Richard Burbidge OBE

Richard Burbidge OBE was installed as High Sheriff of Shropshire in April 2011 at St Michael’s Church, in the parish of Ford, Shropshire.

Richard is married to Patricia and has three adult children and lives in a village on the outskirts of Shrewsbury.

Educated at Shrewsbury School and at Trinity College, Cambridge, he is the Chairman of family firm, Richard Burbidge Group, which is based in Oswestry.

The company is one of the largest local employers and manufactures timber stair balustrading, decorative mouldings and decking which are sold through all the leading DIY stores and builders merchants across the country. A sister company, based in Ormskirk, markets high quality timber flooring.

With over 45 years history in Shropshire, the company’s heritage actually dates back to the Victorian era and was started by Richard’s great grandfather. Richard was awarded the OBE for his services to industry and the local community.

He is also a past Chairman of TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association) which pioneers new uses for this sustainable, organic material.

Richard has long been a supporter of the Institute of Orthopaedics at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt NHS Hospital in Oswestry, serving as Chairman of the NHS Trust and leading several fund raising appeals at the Hospital.

In addition, he is currently Chairman of Governors at Shrewsbury School.

His wife, Patricia, is a Justice of the Peace and local magistrate and is a keen supporter of the creative arts, especially literature and theatre.

Richard’s interests include skiing, sailing, tennis and golf.

On his appointment as High Sheriff, Richard Burbidge commented:

“This is a great honour and I am proud to represent Her majesty, the Queen, in the county. Today, the High Sheriff’s role is primarily ceremonial and filled by a volunteer, so there is no cost to the public purse.”

“Yet it marks an unbroken line of tradition dating back over 1000 years, an emblem of how the Crown has always been connected to the local ‘shires. Such traditions are worth upholding as part of the fabric of our nation and I hope to play a small part in ensuring that the High Sheriff remains involved in the daily life of our beautiful county.”