After their Declaration Ceremony in which they swear loyalty and allegiance to Her Majesty, it is customary for them to host a Garden Party, normally in June, to which Judges, Officers of the Armed Forces, Statutory bodies and Voluntary Organizations in the County are invited.

In November the High Sheriff dedicates a service at St Albans Cathedral to Justice, at which he processes with the Judges, the Chief Constable and many Magistrates, Recorders, and Coroners all of whom work within the Justice System in Hertfordshire. The service is also attended by representatives of many organizations in the county, including voluntary bodies.

In March the High Sheriff presents the Crimebeat Awards, as well as the High Sheriff Awards designed to honour unsung heroes in the community. The Crimebeat Awards are to largely voluntary organizations who are involved in Crime Distraction as well as Crime Prevention. There is currently a particular emphasis to support groups working to reduce binge drinking, teenage violence, anti-social behaviour and the rising knife and gun culture.

The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire for 2011/12: Lord Charles Cecil

Charles and his wife, Virginia, live in Hatfield Park. His family have lived in Hertfordshire for over 400 years. His wife Virginia, who is half Italian and half Alexandrian Greek, is an acupuncturist with particular experience in treating addictions. They will be focussing especially on organisations and initiatives for the prevention of offending and the rehabilitation and aftercare of offenders.

“It is a great honour to serve as High Sheriff of Hertfordshire. It is an important and historic county of great variety and many needs. I hope to be able to contribute something to the organisations—statutory and voluntary—and the many individuals who do so much for the community” says Charles.

Main events include the Justice Service, at 11.15am on Sunday 20th November 2011, in St. Albans Abbey and a military band concert by the Band of the Grenadier Guards at the Watford Colosseum on the evening of Saturday, 25th February 2012 in aid of the High Sheriff’s Fund and military charities. (To book for the Grenadiers Concert, details will be posted nearer the time under “Events” on this web-site).

In Hertfordshire, Charles was for many years President of the Hertfordshire Association of Youth Clubs which, after a merger with the Hertfordshire Association of Boys Clubs, became the Hertfordshire Association of Young People, one of the largest youth organisations in the county. He is Patron of Pro Action which succeeded HAYP. He will become Patron of the St. Albans Diocesan Penal Affairs Group.

Charles has been in business in the financial world for 38 years. He was originally with the London merchant bank, J. Henry Schroder Wagg, for 17 years where he initially specialised in Latin America. He then co-founded a highly successful private equity fund placement business, Helix Associates, operating world-wide, retiring from this in 2008. He is also a co-founder, director of and consultant to one of the world’s largest private equity fund investment advisory and management firms, Altius Associates. Charles is also director of Lord North Street, a private investment office for major private investors. He advises or is Trustee to a number of major British private groups. Previous posts included being a non-executive director of Loot, the free ad paper group, and an international mutual fund company.

Apart from business, Charles is involved with a think tank (Politeia) and a literary society (the R.S.Surtees Society) amongst other activities. He was in the past a member of the council of The Children’s Society, a major U.K. charity linked to the Church of England, and was Vice Chairman of the Rambert Dance Company, the U.K.’s premier contemporary dance company.

Charles’s interests include travel, country sports, meeting people, cards (including bridge), the arts, reading, good food and wine.

Charles was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford where he obtained an M.A. in Modern History. He speaks French, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and, (though his wife disputes this), a little Italian.

Photographs: Hugo Burnand