High Sheriffs are appointed by His Majesty the King to represent him in each county in matters relating to the judiciary and the maintenance of law and order.
High Sheriff Sir Richard FitzHerbert Bt
Sir Richard is honoured to be the latest member of this ancient Derbyshire Family to hold the position of High Sheriff of the County, Having been born in Derby in 1963.
After the sudden death of his father (when he was 12) his Mother moved the family consisting of himself and his three sisters south to live with his maternal Grandmother in Essex but often returned to the County to visit his numerous Uncles and Aunts and, after school, started work as a wine merchant in London.
Sir Richard inherited Tissington Hall and the 2000 acre Tissington Estate from his late Uncle in 1989 at the age of 25 and has been trying to restore it ever since despite the difficulties of local planning authorities and heritage legislation. With his wife Fiona they took the Village Tearooms back in hand and now run it successfully catering for groups and visitors .Tissington Hall was built by his ancestor in 1609 and has been lived in by the FitzHerbert family ever since. The Hall now hosts over 50 weddings per annum and the Estate boasts a number of holiday lets with easy access to the surrounding Peak District landscape as well as nearby cycle trails.
Sir Richard was elected as a District Councillor in 2011 for his local ward of Dovedale & Parwich on the Derbyshire Dales District Council. As a member of the Planning Committee he has seen the expanse of the tourism product all over the District and seen its important contribution to the local economy. In 2015 Sir Richard took over as Chair of the Council butstepped down from that role in May 2023 after 12 years service.
Sir Richard chairs the Tissington Well Dressing Committee that organises the annual event when locals dress the six natural wells in the village that never dry up (even in times of drought and plague). Dressed with floral patterns usually depicting biblical scenes the week draws 35,000 visitors annually to Tissington that some have called ‘the prettiest village in Derbyshire’. The event is a proud display of community cohesion and is enjoyed by many both from home and abroad.
For the last 25 years Sir Richard has written a monthly column on Derbyshire issues for the local magazine’ Derbyshire Life’. He is married to Fiona and they have four children, fourdogs, and two cats called Lunar and Raffie ( the latter named after one of the paintings in the Grade II* listed building) but is always looking to expand their tribe.
Alongside his stately home opening operations, Sir Richard is also the Chair of the Peak District & Derbyshire LVEP (Loval Visitor Economic partnership) more commonly known as the local Tourist Board; a former Board Member of EMT (East Midlands Tourism) and a former Board member of Historic Houses Association (the HHA being the Union of the Larger Country Houses independently owned in the country). Sir Richard is also a past President of Derbyshire Scouts and past President of Foundation Derbyshire.
In 2006, Sir Richard won the Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners from the RASE (Royal Agricultural Society of England). This was an award given to him in recognition of:
"A Landowner who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the successful land management and development of an agricultural Estate in England."
Six of Sir Richard‘s forebears have attained the role of High Sheriff, with five representing Derbyshire and Sir Hugo (the sixth Baronet) as Nottinghamshire High Sheriff in 1909.
Sir Richard delights in championing the people, the countryside, the welcome, and the delights of the county of which he is so proud and is greatly looking forward to his Shrieval year with his wife Fiona and two further consorts, his sisters Selina and Lucy. He is delighted to have appointed the Lead Agricultural Chaplain in the County Rev Alan Griggs as his High Sheriff’s Chaplain, so furthering his commitment to the pressures on rural affairs and the farming community .
Happy Christmas Derbyshire !!!
The @derbyshirehs signing off for 2025.
See you all in 2026
#derbyshire
#shrievalty
#pride
#community
Happy Christmas Derbyshire !!!
The @derbyshirehs signing off for 2025.
See you all in 2026
#derbyshire
#shrievalty
#pride
#community
My 12th and final Carol Service of 2025 @derbycathedral with the wonderful @derbycathedralmusic under @alexander.binns2 and his fantastic choir. Honoured to read the prologue in front of 850 people with other readers including @llderbyshire and Deputy Mayor of Derby @ingallphilip @richard.fitzherbert
Happy Christmas!!!!
