A COUNTY’S new High Sheriff has spoken of her pride in taking up the historic, largely ceremonial post for the coming year.

Caroline Patricia Peacock became the first female High Sheriff of County Durham for 11 years after taking the oath of office at Durham Crown Court.

She takes over from Gerard Salvin, who handed over the badge of office during the swearing in ceremony presided over by Judge Christopher Prince, The Honorary Judicial Recorder of Durham.

It adds to the many commitments of the busy Mrs Peacock, of Hamsterley, near Bishop Auckland.

Having formerly chaired the Friends of Bowes Museum, she is now a museum trustee and was in attendance there for one of the final appointments of predecessor, the High Sheriff Awards, last week.

Congratulating her on taking over what is the oldest secular office under the Crown for the next 12 months, Judge Prince told her: “As I always say, it’s an opportunity to do much over the course of the next 12 months.

“How you will possibly find time to do so, given your other commitments in County Durham, I don’t know, but the very best of luck to you.”

Mrs Peacock, eagerly awaiting the challenges of her shrieval year, said: “I would say this is the greatest honour of my life.”

While several commitments may go, “on the back burner”, over the coming 12 months, the green-fingered grandmother has already fulfilled one of those, hosting a recent open garden event, at Ravensford Farm, last week.

She is in discussion with Durham’s Chief Constable, Mike Barton, as to a suitable charity to support, but she has pledged to back the work of the County Durham Community Foundation.

Mrs Peacock, back in Durham, where she graduated with a BA (Hons) in French and Spanish, in 1970, has led a varied working life, including as publications officer for the National Book League, senior editor and publications executive with Discovery Guides Ltd, while she has also been involved in senior roles with a number of health trusts and boards, as well as appeal manager with Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Three generations of her family attended the ceremony, including husband Jonathan, brother Christopher Dingwall, daughter Isobel and granddaughter, Sophia.