THE new High Sheriff of Kent is to be 61-year-old James Loudon, from Wye, near Ashford. He will be installed at a ceremony at County Hall, Maidstone, on Thursday, April 1.

Mr Loudon, educated at Eton and Magdalene College, Cambridge, spent most of his career with Blue Circle Industries plc where he was group finance director until 2001.

He is now a non-executive director of several public companies and is a governor of a number of organisations in, or connected with, Kent. He was a Kent county councillor from 1977 to 1981.

Mr Loudon, who takes over as High Sheriff from Tony Monteuuis, is married with a daughter and two sons. He intends to spend a major part of his year visiting and encouraging organisations throughout the county connected with children and young people in need.