We are very proud that our chair, David W Bavaird, is the new High Sheriff for Tyne & Wear.

David was installed into the prestigious ancient role during a ceremony at the Church of the Holy Saviour, Tynemouth, attended by 200 family, friends and colleagues from the many local organisations he is involved with.

For the next year his duties will include supporting the Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear on royal visits to Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland and ensuring the welfare of and providing hospitality to visiting High Court Judges.

Another duty, very close to his heart, will be taking an active part in supporting and promoting voluntary organisations across Tyne & Wear.

David, who has lived in North Shields for 30 years and has devoted the past 18 years to volunteering across different sectors said: “I am thrilled and honoured to be High Sheriff. The key theme for my year in office is working together today to help make a better tomorrow. I aim to do this through promoting volunteering across Tyne & Wear in schools, in the community and through working with local authorities and businesses.

“I have been lucky enough to volunteer for a number of charities within North Shields and across the North East which has significantly helped me as a person and as a business-person. As such, I would like to raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering not just for the organisation concerned but for the community and the individual.”

During his year in office he intends to continue as chair of the Old Low Light and with as many of his other volunteering commitments as his busy schedule allows.

He has been involved with the Old Low Light for almost ten years, from the early days when a major programme of restoration was carried out and a charity established to drive the development of a heritage centre that would celebrate and preserve the area’s history.

The Office of High Sheriff is an independent non-political royal appointment for 12 months. Today there are 55 High Sheriffs serving the counties of England and Wales. The High Sheriff of Northumberland used to cover part of Tyne & Wear, including North Tyneside but when the metropolitan county of Tyne & Wear was established in 1974, a role was created for a High Sheriff of Tyne & Wear.

However, the role dates back almost 1,000 years to ‘Shire Reeves’ who were royal officials appointed to enforce the Crown’s interests in a county, including collecting revenues and enforcing law and order.

Previous High Sheriffs have come from some of the most prominent families within the region. David follows in the footsteps of very well known people, including Colonel William Linskill of Tynemouth Lodge, who was Colonel of the North Shields and Tynemouth Volunteers, Lord Armstrong of Cragside who founded the Armstrong Whitworth manufacturing facility on Tyneside, Sir Charles Parsons who invented the combine steam turbine and Lieutenant General Robin Brims, Commander of the UK Field Army.