Amanda Parker: Difference between revisions

{{short description|EnglishLord government officialLieutenant}}

| honorific_suffix = [[Justice of the peace|JP]] [[Deputy lieutenant| DL]]

| caption =

|office = [[HighLord SheriffLieutenant of Lancashire]]

|term_start = 102 AprilAugust 20152023

|term_end = March 2016

|predecessor = Barry[[Charles JohnsonKay-Shuttleworth, 5th Baron Shuttleworth|Charles Kay-Shuttleworth]]

|successormonarch = John[[Charles MorrisIII]] Barnett

|monarchoffice2 = [[ElizabethHigh IISheriff of Lancashire]]

|birth_date = 1962

|birth_place = [[Bashall EavesBlackburn]], [[Lancashire]]

'''Amanda Jane Parker''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|JP}} {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DL}} (née '''Backhouse''') is a British businesswoman, philanthropist, and government officialvolunteer. She was appointed as a [[Magistrate (England and Wales)|magistrate]] in East Lancashire in 2005, focusingsitting onin overseeingboth casesAdult ofCrime domesticand violenceFamily jurisdictions. In 2015, she was appointed by [[Elizabeth II]], in her capacity as [[Duke of Lancaster]], as the [[High Sheriff of Lancashire]]. She was the eighth woman in [[Lancashire]], and the twenty-second woman from a duchy county, to hold the office of High Sheriff. She was also the fifth member of the Parker family of [[Browsholme Hall]] to serve as High Sheriff of Lancashire.

Parker was born Amanda Jane Backhouse on(in her1962)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://browsholme.com/uploads/parker-family's.pdf|title=Descendants farmof Peter de Alcancotes|website=browsholme.com|p=26}}</ref> in theOur villageLady ofOf [[BashallCompassion Eaves]],in nearthe town of [[ClitheroeBlackburn]] in [[Lancashire]].<ref name= highsheriff>{{cite web|url=https://www.highsheriffoflancashire.co.uk/index.php/2-uncategorised/?view=article&id=11-:amanda-parker&catid=2:uncategorised|title=Mrs Amanda Parker|website=www.highsheriffoflancashire.co.uk}}</ref> She was educated at [[Clitheroe Royal Grammar School]] before working for [[Lancashire County Council]].<ref name= ml/><ref name= greatbritishlife/> Sheand went on to read agricultural economics at [[Newcastle University]] before joingingjoining [[Barclays Bank]]'s graduate trainee program.<ref name= highsheriff/><ref name= ml/><ref name= greatbritishlife/>

Mrs Parker managesmanaged her own business in computer systems and home automation and; formerly owned a paintball company, which she founded after graduating from university; and now manages the commercial arm of the family estate.<ref name= highsheriff/><ref name= greatbritishlife/> She also serves as the [[Châtelain|châtelainechâtelain]]e of her family's estate, [[Browsholme Hall]], which is the oldest surviving historic family home in Lancashire.<ref name= highsheriff/> As châtelaine, Parker has worked to expand tourism at Browsholme and opened the house up as a wedding and conference venue.<ref name= highsheriff/><ref name= greatbritishlife/>

=== PoliticsLife ===

Parker was appointed as a [[Magistrate (England and Wales)|magistrate]] in East Lancashire in 2005, where she focusedsat onin casesboth ofAdult domesticCrime violenceand Family jurisdictions.<ref name= highsheriff/> She was later namedelected as chairwoman on the family panel and a Deputy Chair of the Lancashire Bench.<ref name= highsheriff/>

