High Sheriff visits Redland High

Redland High recently welcomed Dr Tim Chambers, a Consultant Physician and Nephrologist at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Child Health at Bristol University, Chairman of the Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products, a magistrate and High Sheriff of the City and County of Bristol.

As High Sheriff Dr Timothy (Tim) Chambers is HM The Queen's representative in the County for matters relating to the judiciary, the courts and law and order. He ranks second in precedence to the Lord Lieutenant. In an historic process originating over a thousand years ago, the Queen picked Dr Chambers on 18 March 2009 and required him to "take the Custody and Charge of the County of The City of Bristol".

Dr Chambers kindly came in, dressed in his full regalia, to explain the duties of the office and to talk about the history of the position and of the costume. Following his talk he answered questions from the girls who were keen to know how often he has to wear the costume of Sheriff and whether there had ever been any women Sheriffs of Bristol (the answers were ‘about once a week on average’ and ‘yes, two in the last decade and next year the new Sheriff will also be a woman’).

Dr Chambers has had a long connection with Redland High School, since his two daughters are both past pupils: Catherine (who sadly died two years ago), and Rachel, who is a lawyer practising in London.

It was a great pleasure to welcome Dr Chambers back to Redland High School and we were extremely grateful that he found the time in his very busy life to come and give us such an interesting insight into the office of High Sheriff of Bristol.