and atmosphere in the women’s prison at Styal near Manchester quite depressing.
I arranged four fundraising concerts and a visit by the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas for a Beating of Retreat and a concert the following day. Being spread over a weekend and blessed with two of the finest days in an otherwise dismal summer, this was perhaps the highlight of my year. Not only were the crowds substantially greater than our wildest dreams but their donations and appreciation for this talented band made it worthwhile to have got them to come all the way from Folkestone. The Retreat was followed by a train journey for 180 ticket holders on the Tal y Llyn narrow gauge railway from Tywyn to Dolgoch Falls station for a hog roast barbeque which had been cooking since 2 pm. We were greeted by the Aberystwyth Male Voice choir who sang throughout. Following the Retreat the Gurkhas returned to Aberdovey to enjoy the hospitality of the locals in numerous pubs along the sea front! The following evening they gave a most entertaining concert in Llanegryn Village Hall before returning back to Folkestone.
 In October I held a High Sheriff’s luncheon in aid of Gwynedd Crimebeat in the Portmeirion Hotel. The event raised a substantial sum for Crimebeat and brought together many past High Sheriffs, their wives and friends. Elfyn Llwyd, MP gave an entertaining talk during the meal.
In March this year I presided over the High Sheriff’s Crimebeat Awards Ceremony in the High Court in Caernarfon. The standard of nominations was, as usual, very high. The worthy winners were the 2nd Holyhead Explorer Scout (Young Leaders) Scheme. The ceremony was followed by a reception for all the award winners and their guests.
Major Norman Corbett
High Sheriff of Gwynedd 2009/2010
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