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Norfolk
County News
2010/2011
There is an old expression ‘where one door closes, another opens’ but during this year, I would change this expression to ‘where one door opens, many more open thereafter’ and it is this ‘full journey’ that has made my Year so rewarding and interesting.
My ‘charity’ for the year was to ‘support the homeless of Norfolk’. Clearly this is a huge subject which had to be whittled down to an achievable target. After discussions with the Bishop of Norwich, various homeless charities and others, the doors opened and identified a clear problem with the 16- to 17-year-old homeless of Norfolk.
To cut a long story short, this 16/17-year-old homeless crisis was exacerbated by an apparent breakdown of communication between Children’s Services and Housing at County and District Council level. From the unique non-political, unpaid and respected role of High Sheriff, I was able to call everybody together, and with help and advice from various charities, we have developed a Protocol to be adopted in Norfolk in the future – a remarkable achievement by all concerned.
On another front, having attended some tragic inquests in the past, the Norwich Coroner’s inquests should never be held next to the restaurant in the Norwich Assembly Rooms. I am pleased to say that after much lobbying, the Coroner has been promised by the County Council a new Inquest Court Room in the summer!
 Throughout the year ‘doors opened’: from the Police, to the Crown Prosecution Service, to the Magistrates, to the Judges, to the prisons, to probation, to an approved home. From the ‘Broadland Refuse Collectors’, to ‘The Costessey Recycling Plant’, to Palm Paper (the largest recycled paper factory in the UK opened by Her Majesty the Queen), and back to reading my morning newspaper which went into the ‘bin’ and started the journey again. From Bristow Helicoptors, to a Shell North Sea oil rig, to Bacton Gas Terminal, to the National Grid, and so to my morning coffee heated by gas. The military homecomings, and a proposed flight in a Tornado from RAF Marham, having just flown back from Libya.
 By ‘sleeping rough’ on the streets of Norwich with General Lord Dannatt, and His Honour Judge Curl, we were able to raise a large sum of money for young homeless charities, raise awareness, and of course become involved with the charities and their benificiaries.
I acted as Returning Officer for the Borough of Great Yarmouth, announcing the results at 4.45 am. There were also the great Cathedral services especially HM The Queen opening The Hostry at Norwich Cathedral, a marvellous new building designed by Sir Michael Hopkins.
But the moment I shall never forget was a fateful day in June when I was asked to open the ‘Reepham School playing field in full uniform. Where were my tights? Thank God the Headmaster’s Secretary came to the rescue!
C W L Barratt
High Sheriff of Norfolk 2010/2011
2009/2010
I have had the privilege to serve as High Sheriff for the wonderful County of Norfolk during the last year. Like all High Sheriffs I have had a very rewarding and busy time. My wife Charlotte and I visited every part of the County and have been made to feel very welcome everywhere.
I held two major Justice Services, one in Norwich Cathedral in the autumn where nearly 1,000 people attended to hear Sir Richard Dannatt give the address. The second at St Margaret’s in King’s Lynn to a packed church of people from all aspects of the community including six visiting High Sheriffs to listen to The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith give an impassioned address on the subject of early intervention. I have held two other High Sheriff Judges’ Services in the Cathedral to celebrate the start of the Assizes. During the year three High Court Judges visited Norfolk and Charlotte and I enjoyed entertaining them. I have visited all six magistrates’ courts and youth courts and sat with the Circuit Judges at the Crown Court in Norwich.
Following a request from the Mayor of Yarmouth, I held a joint community Carol Service in St Nicholas’ Church in Great Yarmouth. St Nicholas’s boast is to be the largest parish church in England – which is fortunate as 900 people came.
The Police are a very professional organisation and I have enjoyed supporting them particularly participating in their Commendation Award Ceremonies throughout the year.
It has been an emotional time with the Armed Forces, especially with the Light Dragoons and Squadrons from RAF Marham when welcoming them home from active service. I have also enjoyed being involved with USAF at Mildenhall and
Lakenheath.
In particular in my Year I have concentrated on the fall-out from the breakdown of the family unit and the desperate position in which many of our young people find themselves. Although exposed to these ideas when I previously served for 15 years with the Prince’s Trust, I now more than ever believe we have an enormous duty to help the young, to keep them engaged in society, and to give them a feeling of self-worth. To this end I held a High Sheriff Seminar in conjunction with the Lord Lieutenant, last year’s High Sheriff, Lady Knollys, and the Sheriff of Norwich entitled ‘Supporting Young People of Norfolk’. This has substantially raised the profile of the young disadvantaged and from this we are going to start a Norfolk Citizenship Scheme to recognise those young people who carry out voluntary mentoring or work experience. I, together with Lady Knollys and in conjunction with the Police and Local Authorities, have continued Lady Knollys’s work with vulnerable families with a programme of early intervention. We have now started work with 50 such families and watch with interest the progress.
I have had many enjoyable and memorable experiences. There have been Prison visits, visits to the Crown Prosecution Service, the Probation Service, night shelters, night clubs, youth clubs, many Charities too numerous to mention, and of course, the memorable evensong and dinner at the Inner Temple. Charlotte and I have also welcomed nearly every member of the Royal Family into the County during the year.
My Year is now drawing to a close and the time has come to hand over the mantle with the MP Charles Clarke’s praise for the important role the High Sheriff plays in counties across the land ringing in my ears. For me it has been an honour and a privilege to serve Norfolk in this way.
Visiting High Sheriffs photographed with the Staff, Sword and Mace Bearers of the Borough of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk in the mediaeval Stone Hall prior to the Justice Service in King’s Lynn on 7th March 2010.
Left to right: Rupert Gosling, High Sheriff of Essex; Michael Rowen, High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire; Lady de Ramsey, High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire; Robert Carter, High Sheriff of Norfolk; Lady Kilmaine, High Sheriff of Warwickshire; Mrs Cynthia Gresham, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire; Lady Sarah McCorquodale, High Sheriff of Lincolnshire; The Reverend Neil Batcock,The High Sheriff’s Chaplain.
Robert Carter DL
High Sheriff of Norfolk 2009/2010
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