#derby
#derbycathedral
#community
#derbyshire
#shrievalty
My 12th and final Carol Service of 2025 @derbycathedral with the wonderful @derbycathedralmusic under @alexander.binns2 and his fantastic choir. Honoured to read the prologue in front of 850 people with other readers including @llderbyshire and Deputy Mayor of Derby @ingallphilip @richard.fitzherbert
Happy Christmas!!!!
#derby
#derbycathedral
#community
#derbyshire
#shrievalty
Great as @richard.fitzherbert to meet the youngest member of the @iccbb_ and see he and his bandmates perform in chesterfield parish church under the instruction of Sarah Fellowes. What a show , what tunes and what fun in the run up to Christmas!!
Thankyou Chesterfield!!
#community
#irelandcollierychesterfieldband
#derbyshire
#shrievalty
#christmas
Great as @richard.fitzherbert to meet the youngest member of the @iccbb_ and see he and his bandmates perform in chesterfield parish church under the instruction of Sarah Fellowes. What a show , what tunes and what fun in the run up to Christmas!!
Thankyou Chesterfield!!
#community
#irelandcollierychesterfieldband
#derbyshire
#shrievalty
#christmas
Back home at St Mary’s Church Tissington by @tissingtonhall for our Christmas Service of 9 lessons and carols. With my @derbyshirepolicecadets Sgt Rosie Gill and a congregation of 70.
@richard.fitzherbert
#community
#tissington
#shrievalty
#christmas
Back home at St Mary’s Church Tissington by @tissingtonhall for our Christmas Service of 9 lessons and carols. With my @derbyshirepolicecadets Sgt Rosie Gill and a congregation of 70.
@richard.fitzherbert
#community
#tissington
#shrievalty
#christmas
Great to view the restoration of @ribercastle overlooking @matlockderbyshire and see the tremendous work of the Wright Family who have lovingly restored the Castle built by John Smedley in the 1860s. Stunning apartments and facilities and all in our wonderful @derbyshiredalesdc
@richard.fitzherbert
#derbyshire
#derbyshirehistoricbuildingstrust
#committment
#passion
#dedication
Great to view the restoration of @ribercastle overlooking @matlockderbyshire and see the tremendous work of the Wright Family who have lovingly restored the Castle built by John Smedley in the 1860s. Stunning apartments and facilities and all in our wonderful @derbyshiredalesdc
@richard.fitzherbert
#derbyshire
#derbyshirehistoricbuildingstrust
#committment
#passion
#dedication
Great to be at @derbyshireconstabulary Ripley HQ and @derbyshirefrs for Carols and mince pies as @richard.fitzherbert and meet some Mini Police, the local @derbyshirepolicecadets and the @derbyshire_police_commissioner as we celebrated Christmas together and prayed for the forces of law and order and compassion with respect to the 15 people who died on Bondi Beach.
#community
#derbyshire
#shrievalty
#togetheratchristmas
Great to be at @derbyshireconstabulary Ripley HQ and @derbyshirefrs for Carols and mince pies as @richard.fitzherbert and meet some Mini Police, the local @derbyshirepolicecadets and the @derbyshire_police_commissioner as we celebrated Christmas together and prayed for the forces of law and order and compassion with respect to the 15 people who died on Bondi Beach.
#community
#derbyshire
#shrievalty
#togetheratchristmas
Lovely to be in my home town of Ashbourne at the Mayor of Ashbourne’s Christmas Service @ashbournecouncil in attendance with Brell Ewart DL and other Mayors including @highpeakbc and @derbyshiredalesdc . The service conducted by Rev Dwayne Engh and music from Michael Hall and the Church Choir
#community
#shrievalty
#ashbourne
#christmascarols
Lovely to be in my home town of Ashbourne at the Mayor of Ashbourne’s Christmas Service @ashbournecouncil in attendance with Brell Ewart DL and other Mayors including @highpeakbc and @derbyshiredalesdc . The service conducted by Rev Dwayne Engh and music from Michael Hall and the Church Choir
#community
#shrievalty
#ashbourne
#christmascarols
Thrilled to attend the annual Brass Band Christmas Concert @derbycathedral of @derwentbrass and the Derby Salvation Army Band in aid of the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal.
