High Sheriff of Dorset

The High Sheriff of Dorset is an ancient high sheriff title which has been in existence for over one thousand years. Until 1567 the Sheriff of Somerset was also the Sheriff of Dorset.

On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the title of Sheriff of Dorset was retitled High Sheriff of Dorset.

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

1066–1700
• Hugh fitz Grip

• 1086 Aiulf the Chamberlain

• 1240 Hugh de Vivonne

• Before 1567 – See Sheriffs of Somerset and Dorset

• 1567 Robert Coker

• 1568 Robert Williams

• 1569 John Young of Melbury Sampford

• 1570 William Hadeley

• 1571 Henry Uvdall

• 1572 John Strode of Parnham

• 1573 Richard Rogers of Bryanston

• 1574 John Horsey of Clifton

• 1575 Mathew Arundel of Wiltshire

• 1576 William Web of Motcombe

• 1577 Nicholas Turbervill of Bere

• 1578 Thomas Mullins

• 1579 Thomas Chaffin of Chettle

• 1580 George Trenchard of Woolton

• 1581 Nicholas Martin of Athelhampton

• 1582 John Williams of Herringston House, Winterborne Herringston

• 1583 Thomas Strangeways

• 1584 Henry Coker of Mappowder Court

• 1585 John Horsey of Clifton Maybank

• 1586 Christopher Percy

• 1587 Richard Rogers

• 1588 Robert Frampton

• 1589 John Brown

• 1590 Thomas Chaffin

• 1591 Ralph Horsey of Clifton Maybank

• 1592 John Williams

• 1593 George Morton

• 1594 Robert Strode

• 1595 Thomas Hussey of Shapwick

• 1596 George Trenchard

• 1597 Thomas Freke of Iwerne Courtnay (alias Shroton)

• 1598 Gor. Morton

• 1599 Robert Miller of Little Bredy

• 1600 Sir Thomas Uvedale

• 1601 John Stoker

• 1602 John Rogers

• 1603 John Fitzjames of Leweston

• 1604 John Tregonwel of Milton

• 1605 John Ryves of Blandford

• 1606 Robert Napier of Middlemarsh Hall, Minterne Magna

• 1607 William Web

• 1608 Christopher Auketil

• 1609 Edmund Uvedall of Little Crichel

• 1610 John Henning of Pokeswell

• 1611 Sir Thomas Freke of Iwerne Courtnay (alias Shroton)

• 1612 John Strangeways of Melbury Sampford and Abbotsbury

• 1613 Robert Coker

• 1614 Sir John Hanham of Wimborne Minster

• 1615 John Brewyne

• 1616 John Tregonwel

• 1617 John Browne

• 1618 Sir Walter Erle of Charborough

• 1619 Anthony Ashley

• 1620 Sir Nathaniel Napier of More Crichel

• 1621 Edward Lawrence

• 1622 John Harbin

• 1623 William Francis

• 1624 Bampfield Chafin of Folke

• 1625 Francis Caldecot

• 1626 William Uvedell

• 1627 Leweston Fitzjames of Leweston

• 1628 Thomas Still of Redlinch

• 1629 Angel. Grey of Stinsford

• 1630 Sir John Meller of Little Bredy

• 1631 Brian Williams

• 1632 John Browne of Dorchester and Frampton

• 1633 William Colyer of Pidle

• 1634 Sir Thomas Trenchard of Wolveton, Charminster

• 1635 John Feele

• 1636 (Jan–Oct) John Freke of Cerne Abbey and Westbrooke House, Upwey

• 1636 Richard Rogers

• 1637 Sir John Croke of Payne's Place, Motcombe

• 1638 Richard Bingham of Melcomb

• 1639 William Churchill

• 1640 Sir William Uvedale

• 1641 Edward Lawrence of Creech Grange, Steeple

• 1642–1644 Sir Francis Fulford of Toller Fratrum

• 1645 John Fitzjames of Leweston

• 1646 Robert Coker of Mappowder Court

• 1648 William Savadge

• 1649 Henry Henley of Leigh, Winsham, Somerset and Colway, Lyme Regis

• 1646–48 (Parliamentary): Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury

