During her Shrieval year, Bridget, in the tradition of past High Sheriffs will hope to visit and support many of the charities and voluntary organisations across the County. In particular Bridget wishes to support, enhance and encourage the bringing together of vulnerable young people with the abundant and beautiful countryside and farms of the Surrey Hills. “Nurture through Surrey’s Nature.” Bridget has spent her childhood and working life involved with the countryside. She grew up on a farm in the Surrey Hills where she still lives with her husband Bill and their two daughters, Molly and Chloe. Bridget and Bill manage the farm and rural business.
Bridget qualified as a rural property-chartered surveyor and has spent her professional career working with Cluttons and Smiths Gore. She has held many offices with the Country Land and Business Association and is currently Surrey’s President and a trustee of The Country Land and Business Charitable Trust. Bridget has held other trustee and Charitable roles including Trustee of the Henry Smith Charity, a board member of The Surrey Wildlife trust countryside services and a Trustee Of The Community Foundation For Surrey.
2019-20 High Sheriff’s Statement
The ancient role of High Sheriff has evolved in recent times to include a central duty to support the judiciary, with the additional focus to provide encouragement to the police, emergency services, probation and prison services and to other agencies involved with crime prevention, particularly among young people.
In Surrey, this duty is greatly enhanced through the work of the High Sheriff Youth Awards Scheme. I am delighted to be able to fully support this essential activity as the new High Sheriff, and will take an enthusiastic interest in all awards granted during my time in office.
My predecessor, Jim Glover, with incredible energy, has visited each grant receiving group, awarding certificates, supporting and congratulating both the incredible young volunteers and volunteer organizers. I will ensure that we monitor the impact and effectiveness of these projects in order to identify and support further examples of best practice.
In the tradition of past High Sheriffs, I shall hope to visit as many of the charities and organisations engaging with vulnerable young people across the county as I can. In particular I have an interest in supporting and bringing together vulnerable young people with the abundant and beautiful countryside and farms of the Surrey Hills. “Nurture through Surrey’s nature”. By doing this, I hope to encourage these dedicated volunteers to apply for grants from HSYA to help make Surrey safer.
I have greatly enjoyed attending the panel, council and trustee meetings over the last year and I would like to congratulate and thank all the volunteers involved with the HSYA.I very much look forward to the coming year and meeting the inspirational volunteers and seeing the critical life changing work of the volunteer groups that the HSYA will be supporting.
High Sheriff’s Cadet 2019-20
Meghna Singh
A recently created role – the High Sheriff’s Cadet, was introduced to provide assured and professional support for the High Sheriff and is a great opportunity for a Surrey Cadet to become part of the Shrieval team. Meghna Singh from the Epsom and Ewell Cadet Unit will be on hand to assist the High Sheriff at some of the county visits and events.
High Sheriff’s Chaplain 2019-20
Rev’d Stephen Thatcher