Jim Glover has been a Surrey resident for the past 20 years and lives in Westcott with his wife
Cath in the heart of the beautiful Surrey Hills. Originally from Newcastle-on-Tyne Jim has a substantial background of executive and non-executive director roles in large leisure, retail and service organisations both in the UK and overseas. He also served as a member of Council at the University of Birmingham for 10 years during which time he held the positions of Treasurer and then Chair of Council and Pro-Chancellor. He is currently Chair of Council at the University of Surrey. He has been closely involved with several charities in the past, including MENCAP, Grafham Grange SET and RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises. Jim is currently a Trustee of the High Sheriff Youth Awards’
As High Sheriff, Jim will continue to focus on the issue of the permanent exclusions of pupils from schools, and build upon the momentum already created by Robert Napier. In addition, Jim will work closely with Further and Higher Education Institutions across Surrey to encourage and enhance the impact of student volunteering activities in the county.
His year of office will include visits to Surrey Charities and Community groups and will undertake the traditional role of High Sheriff by supporting those working on our behalf in upholding Law and Order in Surrey, including the Judges, Magistrates, police, prisons, probation and emergency services.
High Sheriff’s Cadet – 2018-19
Naeel Radha
A newly 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. Naeel, who is a Cadet from the Epsom and Ewell Unit, will attend some of the county visits and events . He has the honour of being the first Cadet in Surrey to undertake this unique role.
Chaplain to the High Sheriff of Surrey
Rev’d Alan Jonas
Alan Jonas has been the Vicar of Westcott for 20 years, serving a lovely community in the beautiful Surrey Hills. He is also Area Dean of Dorking, supporting his colleagues and the churches across the Deanery. Prior to ordination, he was a senior teacher, working most recently in an education project on the St Helier Estate in the Borough of Merton. Alan has been married to Jenny for 38 years who is a musician, teaching piano and singing at Reigate Grammar School.
Biography
There is a High Sheriff in every County in England and Wales, and their history and tradition goes back before the Norman Conquest. The Office is the oldest Royal appointment. The modern day High Sheriff has a very different function to that of their ancient ancestors but still plays an important role within their County.
High Sheriffs are appointed by the Monarch to support the judiciary and Jim will spend time with those who work in the Courts, with Surrey Police and in the prisons of Surrey. The High Sheriff of Surrey is Patron of the Surrey Volunteer Police Cadets and a Trustee of the High Sheriff Youth Awards.
During his Shrieval year, Jim will continue to work with a wide range of experts, teaching staff, charities and voluntary organisations involved in supporting children within the County on the ‘theme’ of school exclusion started by his predecessor.
Jim has a substantial background of executive and non-executive director roles in large leisure, retail and service organisations both in the UK and overseas. Such roles include MD of Benskins Ltd (within Allied Domecq Ltd), MD of Kingfisher Asia Ltd, MD and later Chair of Superdrug and CEO of Kingfisher General Merchandise Sector (all within Kingfisher Plc), CEO of Patientline Ltd and then his final executive role as CEO of the NAAFI.
Non-executive roles have included trustee and Chair of Royal Mencap Society, trustee and Chair of Grafham Grange Special Educational Trust, Chair of Andrews & Partners Ltd (a residential and commercial property services company, wholly owned by charities) and a non-executive director of Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises Ltd.
He served as a member of Council at the University of Birmingham for ten years, during which time he held the positions of Treasurer and then Chair of Council and Pro-Chancellor. He is currently Chair of Council at the University of Surrey.
HS 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.
Throughout his very successful year, my predecessor, Robert Napier, has been tireless in his efforts to visit the various initiatives funded by recent grants, and I will ensure that we monitor the impact and effectiveness of the projects in order to rapidly identify further examples of best practice. I will also be proud to continue Robert’s powerful and popular focus on the effects on pupils of all ages of being excluded from school. We are grateful for the substantial momentum Robert has created in terms of addressing this complex problem.
In the tradition of all past High Sheriffs, I am determined to visit as many of the charities and organisations engaging with vulnerable young people across the county as possible. By doing so, I will have the opportunity to encourage these dedicated volunteers to apply for grants from HSYA in order to help make Surrey safer through the activities of young people themselves. I look forward with great anticipation to meeting the experts providing such life changing opportunities, and to hearing of the impact of such inspiration from the beneficiaries themselves.