• 1650 Sir Gerrard Napier, 1st Baronet of Middlemarsh Grange, Minterne Magna

• 1651 Sir Hugh Windham, Kt

• 1652: John Turberfield of Beer

• 1654 Arthur Radford

• 1655 James Gould of Dorchester

• 1656 John Michell

• 1657 John Strode of Parnham

• 1660 Thomas Fownes

• 1661 John Rogers

• 1662 Woolley Meller

• 1663 Thomas Freke of Shroton and Melcombe Horsey

• 1664: Robert Swayne

• 12 November 1665: Roger Clavel

• 7 November 1666: John Brown

• 6 November 1667: John Tregonell, of Milton replaced by John Jeffery

• 6 November 1668: John Tregonell, of Milton

• 11 November 1669: Robert Barber

• 4 November 1670: Robert Seymour

• 9 November 1671: Thomas Moore of Hawkchurch

• 11 November 1672: Michael Harvey of Clifton Maybank

• 12 November 1673: William Frampton

• 5 November 1674: John Bingham

• June 1675: John Michel of Kingston Russell

• 15 November 1675: Thomas Gollop

• 10 November 1676: John Every of Wootton Glanville

• 15 November 1677: Robert Pelham

• 14 November 1678: William Weston, of Weston

• 23 November 1678: John Hardy

• 27 November 1678: William Laurence

• 13 November 1679: William Weston, of Weston

• 4 November 1680: George Pitt

• late 1680: Sir Robert Napier, 1st Baronet, of Punknoll

• 1682 George Ryves of Ranston

• 1683 Robert Browne

• 1684 Charles Bruine

• 1684 George Fulford of Toller Fratrum

• 1684 William Lewis of Houke

• 1685 Charles Bruine

• 1687 Thomas Turberville

• 1688 James Gould of Dorchester

• 1689 (Nov): Sir Nathaniel Napier, 2nd Baronet

• 1690 John Still of Shaston St James

• 1691 Andrew Tucker

• 1692 John Hoskyns replaced by Richard Rose

• 1693 John Hoskyns

• 1694 Thomas Skinner replaced by Thomas Cooper of Sherborne

• 1695 William Bennet

• 1696 Sir Thomas Hardy

• 1697: Thomas Bower

• 1698: William Cox of Brockhampton

• 1699 (Jan–Nov) William Okeden of Little Crichel

• 1699: John Richards

1701–1800
• 1700 Robert Swayne

• 1701 William Fitz

• 1702 John Richards replaced by Nicholas Hardy

• 1702 Edward Clavell of Smedmore House

• 1703 John Richards

• 1704 John Richards of Walworth

• 1705 Thomas Turberville

• 1705 Harry Chafyn

• 1706 William Whitaker

• 1707 William Hull

• 1708 Nicholas Brown

• 1709 Charles Brinn

• 1710 George Richards of Long Bredy

• 1710 Richard Swain

• 1711 Edward Hooper

• 1712 John Tregonwell replaced by Anthony Larder

• 1713 George Reeves replaced by John Clutterbuck of Punknole

• 1714 Richard White

• 1715 Thomas Rose of Wootton Fitzpaine

• 1716 Nicolas Carys

• 1717 Fitzwalter Foy of Bewley

• 1718 Samuel Whetcombe

• 1719 John Gollop jnr

• 1720 Edmund Seymour

• 1721 Edmund Seymour

• 1721 John Meech

• 1722 Henry Henly

• 1723 Richard Henvill

• 1724 Robert Henley

• 1725 Richard Churchill jnr of Compton

• 1726 Thomas Gundry of Dewlish

• 1727 John Hawles Johnson

• 1728 Richard Perry

• 1729 George Dawbenny of Bishops Candle

• 1730 Sydenham Williams of Herringston

• 1731 Charles Brune

• 1732 William Mills of Mearehay

• 1733 Sir William Napier, Bt

• 1734 William Clapcott

• 1735 Edmund Hayter of East Creech

• 1736 Samuel Serrell of the Isle of Purbeck

• 1737 Henry Whitaker of Motcombe

• 1738 Henry Bower

• 1739 William Smith of Sidling

• 1740 Thomas Dibben of Powerstock

• 1741 Sydenham Williams

