THE new High Sheriff of County Durham is to be appointed during Evensong at Durham Cathedral.

David Gray, a practising land agent and chairman of GSC Grays, a firm of chartered surveyors, was raised in County Durham and has spent most of his working life living in the county. He will begin his year-long term in the ancient role at 3.30pm on Sunday March 15 at 3.30pm.

The post of High Sheriff dates back to Saxon times when Shire Reeves were responsible to the King for the maintenance of law and order within the Shire, or county and for the collection and return of taxes.

There are 55 High Sheriffs serving in the counties of England and Wales each year.

Today, the role of High Sheriff is an independent, non-political, unpaid, Royal appointment which enables the incumbent to bring together a wide variety of individuals for the benefit of the community. During the year, High Sheriffs are encouraged to undertake duties to improve and sustain the morale of those in the voluntary and statutory sectors, particularly those engaged in the maintenance and extension of law and order and also those in the field of reduction of crime and development of an anti-crime culture among communities.

Mr Gray said: “I have had the privilege of becoming involved in many voluntary organisations and have been humbled to see first-hand how freely many individuals are prepared to give of their time not necessarily to raise money, but to care for and help guide others when on occasion, they literally have nowhere else to turn."

In order to raise money for the High Sheriff’s Charitable Fund at the Durham Community Foundation, Mr Gray intends walking the course Tees and Wear, from their source to the North Sea in June and July.

Mr Gray and his wife, Emma, have three boys.