Rosemary Ruggles-Brise

High Sheriff of Essex

The new High Sheriff of Essex Rosemary Ruggles-Brise, takes up her duties after swearing her Declaration at a ceremony held at Chelmsford Crown Court (29 March). She is the 831st High Sheriff of Essex.

During her year of office, Rosemary will hold various fundraising initiatives to raise money for The High Sheriffs’ Fund through which she will support voluntary and community groups working throughout Essex to make their communities safe from crime and the fear of crime.

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The High Sheriffs’ Fund is managed by local grantmaking charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation. Since it came under the Foundation’s management in 1997, the Fund has distributed over £330,000 to 386 voluntary and community groups all working hard to support local people and address crime related issues in their area.

“There are so many committed and dedicated people in Essex who are volunteering their time or are involved with local charities. As High Sheriff, I am also a volunteer and I am looking forward to visiting organisations across Essex that are working hard to make a difference in their local community”, said Rosemary. “Tapping into Essex Community Foundation’s knowledge and expertise of the voluntary sector will help me to have a greater understanding of the needs in Essex”.

Rosemary, who was born in Scotland, lives at Spains Hall in Finchingfield which has been the Ruggles-Brise family home for some 250 years. Whilst working for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office she was posted to the UK Embassy in Mexico where she met her husband Timothy. In recent years Rosemary has developed a great interest in the penal system and has been a volunteer Member of the Independent Monitoring Board for HMP Chelmsford since 2000. Whilst bringing up her five children, Rosemary has been involved in fundraising for various charitable organisations, including the YMCA and NSPCC.