High Sheriff of East Sussex
The High Sheriff of East Sussex is a current title which has existed since 1974; the holder is changed annually every March. For around 1,000 years the county of Sussex was covered by a single High Sheriff of Sussex but after the Local Government Act 1972 the title was split to cover the newly created counties of East Sussex and West Sussex.

The position was once a powerful position responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing law and order in the county. In modern times the high sheriff has become a ceremonial role, presiding over public ceremonies.

History 
The office of High Sheriff is over 1000 years old, with its establishment before the Norman Conquest. The Office of High Sheriff remained first in precedence in the counties until the reign of Edward VII when an Order in Council in 1908 gave the Lord-Lieutenant the prime office under the Crown as the Sovereign's personal representative. The High Sheriff remains the Sovereign's representative in the County for all matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of law and order..

Roles and responsibilities 
High Sheriffs are responsible in the Counties of England and Wales for duties conferred by the Crown through Warrant from the Privy Council, including:
Attendance at Royal visits to the County
The wellbeing and protection of Her Majesty's High Court Judges when on Circuit in the County and attending them in Court during the legal terms
The execution of High Court Writs and Orders (which is mainly achieved through the Under Sheriff)
Acting as the Returning Officer for Parliamentary Elections in County constituencies
Responsibility for the proclamation of the accession of a new Sovereign
The maintenance of the loyalty of subjects to the Crown

High Sheriffs of East Sussex 
 

1974–1975: Joseph Rank, of Hartfield
1975–1976: Thomas Egerton, of Robertsbridge
1976–1977: Laurence Hardy, of Dane Hill
1977–1978: Arthur Sturge MC, of Wadhurst
1978–1979: Reginald Edwardes-Jones, of Wadhurst
1979–1980: Christopher Bridge, of Firle
1980–1981: Thomas Halliday Baskerville Mynors, of Moseham House 
1981–1982: Major Michael Reid, of Wadhurst
1982–1983: Hon. Oliver Piers St. Aubin MC, of Woodside House, Barcombe, Lewes 
1983–1984: Lieutenant-Colonel Rodney Onslow Dennys CVO OBE
1984–1985: Capt Samuel Lombard-Hobson CVO OBE, of Laughton
1985–1986: Michael Toynbee, of Wadhurst
1986–1987: Rupert Cyster OBE, of Rye
1987–1988: Timothy Jones, of Berwick
1988–1989: Edward Hardcastle TD, of Wadhurst
1989–1990: David Baker JP, of Laughton
1990–1991: Peter Dunn JP, of Rushlake Green
1991–1992: Roderick Petley, of Heathfield
1992–1993: Ian Cox, of Brightling
1993–1994: Andrew Stewart-Roberts of Offham
1994–1995: Lady (Jane) Lloyd of Berwick
1995–1996: Alan Mayes-Smith
1996–1997: John Fooks
1997–1998: John Whitmore
1998–1999: Gillian Evelyn Schluter, Viscountess Brentford, OBE
1999–2000: Keith Miller
2000–2001: William de Salis
2001–2002: Richard Carden
2002–2003: David Pennock
2003–2004: Alastair Ainslie 
2004–2005: Julian Avery
2005–2006: David Tate OBE
2006–2007: Amanda Caroline Hamblin
2007–2008: Caroline Anne Mayhew
2008–2009: Hugh Thomas Burnett OBE of Hove 
2009–2010: William Thomas Cornelius Shelford of Lewes
2010–2011: Deborah Clare Melanie Bedford of Ringmer, Lewes
2011–2012: Mrs Kathleen Ann Gore DL of Framfield, Uckfield
2012-2013: David Allam DL  
2013-2014: Graham Peters DL of Bodiam 
2014–2015: Christopher J M Gebbie OBE DL of Norlington Lane, Ringmer
2015-2016: Juliet Anne Smith of Brighton Marina, Brighton 
2016–2017: Michael Foster of Lacuna Place, Havelock Road, Hastings
2017-2018: Mrs Maureen Chowen of Brighton 
2018–2019: Major General John David Moore-Bick of Robertsbridge 
2019–2020: Mrs Violet Ljubica Hancock of Ringmer