On Friday 3 October, complete with the added complication of storm Amy, Pippa Kirkbride, The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire hosted the annual Justice Service for the county of Buckinghamshire – an event marking the start of the new Judicial year. The service was held in the beautiful setting of St Mary’s Church, Amersham and led by the Revd Jonny Rapson. The service was full of joy and hope as The Countess Howe, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, local Mayors, MP’s, neighbouring High Sheriffs, members of the clergy, the police and most importantly representatives from all areas of the county’s Judiciary gathered to celebrate and give thanks for those who uphold law and order and serve the county. The service began with a procession, music from Amersham Band and Amersham A Cappella. A number of scouts, guides and police cadets were granted special permission to be absent from school to assist at this joyous event, one of the scouts even helping with the safekeeping of the visiting High Sheriffs’ swords during the service!
The service saw the Resident Judge of the Aylesbury and Amersham Crown Court and the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police give readings, and the address was given by Dwayne Fields, the UK’s Scout Leader. Having had a challenging journey, thanks to the mercy of the British weather, Dwayne still managed to arrive full of energy and positivity for the afternoon ahead, engaging with as many people as possible, but particularly the young scouts present. Dwayne spoke openly and honestly about his life, growing up in rural Jamaica, a childhood he loved, being free to roam the outdoors. From this, Dwayne found himself, aged 6, in a new and very different world in the UK. Through a friend from school, he chanced upon the Scout movement, which gave Dwayne back the sense of community that he missed, the chance to explore and marvel at our great outdoors (despite grey skies which he was definitely not used to!).
The two themes running through Dwayne’s address resonated very much with those of the High Sheriff; they are both passionate about assisting our youth to fulfil their potential along with the power of volunteering, and how the greatest rewards are often for the volunteer, rather than the receiver of help. Without volunteers to run the Scout groups across the country, such opportunities for young people would not exist and Dwayne attributes the success of his entire life to the time and effort put into his youth by volunteers. All in all, the service was a wonderful opportunity to give grateful thanks to everyone who serves in our county to uphold law and order and keep us safe.
