Walking into the library at Tissington Hall, there’s immediately a sense of stepping back in time. Leather-bound books line the walls floor to ceiling, well-thumbed photograph albums adorn writing tables, and framed portraits greet the visitor.
Although, as might be expected from a Derbyshire ancestral home in the same family for over four centuries, there are many layers to its history.
Whether making alterations to the Hall’s bricks and mortar, or managing the 2,000-acre estate and its 50 properties, each holder of the FitzHerbert baronetcy has left their mark.
There are several FitzHerberts who have also impacted the wider community, in particular those appointed to the role of High Sheriff of Derbyshire.
Guests make the short walk from Saint Mary’s Church to Tissington Hall Photo: Chris Smith Photography The ninth baronet, Sir Richard FitzHerbert, who inherited Tissington Hall from his uncle Sir John FitzHerbert in 1989, aged 25, is the latest to become the King’s representative, with an installation on April 3 at Saint Mary’s Church in Tissington launching the start of his shrieval year.
Having previously been an elected councillor and chair of Derbyshire Dales District Council, Sir Richard was on the boards of the Historic Houses Association and East Midlands Tourism, as well holding the presidency of both Derbyshire Scouts and Foundation Derbyshire.
He’s also an acclaimed champion of rural life, winning the Royal Agricultural Society’s prestigious Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners which means he’s already a familiar face to many of those living and working within the county.
The role of High Sheriff demands the incumbent hits the ground running which, since April, has already required his attendance at numerous VE Day celebrations, presentations and charitable events.
For the man who plans to manage his own diary of official engagements alongside organising a large family reunion commemorating 900 years of the FitzHerbert lineage, the saying “if you want something done, ask a busy person”, clearly rings true.
‘I’m extremely honoured to be High Sheriff,’ says Sir Richard. ‘I was born in Derby and have now lived in Tissington for 36 years, so I’m all about Derbyshire.’
‘I’m the sixth FitzHerbert of Tissington who’s been High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Francis FitzHerbert being the first in 1602. Although, prior to that, we had another ancestor who was High Sheriff of both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
However, just living at Tissington Hall doesn’t mean you automatically get to be High Sheriff, my ongoing involvement in the rural farming economy and rural poverty may well be why I was asked.
Additionally, there has also been a FitzHerbert of Norbury, a FitzHerbert of Somersall and a FitzHerbert Wright from Yeldersley, who’ve held the position.
In a nutshell, what is the High Sheriff’s role?
Originally it was to collect taxes. Now we’re the King’s representative for law and order which includes the judiciary, police, ambulance and other emergency services.
It’s also about promoting good practice and valuing all the people who do good things within the county. I want to dispel the myth that it’s purely about fundraising and entertaining.
Although my court dress came second-hand from a school friend, who’d been High Sheriff of Northampton, I needed several fittings with a tailor who soundly recommended I wear braces. Its first outing was for a photoshoot and there were a few “issues” with my shoes and my jabot, which thankfully have been resolved.
So, by the time it came to my installation, I was remarkably comfortable. Sometimes the court dress will be worn for just for a few hours, on other occasions it may be the whole day. Everywhere I go people like to be photographed with you.
Did Ian Morgan, your predecessor, pass on any useful tips?
Already, Ian’s advice has been spot-on. For example, always travel with a short, prepared speech and, although I couldn’t sing it to you right now, learn the second verse of the National Anthem.
The next two High Sheriffs of Derbyshire are already known and I’ll hopefully have some tips for them. Inviting as many of the former and future Sheriffs to my engagements as possible is important to me, because you only get to be Sheriff once.
I’ve chosen the Reverend Alan Griggs as my shrieval chaplain because, as lead agricultural chaplain in the county, he reaches into the farming community. Alan’s already given me a list of things he’d like me to do whilst in office, including attending the Hope, Ashover and Ashbourne Shows. We’ll go together and try to encourage people to come up to someone in a silly hat and buckles on his shoes.
By having a conversation with us, we want to let them know that there’s help out there from the Rural Agricultural Benevolent Institution, and the Farming Community Network, which Alan is involved with. If I can help in any way in promoting them, that’s what I want to do.
Will you continue to promote tourism?
I’m still chair of Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire, and only this week went to the Buxton Crescent Hotel to meet a Chinese delegation from a rural, yet beautiful, countryside area.
They loved me being in my court dress and I was interviewed for Chinese TV. Hopefully, I’m encouraging more visitors to come here responsibly and sustainably, and if they stay in local B&Bs this may help the farming community too.
Fiona, my wife, will be helping me at some of the engagements. I’m going to a breakfast meeting about adoption services soon and Fiona hopes to then come along to some of the adoption panels.
My sisters Selina and Lucy, and my neighbour Diana Houghton, are also consorts and this is a supporting role that’s open to being personalised. Recently, I started a match at Derby Rugby Club in aid of a cancer charity, which Lucy attended too. I had to remove my High Sheriff’s shoes to take the drop kick!
Which engagements are you particularly looking forward to?
The big one is the legal service at Derby Cathedral in October. It’s when the county’s judiciary is celebrated with all the magistrates in attendance and I’d like to use my networks to fill the Cathedral.
There’s an outline programme but, as Sheriff, you can choose the readers, singers and musicians, so I’ll be trying to find the best up and coming talent in Derbyshire.
Before that, in July, the Mercian Regiment, the successor unit to the Sherwood Foresters, have their service at Crich Stand which is also an important date in the calendar.
It’s about supporting all sorts of different organisations and getting around the whole county.
What do you hope your legacy as High Sheriff might be?
When you’re in this library, there’s Sir Henry FitzHerbert and Great Uncle Hugo over there, both former High Sheriffs. I just hope, like them, that I can do a little bit of good.
It’s also my intention to ensure that some normally unsung people will be appreciated; and that the rural economy receives a boost.
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