THE new High Sheriff of Essex, Christopher Palmer-Tomkinson, takes up his duties after swearing his Declaration at a ceremony held at Chelmsford Crown Court. He is the 832nd High Sheriff of Essex.

During his year of office, Christopher will raise money for The High Sheriffs’ Fund through which he will support voluntary and community organisations working throughout Essex to make their communities safe from crime and the fear of crime.

The High Sheriffs’ Fund is managed by grantmaking charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation. Since it came under the Foundation’s management in 1997, the Fund has distributed over �355,000 to 435 voluntary and community groups all working hard to support local people and address crime related issues in their area.

Projects which have received support include women’s refuges, anti-social behaviour reduction initiatives, garden maintenance schemes for elderly residents to reduce incidence of burglary, neighbourhood watch schemes and activities for children and young people.

“As High Sheriff, I am really looking forward to meeting people across Essex who are volunteering their time to help others in their community or are involved with local charities,” said Christopher.

“Working with Essex Community Foundation and tapping into their knowledge and expertise in the voluntary sector will help me to have a greater understanding of where need lies in this our diverse county.”

Christopher was born and brought up in the south of England and, with his wife, moved to Little Bentley in Essex in 1974. Much of his working life was involved on the international side of the city firm Cazenove & Co (now J P Morgan Cazenove), but his roots in Essex have been nourished by 36 years as a church warden of his local church, by his involvement as a governor of a special needs School in Elmstead Market and through his directorship of an engineering company.

Christopher has also raised significant sums of money for Essex charities through a triennial garden show at Little Bentley Hall.

For information about the High Sheriffs’ Fund and Essex Community Foundation visit essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk or call Jo Murphy on 01245 355947. The next deadline date for applications to the High Sheriffs’ Fund will be December 1, 2012.