In 2015, Parker was appointed by [[Elizabeth II]], as the [[Duke of Lancaster]], to serve as [[High Sheriff of Lancashire]], succeeding Barry Johnson.<ref name= ml/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/new-high-sheriff-sworn-in-2589149|title=New High Sheriff sworn in &#124; Blackpool Gazette}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/nostalgia/queen-appoints-amanda-as-new-high-sheriff-2592600|title=Queen appoints Amanda as new High Sheriff &#124; Burnley Express}}</ref> On 10 April 2015, she was sworn in to office at a ceremony held at [[County Hall, Preston]].<ref name= ml>{{cite web|url=https://www.marketinglancashire.com/news/the-new-high-sheriff-of-lancashire-takes-office/|title=The new High Sheriff of Lancashire takes office|date=April 13, 2015}}</ref><ref name="lt">{{cite web|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/11874003.businesswoman-magistrate-amanda-jane-parker-appointed-lancashires-next-high-sheriff-queen/|title=Magistrate appointed Lancashire’sLancashire's next High Sheriff|website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> The [[Commission (document)|Queen's Commission]] was read by Under Sheriff David Cam, in the presence of Commissioners Victoria Robertson and Georgina Noble, Officiating Magistrate Brian Linfield JP, High Sheriff's Chaplain Rev. John Brocklehurst, The Norroy and Ulster King of Arms [[Timothy Duke]], and The Honorary Recorder of [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] and of The Lord Lieutenant of LancashireHHJ Anthony Russell KC.<ref name= ml/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://skemnews.com/high-sheriff-lancashire-takes-office/|title=The new High Sheriff of Lancashire takes office|date=April 13, 2015}}</ref> After Parker made a declaration to "serve the Queen’sQueen's writs and execute the good laws and statutes of the realm", she was handed the Sheriff's Patent by Lord Lieutenant [[Charles Kay-Shuttleworth, 5th Baron Shuttleworth]].<ref name= ml/> She is the fifth member of the Parker family to serve as High Sheriff.<ref name= greatbritishlife/> Her [[Heraldic flag|banner]], as High Sheriff, takes the Parker family [[coat of arms]], green and gold stag heads with a chevron with a diamond lozenge to denote her marriage into the family.<ref name= greatbritishlife/>

Parker's first inititiveinitiative in office was launching a new website and using social media platforms to connect with the wide Lancastrian population and to promote the work of the office of High Sheriff.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.garstangcourier.co.uk/news/local/new-high-sheriff-sworn-in-1-7208573 | title=New High Sheriff sworn in}}</ref><ref name="lt"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.garstangcourier.co.uk/news/local/new-high-sheriff-sworn-in-1-7208573 |title=New High Sheriff sworn in - Garstang Courier |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2015-04-14 |accessdateaccess-date=2023-01-25 |archive-date=2016-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129003529/http://www.garstangcourier.co.uk/news/local/new-high-sheriff-sworn-in-1-7208573 |url-status=bot: unknowndead }}</ref> In 2015, she spoke at a conference in [[Leyland, Lancashire|Leyland]] addressing domestic abuse prevention in work places.<ref name= greatbritishlife>{{cite web|url=https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/22618543.amanda-parker---thoroughly-modern-high-sheriff-lancashire/|title=Amanda Parker - the thoroughly modern High Sheriff of Lancashire|website=Great British Life}}</ref> As High Sheriff, she joined police officers on night patrols in Preston, Blackpool and Blackburn.<ref name= greatbritishlife/>

Since 1999, Parker has served on the Board of Governors for Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School from 1999 to 2018 and, in 2002, was appointed as Chairmanchairman of the Board of Governors.<ref name= highsheriff/><ref name= ml/> She servesserved as treasurer of Lancashire Hockey Development Group and, is a founding member of the Lancashire Hockey UmpiresUmpiring Association, and supported youth hockey and umpire development throughout the north of England.<ref name= highsheriff/><ref name= ml/>

She has also volunteeredserved withas [[Blackburna Youthtrustee Zone]]of LanPAC, Active Lancashire and local women's centres, and the [[University of Central Lancashire]].<ref name= greatbritishlife/> She is a patron of [[Nightsafe (charity)|Nightsafe]], a [[Blackburn]]-based charity that runs homeless shelters for youth. She has served on the Council of the High Sheriffs' Association since 2017 and has chaired its charity, National Crimebeat since 2018. The charity focusses on crime prevention projects initiated and run by young people.<ref name= greatbritishlife/>

[[Category:High Sheriffssheriffs of Lancashire]]