The High Sheriff of Surrey 2016-17

Richard Whittington was installed as The High Sheriff of Surrey 2016-17 on Friday at Guildford Cathedral, with a commitment to helping young people into work.

 

Making his declaration of allegiance to the Queen to a congregation of civic dignitaries at the close of choral evensong, Richard Whittington of Chobham assumed an office that is at least 1,000 years old with its roots in Saxon England. It is the oldest continuous secular office under the crown.

 

Mr Whittington takes over from the 2015-16 High Sheriff, Elizabeth Kennedy. High Sheriffs are appointed by the Queen, and she pricked his name with a brass bodkin from a shortlist of three candidates.

 

His role is The Queen’s representative of the judiciary, and the office is unpaid, with each Sheriff covering his own expenses. Mr Whittington will support organisations that uphold law and order, including the courts, police, prisons, emergency service and voluntary bodies.

 

He is keenly interested in youth opportunities and will be working to promote openings to bring them into work through apprenticeships, internships and work experience, with particular focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

 

Mr Whittington previously worked for KPMG, where he was Partner-in-Charge of the Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare group and simultaneously Global Head of Building and Construction, based in London. He has lived in Surrey for over 30 years and is involved with the community in a number of areas including being a Governor of Gordon's School and non-executive director of The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Richard is Honorary Treasurer of the Community Foundation for Surrey and sits on the Finance and Investment Group.