Carolyn Keene reports:   Alan Titchmarsh (pictured) said he is ‘chuffed’ on becoming the Isle of Wight’s High Sheriff for 2008. 

Contrary to national press reports, it would appear Islanders are also happy with this appointment, of which must be noted was by none other than Her Majesty the Queen.

Alan Titchmarsh said: “I hope over the next 12 months I will be able to win over those very few Islanders who think it’s not a good idea. I am chuffed to do it and I will do my best to do it well.”

The Office of High Sheriff is a Royal appointment, made at a meeting of the Privy Council, where the custom of HM The Queen literally pricking a hole through the nominee’s name on the Roll with a bodkin is perpetuated.
 
The Office runs for one year starting in April, it is non-political and unpaid, and no part of the High Sheriff’s expenses falls on the public purse.  Any citizen of good character owning property within the Isle of Wight may be appointed.

Interested Islanders knew about the appointment of Alan Titchmarsh as High Sheriff for nearly a year in advance and as far as we are aware there have been no public protests.

As for yesterdays swearing in of our new High Sheriff, the ceremony we believe went like clockwork, there were neither demonstrators in the streets or anywhere else on the Island.  Perhaps its a slow news day for the nationals after the Olympic flaming.

At the swearing in ceremony which took place in Newport Crown Court, Alan wore the High Sheriff’s frilly black velvet and lace uniform with gloves, knee-length socks, buckled shoes and a sword. 

The ceremony was overseen by presiding judge for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Judge Richard Price, the Island’s Lord Lieutenant Martin White and chairman of the bench Stephen Howe.  Also in attendance was the chaplain to the High Sheriff, Richard Emblin, and former High Sheriff David Langford.

In his acceptance speech, Alan said:

“Home is where I hang my hat and there is no hat I am prouder to own or more determined to do justice to than that of the High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight.

The role of the High Sheriff , which was set up more than 1,000 years ago, is mostly a ceremonial one to attend royal visits and provide hospitality to High Court judges as well as act as returning officer for parliamentary elections.  Other modern functions are to support voluntary and statutory organisations engaged in law and order.

One critic of the appointment is Conservative cllr for Brading and St Helens Patrick Joyce who was initially reported as saying:

“I would have thought they could have picked someone who lives all the time on the Isle of Wight. You would have thought they would have been able to find someone.”

“But it must be because he is a celebrity that they picked him. Although having said that, I have no problem with him, he’s a very nice chap.”

Of the national press furore, Dave from Ryde said:

“What rot. Most Islanders really don’t care that Alan is now High Sheriff. The only one’s who have a grudge are those who won’t be considered for the job.

National press reports that there’s widepread anger is also total tosh written by those who haven’t got the slightest clue about island Life.”

Hello Magazine reports: 

“Former Ground Force star Alan Titchmarsh fell for the charms of the Isle of Wight long ago. And now the people of the island have showed they’re equally as fond of the star as he is of them - by appointing him High Sheriff.”

Related Mainland News Links:

James Maden from the Daily Echo reports: TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh has been appointed High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight - amid protest from locals that he is not an Islander. click here:

Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy reports:  Locals object to High Sheriff Titchmarsh:  Residents of the Isle of Wight have protested at the appointment of Alan Titchmarsh as High Sheriff click here:

Richard Smith of the Mirror reports: Isle of Wight locals object as Alan Titchmarsh is made High Sheriff:
Locals object as Yorkshire born Alan is made High Sheriff on Isle of Wight  click here:

Isle of Wight Community News @Island Pulse.

: Tuesday : April 8th, 2008 at 10:47 am.