North Yorkshire’s new High Sheriff follows family tradition

Charlie Forbes Adam, who was sworn in at York Crown Court yesterday, is completing a notable family double as his father Nigel was High Sheriff of the county in 1976-77.

Mr Forbes Adam, of Skipwith, near Selby, said that he was tremendously proud of continuing the family tradition.

Nigel Forbes Adam was at York Crown Court to see the new High Sheriff take over from Tom Ramsden of Ripon, who has held the 1,000-year-old post for a year.

Charlie Forbes Adam said: “It’s a great honour to follow in my father’s footsteps. I remember his year as High Sheriff very well and I am both privileged and humbled to be given this opportunity to continue our family’s tradition of public service.

“My primary aim during my year as High Sheriff is to raise awareness of the link between crime and addiction to drink and drugs. The High Sheriff is traditionally responsible for maintaining law and order on behalf of the monarch, so I feel this is an appropriate and timely objective.”

“This is also a subject very close to my heart. I have been chairman of the Yorkshire Fundraising Committee of RAPt (the Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust) for the past five years.

“RAPt’s residential centre, the Bridges in Hull, does exceptional work in helping men – the majority of whom have been recently released from prison – by treating their drug and alcohol addiction through 12-Step treatment, therapy, counselling and the provision of safe and friendly accommodation. It has an astonishing success rate,” he explained.

Mr Forbes Adam said he would also be raising the profile of Selby during his year in office. “Selby is the closest town to our family home in Skipwith. Selby has suffered in the past, being close to such regional powerhouses as York and Leeds, and often gets overlooked.

“But Selby has so much to offer and, as the economy picks up after the recession, I will be doing my best to ensure that the Selby area makes the most of the economic and social opportunities that comes its way,” he explained.

Mr Forbes Adam currently manages Escrick Park Estate, near Selby, which has been in the Forbes Adam family for nearly 350 years.