Julie Llewelyn is stepping down from her role as co-ordinator of the Hambledon Community Fund to become High Sheriff of Surrey for 2021-22.

Her installation ceremony takes place tomorrow (Thurs April 29^th), when she becomes the legal representative of Her Majesty the Queen in Surrey for the next 12 months. In this capacity, Julie will have a busy calendar of events, attending a range of functions and supporting charitable causes throughout the county.

Under normal circumstances the ceremony would have taken place at Guildford Cathedral, but current Coronavirus restrictions prevent such a gathering. Instead, her installation will be streamed at 7pm tomorrow evening on the High Sheriff of Surrey website and will be shown live and remain available to be watched later.

A link to this can be found on the opening page: https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/

Julie, a diabetes physician and a resident of Feathercombe Lane, said she was disappointed not to have family and friends to join in her celebration, but said: “I do hope you can share this rather special personal moment, albeit online, and look forward to including you all in events and updating you on all the activities that I undertake in the next twelve months.”

There is a High Sheriff for each county in England and Wales and the post is unpaid, with general expenses met by the holder. The title dates back at least as far as 1066 and the process of selection reflects the antiquity of the office. An incumbent High Sheriff selects the names of those considered suitable to serve in the future and these are added to a parchment list kept at the High Court.

In March of every year the Queen, at a meeting of the Privy Council, formally selects one of three nominated candidates for each county by pricking a hole through his or her name on the list with a bodkin. This was a method aimed at making it clear beyond doubt who was the chosen candidate and to avoid unscrupulous practices.

The current High Sheriff for Surrey is Shahid Azeem and it is he who will formally hand over his office to Julie tomorrow evening.

Julie has been co-ordinator of the Hambledon Community Fund almost since its inception in 2008. The fund was set up by the Hambledon Village Trust with Mary Burrows, its chair, co-ordinating at the outset. Once established under the umbrella of the Community Foundation for Surrey, Mary handed over to Julie, who was also supported by Kath Evans in the early days before she moved from the village.

The Fund receives money from legacies and donations and makes available grants to benefit groups, organisation and individuals in the parish. Applications are initially assessed by the CFS and then by a grants panel made up of local people.

More details of the Fund can be found on this website under the link on the top menu to “Organisations”.

The Trust will now consult with village organisations and representatives before a successor to Julie is chosen.