It is a great honour, says Shropshire's new High Sheriff

With wife Georgina, he has moved into one of the oldest secular and leading roles in the county.

The installation of a Sheriff in Nomination is a significant and moving ceremony and Shropshire has been blessed down the years to have been served by some fine people who have truly made a difference.

Principal formal duties of high sheriffs today include attendance at royal visits in the county and support for Her Majesty’s high court judges when on circuit.

These days the sheriffs play an increasingly active and supportive role within their counties in relation to the police and emergency services and in lending encouragement to public sector agencies like probation and prison services and to voluntary sector organisations involved in crime reduction and social cohesion.

They may also offer encouragement to those supporting the voluntary sector and folk in need.

Having chatted at length to charming and helpful Rhoddy Swire at his Ludlow home, yet again we can be encouraged by his commitment to doing the best job he can for Shropshire.

He says: “I am very much looking forward to the year and meeting as many people and organisations as possible. It is a great honour.”

The busy couple live in the middle of historic Ludlow and can also boast the most wonderful gardens which are sometimes open to the public – on July 29 this year, they will be open in aid of the Red Cross.

Supporting

Their much-loved old dogs, Reggie who is 11 and Tilly, aged 13, feature big time in their lives. And they also have three children and seven grandchildren aged between one-and-a half and nine – son Hugh and his family live in London while Hattie and Milly with their husbands and children, live in Shropshire and all are well committed to supporting county life.

Since both Rhoddy and Georgina have previous high sheriffs in their families, they do indeed follow a proud tradition.

And so to Ludlow where Rhoddy was charming, helpful and keen to explain how he especially wanted to do all he could during this year to support Shropshire and beyond and with Georgina at his side, contributing to the future stability and wellbeing of the county.

He recalled: “I started out as a chartered accountant because I couldn’t think what I wanted to do when I finished my degree at Birmingham University.

“I passed all my exams and then went out to Hong Kong where I worked for a bit for accountants Peat Marwick before joining the Swire group.”

While an executive in the group, as well as Hong Kong, he also worked in Sydney and London. During those early years, he met Georgina and the couple were eventually married back home in Much Wenlock.

Hugh was born overseas and they came back to England where the family continued to grow with their two daughters. In a full business life, Rhoddy also founded the company Pantheon, recognised as a top liner where private equity is concerned, Rhoddy is also a director of Pantheon International Plc. In 1981 he joined GT Management to oversee and manage unquoted investments and lead the buy-out from GT.

Charities

Aware of the year ahead, he has pulled back from Pantheon and other business interests to give the High Sheriff role a priority. The family are all supporting Rhoddy of course and he, in turn, has a firm idea of the special support he wants to give within the county.

While the Sheriffs can do a great deal in promoting charities and any problem areas which need help as they visit many parts of the county, most of them take on particular causes as well. And Rhoddy and Georgina intend to bring small and local charities into the spotlight.

Rhoddy says: “I want to do all I can to help local causes which have a significant impact. So I’m going to focus on the smaller and local charities because I think it’s tough for them. I also want to establish a common fund for Shropshire.”

Put simply, Common Funds receive donations so that they can make grants to organisations and causes including services to children and young people. Quite rightly, the county will applaud that.

In a wider role, Rhoddy is presently chairman of the Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust as well and keen that the wonderful sculpted Poppies display. which has just arrived there. should be seen by as many people as possible.

We send our new High Sheriff every good wish for a busy and fruitful year ahead.