Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters
From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today
Since March last year, Malgwyn Davies has served as the High Sheriff of Gwent.
In what was his 194th engagement since taking up the unpaid role, Mr Davies attended a Blackwood Rotary Club meeting on January 31, where he spoke to Rotarians about what his job entails.
Caerphilly Observer was invited along to the event and chatted with Mr Davies about his highlights as his one-year term as High Sheriff nears completion.
Who is Malgwyn Davies?
The first ever chief executive of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Malgwyn Davies OBE CStJ, 75, led the authority from its creation in 1996 until 2006 and is currently the chairman of St David’s Hospice Care.
Grandfather-of-six Mr Davies was selected for the role by the late Queen Elizabeth II, and was formally appointed during a ceremony at the council’s headquarters in Tredomen last March.
He took 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.
“There’s some fantastic work being done”
Discussing his favourite moments in the role, the High Sheriff told Caerphilly Observer: “The highlights have been meeting lots of different people throughout the county of Gwent and chatting to them about what they’re doing in their communities – there’s some fantastic work being done I must say.”
“I thought I knew the county before I was appointed but I’ve met so many different people now and learned about the things that they do. It’s so varied.
Why is Caerphilly in Gwent?
Caerphilly County Borough was formed on April 1, 1996, by the merger of the Rhymney Valley district of Mid Glamorgan with the Islwyn borough of Gwent.
Administratively, for local services such as the police and health, the borough now falls under a wider region referred to as Gwent. This comprises the council areas of Caerphilly, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.
“I’ve been to so many other events that it’s hard to single one out, but I suppose the highlight has to be, sad though it was, reading the Royal proclamation when Her Majesty sadly passed away.”
When asked if he ever expected to be appointed to the role, Mr Davies admitted he was “very surprised when asked” – and said he quickly made his mind up.
“I had some idea about a High Sheriff and what they did because of my previous roles within the county, but only when you’re appointed you realise exactly what is involved.”
Some of his engagements have included visits to mosques and Buddhist temples, as well as recognising “unsung heroes” for the work they do in the community.
Explaining the process behind his appointment as High Sheriff, Mr Davies explained: “It involves lots of people within the county discussing the issue but eventually it’s the responsibility of the current High Sheriff to nominate somebody for a few years ahead.
“So the person who was High Sheriff three years before me asked to speak to me and said they would like me to be High Sheriff of Gwent – I said yes.”
Mr Davies admitted he would continue in the role again if asked – but ruled out the chances of that happening.
“I’ve done that all my life – if someone asked me to perform a task, I’d like to do it the best I can. If they asked me to do another year then yes I would do it because there’s still lots more I could see.”
For Mr Davies, the experience of being High Sheriff has differed greatly to that of his predecessors, who served during Covid.
“Before the pandemic the person that did the job, Dame Claire Clancy, kept a diary of her appointments and in that year she had 240 appointments. This is my 194th today, so I’m catching up.
“The person the year before last had very few appointments. Last year was a mixture but this year it’s felt a lot different.”
Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters
From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.
Become a member today