BECOMING the new High Sheriff of Essex is a challenge that Julie Fosh is more than happy to take up – for the second time.
She says she feels “hugely privileged” to be the 845th person to be appointed to the role and is looking forward to using the position to give encouragement and support to people throughout the county.
Unusually, this is Julie’s second time in the role as her previous tenure between 2020-2021 was impacted due to the country-wide restrictions from the COVID pandemic.
She said, “It was a challenging time for us as many of our plans had to be postponed or cancelled, but we made the best of it. We were creative, using social media, Zoom and FaceTime to hold virtual meetings and connect with people and voluntary groups, but it wasn’t quite the experience I had hoped. When I was offered the opportunity to have another term, I was only too pleased to say yes.”
Essex-born Julie, a former deputy head teacher who lives in North Fambridge on the Dengie Peninsula, was appointed during a traditional ceremony held in the Essex County Council chambers on 7 April, with around 100 guests in attendance.
Julie and her two sisters were very close to their mother, Joy Rogers, who sadly died in December 2021 aged 94. Joy and Julie were among the founder members of the Maldon group of Essex Knitters and Stitchers and Julie is hopeful that her planned High Sheriff’s Garden Party, postponed in her first term, can take place in July, where one of the attractions will be a display of items made by the group.
During her year, Julie is also planning an event to raise money for the High Sheriffs’ Fund, which is run by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
The fund gives grants annually to community initiatives to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and promote community safety.
Since it came under ECF’s management in 1997 the High Sheriffs’ Fund has distributed grants totalling over half a million pounds to local voluntary and community organisations.
