A RETIRED crown court judge from Wirral has been selected to be the next High Sheriff of Merseyside.

His Honour John Roberts DL was chosen by the Queen, in her capacity as Duke of Lancaster, at a ceremony in London.

Educated at Calday Grange Grammar School at West Kirby he went on to read Law at Cambridge and was called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1970.

He joined Derby Square Chambers and practised on the Northern Circuit until his elevation to the Bench in 1993.

After sitting in Manchester and Bolton, he sat in Liverpool trying mainly criminal cases.

He sat occasionally at the Old Bailey in London before his retirement in 2012.

His Honour John Roberts is married to Mary and between them they have five children and nine grandchildren.

He was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside in 2016 and is currently President of Wirral Hospice St. John’s.

He has been President of the Athenaeum club in Liverpool and the Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs and has also been captain of Heswall Golf Club.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted and very proud to have been selected as the next High Sheriff of Merseyside and will do my utmost to maintain the high standards set by all the previous holders of this office".

The key objectives of the role of High Sheriff - which dates back more than 1,000 years - include ensuring the welfare of visiting High Court judges, supporting the Royal Family, judges, police and other law enforcement agencies, the emergency services, local authorities, church and faith groups.

It also involves supporting the Lord Lieutenant on Royal visits and - after the Lord Lieutenant, who has precedence - to represent the Queen when visiting local groups and public services and to actively support charitable and other worthy institutions throughout the County.