Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2013 | Page 34

Diary of the High Sheriff
Mary Case
Thumbing through my diary
for this edition of Island
Life has been a pleasure, not
least because we had a proper
summer with hot days and warm
evenings; even our barbeque
made an appearance!
I attended five village shows,
all very different in character
and all well worth a visit.
Brighstone Show has close
links with Brighstone School
while Shorwell Show and
Chillerton Show are both held
in the gardens of beautiful
houses. Chale Show and

Wolverton Manor Garden Fair
are much bigger and attract huge
numbers of visitors. Whether
large or small all these Shows
have several things in common.
They are run by dedicated
committees; they only survive
because so many volunteers and
helpers give huge amounts of
their time and effort, and they
all raise much needed funds
for local charities. I hope the
tradition of the local village
Show continues despite the red
tape and economic downturn.

Cheque boost

I was delighted to be asked by a previous
High Sheriff David Biles to present a cheque
for £2,250 to the Dialysis department at St
Mary’s Hospital. The money raised came
from a collection at his wife Di’s funeral.
I had a fascinating tour of the department
and met several of the dedicated team who
care for those on dialysis. David knows first
hand how tiring it can be to be on dialysis
three times a week and his generous gift to
the Dialysis department will help those who
attend.
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Princess Royal's visit

I had been warned by previous
High Sheriffs that Cowes
Week would be busy and they
were right. During the week
I was invited to a wide range
of receptions, but it’s not easy
making meaningful conversation
with people you’ve never met,
especially if you are not a sailor!
We enjoyed the Seafarers’
Service at Holy Trinity Church,
and after some rousing hymns
we were invited outside to the

Fastnet Memorial to remember
those who perished during the
1979 Fastnet Race.
We were honoured to be
introduced to HRH The Princess
Royal and Vice Admiral Timothy
Laurence, whose duties whilst
on the Island included opening
the Mattinson Centre at Corf, a
marvellous new building which
will be used as headquarters and
to train future scout leaders.