SIR Philip Williams is about to be 'pricked' - a 1,000 year tradition to appoint High Sheriffs.

The names of nominees are pricked on vellum so they could not avoid the position which was an unpopular and dangerous role – the first incumbent fell foul of irate Vikings in Weymouth while collecting taxes and was killed.

Not many wanted it because they were liable for any perceived shortfall in income and would often try and bribe their way out of it but there was no disputing the pin hole and the practice survives to this day.

Sir Philip, the seventh generation of his family to live at Bridehead in Littlebredy, will make his Declaration of Office in front of invited guests in the Victorian Gallery of the Dorset County Museum on Tuesday March 29.

Before the ceremony, Paul Cheater will give a short recital on the Victorian Gallery’s chamber organ which was originally installed at Bridehead.

Sir Philip said it was an honour and a privilege to take on the role, even though it is an unpaid one.

He will be following in his mother's footsteps - Elizabeth, Lady Williams was the first female High Sheriff in 1979 - but he is now following three consecutive women in the post.

He is anticipating a busy year and hopes to get involved with good causes as well as civic occasions.

He said: "Until I start it is going to be very difficult to know what it will be like.

"With two weeks to go there are 34 invitations in the diary already and without doubt the majority are civic.

"I would hope that once I have my feet under the table I can get in touch with charities or voluntary groups and drop hints about hoping to be able to support and encourage them in some way."

"The role is a very individual thing there is no correct way of doing it.

Sir Philip was born in Dorchester in 1950, he was educated at Marlborough College and St. Andrews University. Since returning to the family home in 1985, following a brief land agency career in the Midlands, he has principally managed the Bridehead Estate.

Since 1979 he has been married to Catherine, who has worked locally as a GP for 30 years. They have four adult children and three grandchildren.

Sir Philip has been a magistrate on the Dorchester/West Dorset/Dorset Bench from 1992 onwards, and a member of the Independent Monitoring Board of HM Prison/Young Offender Institution Portland from 2001, though he has had to retire from both these commitments on accepting nomination as High Sheriff.

He was a governor of Milton Abbey School between 1998 and 2014. He is a life vice-president of the Dorset County Museum and president of the Mill Street Housing Association, both in Dorchester. He has been a Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset since 1995.

His principal interests outside Dorset life include cricket and heritage railway preservation.