JOHN Kevin Lynn Thomas JP, was sworn in as High Sheriff of Gwent at a formal ceremony in Court Room One in the historic Shire Hall and took over the role from Anthony Clay DL on Friday 31st March.

In his final sheriff’s speech, Mr Clay, who took over from Andrew Tuggey CBE 12 months ago, said he “thoroughly enjoyed my shrieval role” and added he was blessed that he followed a highly competent sheriff “who made my life so much easier. Bad luck Kevin, you won’t have that leg up” he warned his replacement!

He concluded his last speech by saying that one of his priorities was to combat litter and urged everyone to raise it with “PMs, MPs AMs, councillors and anyone who can have some influence.”

The new high sheriff was then sworn in, the ceremony witnessed by HM Lord-Lieutenant, Brigadier Robert Aitken, Anthony Clay DL, Richard J Morris JP, Chaplain, Rev Dr John Dearnley and Under Sheriff, Mr David T Bowen.

Following the declaration of office - which for the first time was made in Welsh - and the presentation of the neck badge, Mr Thomas then paid particular tribute to his predecessors in this role and to Peter Gooderson, “my soulmate on the bench, who sadly passed away in December.”

He then said how lucky he was to have his wife, Elaine Thomas, former head of The Grange, at his side: “The role of the trailing spouse is a very important one; I should know - I’ve been doing it for 34 years.”

He continued: “During my year I am planning a number of fundraising events including walks, a cinema screening and a promise auction, in order to support our Community Fund.

“Nationally the role of high sheriff and its personnel are evolving – whereas in the 19th century the shrievalty in south Wales was dominated by the coal barons; a week today will see the declaration of my friend David Davies as high sheriff of Mid-Glamorgan. David – son of Llew the Milk – is a survivor of the Aberfan disaster, the only child from his classroom to live”.

Kevin Thomas grew up in the small Welsh-speaking mining village of Penygroes, Carmarthenshire, and at age 11 won an Academic Scholarship to Llandovery College. At the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, he read English, specialising in the field of Welsh literature in English.

His early career was in the cultural sector – theatre and the BBC – and for 11 years he was Director of Yr Academi Gymreig/ The Welsh Academy (the Society of the Writers of Wales) with a brief to promote literature in Wales. He brought several partner organisations together for the publication of the first encyclopaedia of Wales and was appointed project manager to oversee this bilingual project.

He later chose to take his career path in a different direction, becoming a full-time peripatetic teacher of chess, teaching in excess of 300 children during a working week. He became manager of the Wales Under 12 squad, was several times manager of the Wales squad at the World Youth Chess Championships, and coached several British junior champions. He has been a magistrate for 18 years, primarily sitting at Caerphilly, Cwmbran and Newport Courts.

During the year the high sheriff’s work will focus on young people, supporting the Gwent High Sheriffs’ Community Fund, and activities that resonate both with his work as a teacher and as a magistrate. He also plans to support the work of Welsh-language organisations in Gwent, and will be taking a keen interest in the work of cultural organisations throughout the county. He spends his leisure time walking the hills and following the footpaths of Gwent and the surrounding area.

Kevin and Elaine Thomas have two sons.

The office of high sheriff is an independent, non-political Royal appointment for a single year and is the oldest civic office in the land. The origins of the office date back over 1,000 years to Saxon times, when the ‘Shire Reeve’ was responsible to the Sovereign for the maintenance of law and order within the shire, or county, and for the collection and return of taxes due to the Crown. Today, 55 high sheriffs serve the counties of England and Wales.