• 1742 Robert Barber of Ashmore

• 1743 James Forster of Blandford St Mary

• 1744 James Frampton of Moreton

• 1745 George Gollop of Berwick House, Swyre

• 1746 Benjamin Adney of Lothers

• 1747 Robert Goodden of Over Compton

• 1748 Samuel Whitcomb

• 1749 Julines Beckford of Steepleton Iwerne

• 1750 Azariah Pinney of Bettiscombe

• 1751 Swayne Harbin of Gunville

• 1752 Thomas Ryves of Ranston

• 1753 Humphrey Sturt of Horton

• 1754 Awnsham Churchill of Henbury

• 1755 Thomas Strode of Bemister

• 1756 Harry Meggs of Bradford Peveril

• 1757 John Gannett jnr of Blandford

• 1758 Nicholas Gould, of West Stafford

• 1759 John Damer of Carne

• 1760 Ralph Willett of Merley

• 1761 William Pitt of Kingston

• 1762 Edmund Morton Pleydell of Milburn

• 1763 William Richards jnr of Warmwell

• 1764 John Pretor Pinney of Dorchester

• 1765 John Pinney of Blackdown

• 1766 Thomas Robinson

• 1767 William Churchill, of Dorchester

• 1768 James Gollop

• 1769 William Thorpe Holder

• 1770 James Dale

• 1771 John Newton

• 1772 Sir John Smith, 1st Baronet of Sydling St Nicholas

• 1773 Henry Cornish Henley

• 1774 Harvey Ekins

• 1775 George Gould

• 1776 William Taunton

• 1777 George Snow

• 1778 William Trenchard

• 1779 Robert Goodden of Over Compton

• 1780 Peter Beckford

• 1781 Lewis Dymock Grosvenor Tregonwell

• 1782 William Churchill of Henbury

• 1783 Francis John Browne of Frampton, near Dorchester

• 1784 Isaac Sage of Thornhill

• 1785 Hon. Lionel Damer of Warmwell

• 1786 Henry William Portman of Bryanstone

• 1787 Peter William Baker of Ranston House, near Blandford

• 1788 Anthony Chapman of Holnest

• 1789 Frederick Thomas Wentworth of Henbury

• 1790 Henry William Fitch

• 1791 John Calcraft of Rempston

• 1791 Sir Stephen Nash

• 1792 Mark Davis

• 1793 James Frampton

• 1794 Edward Buckley Batson of Sixpenny Handley

• 1795 Edward Greathed of Uddings

• 1796 Thomas Bowyer Bower of Iwern Minster

• 1797 William Clavell

• 1798 Edward Berkeley Portman of Bryanston

• 1799 Henry Seymour of Handford

• 1800: Richard Erle-Drax-Grosvenor, of Charborough Park

1801–1900
• 11 February 1801: Thomas Rose Drew, of Wootton Fitzpaine

• 3 February 1802: Edmund Morton Pleydell, of Whatcombe

• 3 February 1803: John Arbuthnot, of Weymouth

• February 1803: Josiah Wedgwood, of Tarrant Gunville

• 1 February 1804: Robert Williams of Bridehead, Littlebredy

• 6 February 1805: John Gould, of Upway

• 1 February 1806: Edward Williams, of Herringstone

• 4 February 1807: Arthur Cozens, of Yetminster

• 3 February 1808: Nicholas Charles Daniel, of Upway

• 6 February 1809: James John Farquharson, of Langton

• 31 January 1810: Henry Seymer, of Hanford

• 8 February 1811: Edward Greathed, of Udden

• 24 January 1812: Thomas Horlock Bastard, of Charlton Marshall

• 10 February 1813: Robert Radclyffe, of Winterborne Zelston

• 4 February 1814: Sir John Wyldbore Smith, 2nd Baronet, of Sydling St Nicholas

• 13 February 1815: George Smith, of Spettisbury

• 1816: John Herbert Browne

• 1817: Sir William Oglander, 6th Baronet

• 1818: John Disney

• 1819: George Purling

• 1820: Thomas Billett

• 1821: John White, of Up Cerne

• 1822: The Rt. Hon. Sir Evan Nepean, 1st Baronet, of Loders died 1822 and replaced by Andrew Bain

