New High Sheriff chosen in historic ceremony

12:00pm Wednesday 26th March 2008

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HEREFORDSHIRE'S new High Sheriff was officially pricked' into action by the Queen during an ancient ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Last November, Lt Col Michael Robin Ogilvie Leigh, of Yarkhill, was nominated in a ceremony at London's High Court which pre-dates the Norman Conquest to take his place in history as one of the latest incumbents of the oldest secular office in Britain.

That nomination has now been officially confirmed by the Queen using a silver bodkin to "prick" his name which was on a list, written on parchment, of all new High Sheriffs for England and Wales.

Following this ceremony the High Sheriff will make a declaration in accordance with the 1887 Sheriffs Act during the next few weeks and will take office after that.

The unique ceremony carried out at Buckingham Palace dates back to the reign of Queen Victoria and is the way monarchs give their Royal seal of approval to the incoming High Sheriffs.