CHESHIRE has welcomed its new High Sheriff.
Lynn Pegler was installed during a ceremony held on March 27 at Norton Priory Museum and Gardens in Runcorn.
She takes on the oldest secular office in the UK outside of the monarchy, dating back more than 1,000 years to Saxon times.
Ms Pegler, who lives in Crowton near Northwich, said: "A year is such a short time to make a difference, but I am planning to hit the ground running.
"I want to focus on promoting arts and culture and our county’s wonderful waterways through the Canal & River Trust, as well as Crimebeat and the Cheshire Community Foundation, shining a light on the county’s incredible charities and voluntary groups.
"Rather than the traditional sword, I shall be wielding an official pen, crafted by a member of Cheshire Woodturners Guild – because, as we all know, the pen is mightier than the sword."
The High Sheriff is appointed by His Majesty the King to serve a one-year term supporting the Crown, judiciary, law enforcement, emergency services, and voluntary organisations across the county.
Ms Pegler’s varied career includes PR and communications, journalism, and arts management.
She was born in Blackpool and began her professional life at the Westmorland Gazette before moving into government press roles.
This included time with the British Army in Preston, where she served during the First Gulf War and undertook assignments in Gibraltar, Germany, Northern Ireland, and Jamaica with the Cheshire Regiment.
She later worked in ministerial communications with the North West Central Office of Information in Manchester and Liverpool.
In 2000, she moved to Cheshire to become regional communications manager for British Waterways, promoting the region’s canal network.
She played a key role in the relaunch of the restored Anderton Boat Lift in 2002.
Ms Pegler went on to establish her own company, Pegler Communications, and has organised seven Weaver Words Literature Festivals.
She has also published poetry, written plays, and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
A keen violinist, she plays with the Chester Philharmonic Orchestra and is an award-winning member of the Kingsley Players community theatre group.
She plans to champion reading and digital safety for children during her term.
Ms Pegler said: "I shall be working with the Literary Trust as a Reading Champion to promote the National Year of Reading, supporting Chester’s Storyhouse and also using the power of drama to launch a new child digital safety campaign ‘Get Phone Smart’, delivered by Chester theatre-in-education group, 2Engage.
"We’ve already had some brilliant support from Cheshire Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Dan Price, to get us up and running.
"The plan will be to work with the county’s school children and their parents to help youngsters avoid the darkest pitfalls of social media and the awful repercussions of sharing intimate images, sextortion and revenge porn.
"There’s been a 700% increase in online child safety issues reported in the last three years.
"It’s ruining young lives.
"Hopefully over the next year, we can help to make a real difference to the next generation – and their parents."
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