The annual Law Sunday celebration is designed to mark the standing that Winchester has in the legal community, being home to one of Britain’s most important crown courts. It also recognises the legal profession’s contribution to the city.
News
News
Hundreds gather for Law Sunday Service at Winchester Cathedral
Amelia Riviere JP DL, High Sheriff of Hampshire
Amelia has been a magistrate in North Hampshire for the last 13 years, serving in both Adult and Youth jurisdictions. She spent a year on the Independent Monitoring Board of HMP Winchester. She is also a trustee of Allegra’s Ambition working with young people through sport and outdoor activities, Trinity Winchester supporting the homeless and vulnerable in the city and The Hampton Trust, providing diversion and education to perpetrators of domestic violence.
Amelia has taken as her theme for her shrieval year the third sector and volunteers who do such vital and invaluable work within the criminal justice system. Her intention is to celebrate them, thank them and hope to encourage others to join their ranks.
All today’s prayer readers volunteer in the criminal justice system or a related area. Their day jobs among other things include pr executive, property developer and IT consultant.
Alastair Barron, Chaplain to the High Sheriff of Hampshire
After a career in the Army focusing on intelligence and security, Alastair moved to the City of London to work in the international finance sector as it responded to a range of security threats and risks around the world, particularly terrorism. From 2016, Alastair ran his own consultancy providing services to parts of the UK government and business. He now helps run a trusted network of former colleagues and risk professionals.
Alastair has been involved with the Diocese of Winchester and his local parish for many years. Alastair is an active lay member of the Downs Benefice’s ministry team, supporting the incumbent by leading church services. Alastair is a Trustee of Trinity Winchester which provides help for local homeless people and he is also an active Street Pastor in Winchester.
The role of High Sheriff is a blend of tradition and evolution. Except for the Monarchy, the Shrievalty is the oldest secular office in the country and the only secular post surviving from Saxon times. Their original duties were as the King’s land agents and collectors of taxes.
After 1066 the High Sheriff’s role became to administer justice as well as collecting taxes and providing local military support for the King. It was at this time that the Sheriff came to be part of the Justice system, sitting in the local Shire court and supporting the judges who travelled to the courts.
Today the High Sheriff remains an appointment of the Crown, serving for one year in a voluntary and unpaid capacity. They no longer have any rent collecting duties but continue to support the High Court judges, together with the rest of the judiciary and all those involved in law and order, including the voluntary sector.
Amelia Riviere JP DL, High Sheriff of Hampshire
Amelia has been a magistrate in North Hampshire for the last 13 years, serving in both Adult and Youth jurisdictions. She spent a year on the Independent Monitoring Board of HMP Winchester. She is also a trustee of Allegra’s Ambition working with young people through sport and outdoor activities, Trinity Winchester supporting the homeless and vulnerable in the city and The Hampton Trust, providing diversion and education to perpetrators of domestic violence.
Amelia has taken as her theme for her shrieval year the third sector and volunteers who do such vital and invaluable work within the criminal justice system. Her intention is to celebrate them, thank them and hope to encourage others to join their ranks.
All today’s prayer readers volunteer in the criminal justice system or a related area. Their day jobs among other things include pr executive, property developer and IT consultant.
Alastair Barron, Chaplain to the High Sheriff of Hampshire
After a career in the Army focusing on intelligence and security, Alastair moved to the City of London to work in the international finance sector as it responded to a range of security threats and risks around the world, particularly terrorism. From 2016, Alastair ran his own consultancy providing services to parts of the UK government and business. He now helps run a trusted network of former colleagues and risk professionals.
Alastair has been involved with the Diocese of Winchester and his local parish for many years. Alastair is an active lay member of the Downs Benefice’s ministry team, supporting the incumbent by leading church services. Alastair is a Trustee of Trinity Winchester which provides help for local homeless people and he is also an active Street Pastor in Winchester.
The Rev Jo Honour, Chaplain, HMP Sudbury
Jo has worked in prisons since 1995. For 11 years she worked exclusively with people convicted of a sexual offence and has a special interest in faith-based resettlement in this field. She now works part-time as the Anglican Chaplain at HMP Sudbury Open Prison. She is a Trustee of The Prison Fellowship, mission of which is to show Christ’s love to people in prison by coming alongside them and supporting them. They seek through prayer and practical care to help, support and develop a Christian ministry to people in prison and their families.
Today marks the start of Prisons Week, a week of prayer, to pray for the needs of all those affected by prisons: prisoners and their families, victims of crime and their communities, those working in the criminal justice system and the many people who are involved in caring for those affected by crime on the inside and outside of our prisons.
The High Sheriff’s chosen charity: Street Reach
Street Reach engage with young people in need through weekly ‘detached’ outreach sessions. Their youth workers visit target communities, getting to know the young people that they encounter, offering information and support.
The detached approach helps them to identify and support young people that experience disadvantage, and who may be vulnerable. They work with young people who may not be engaging with any other services, and though their work help to build a wider support network, including referring to specialist agencies to help address unmet needs. They support young people in a variety of areas including keeping safe, healthy relationships, drug and alcohol education, sexual health, emotional health, employment, and community relations.
A perception of Winchester as a relatively affluent city is not wholly the case and there are significant numbers of young people who benefit hugely from Street Reach’s work. The ubiquity of county line gangs, the cost-of-living crisis and a rise in mental health issues among the young mean that Street Reach’s work is needed now more than ever.
Administrators of the Law, Lena Samuels, Magistrate
Charities, Tony Goldsby, Trustee of Trinity Winchester
Volunteers, Alastair Barron, Street Pastor and Trustee of Trinity Winchester
Police, Special Chief Inspector Malcolm Quiney
HMP Winchester, Jamie Ord, Street Pastor and Prison Volunteer
