HISTORY repeated itself as John Furness was sworn in as the new High Sheriff of North Yorkshire.

Mr Furness received the badge of office from predecessor Charlie Forbes Adam in a ceremony at York Crown Court.

This came 39 years after Mr Forbes Adam's father Nigel passed on the ceremonial role to Mr Furness' dad Frank in 1977.

Mr Forbes Adam said: "I'm delighted to be able to hand over to a Furness as my father did to your father 40 years ago."

The office of High Sheriff dates back to Saxon times, when the ‘Shire Reeve’ was responsible to the king for maintaining law and order within the shire, or county.

Supporting the Crown and the judiciary remain central elements of the year-long post today alongside encouraging crime prevention agencies, the emergency services and charities.

Mr Furness, from Kirby Knowle, near Thirsk, will promote the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, which supports farming families in need.

Mr Forbes Adam said: "As the Bard said 'parting is such sweet sorrow. I'm going to really miss it."

Addressing Mr Furness, he said: "Many congratulations and huge luck. Enjoy yourself, we certainly have."

Accepting the role, Mr Furness said: "It's an amazing opportunity to be your High Sheriff. Thank you."

The Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC, chaired the ceremony.

Reflecting on the uniqueness of the role, he said: "Very few high sheriffs can boast a private dining room and even fewer a private dining room in a castle."

Mr Forbes Adam, whose charity was RAPt (the Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust), was praised for the networking lunches he held at the court.

Judge Batty said: "He has brought together people from wholly disparate backgrounds for the common good.

"His interests and passions in office read like an entry in Who's Who.

"On behalf of the city and the county of North Yorkshire, I thank him for his selfless devotion to the public good. We will miss him greatly."

Turing to Mr Furness, Judge Batty said one of the challenges was to let people know what his role meant.

He said: "It's important for the High Sheriff to explains these terms when you're addressing or introduced at a social gathering.

"Otherwise people may perhaps look a little nervous or look a little bemused."

On behalf of the court's barristers, Peter Makepeace said: "We have once again in a High Sheriff a real son of Yorkshire. We have a man who is literally seeped in the soil of Yorkshire."

He described Mr Furness as a farmer, sportsman and racing enthusiast and offered some advice for when he goes on school visits.

"Take the sword, they love the sword!" said Mr Makepeace.