His Majesty
King Charles III
The High Sheriff
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Leckey VR has been appointed High Sheriff for the County of Down for 2025.
Born in Belfast and educated at Annadale Grammar School, Peter studied Modern History at Queen’s before obtaining a Regular Commission from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
He has since pursued a military and policing career spanning almost four decades. Whilst his early military and police service was spent largely in Northern Ireland, his latter career as an Army Reservist has taken him to Afghanistan, Ukraine, Uganda, Bangladesh, the USA and most of Europe.
Following several operational deployments overseas, he also participated in the military operation to support the NHS during Covid. He has been awarded a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Operational Honours List (Afghanistan 2011) and the US Army Commendation Medal (Afghanistan 2017).
The Role
WHEREAS I have been pleased to nominate and appoint you for and to be Sheriff of the County of Down during His Majesty’s pleasure: These are therefore to require you to take the Custody and Charge of the said County, and duly to perform the duties of Sheriff thereof during His Majesty’s pleasure, and whereof you are duly to answer according to Law.
Letter of Appointment
The Duties
- To uphold and enhance the dignity and standing of the ancient Office of High Sheriff.
- To support the Lord Lieutenant by attending the arrival of Royalty or other guests in the county on official visits.
- To ensure the welfare of visiting High Court Judges when they preside over a case in the county, to attend on them at Court and to offer them hospitality.
- To deliver the Proclamation of Accession following the death of the Monarch.
Protocol
Precedence in the county
The High Sheriff in any county is by right second only to the Lord Lieutenant (or deputy acting for the Lord Lieutenant) but gives precedence to Mayors at their own civic functions.
The Lord Lieutenant and the High Sheriff are both appointed by, and are representatives of, the Sovereign in the county. The Lord Lieutenant is the personal representative of the Monarch, whilst the High Sheriff is the judicial representative of the Monarch.
As a representative of the Sovereign, the High Sheriff should be received at any event with the same degree of etiquette and protocol as a member of the Royal Family when the High Sheriff is attending in an official capacity in their own county.
Addressing a High Sheriff?
Written: (title and name), High Sheriff of Down
Salutation: Dear High Sheriff
In a Speech: In the preamble the High Sheriff should be referred to as High Sheriff . For example, a speech might begin, “High Sheriff, Ladies and Gentlemen…”.
Conversation: On formal occasions High Sheriff
