PROMINENT South Lakes businessman Sam Rayner followed ancestral footsteps after being sworn in as Cumbria’s new High Sheriff.

Mr Rayner, managing director of Lakeland Ltd, was the first High Sheriff to be installed in Kendal, with the ancient ceremony being carried out in the town hall on Tuesday night.

The High Sheriff installation has taken place in Carlisle since the merging of Cumberland and Westmorland and Mr Rayner said he was “very pleased to be able to hold it in Kendal.”

“We used the old court room, which was very appropriate, because historically it’s a legal process so it was nice to have that sense of history,” he added.

The ceremony was presided over by His Honour Judge Lancaster and Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria Claire Hensman.

In attendance were representatives from the emergency services, the coroner’s office and members of the judiciary.

Mr Rayner said: “Most importantly for me because one of my key focuses in the role is to be on helping young people, there were representatives from organisations such as Scouts, Guides and cadet forces.”

During the ceremony Mr Rayner read from and signed a declaration, before being congratulated by the Lord-Lieutenant on taking office.

Just the next day he was called on to undertake his first official engagement as High Sheriff, with the visit of Prince Charles.

He said: “I’m sure there are going to be plenty of challenges over the next year and I am looking forward to taking them on, being able to travel throughout the county and supporting different organisations.”

The office of High Sheriff is the oldest secular office in England and has endured for more than 1,000 years.

In its earliest origins the High Sheriff was responsible for the collection of taxes and making and administering the law.

The modern day High Sheriff is a largely ceremonial role, and a significant proportion of their official diary is spent with charities, community programmes and volunteers.

They also retain a very close connection with the judiciary and emergency services.