County's first Sikh high sheriff takes up role
BBCStaffordshire's first Sikh high sheriff has said that taking up the role was "emotional".
A ceremony was held on Monday for Pritpal Singh Nagi who begins a one-year term - with a procession from Stafford's Crown Court to St Mary's Church, followed by a service.
The father-of-three and grandfather-of-four is a Staffordshire-based entrepreneur and civic leader, and has an MBE for sustained contributions to the regional economy and charitable causes, according to the High Sheriff of Staffordshire website.
"It was pretty emotional to see all the people who came and supported me," he said of the ceremony.
"I don't think I've seen so many people coming to this church before, especially two different faiths, groups of people.
"I was just amazed, and I was literally emotional."
A high sheriff is a royal appointment designed - in a non-political, voluntary and independent capacity - to assist a range of public, community services.
Nagi said having a Sikh in this position was important.
"[I want] To educate and give a bit of knowledge to the public and the people in the country that we all need to live together," he said.
"The UK is one of the most diverse countries in the world - we have, I don't know how many different religions.
"We live together, we work together, we eat together, we talk together, and we sit together."
He added his appointment was an opportunity to teach people about Sikhism.
For his year of office, he told the BBC he wanted to bring different religions together to get to know what each were doing.
"At the same time I want to help and support, if I can, young offenders when they come out from prisons."
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