20 Apr 2024
Just over 40 years since Hertfordshire appointed its first female High Sheriff, the latest incumbent becomes the first woman to have held the officers of Mayor of St Albans and Chairman of Herts county council before taking on the historic position.
Former Wheathampstead parish, district and county councillor Annie Brewster was officially appointed to the role by the King, and her declaration ceremony took place on Wednesday (April 17) at St Albans Cathedral.
In attendance were dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant, the Bishop of Hertford, the Dean of St Albans, the Chief Constable, the Police and Crime Commissioner, St Albans Crown Court Resident Judge, the Justice of the Peace Bench Chairman plus the new High Sheriffs of Bedfordshire and Essex.
The office of High Sheriff is the oldest continuous non-religious office under the Crown, originating under the reign of King Edgar (959-975).
Over the centuries, a Sheriff from each shire, or county, was responsible to the monarch for the maintenance of all law and order and for the collection and return of taxes.
The first High Sheriff overseeing Hertfordshire was Hugh De Lytton in 939 AD, and Annie will be only the 14th woman appointed to this historic role since then.
The possibility of female High Sheriffs was not seriously considered in 1869, and Hertfordshire did not actually see its first lady High Sheriff until 1983, Lady Stuart-Smith JP, DL of Abbots Langley.
Annie’s outfit in the role will be classic gentlemen’s court dress with a female twist.
Until the 18th century, High Sheriffs tended to wear flamboyant court dress of coloured waistcoats and beautifully tailored dress coats with tails.
In 1869, during the reign of Queen Victoria, the Lord Chamberlain directed that the outfit should be more uniform, including a black silk velvet dress coat, with gilt, cut steel, or plain buttons, and white or black silk velvet waistcoat, black silk velvet breeches, a black cocked hat, a gilt or steel handled sword and a white neckcloth or jabot.
Today’s High Sheriffs are the most visible wearers of court dress, and Annie explained the origins of her own outfit.
“I was thrilled to find a fabulous ex-Saville Row tailor who lives in Hertfordshire. Following several fittings at Tring-based Jorden Elisabeth Tailoring, Jorden (pictured right) created an exquisite feminine version of court dress with a faux waistcoat, puff-sleeves and knee length breeches so I can carry a sword.
“It is a true work of art. She is such a dedicated and talented tailor and, more remarkably, she managed to complete my beautiful court dress before she gives birth to her first child.
“Shoes were more difficult to find. Eventually, I found some fabulous glossy croc-effect patent leather loafers with curved clock heels and elongated, squared-off toes in New York. Henry Poole & Co in Saville Row were kind enough to hand-sew giant cut steel buckles onto them.
“The sword, once a weapon, became a fashion item in the late 18th century. My dress sword is early 19th century and is also made of cut steel. It is engraved with the words ‘High Sheriff of Hertfordshire’ and will be passed down to future High Sheriffs.”
The historical role of the High Sheriff began to change when Sir Robert Peel formed the police force in 1839, and today’s incumbents bring together a wide variety of people within the county, supporting its judges, police, magistrates, prison and probation services, emergency services, local authorities, church and faith groups, and promoting the many charities and voluntary organisations who work for the public good, as well as attending a host of civic events across Hertfordshire and supporting Royal visits.
In March a hole was made next to Annie’s name on the list of those proposed by the Privy Council using a silver bodkin in an ancient ‘pricking’ ceremony, which dates back at least as far as Henry VIII.
Some of the Sheriff’s duties, such as officiating at all hangings, were so onerous it was feared appointees’ names written in pen and ink could easily be scratched off the velum they were written upon.
High Sheriffs are still called upon to make the proclamation at the death of the sovereign, to be the returning officer at a General Election and to have the power to raise a posse to hunt down outlaws.
Annie, who has lived in Hertfordshire all her life, has two sons with her husband, Paul. As the Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council in 2022-2023 she headed up the Platinum Jubilee, and events marking the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of HM King Charles III. She also served as the county’s deputy executive member for public health during the Covid pandemic.
As Mayor of St Albans from 2013-14, she championed addiction charity The Living Room through her tenure, and as cabinet portfolio holder for culture, sport and leisure, she oversaw the development of the new St Albans Museum + Gallery, three leisure centres and the Eric Morecambe Centre in Harpenden.
A former international athlete, Annie has been a long serving member of the Herts Sport and; Physical Activity Partnership (HSP) Board and will adopt Sport for Good as the theme for her year in office.
She is passionate about the power of sport and physical activity as a cost-effective and successful vehicle for social change in areas such as health and mental wellbeing, social inclusion, community cohesion, crime and disorder reduction, educational attainments and the development of skills leading to employment and economic prosperity.
Annie will raise money via her High Sheriff Fund, run by the independent charitable trust, Hertfordshire Community Foundation, to help break down obstacles to opportunities for people of all ages to engage in physical activity.
Annie said: “I am so excited to be given this amazing historic honour and cannot wait to work with all the wonderful people who underpin our mighty county. As a local magistrate, trustee of the domestic abuse charity Future Living and an ex-politician, I have a good idea about the county’s challenges but I am about to learn so much more. It will be the greatest privilege to recognise and celebrate all the work being done by a huge number of people, so many of them volunteers, and to shout about all that at is good about Hertfordshire… wearing a slightly different hat!”
