Unique appointment for Wythenshawe man

Posted: 13/03/2024

In a unique move, Dr Eamonn O’Neal DL has been appointed High Sheriff of Manchester – for the second time.

The appointment was formally announced by Buckingham Palace today and he takes up his ceremonial role in April for a period of 12 months.

Eamonn, from Wythenshawe, held the position previously in 2020. Unique in the history of Greater Manchester, he has now been appointed by two different monarchs.

He will be installed as High Sheriff at Wardley Hall, Salford in April, succeeding Mary Elizabeth Walker whose term of office ends at that point.

A prominent broadcaster and journalist in the North West – he has been head of regional programmes at Granada Television, managing editor of the Manchester Evening News and a presenter with BBC Radio Manchester.  

He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree by the University of Bolton in 2015 in recognition of his 'outstanding contribution to the media and charity’.

Eamonn said: "It's a huge honour and quite humbling to be chosen as High Sheriff of Greater Manchester again. I’m grateful to have the chance to connect and engage with the charitable, voluntary, faith, ethnic, cultural and business communities across the county."

The Office of High Sheriff is the oldest secular title in British history and among the most ancient in the world, dating back more than 1,300 years.

At that time the Sheriff represented the monarch, collected taxes, raised armies and was the rule of law across the county.

Eamonn said: "I won’t be collecting taxes, or raising an army, but as High Sheriff I'll be proud to represent the King as the ceremonial head of the judiciary in the county.

"I also regard this Royal appointment as recognition of the importance of meaningful connection with the communities. Wythenshawe is a place that epitomises the sense of community as illustrated by the huge number of groups of volunteers giving selflessly for the good of the environment and neighbours.

“As patron of the Wythenshawe Waste Warriors, I have seen that very clearly. Also, as Chair of Prevent Breast Cancer based at the Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, I know how much that means to the people of our town.”