Harwich to welcome its first ever female High Steward

Harwich Town Council has announced that its 34th High Steward of Harwich will be Sue Daish.

She is a trustee of the Harwich Society and a long-standing volunteer at Harwich’s Electric Palace cinema, Harwich Secret Gardens initiative, and the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial and Learning Trust.

Sue Daish said: “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”.

“It is a wonderful honour for which I am extremely grateful and I am proud to accept.

"Taking over from Chris Strachan means I have very large shoes to fill but Chris and Celia have accepted my invitation to be present when I take office which means a lot to me and which will be very special.”

Retired - Chris Strachan the 33rd High Steward of Harwich (Image: Electric Palace Harwich)

Sue was one of the first female and one of the youngest Home Office immigration officers when she began her 41-year career in the civil service at Parkeston Quay – now Harwich International Port.

She was also one of the first female entry certificate officers to work for the Foreign Office overseas and was later Harwich Haven Authority’s first female pier master occupying the post on Harwich’s Ha’penny Pier for five years.

The ceremony at which Sue Daish will be elected High Steward of Harwich will take place at Harwich’s Guildhall at 11am on Thursday, April 25.

This will be followed by a civic procession and a civic church service in St Nicholas’ Church in Harwich.

Gardener - Sue Daish is part of the Harwich Secret Gardens initiative (Image: Maria Fowler)

Sue, who has three children, one grandson, two step-children and two step-granddaughters, added: “By pure coincidence, the day of the ceremony is Chris Strachan’s 85th birthday so everything seems to be coming together perfectly.

“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 town council archivists have found that Sue is the 34th High Steward of Harwich after finding two more High Stewards from the 17th century this week. 

Harwich mayor Maria Fowler said there was an “immediate consensus” as soon as Sue Daish’s name was put forward.

She said: “We then had to hold our collective breath until she accepted.”

“We are certain that, in Sue, we have a fitting successor to Chris Strachan and we look forward to Sue being elected as the 34th High Steward of Harwich.”