• 1823: Henry Charles Sturt of Crichel House, Wimborne

• 1824: George Garland

• 1825: Christopher Spurrier

• 1826: Charles Buxton

• 1827: John Bingley Garland

• 1828: William Gill Paxton of Henbury House

• 1829: William Boucher

• 1830: John Bond of Creech Grange

• 1831: Hon. Henry Dawson-Damer, of Milton Abbey

• 1832: Sir Edward Baker, 2nd Baronet, of Ranston

• 1833: Richard Brouncker, of Boveridge

• 1834: Edward Doughty, of Upton

• 1835: Sir Henry Digby, of Minterne Magna

• 1836: John Stein, of Chalmington

• 1837: James Chamness Fyler, of Heffleton Lodge

• 1838: Richard Brinsley Sheridan, of Frampton House

• 1839: Joseph Weld of East Lulworth

• 1840: John Samuel Wanley Sawbridge-Erle-Drax, of Charborough Park

• 1841: Sir Richard Glyn, 2nd Baronet, of Gaunt's House

• 1842: Henry Ker Seymer, of Hanford

• 1843: James Charles Dale, of Glanvilles Wootton

• 1844: John Floyer, of West Stafford

• 1845: Edward Balston of Corfe Hilll, Radipole

• 1846: Charles Porcher, of Cliffe House

• 1847: Thomas Bowyer Bower, of Iwerne Minster

• 1848: John Gooden, of Over Compton

• 1849: William Parry Okeden, of Turnworth

• 1850: Henry Ralph Willett, of Merley House, Wimborne Minster

• 1851: Francis Pitney Brouncker Martin, of Kingston House, Dorchester

• 1852: Augustus Foster, of Warmwell

• 1853: William Bragge, of Sadborow

• 1854: Sir Henry Oglander, 7th Baronet, of Parham

• 1855: Robert Williams, of Bridehead

• 1856: Charles James Radclyffe, of Hyde, Bere Regis

• 1857: Hastings Nathaniel Middleton, of Bradford Peverell, near Dorchester

• 1858: George Frederick William Miles, of Ford Abbey

• 1859: James Fellowes, of Kingston House

• 1860: George Digby Wingfield Digby, of Sherborne Castle

• 1861: Robert Hassall Swaffield, of West Down Lodge, Wyke Regis

• 1862: Joseph Gundry, of the Hyde, Bridport

• 1863: George Whieldon, of Wyke Hall, Gillingham

• 1864: Charles Wriothesly Digby, of Studland

• 1865: John Brymer, of Ilsington Hall

• 1866: St John Coventry of Knowle, Wimborne

• 1867: John Hales Calcraft, of Rempstone Hall

• 1868: Charles Joseph Parke, of Henbury

• 1869: Sir Richard George Glyn, 3rd Baronet, of Gaunts House.

• 1870: Hector Monro, of Edmondsham

• 1871: John Tregonwell, of Cranborne Lodge

• 1872: Edward Joseph Weld of Lulworth Castle

• 1873: Sir Molyneux Hyde Nepean, 2nd Baronet of Loder's Court

• 1874: John William Townsend Fyler, of Heffleton

• 1875: Sir William Henry Smith-Marriott, 5th Baronet of Sydling and Down House

• 1876: John Clavell Mansel-Pleydell, of Longthorns

• 1877: Ernest Clay Ker-Seymer, of Hanford

• 1878: Montague Williams, of Woolland

• 1879: James John Farquharson, of Langton

• 1880: Walter Ralph Bankes, of Kingston Lacy

• 1881: John Batten, of Upcerne, Dorchester

• 1882: Charles J. T. Hambro of Milton Abbey, Blandford

• 1883: Thomas Holford, of Castle Hill

• 1884: Lieutenant-General Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers, of Rushmore.

