WARWICKSHIRE has a new high sheriff.
Rajvinder Kaur Gill is the first Sikh woman in the UK to ever hold the office.
She took over from Sophie Hilleary at a ceremony held in the former courthouse at The Old Shire Hall in Warwick.
The office of high sheriff is one of only two royal appointments in the county and has existed since Saxon times. Historically, the sheriff was responsible for raising troops, collecting taxes and catching criminals, all of which powers have over time been taken on by others.
Rajvinder,originally from Kent, is one of five siblings bought up by her parents who came over from Punjab in the 1960s.
Rajinder moved to Warwickshire in 1989 when she married husband Jagtar Singh Gill.
Settling in Leamington, she worked in administration for Warwickshire County Council running the Youth Training Scheme.
After ten years with the council, she moved on to Calor Gas, before becoming HR manager for the now closed Woodwards department store in Leamington.
After that she focused on the family property business run with her husband.
Her interest in law and order was enhanced by being appointed a magistrate for the Coventry and Warwickshire Bench.
And crime prevention and community safety are at the forefront of her priorities over the coming year.
Her focus will be on supporting Warwickshire’s youth in an attempt to reduce crime and invest in their safety and education.
The mum-of-three said: “It is a huge honour and a privilege to be offered the chance to serve the people of Warwickshire. I am very keen to actively support and encourage crime prevention projects in our county and support the Crimebeat charity that gives recognition to innovative and successful crime prevention projects carried out by young people.
“I would never, in my wildest dreams, have imagined to be where I am today. When that tap on the shoulder happens, it is overwhelming and feels so surreal which is how it has been until today, the day of my inauguration when reality awakens you.
“I extend my heartfelt appreciation to everyone whose support and trust has allowed me to undertake this esteemed position – a role of great importance to the community of Warwickshire and the Sikh community as after over 1,000 years of history of the office of high sheriff, I am the first Sikh woman to take this ancient office in the UK.”