A NEW high sheriff has been appointed for Worcestershire via videolink due to coronavirus.

Mark Jackson was declared the new high sheriff remotely. The role is normally handed over in person in front of either a High Court judge or magistrate at Worcester Crown Court, however, an exception was made due to the government's guidance for people to stay at home.

This year’s declaration was made in unprecedented fashion over Facetime with the high sheriff of Worcestershire in his garden in Charlton and magistrate Fiona Charny in her study at home in Worcester city centre.

The under sheriff Andrew Duncan, who was also appointed at the same time, read his declaration to Mrs Charny over the phone.

Mr Jackson said: “Following the reading of the declaration to Fiona this morning on FaceTime I also promised that my wife Kathy and I would stage a more formal reading in my best bib and tucker for the record, the video of which I forwarded to the High Sheriff Association as a bit of history for the Shrievalty”

Mr Jackson is a retired Lieutenant Colonel who was commanding officer of 1bn, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment.

He also served as chief executive of St Richard's Hospice from 2006 until 2017.