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 Dr Tim Fooks. 

 

Tim has recently retired as a GP in Pulborough where he served the local

community for over 30 years.  During this time, he was awarded the Fellowship

of the Royal College of General Practitioners in recognition for his national

work to promote the early detection of sepsis in children.  Tim has also held

several strategic health leadership roles in West Sussex relating to the care

of children and young people and his practice was, and continues to be,

rated Outstanding by the CQC.

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Tim is serving as High Sheriff for a second time having been invited to do so

after the pandemic significantly disrupted his first term.  In so doing he is the

first person to hold the role twice in Sussex since 1551.   

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On his first appointment in 2020, Tim became the first medical High Sheriff

of West Sussex  – ironically, the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic – during

which time he used the role to highlight the problems of loneliness and

celebrate the voluntary action that sprang into being across the county. 

In 2021, in order to raise funds for the Sussex Community Foundation, he

published a book, 'A Year Like No Other', which provided a unique insight into

the first 12 months of the pandemic through the experiences of the judiciary,

voluntary sector, emergency services and other agencies.

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Appointed Chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Chichester in

2022, Tim is also a member of the Court (Board) of the Leathersellers Livery

Company in the City of London.  He is a trustee of the Sussex charity Family

Support Work and supports several other charities in the county. 

 

Tim is married to Sarah and they have three adult children – and a bearded collie.  Tim greatly appreciates living in West Sussex and enjoys walking on the Downs, playing real tennis in Petworth, croquet in Duncton and a cello in a community orchestra in Pulborough.  He is also a qualified Offshore Yachtmaster and has sailed in, and from, Chichester Harbour since the 1980s.  He has recently completed, in his own yacht, a 3000nm circumnavigation of the British Isles. 

 

With the legacy of Covid-19 still affecting the county, Tim will use his second term as High Sheriff to travel across West Sussex to meet in person, and thank, many of the those who continue to protect, support and serve the population; he will celebrate those who volunteer and the vibrant and diverse communities which enrich every aspect of our county; and he will use his medical background to highlight and support those initiatives which promote mental health and resilience.  

 

The High Sheriff can be contacted through his 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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