In the time of Henry II judges were sent out on the road but it remained the Sheriff’s responsibility to ensure the safety and comfort of the Judges. This is the origin of the High Sheriff’s modern-day duty of care for the well-being of High Court Judge.  Today as well as ensuring the welfare of the visiting High Court judges they now take a more active role in supporting and promoting the voluntary organisations in the county, often taking up a theme, but always with crime prevention and community cohesion in mind.  

The role is wholly unpaid and each High Sheriff can chose how they ‘use’ this ceremonial and ambassadorial role.  For Jo, who has ties across the county in the farming, food and drink, tourism and business sectors having run her own business in north west Herefordshire for 25 years, she wants to use the opportunity to highlight the great work that many of the county’s constituents carry out on a daily basis.  For these heroes and heroines, who are mostly unsung, it is an opportunity for them to get their stories out there and for Jo it is an opportunity to talk to them on a platform where their voices can be heard, their stories can be told and through the podcast forum they become a part of history where their voices are stored for future generations.