A WHARFEDALE man has been appointed High Sheriff of West Yorkshire and is about to undertake his first engagements.

John Stoddart-Scott farms at Creskeld Hall, Arthington and has been Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society since 1998.

In his new role, Mr Stoddart- Scott is the Queen's representative for the county with regard to law and order for 2001-2002. The appointment was made by the Queen at a meeting of the Privy Council when the ancient custom of "pricking" the appointees' name with a bodkin took place.

He will meet the Queen at this year's Great Yorkshire Show when, in his role of Society Chairman he will welcome the Royal party, on the first day Tuesday 10 July.

Mr Stoddart-Scott said: "I am honoured and delighted to have been chosen and am very much looking forward to an interesting year." Later this month his first engagements include attending the mayor making ceremonies of the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor David Hudson, and the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Coun Ghazanfer Khaliq.

Mr Stoddart-Scott farms 320 acres at Arthington and dairies an old established herd of 120 pedigree Holsteins, as the main concern. The family has had a long association with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society as for more than 30 years the family's pedigree Holstein Friesians have frequently appeared in the Great Yorkshire Show prize lists.

l The office of High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown - it dates back to before 1066.

Responsibilities include attendance at all royal visits to the county, executing High Court writs, protection of High Court judges and proclaiming the accession of a new sovereign.