Liz Green, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, wore her formal dress, including the hat with its obligatory ostrich feather, when she talked to club members about how she came to take on this year-long post. She is pictured with club President, Hugh Lawrence.

On the back of a business career in the City of London she became a member of three Livery Companies, culminating in her appointment as Sheriff of London. This experience brought home the disturbing statistic that 60% of prisoners have reading problems, creating difficulties both while in jail as well as outside it.

After her statutory year as Sheriff she applied, successfully, for the office of Hertfordshire’s High Sheriff and, by linking with The Shannon Trust, she has been able to contribute to their efforts to improve the reading, writing and rehabilitation of prisoners.