Ex-council boss named new High Sheriff of Gwent

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A former Chief Executive of Caerphilly County Borough Council has been appointed as the new High Sheriff of Gwent.

Malgwyn Davies OBE CStJ, 75, served as the council’s first ever Chief Executive between 1996 and 2006 and is currently the chairman of St David’s Hospice Care.

Grandfather-of-six Mr Davies was selected for the role by the Queen, and was formally appointed during a ceremony at the council’s headquarters in Tredomen on Friday, March 25.

He takes over the role from Phillip Alderman, whose one-year term came to an end.

Before retiring, Mr Davies also worked as clerk to Gwent Police and Company Secretary of Gwent and South East Wales Training and Enterprise Councils, as well as a Returning Officer during Parliamentary and other elections.

What is the High Sheriff?

Each year, a High Sheriff is appointed for each county in England, and each traditional county in Wales, for a year-long term.

The tradition dates back more than 1,000 years, with 55 High Sheriffs appointed each year.

In the past, these figures had responsibilities such as collecting taxes and judging cases, but in modern times, the High Sheriff is mainly a ceremonial role, promoting voluntary organisations and supporting emergency services, law-enforcement agencies and religious groups.

The role is unpaid and isn’t associated with any political party.

The ‘Gwent’ area covers Caerphilly County Borough, as well as Blaenau Gwent, Newport, Torfaen and Monmouthshire.

Groups in this area can receive funding from the High Sheriff’s Community Fund.

The fund provides support to initiatives and projects working with young people, with an emphasis on young people at risk, crime prevention, drugs and substance misuse and community safety.

Mr Davies said he was “extremely surprised” to be approached for the role, but also “very honoured and privileged”.

He continued: “It is an ancient office which has been in continuous existence since Saxon times and while the role has modified over the years, the honour of being selected by Her Majesty the Queen to perform such a unique role in your county cannot be over-exaggerated. 

“This is something my family have also recognised and value, although it required quite a detailed explanation of the role for my grandchildren to fully understand and for some of the more mature members of the family too.”

He paid tribute to the work of his two immediate predecessors – Mr Alderman and Tim Russen – who both took on the role during multiple Covid lockdowns.

Mr Davies said his goal was to get the “Office of High Sheriff back to the successful way it operated prior to the pandemic” and expressed his desire to allocate funds to voluntary organisations dealing with crime prevention and community safety.

Emma Saysell, Chief Executive of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “The hospice is honoured to have a serving High Sheriff as our Chair. The appointment is so well deserved.

“Malgwyn will be an outstanding High Sheriff. He works tirelessly for the hospice as he does for the voluntary sector throughout South Wales.”