Amanda Parker

Parker was appointed as a magistrate in East Lancashire in 2005, where she focused on cases of domestic violence.[2] She was later named as chairwoman on the family panel.[2]

In 2015, Parker was appointed by Elizabeth II, as the Duke of Lancaster, to serve as High Sheriff of Lancashire, succeeding Barry Johnson.[3][5][6] On 10 April 2015, she was sworn in to office at a ceremony held at County Hall, Preston.[3][7] The Queen's Commission was read by Under Sheriff David Cam, in the presence of Commissioners Victoria Robertson and Georgina Noble, Officiating Magistrate Brian Linfield, High Sheriff's Chaplain Rev. John Brocklehurst, The Norroy and Ulster King of Arms Timothy Duke, and The Honorary Recorder of Preston and of The Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire Anthony Russell.[3][8] After Parker made a declaration to "serve the Queen's writs and execute the good laws and statutes of the realm", she was handed the Sheriff's Patent by Lord Lieutenant Charles Kay-Shuttleworth, 5th Baron Shuttleworth.[3] She is the fifth member of the Parker family to serve as High Sheriff.[4] Her banner, as High Sheriff, takes the Parker family coat of arms, green and gold stag heads with a chevron with a diamond lozenge to denote her marriage into the family.[4]

Parker is the eighth woman in Lancashire, and the twenty-second woman from a duchy county, to hold the office of High Sheriff.[4]

Parker's first initiative in office was launching a new website and using social media platforms to promote the work of the office of High Sheriff.[7][9] In 2015, she spoke at a conference in Leyland addressing domestic abuse prevention in work places.[4] As High Sheriff, she joined police officers on night patrols in Preston.[4]

In May 2015, Parker attended civic ceremonies with the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth, when the queen visited Lancaster Castle as part of the 750th anniversary of the creation of the Duchy of Lancaster.[4]

She was made a deputy lieutenant for Lancashire in November 2016.[10] And in August 2023, she replaced Charles Kay-Shuttleworth as Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, the first woman to ever have been appointed in the commission's 500-year history.[11]

Since 1999, Parker has served on the Board of Governors for Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School and, in 2002, was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Governors.[2][3] She serves as treasurer of Lancashire Hockey Development Group and is a founding member of the Lancashire Hockey Umpires Association.[2][3]

She has also volunteered with Blackburn Youth Zone, local women's centres, and the University of Central Lancashire.[4] She is a patron of Nightsafe, a Blackburn-based charity that runs homeless shelters for youth.[4]