SUPPORTED CHARITIES
Ian Smith
I am immensely proud to have been appointed the High Sheriff of Worcestershire for 2025/26. My appointment was confirmed at a ceremony in Worcester Crown Court on Thursday 3rd April in front of the Lord Lieutenant, Her Ladyship Mrs Justice Tipples, Senior Presiding Judge of the Midland Circuit, members of the Judiciary, former High Sheriffs, various civic dignitaries, invited guests and members of my family.
My predecessor, Charles Moyle JP, has had a remarkable year in office making a hugely beneficial impact on all corners of our county. I applaud Charles on his year and thank him for his impeccable hand over to me.
I was born in Herefordshire but moved to Worcestershire when I was just two weeks old and I have lived here ever since. I was educated at Hawford Lodge (now King’s Hawford) and King’s School Worcester. I went to university in Durham and then trained as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser in Birmingham (whilst living in Worcester).
I ran the College Yard based accountancy practice called Rabjohns for many years and merged that with the South-West firm of Bishop Fleming in 2011. In the last few years of my working life I was the Chair of Bishop Fleming.
I act as a trustee for five local charities and chair three of those. I recently retired as a Governor of the University of Worcester.
I live in a house that my wife and I had built nearly 30 years ago on our small farm in the Teme Valley. I have two adult children and a three-year old grandson who lives next door to me. My wife Lit sadly died in 2022.
During my year I intend to continue with a number of excellent projects initiated by the three High Sheriffs before me. In addition, my main project will be introducing “Getting Court” to Worcestershire. This is a programme already running in some other counties in which groups of school students visit live Crown Court sessions. It provides a greater understanding of Law and Order and the judicial system, some life lessons from people who have made bad choices to help crime prevention and potential inspiration for career choices in the areas represented in the Court. If you are connected to a school in some way in Worcestershire and they are not participants in the programme, please let me know.
I also hope to provide an entry from Worcestershire to the National Crimebeat competition. This is run by the High Sheriffs’ Association. Its purpose is to give recognition to the most innovative and successful crime prevention projects carried out by young people. If you are aware of any such project in Worcestershire, please do let me know.
Please get in touch if I might be of help to your organisation during my year, particularly in the areas of crime prevention, victims of crime and helping the development of vulnerable and underprivileged young people.