LORD-LIEUTENANT OF WEST SUSSEX

History

 

The office of High Sheriff, the oldest secular office under the Crown, has its origins in

Saxon times before the Norman conquest and originally held many of the responsibilities

that now rest with the Lord-Lieutenant, the judiciary, local authorities, coroners and

HM Revenue and Customs.

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The office of High Sheriff remained first in precedence in every county until the reign

of Edward VII.  In 1904 an Order in Council established the Lord-Lieutenant as the

Sovereign’s personal representative.  The High Sheriff now takes precedence

immediately after the Lord-Lieutenant.

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Please click here for a full list of High Sheriffs of West Sussex since 1086. 

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Appointment

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High Sheriffs serve for one year.  A local advisory committee recommends individuals through the

Presiding Judge of the Circuit to the Privy Council.  The formal selection of High Sheriffs is made annually at

a meeting of the Privy Council at which the Sovereign ‘pricks’ the list of forthcoming High Sheriffs with a bodkin.

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Role

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The High Sheriff’s principal responsibilities are as follows:

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• To uphold and enhance the ancient office of High Sheriff and to make a meaningful contribution to the county during the year of office.

• To support the Lord-Lieutenant on royal visits and other occasions as appropriate.

• To ensure the well-being and protection of His Majesty’s High Court judges when on circuit in the county and attending them in court during the legal terms.

• To lend active support to the principal organs of the Constitution within the county – the Royal Family, the Judiciary, the police and other law enforcement agencies, the emergency services, local authorities, the church and faith groups.

• To take an active part in supporting and promoting the voluntary sector and giving all possible encouragement to voluntary organisations within the county.

• Acting as Returning Officer for Parliamentary Elections.

• Responsibility for the Proclamation of the Accession of a new Sovereign.

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The current High Sheriff

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The High Sheriff of West Sussex for 2024-25 is Mrs Philippa Gogarty.

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Philippa Gogarty is the co-founder of Micro Scooters Ltd., which she

launched with her business partner in London in 2004. With six young

children between them they were fortunate enough to establish a new

and fun way for families to travel short distances which captured children’s

imaginations and became one of the top selling and sustainable children’s

brands of all time.

 

Before launching Micro Scooters, Philippa worked in fundraising as

Campaign Director with Lord Winston to raise money to build a research

centre for Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Imperial College London at

Hammersmith Hospital and as The Appeal Director for St Mary’s Hospital in

Paddington to raise money for a Paediatric A & E Unit. She also worked as

Head of Fundraising at The Royal Society of Arts Manufactures and

Commerce in London and before that at The Children’s Hospice for the

Eastern Region, which was one of the first of its kind in the UK.

 

Philippa has lived in Bosham, West Sussex since 2006, with her husband

Rory and their dog Winnie. She has three children: Georgia, Thomas and

Dominic.

 

More recently, Philippa has been volunteering with migrants in Northern

France, pioneering the work of the Women’s Centre in Dunkirk and the

Marie Skobstova Safe House in Calais. She and her family gave refuge to

a young Eritrean in 2018 following her visits to see him in Gatwick Detention Centre. She was appointed a trustee of Sanctuary in Chichester in 2021 and has worked as Lead Befriender to

organise the charity’s response to Afghans, Ukrainians and Asylum seekers

in the area. She has been involved locally in fundraising for Dementia

Support and The Brilliant Breakfast for The Princes Trust. Her voluntary work

is informed by her Christian values and faith.  She enjoys walking and cycling,

rowing (including completing the Great River Race in the Thames and the Vogalonga in Venice).

She loves skiing and spending time at the family’s home in Cape Town.

 

During her year as High Sheriff of West Sussex, Philippa intends to focus her efforts on highlighting the hardship caused by poverty and gaps in service provision, wishing to recognise the selfless acts of staff and volunteers alike who are working in law order and the emergency services. She will be at pains to promote inclusion diversity and

inter faith and looks forward to serving the varied and ever-evolving communities in West Sussex.

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The High Sheriff can be contacted through her PA, Julia Mansergh.

Email: westsussex@highsheriffs.com

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The High Sheriff is also supported by the Under Sheriff, Mr Kevin Smyth.

Telephone: 01273 841042 or 07711 031524

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