A LAND agent from Hamsterley wants to use his stint as High Sheriff of Durham to highlight the eastern part of the county.
One of the ways David Gray hopes to achieve that is by doing two charity walks to the coast following the rivers Wear and Tees.
Mr Gray became the second person from the village to be appointed to the ceremonial post in the past three years, with Caroline Peacock performing duties in 2017.
Lord Barnard has also previously held the title.
Mr Gray, who set up the Grays Land Surveyors in 2005 which later merged to form GSC Grays, said it is an honour to represent the Queen on matters affecting courts, police, prisons and emergency services.
He was installed at Durham Cathedral just days before the coronavirus lockdown came into force.
He said: “I am one of a few, if not the only, to be installed. My ‘pricking’ was on the 11th and on the 16th everything stopped. The majority of the High Sheriffs were installed by a judge in their kitchen or wherever.”
The first major change he brought to the post was to merge an annual lunch for 150 people and a cathedral service for judges into one event.
He said: “Historically it has always been in a court, but I saw it as an opportunity to turn it all around. I want to make the role not such a financial burden on people.”
Some 300 people attended.
However, current circumstance have prohibited him from carry out many of his formal duties.
The fifth-generation land agent for the Earl of Durham said: “The role normally includes visiting prisons, working with police and emergency services to talk , encourage and understand what is going on. None of that is happening.”
Despite the restrictions, he is determined to “connect” the east side of the county.
The 56-year-old pointed out that parts of the county west of the A1 have Beamish Museum, Durham Cathedral, the Bishop Auckland Project, The Bowes Museum and Barnard Castle, but eastern areas are less well known.
He plans to walk some 80 miles along the Tees to the coast this month, and 70 miles along the River Weir in July.
He had hoped to complete the walks over four to five days from Saturday to Tuesday or Wednesday, but an increase in work as restrictions have lifted may change this.
Mr Gray said: “It is all up in the air at the moment. It might only be on weekends. Work at the moment is pretty full on.”
Mr Gray, who hopes to complete 20 miles a day on his walking challenges, can be seen frequently walking the country lanes around Hamsterley as he prepares.
Cash raised will go to East Durham Trust, Wear Valley Women’s Aid and Consett Churches Detached Youth Project. To contribute, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/
david-gray67.
