The high sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the high sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions are now largely ceremonial. The high sheriff changes every April.
The position of High Sheriff of Cumbria has existed since the creation of the non-metropolitan and ceremonial county of Cumbria in 1974 which saw the abolition of the former shrievalties of Cumberland and Westmorland. As well as Cumberland and Westmorland Cumbria also includes former parts of Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire.
The non-metropolitan county of Cumbria was abolished on 1 April 2023 and replaced with two unitary authorities known as Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness. The two new unitary authorities continue to constitute a ceremonial county named "Cumbria" for the purpose of lieutenancy and shrievalties, being presided over by a Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria and a High Sheriff of Cumbria.
List of high sheriffs
1974: George Nigel Fancourt Wingate, of Bridge End House, Cockermouth 1975: Michael Charles Stanley, of Halecat, Witherslack, Grange-over-Sands 1976: Joseph Hugh Harris, of Brackenburgh, Calthwaite, Penrith 1977: Edward Hubert Fleming-Smith, of Hawksdale Hall, Dalston, Carlisle 1978: Richard Hugh Cavendish, of Holker Hall 1979: Stafford Vaughan Stepney Howard, of Greystoke Castle, Penrith 1980: Charles Henry Bagot, of Levens Hall 1981: Timothy Ross Fetherstonhaugh, of The College, Kirkoswald, Penrith 1982: William John Montague Chaplin of Finsthwaite House, Ulverston 1983: Peter Eric Fyers Crewdson of Summerhow, Kendal 1984: Edward Peter Ecroyd, of Low House, Armathwaite, Carlisle 1985: Major Antony James Robinson Harrison, of Wreay Hall, Wreay, Carlisle 1986: Major Nigel James Clarkson Webb, of Buckstone House, Burton-in-Kendal, via Carnforth, Lancs. 1987: William Victor Gubbins, of Eden Lacy, Lazonby, Penrith 1988: Roger Brockbank, of Common Head, Staveley, Kendal 1989: Major Timothy Richard Riley, of Burbank House, Blencowe, Penrith 1990: Thomas Peter Naylor, of The Clock House, Far Sawrey, Ambleside 1991: Ian Cufaude Carr, of Brown Hill, Walton, Brampton 1992: Myles Christopher Ross Sandys, of Graythwaite Hall, Ulverston 1993: Margaret Washington 1994: Frederick John Richard Boddy, of Curwen Woods, Burton 1995: Hugh William Lawson, of Croplands, Heads Nook, Carlisle 1996: Henry Charles Fraser Bowring, of Whelprigg House, Barbon 1997: John Henry Fryer-Spedding, Mirehouse, Keswick 1998: Simon Philip Pease, Underley Grange, Kirkby Lonsdale, Carnforth 1999: Arthur Ian Bullough, of Friars Garth, Walton, Brampton 2000: Lady Hothfield, Drybeck Hall, Appleby 2001: Robert Bryce Hasell-McCosh of Dalemain, Pooley Bridge, Penrith 2002: David William Trimble, of Deepdale, Dalston, Carlisle 2003: Antony Richard Leeming of Skirsgill Park, Penrith 2004: Frederick Charles Theodore Markham, Morland House, Morland, Penrith 2005: Dr Adam Charles Illingworth Naylor 2006: Robert Lawie Frederick Burgess 2007: Claire Theresa Hensman 2008: Graham William Lamont 2009: Elizabeth Honor Susan Thornely 2010: James Ronald Carr of Warwick-on-Eden 2011: Iona A Frost-Pennington of Ravenglass 2012: Juliet Deirdre Jean Westoll, of Longtown. 2013: Diana Ruth Matthews of Windermere. 2014: Martyn Peter Telford Hart of Bankhead, Newby East, Carlisle. 2015: Samuel Miles Alan Rayner of Murley Hill, Oxenholme Road, Kendal. 2016: (Group Captain) (Thomas) Richard Lee (RAF rtd) of Egremont 2017: Alistair George Milne Wannop of Linstock, Carlisle. 2018: Simon Frederick Michael Berry of Windermere. 2019: Marcia Elaine Reid Fotheringham, of Brampton. 2020: Julie Elizabeth Barton of Ulverston. 2021: David George Beeby of Cockermouth 2022: Alan McViety 2023: Samantha Scott 2024: Christopher Nigel Couper Holmes, Carlisle 2025: Dr. Geoffrey Charles Joliffe, Barrow in Furness 2026: Shirley Fawcett, Workington
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