Councillor Robert Gardiner writes:

Having been a Ward Councillor in Abbey for just 3 years, I have, this last year ( 2005/6) , been honoured and privileged to be the Deputy Mayor and Sheriff for the City of Gloucester.

The ancient office of Sheriff, which goes back to medieval times, (I was the 874^th) now only has ‘civic’ and ‘ceremonial’ duties, compared to years gone by when the Sheriff presided over local courts, had powers of summons, held prisoners and collected fines and taxes.

Today only 15 towns and cities, the most famous of which is Nottingham, retain the office.

It has been a fabulous year representing the City, the highlights of which have been numerous, far too many to mention, but include services at Gloucester Cathedral, the laying of wreaths on VJ Day and Remembrance Sunday, two trips to Portsmouth to HMS Gloucester for the International Fleet Review and Affiliates Day.

The civic year has included almost 200 occasions when my wife Helen, as the Sheriff’s Lady, and I have had the pleasure of visiting City Clubs, Societies, Charities and organisations and I am proud to be part of a team with the Mayor that has raised £11,500, a record amount, for our two Charities, McMillan Cancer Relief and the Gloucester and Forest branch of Multiple. Sclerosis.

Bob Gardiner ; June 2006