THE HIGH SHERIFF, Richard Cole

I am honoured to serve the County as High Sheriff and will take every opportunity to meet, support and recognise all those across Rutland who work to improve the lives of others

Originally from West Yorkshire, Richard has a broad commercial and management background having worked for several multi-national companies; he moved to Leicestershire in 1981 working in the shoe manufacturing industry in global roles in sales, marketing, product management, logistics and customer service. Prior to his recent retirement, for the last 20 years he worked for a market-leading Swiss company supplying process and manufacturing industries.

Alongside this, he was a member of the Territorial Army for 24 years before serving with the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association including chairing the Leicestershire & Rutland County committee for over 10 years.

He has lived in Uppingham since 1989 with his wife and their two children.

Richard has been church warden of Uppingham Parish Church for over 12 years and is a trustee of local charities and an active supporter and volunteer with several various organisations in the community.

He is honoured to have been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the County in 2023

THE UNDER SHERIFF, Kate Blank

I am a Rutland girl, my parents having moved to Preston in 1969. I went to Oakham school then studied law with French LLB Hons at the University of Birmingham and gained my Master of Laws (LLM) at the University of Leicester. I practised as a solicitor for all my working life, mostly at firms in Birmingham and Leicester. I specialised in corporate and business law for private companies, businesses and individuals.

I am very honoured to have been asked every year since 2010 to be the Under Sheriff, as the High Sheriff makes their own appointment each year.

I live in Rutland, I am married to a very patient Michael and my children who keep me fit are a springer spaniel and a Labrador !

CHAPLAIN TO THE HIGH SHERIFF, Rachel Watts

High Sheriff of Rutland Police Cadet

Ellie Moore

In nominating Ellie as their High Sheriff Cadet, Leicestershire & Rutland Police said of her … now in her third year as a Police Cadet at our East Leicester unit. She has always stood out to us as a pleasant and positive cadet, with great enthusiasm for the Police Cadet programme, who is always willing to have a go and get involved with activities. She is a good role model to other cadets. This year Ellie has also participated in her Silver DofE Award with us, which she is currently very close to completing. She regularly took lead with group navigation during the expedition.

Ellie has also volunteered with us at local community events in 2023 to support our local beat teams with community engagement.

High Sheriff in Nomination for 2025-26, Colonel Richard Chesterfield

Colonel Richard Chesterfield served a full career in the Army joining the Royal Tank Regiment in 1978. His first assignment was to Munster in Germany which, coincidentally, was his father’s last assignment at the end of World War 2. Career high points include, amongst others, taking the Army’s current tank through Design Acceptance and Release For Production, instructing at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, being on the Defence Staff in Washington DC, setting out the Defence Estate Strategy 2008 and concluding his service as the Senior British Liaison Officer to the US Army Europe.

Following retirement from the Regular Army he took up a roll in Rutland at Kendrew Barracks where he was the Station Commandant for 6 years. This was his, and his wife Elizabeth’s, first introduction to the county. Enthused with the sense community, location and all that Rutland has to offer they now live in Whissendine and have made Rutland their home

High Sheriff in Nomination for 2026-27, Susannah Fish OBE QPM

Susannah Fish has lived in Wing with her husband, James, since 2009. She was a police officer for 31 years joining Nottinghamshire Police in 1986 as a Police Constable. Her career saw her work across uniform and detective roles in Nottinghamshire, the West Midlands, the Metropolitan Police, and nationally, and culminated being appointed Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police until her retirement in 2017.

She was awarded the OBE for services to policing in 2008 and the Queens Policing Medal for distinguished service in 2016. She was Upstander of the Year in the national hate crime awards 2017 for her leadership on misogyny as a hate crime. She received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Nottingham in 2018.

Through her consultancy now she works with a range of clients on leadership and equality. She actively campaigns to have misogyny as a hate crime rolled out nationally, and has been the safeguarding governor at a school and university. She is a parish councillor and a trustee of the Leicestershire and Rutland County Nursing Association.