A woman from Salford has pledged to support victims of violence and thank volunteers across the county throughout her term as High Sheriff of Greater Manchester.
Mary-Liz Walker JP DL, Worsley, was appointed into the role as High Sheriff by Duchy of Lancaster, King Charles III personally, after many years of Magistracy and voluntary work.
The first Irish-born person to ever hold the 1,300 year old role in the region, Mrs Walker JP DL has worked as a Magistrate and as a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.
Expressing her gratitude at her appointment, she said: “I was absolutely delighted about the appointment and look forward to the next 12 months.
“I feel hugely honoured to have been selected for the position. When I heard about it I was quite surprised…when I’ve come across High Sheriffs before, I’ve also thought it would be something I’d never be able to do.
“I’m looking forward to the role but have slight apprehension because I want to do the best job I can as its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The role of High Sheriff of Greater Manchester will see the Cathedral parishioner take on a year-long role to represent the King’s interests in law and order within the county, and support judiciary, emergency services and the voluntary sector. She will take over from Mrs Lorraine Christine Worsley-Carter MBE DL, who held the role throughout the 2022/23 term.
Mrs Walker’s career has seen her work as Magistrate at Salford Courthouse, the Greater Manchester Advisory Committee, and teach Salford children about Magistracy.
She has also had an avid hand in the voluntary sector, supporting communities through working as chair of the Friends of Jack’s House, amongst many other charities in the area.
A key priority Mrs Walker JP DL aims to implement during her term is to highlight the opportunities and facilitate conversations around how support for victims of crime could potentially be improved.
As well as this, she would like to consider a strategic approach in relation to causes of offending and how potential offenders could be steered away from this.
She explained: “My priority for my year is to focus on victims of crime and ideally to try and see if we can build on the work of emergency services and voluntary groups. There are direct and indirect victims of every crime, like families of offenders.
“Victims need to be at the centre of the system and need to feel supported, whilst ensuring their voices are heard.
“My role as a Magistrate has always felt that everybody’s circumstance are always different. It makes you realise the difficulties people have in their lives.
Mrs Walker JP DL also plans to support and thank volunteers and emergency services workers. She continued: “I want to make a difference to people who are tirelessly working within the voluntary sector and to show that support for the emergency services.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the groups and to shine a light on the unsung heroes who enrich our communities.
“Everybody relies on, whether they realise it or not, volunteers, and the hours they put into their roles in the various arenas around our communities. No one should be forgotten because there are lots of people doing amazing things, both paid and voluntary. If they weren’t doing those roles, we would be in a much poorer position.”
A parishioner at Salford Cathedral for nearly three decades, a chorister, and the church’s volunteer coordinator for safeguarding, Mrs Walker JP DL explained how grateful she was for the support her family and parish have offered. She continued: “The parishioners and my husband, Peter, have been so supportive. Without them, life would be a lot more difficult.”
Mary-Liz Walker JP DL will be installed as High Sheriff of Greater Manchester on April 15th.
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