A Cheshire Deputy Lieutenant from Crowton has been installed as the new High Sheriff of Cheshire at a special ceremony hosted at Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.
Lynn Pegler is a PR, media, communications specialist, chair of Norton Priory trustees, a board member of Halton Chamber of Commerce and former festival manager of the Weaver Words Literature Festival.
The office of High Sheriff is the oldest secular office in the UK outside the monarchy, dating back more than 1,000 years to Saxon times.
While now largely ceremonial, it remains an active and highly respected role.
Each High Sheriff serves for one year and is appointed by His Majesty the King to support the Crown, the judiciary, law enforcement, emergency services, and voluntary and community organisations across the county.
Lynn was born and raised in Blackpool and worked after university as a newspaper journalist on the Westmorland Gazette in Cumbria.
She moved into Government regional press/PR roles, firstly for the British Army in Preston, which included service in the First Gulf War, visits to units in Gibraltar, Germany, Northern Ireland, and Jamaica with the Cheshire Regiment.
Later, she worked in Government ministerial PR with the NW Central Office of Information in Manchester and Liverpool.
Lynn moved to Cheshire in 2000 to become a regional Communications Manager for British Waterways, promoting the Northwest’s canals and river navigations, including launching a newly restored Anderton Boat Lift in 2002.
She said: “I want to focus on promoting arts and culture and our county’s wonderful waterways through the Canal & River Trust, as well as Crimebeat and the Cheshire Community Foundation, shining a light on the county’s incredible charities and voluntary groups.
“Rather than the traditional sword, I shall be wielding an official pen, crafted by a member of Cheshire Woodturners Guild – because, as we all know, the pen is mightier than the sword!
“I shall be working with the Literary Trust as a Reading Champion to promote the National Year of Reading, supporting Chester’s Storyhouse and also using the power of drama to launch a new child digital safety campaign ‘Get Phone Smart’, delivered by Chester theatre-in-education group, 2Engage.
“We’ve already had some brilliant support from Cheshire Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Dan Price, to get us up and running.
“The plan will be to work with the county’s school children and their parents to help youngsters avoid the darkest pitfalls of social media and the awful repercussions of sharing intimate images, sextortion and revenge porn.
“There’s been a 700% increase in online child safety issues reported in the last three years.
“It’s ruining young lives. Hopefully over the next year, we can help to make a real difference to the next generation – and their parents.”
More information at www.highsheriffofcheshire.co.uk
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