I am hugely honoured to take on the role of High Sheriff of Herefordshire, following in the footsteps of Patricia Churchward who has had such an inspiring year. The role is largely ceremonial, a royal appointment to support the Crown and the judiciary. Over the next year I will actively lend my support and encouragement to crime prevention agencies, the emergency services and the voluntary sector. I will keep my focus on crime reduction initiatives, especially amongst young people, assisting charities and other organisations working with vulnerable communities, and seek to best allocate the High Sheriff Fund through the auspices of the Herefordshire Community Foundation.
My aims for the coming 12 months are to uphold the values and traditions of this historic role but equally to make the most of the opportunities it presents. I know I will encounter many areas I’m not familiar with but that is the special opportunity this role affords. And my intention and pledge is to throw myself in with energy and enthusiasm and endeavour to make a positive difference where I can, prioritising those who have a tough time. There is no pre-chosen ‘focus’ for my year as High Sheriff; I know I’ll be inspired by those working hard to make our county the best place possible in so many different fields.
I am Herefordian through and through. Born and raised on a tenanted farm near Kingsland, one of 4 daughters (and eventually a son) to Bill and Margaret Lyke. Schooled at Kingsland and then Wigmore. And then for a decade or so I ventured away, initially for degrees in Geography and then Marketing (where I met my husband, Andy) and then to a career in marketing. When children came along we made a strategic decision to return to Herefordshire. We took on Orphans Press in Leominster in 1997 when this historic printing business was in a perilous position. Today, our business is Orphans Press alongside eighteen73, a creative agency which has blossomed from early beginnings within Orphans. One of the agency’s most interesting and exciting projects has been our work on Visit Herefordshire, branding, website and promotion. This gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in my own county, exploring our many assets and hidden gems.
I am proud of what we have to offer and I have long been keen to help local organisations and businesses thrive. I was a founding member of Leominster ‘Women In Business’ in 2002 which ran until 2018 – it was a force for good but equally importantly forged friendships which endure. More recently I have been a member of the Herefordshire Business Board supporting enterprise and economic growth for Herefordshire.
Outside of business you’ll find me coaching, playing or organising netball. Sport is fantastic for building confidence, resilience and friendship. As a tiny county, we have to punch above our weight to compete, but it’s a great feeling pulling it off! I was honoured to receive a national ‘Rose Award’ in 2007 for outstanding contribution to the development of netball ‘from grassroots to performance’. Recognition like this is truly appreciated but of course it is all about seeing youngsters enjoying the game and developing as far as they can.
My other passion is the environment. I take the climate emergency seriously and believe we all need to make changes – it cannot be life as normal. At work we have cultivated a strong green culture, and the team takes little cajoling to get involved, because at the end of the day, the more you think about nature and take notice, the more you get from it.
So in my role as High Sheriff I am drawn to supporting teenagers, especially those with additional challenges beyond their control. I look forward to meeting and learning from the many organisations who work in this sphere and will look at avenues to actively support good causes. I am particularly excited to meet young people who themselves are leading creative groups or activities – it would be great to see one of our own in the running for the National Crimebeat Awards.
If you have any ideas or information on individuals or groups who you feel I may be able to meet with please do get in touch.
I will go where the role takes me, and am very much looking forward to sharing the journey with my chaplain, Angie Kateley. I know she will be a wise, gentle, and fun companion. Most of all I would like to make a positive difference in as many ways as possible and through sharing my journey inspire others to do similar. Please do follow what promises to be a very stimulating and I hope productive year on Facebook and Instagram.
