Lady in waiting

A High Sheriff whose year has been brought to a standstill before it’s even begun, Remony Millwater has gained impressive new social media skills

- Sarah Sturt

Tell us a bit about you

I was born in Chatham, grew up on a farm in Hoo, and lived there until I got married in 1987. I went to Benenden School and then went north to St Andrews for University.

We lived in Suffolk and London for a short time while the children were young, but moved back to Kent in 1999.

We kept coming back and Kent has always been home for me. We have lived in our current house in Sandwich Bay for 16 years and have three daughters, one granddaughter and two Labradors.

How did Covid-19 change the start to your High Sheriffyear?

I thought I was fairly organised for my year as High Sheriff. The invitations for the Declaration Service, which should have taken place on 4 April, had been sent out and most replies had come in. We had planned the service and approved the service sheets, but fortunately hadn’t yet had them printed.

We had 200 people on the guest list to attend the church service and reception in the garden afterwards and we’d organised the marquee. Now we’ve put the deposit towards a future event and I am hopeful that there will be an opportunity to host a celebration/party before the end of my year in office. The caterers were also very accommodating!

We were all obviously disappointed but there was no alternative. In the days leading up to the date we changed plans almost on a daily basis, reducing the event from 200 in the church to possibly 100, then to just 20 or so close friends in the medieval old courtroom in Sandwich.

In the end I made my Declaration via Zoom with some friends and family tuned in, together with HHJ David Griffith Jones presiding, Paul Barrett, the outgoing High Sheriff and Catherine Lloyd, new Under Sheriff all having access to the proceedings. Paul kindly cycled from Canterbury to Sandwich to deliver the badge of office!