The office of High Sheriff is over 1000 years old, with its establishment before the Norman Conquest. The Office of High Sheriff remained first in precedence in the counties until the reign of Edward VII when an Order in Council in 1908 gave the Lord-Lieutenant the prime office under the Crown as the Sovereign's personal representative. The High Sheriff remains the Sovereign's representative in the County for all matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of law and order.
Prior to 1974, there was one High Sheriff for the whole of Sussex.
Roles and responsibilities
High Sheriffs are responsible in the Counties of England and Wales for duties conferred by the Crown through Warrant from the Privy Council, including:Attendance at Royal visits to the CountyThe wellbeing and protection of Her Majesty's High Court Judges when on Circuit in the County and attending them in Court during the legal termsThe execution of High Court Writs and Orders (which is mainly achieved through the Under Sheriff)Acting as the Returning Officer for Parliamentary Elections in County constituenciesResponsibility for the proclamation of the accession of a new SovereignThe maintenance of the loyalty of subjects to the Crown1974–1975: Joseph Rank, of Hartfield1975–1976: Thomas Egerton, of Robertsbridge1976–1977: Lawrence Hardy, of Dane Hill1977–1978: Arthur Sturge MC, of Wadhurst1978–1979: Reginald Edwardes-Jones, of Wadhurst1979–1980: Christopher Bridge, of Firle1980–1981: Thomas Halliday Baskerville Mynors, of Moseham House 1981–1982: Major Michael Reid, of Wadhurst1982–1983: Hon. Oliver Piers St. Aubin MC, of Woodside House, Barcombe, Lewes 1983–1984: Lieutenant-Colonel Rodney Onslow Dennys CVO OBE1984–1985: Capt Samuel Lombard-Hobson CVO OBE, of Laughton1985–1986: Michael Toynbee, of Wadhurst1986–1987: Rupert Cyster OBE, of Rye1987–1988: Timothy Jones, of Berwick1988–1989: Edward Hardcastle TD, of Wadhurst1989–1990: David Baker JP, of Laughton1990–1991: Peter Dunn JP, of Rushlake Green1991–1992: Roderick Petley, of Heathfield1992–1993: Ian Cox, of Brightling1993–1994: Andrew Stewart-Roberts of Offham1994–1995: Lady (Jane) Lloyd of Berwick1995–1996: Alan Mayes-Smith1996–1997: John Fooks1997–1998: John Whitmore1998–1999: Gillian Evelyn Schluter, Viscountess Brentford OBE1999–2000: Keith Miller2000–2001: William de Salis2001–2002: Richard Carden2002–2003: David Pennock2003–2004: Alastair Ainslie2004–2005: Julian Avery2005–2006: David Tate OBE2006–2007: Amanda Caroline Hamblin2007–2008: Caroline Anne Mayhew2008–2009: Hugh Thomas Burnett OBE of Hove 2009–2010: William Thomas Cornelius Shelford of Lewes2010–2011: Deborah Clare Melanie Bedford of Ringmer, Lewes2011–2012: Mrs Kathleen Ann Gore DL of Framfield, Uckfield2012-2013: David Allam DL 2013-2014: Graham Peters DL of Bodiam 2014–2015: Christopher J M Gebbie OBE DL of Norlington Lane, Ringmer2015-2016: Juliet Anne Smith of Brighton Marina, Brighton 2016–2017: Michael Foster of Lacuna Place, Havelock Road, Hastings