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Pradeep Bhardwaj is Senior Strategy Director and Head of Industry Standards in the mobile industry, working for Syniverse, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group.
Pradeep is an industry expert in leading-edge technologies like 5G, with over 30 years of experience including some historic moments - India's first public Email service, Internet service, and Electronic Data Interchange service; setting up mobile and international telecom services in the Seychelles; and a stint in Australia designing a mobile satellite-based telecommunication system.
Pradeep is also a Trustee of three local charities and Governor of New College Swindon.
Pradeep has received many awards, but he takes more pride as a Social worker, as a Community champion for the cause of Equality and Diversity, with a passion to bring people together. The one accomplishment he cherishes the most is establishing the first Hindu Temple in Swindon and Wiltshire to enhance the lives of thousands of people.
The theme Pradeep has chosen for his High Sheriff term is inclusion promoting and celebrating equality, diversity and inclusion in every aspect of our society to bring a positive change. Although through the years, Pradeep has been working relentlessly to connect individuals and communities to increase societal inclusion and create opportunity for all, he aims to bring a sharper focus during his term to empower and promote social, political and economic inclusion by breaking down barriers for participation and involvement. Pradeep said "Bringing People Together is a journey as well as the beginning and the end. It is the goal as well as the means and process."
Pradeep lives in Wroughton with his wife Neetu, two boys Shrey and Avi, and a puppy.
2000: Mr Robert Lawton
2001: Mr David Stratton DL
2002: Sir Christopher Benson
2003: Mr David Newbigging DL
2004: Lieutenant Colonel James Arkell DL
2005: Mr David Margesson DL
2006: Mrs Geraldine Wimble
2007: The Hon Peter Pleydell-Bouverie DL
2008: Mrs Margaret Madeline Wilks DL
2009: Mr Robert Floyd DL
2010: Dame Elizabeth Neville DL
2011: Mr Robert Hiscox DL
2012: The Hon Lady Phillips
2013: Mr William Wyldbore-Smith DL
2014: Mr Peter Addington
2015: Lady Gooch
2016: Sir David Hempleman-Adams, KCVO. CBE, KStJ, DL
2017: Lady Marland
2018: Mrs Nicky Alberry DL
2019: Mr David Scott DL
2020: Major General Ashley Truluck
2021: Sir Charles Hobhouse Bt.
2022: Lady Lansdowne DL
The Office of High Sheriff is an independent non-political Royal appointment for a single year. The origins of the Office date back to Saxon times, when the 'Shire Reeve' was responsible to the king for the maintenance of law and order within the shire, or county, and for the collection and return of taxes due to the Crown. Today, there are 55 High Sheriffs serving the counties of England and Wales each year.
The High Sheriff is the Sovereign's representative in the County for matters of law and order and the judiciary and consequently takes an active interest in the administration of justice. The appointment is honorary and there is no formal qualification for the office, although certain people - Members of both Houses of Parliament, serving members of the armed forces, and certain government officials - are disqualified from taking office.
The annual nominations of three prospective High Sheriffs for each County are made in a meeting of the Lords of the Council in The King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice presided over by the Lord Chief Justice on 12 November in each year. Subsequently the selection of new High Sheriffs is made annually in a meeting of the Privy Council by The Sovereign when the custom of "pricking" the appointee's name with a silver bodkin is perpetuated.
High Sheriffs receive no remuneration or expenses from public funds.
While the duties of the role have evolved over time, supporting the Crown and the judiciary remain central elements of the role today.
Each High Sheriff will approach their year slightly differently depending on their particular skills, experience and their own areas of interest. The key objectives of the role can be summarised as follows:
to uphold and enhance the ancient Office of High Sheriff and to make a meaningful contribution to the High Sheriff's county during the year of office
to lend active support to the principal parts of the Constitution within their county - the Royal Family, the Judiciary, the police and other law enforcement agencies, the emergency services, local authorities, and church and faith groups
to ensure the welfare of visiting High Court judges, to attend on them at court and to offer them hospitality
to support the Lord-Lieutenant on royal visits and on other occasions as appropriate
to take an active part in supporting and promoting the voluntary sector and giving all possible encouragement to the voluntary organisations within a county
The principal formal duties of High Sheriffs today include attendance at Royal visits in the county and support for His Majesty's High Court judges when on circuit.
In recent years, High Sheriffs actively lend support and encouragement to agencies around crime reduction initiatives and those involved in the voluntary sector, especially among young people. In this way they are able to raise the profile of local charities working with young and vulnerable people to support their valuable work in strengthening community cohesion.
The ceremonial uniform that is worn by male High Sheriffs today is called Court Dress. It has remained essentially unchanged since the late 17th century and consists of a black or dark blue velvet coat with steel-cut buttons, breeches, shoes with cut-steel buckles, a sword and a cocked hat. A lace jabot is worn around the neck. Some High Sheriffs wear their military uniform instead of Court Dress. Today, lady High Sheriffs generally adapt the style of traditional Court Dress to suit their needs. Ceremonial uniform is worn at a wide variety of functions but when not wearing Court Dress, a High Sheriff will wear a Badge of Office on a ribbon.
Many High Sheriffs give their own personal awards to individuals during their year of office. These people are often unsung heroes within small voluntary groups, who have made an outstanding contribution in some way.
If you are aware of a deserving individual, please email wiltshire@highsheriffs.com (opens new window) with details, providing the name of the person together with the reason for their nomination.
