Timothy Gillow, High Sheriff of Staffordshire 2025-26

The formal Declaration of Office took place at Stafford Crown Court on 31^st March in a legal ceremony conducted by Her Honour Judge Kristina Montgomery KC, Honorary Record of Stafford, in the presence of the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Sir Ian Dudson KCVO CBE.  Mrs Kate Fitzpatrick, Chair of the Staffordshire Magistrates Bench was in attendance.  Mrs Amy Glover, of Hand Morgan Owen Solicitors, was also sworn in as Under Sheriff for the next twelve months.

In keeping with tradition, two young voluntary police cadets,  Felicity Broome from Tamworth Police Cadet Unit and Summer Shaw from Longton Police Cadet Unit, were appointed as High Sheriff Cadets to assist Mr Gillow in his Shrieval year.  The Reverend Prebendary Michael Newman accepted appointment as Chaplain to the High Sheriff.

Mr Gillow’s shrieval duties will be many and varied. Appointed by the Monarch there have been High Sheriffs in the counties of England and Wales for over 1000 years. It is the oldest secular office under the Crown and exists at no cost to the public purse. The High Sheriff gives support to the agencies of law and order, emergency services, and local authorities in preserving the King’s Peace. High Sheriffs provide encouragement to the voluntary sector particularly where related to law and order.

Mr Gillow said:   “The role of the High Sheriff varies across the counties of England and Wales.  Our county is privileged to be the location of the National Memorial Arboretum which exists to ensure the unique contribution of those who have served and sacrificed is never forgotten.  Due to our central position, the county is host to eight prisons.  These features of our county create  special responsibilities for Staffordshire’s High Sheriff.”

Mr Gillow is married with four grown children, and was formerly Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at University Hospitals of North Midlands, Stoke on Trent.