A super evening of pomp circumstance and joy in the company of over 500 including the Deputy Mayor of Derby and his wife Celia.
As @richard.fitzherbert
#christmasinderby
#shrievalty
#community
#brassband
Thrilled to attend the annual Brass Band Christmas Concert @derbycathedral of @derwentbrass and the Derby Salvation Army Band in aid of the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal.
A super evening of pomp circumstance and joy in the company of over 500 including the Deputy Mayor of Derby and his wife Celia.
As @richard.fitzherbert
#christmasinderby
#shrievalty
#community
#brassband
An honour to attend the creation of 5 Aldermen and One Alderwoman @derbyshirecountycouncil alongside @llderbyshire as the County Council recognised these former Councillors’ magnificent service over the previous five decades. Committed to their communities. Thank you all for your service to@our County.
@richard.fitzherbert
#community
#Derbyshire
#committment
#shrievalty
An honour to attend the creation of 5 Aldermen and One Alderwoman @derbyshirecountycouncil alongside @llderbyshire as the County Council recognised these former Councillors’ magnificent service over the previous five decades. Committed to their communities. Thank you all for your service to@our County.
@richard.fitzherbert
#community
#Derbyshire
#committment
#shrievalty
Delighted to attend the relaxed production of the panto Alladin @buxtonoperahouse with lots of exited and enthralled schoolchildren and a very excited High Sheriff. The Opera House by Matcham is a treasure in the spa town of Buxton in Derbyshire.
Come and see it. On until 1 January 2026
@richard.fitzherbert
#hesbehindyou
#derbyshire
#shrievalty
#communityperformance
Delighted to attend the relaxed production of the panto Alladin @buxtonoperahouse with lots of exited and enthralled schoolchildren and a very excited High Sheriff. The Opera House by Matcham is a treasure in the spa town of Buxton in Derbyshire.
Come and see it. On until 1 January 2026
@richard.fitzherbert
#hesbehindyou
#derbyshire
#shrievalty
#communityperformance
Alongside @hsnottm I was impressed by the passion and commitment of the @3pillarsproject at HMP Sudbury as they spoke of the work they do inside prisons about the rehabilitation of prisoners through a mix of rugby and mentoring. Please support their cause…. It does so much that was wonderfully emphasised by Sudbury inmates.
@richard.fitzherbert
#hope
#shrievalty
#lawandorder
#committment
#thereisawayforward
Alongside @hsnottm I was impressed by the passion and commitment of the @3pillarsproject at HMP Sudbury as they spoke of the work they do inside prisons about the rehabilitation of prisoners through a mix of rugby and mentoring. Please support their cause…. It does so much that was wonderfully emphasised by Sudbury inmates.
@richard.fitzherbert
#hope
#shrievalty
#lawandorder
#committment
#thereisawayforward
A busy Second Sunday in Advent as I attend the Baptism of Charlie Greatorex at St Mary’s @tissingtonhall then as @derbyshirehs the Christmas Market in the Village and then the Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons Carol Service at the Crooked Spire in Chesterfield @chesterfieldbc
#harktheherald
#shrievalty
#derbyshire
#community
A busy Second Sunday in Advent as I attend the Baptism of Charlie Greatorex at St Mary’s @tissingtonhall then as @derbyshirehs the Christmas Market in the Village and then the Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons Carol Service at the Crooked Spire in Chesterfield @chesterfieldbc
#harktheherald
#shrievalty
#derbyshire
#community