New High Sheriff of Greater Manchester chosen by the Queen

A new High Sheriff of Greater Manchester has been chosen by Her Majesty the Queen.

At a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace, Lorraine Worsley-Carter MBE D L has been formally chosen as the next High Sheriff of Greater Manchester. In accordance with ancient tradition, Her Majesty took a bodkin (a blunt needle) and ceremonially pricked a hole through Lorraine’s name on a specially prepared parchment known as ‘The Lites’.

This unusual method dates back to the reign of Elizabeth I. It is understood that she was interrupted during her needlework to appoint a High Sheriff and, having nothing to write with, pricked a hole through the name on the parchment with a bodkin.

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The Office of High Sheriff is an unpaid, independent non-political Royal appointment for a single year. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the High Sheriff is theoretically the sovereign's judicial representative in the county.

Mrs Worsley-Carter and her husband recently returned to live in Stockport, Lorraine’s birthplace, after a number of years in Salford Quays. She is the owner of her family media business Countess Publicists, as well as a theatre and book reviewer, and travel writer.

Lorraine is a former freelance broadcaster, mainly with the BBC, as well as film editor with Granada Television. In 1998, she was awarded the MBE for “outstanding service to broadcasting and the community”, and became a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester in 2008.

Additionally, she is also part of the Greater Manchester Lieutenancy Honours committee, which exists to encourage the people of Greater Manchester to nominate outstanding individuals from the community for