The new High Sheriff has taken his place in history during a nomination ceremony in London that dates back to before the Norman Conquest.

Colonel Robert Cecil John Martin, of Woodhouse Eaves, will become one of the latest holders of the oldest continuous secular office under the Crown in Britain.

Judges and court officials gathered at London's High Court in order to preside over the formal nomination of 51 High Sheriffs and their deputies from all over England and Wales.

The nominations took place on Thursday at the Lord Chief Justice's Court at London's Royal Courts of Justice, before the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, the President of the Queen's Bench Division, Lord Justice May and Mrs Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Henriques.

In Saxon times, sheriffs – known as shire reeves – of each county went to the King's or Queen's Court to give account for the money they collected on behalf of the monarch.

Now, High Sheriffs no longer collect money for the monarch, but their annual attendance at court has continued and is used to mark the annual nomination of the new incumbents.

Though the role is unpaid, High Sheriffs rank among top dignitaries in their areas.

They are expected to attend at royal visits to their counties, as well as being entitled to act as returning officers in parliamentary elections.

Before the High Sheriffs take up office next March, another ancient ceremony will also take place, this time at the Privy Council in London.

There, the Queen, using a silver bodkin in a practice dating back to the reign of Queen Victoria, will prick their names on a parchment list to give their appointments the royal seal of approval.