Harwich's first female high steward to be appointed at ceremony

Sue Daish will make history when she becomes the 34th high steward of Harwich

A woman is set to enter the history books by becoming her home town's first ever female high steward.

Sue Daish will become the 34th person to assume the role during a ceremony in Harwich, Essex, on Thursday.

It would be the first time in Harwich Town Council's 420-year history a woman had become high steward of the town, the authority said.

"It is a wonderful honour for which I am extremely grateful and I am proud to accept," Ms Daish said.

The history-maker is a long-standing volunteer at the town's Electric Palace cinema and a trustee of the Harwich Society, helping to provide tours of the area to visitors.

Harwich's historic Electric Palace was built in 1911

Ms Daish became one of the youngest Home Office immigration officers when she began her 41-year career in the civil service at Harwich International Port.

The former high steward Chris Strachan, 85, announced he would be stepping down from the position and Ms Daish accepted the role in January.

High stewards once had considerable local powers but in recent centuries it has declined to a largely ceremonial role.

'Wonderful town'

"When I was offered the position of high steward of Harwich I was so overwhelmed I didn't really take in much of the conversation," Ms Daish said.

"I am very mindful of the trust that Harwich Town Council is placing in me and I will do all that I can to represent our wonderful town to the best of my ability."

Harwich mayor Maria Fowler, a Labour councillor, said there was an "immediate consensus" on Ms Daish's selection.

"We then had to hold our collective breath until she accepted. We are certain that, in Sue Daish, we have a fitting successor to Chris Strachan," she added.