New High Sheriff of Lancashire

The new High Sheriff of Lancashire has been announced as The Honourable Ralph C Assheton TD DL.

He is the founder and Director of Bowland Bioenergy Ltd and Chairman of Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership.

After gaining a Diploma in Rural Estate Management from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Mr. Assheton then qualified as a Chartered Surveyor working in Berkshire and Lancashire.

A military career then followed. Mr. Assheton joined the Territorial Army in 1987 and was commissioned as an officer the following year. His military career includes serving with the Life Guards in Saudi Arabia in the first Gulf War and Operation Banner in Ulster. He also led his regiment’s Wigan Squadron and then commanded the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry regiment from 2005 to 2007.

As the new High Sheriff, Mr. Assheton will be sworn in at a special ceremony on Friday 5 April 2019, when he takes over the office from the incumbent High Sheriff, Anthony Attard OBE DL.

Each year HM The Queen personally appoints the High Sheriff of Lancashire – a role dating back over 1,000 years.

Speaking on his appointment, Mr. Assheton said: “To become High Sheriff of Lancashire is a great honour for me.

“In my year of responsibility I will endeavour to work closely with the police, the judiciary and our emergency services. It is also my intention to encourage and to support the many voluntary groups who work tirelessly to create positive and lasting relationships with all of Lancashire’s diverse cultures and religious groups.”

The role of High Sheriff includes a duty to ‘protect and assist in upholding the dignity and wellbeing of Her Majesty’s Judges and to project the principles of encouraging responsible citizenship and respect for the diversity of the community which lie at the heart of our Constitution’.

The office of High Sheriff is an unpaid and voluntary role.