• 1885: Charles James Radclyffe, of Hyde, Bere Regis

• 1886: Thomas Merthyr Guest, of Inwood, Henstridge

• 1887: William Ernest Brymer, of Ilsington House

• 1888: George Troyte-Bullock, of North Coker House

• 1889: Sir Frederick John William Johnstone, of Arlington Street, London

• 1890: John Robert Phelips Goodden, of Compton House, Sherborne

• 1891: Marwood Shuttleworth Yeatman, of Holwell Manor House, Sherborne, Esq.

• 1892: James Herbert Fellowes, of Kingston Park, Dorchester

• 1893: Algernon Thomas Brinsley Sheridan, of Frampton Court

• 1894: Montague Scott Williams, of Woolland House, Blandford

• 1895: William Herbert Evans, of Forde Abbey, Thorncombe, near Chard

• 1896: Arthur Martin, of Manor House, Rampisham, Dorchester

• 1897: Sir Henry Peto, 2nd Baronet, of Cheddington Court, Crewkerne, Somerset

• 1898: William Montagu Calcraft, of Rempstone House, Wareham

• 1899: William Colfox, of Westmead, Bridport

• 1900: Captain Richard Baynton Foster, of Lambert House, Dorchester

1901–1973
• 1901 Captain Edward Wilmot Williams, of Herringstone House, Dorchester

• 1902 Colonel John Bullen Symes Bullen, of Catherston Leweston, Charmouth

• 1903 Colonel John Mount Batten of Upcerne House, Dorchester

• 1904 Hastings Burton Middleton, of Bradford Peverell, Dorchester

• 1905 Reginald Douglas Thornton, of Birkin House, Dorchester

• 1906 Henry Stilwell, of Steepleton Manor, Dorchester

• 1907 Humphrey Frederick Weld, of Chideock Manor, Bridport

• 1908 Charles Ethelston Parke, of Henbury House, Wimborne

• 1909 Alexander Edward Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, of Hinton St. Mary, Sturminster Newton

• 1910 Hector Edmond Monro, of Edmondsham House, Cranborne, Salisbury

• 1911 George Hamilton Fletcher, of Leweston Manor, Slierborne

• 1912 James Hainsworth Ismay, of Iwerne Minster House, Blandford

• 1913 Henry Frank Ward Farquharson, of Eastbury Park, Tarrant Gunville, Blandford

• 1914 Frederick James Bosworth Wingfield-Digby, of Sherborne Castle, Sherborne

• 1915 Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Farrer, of Binnegar Hall, East Stoke, Wareham

• 1916 Frederick George Alexander Lane, of Bloxworth House, Wareham

• 1917 Freeman Roper, of Forde Abbey, Chard

• 1918 Alban James Woodroffe, of Ware House, Lyme Regis

• 1919 William Llewellin of Upton House, near Poole

• 1920 Lt.-Col. Thomas Alfred Colfox of Coneygar, Bridport

• 1921 Major Joseph Gundry, of The Hyde, Bridport

• 1922 Alfred Douglas Pass, of Wootton Fitzpaine, Charmouth

• 1923 Sir Reginald John Pinney of Racedown, Crewkerne

• 1924 Major Kenneth Robert Balfour, of Steepleton Manor, Dorchester.

• 1925 Major Charles Robert Eustace Radclyffe, of Hyde, Wareham.

• 1926 Major Hugh Blomfield Nicholson of Mappercombe Manor, Melplash

• 1927 Capt. Sir Richard Fitzgerald Glyn Bt. of Gaunt's House, Wimborne

• 1928 Carlton Cross, of Wyke Hall, Gillingham

• 1929 Harry Rupert Fetherstonhaugh-Frampton, of Moreton New House, Dorchester

• 1930 Lieut.-Col. Edward George Troyte–Bullock of Zeals House, Zeals

• 1931 Capt. Berkeley Cole Wilmot Williams, of Herringston, Dorchester

• 1932 Wilfred John Brymer, of Ilsington House, Piddletown, Dorchester

• 1933 Lieut.-Col. Edward Philip Le Breton, of Loders Court, Bridport

• 1934 Capt. Angus Valdemar Hambro, of Merly House, Wimborne

• 1935 Major Harry Denison Denison-Pender of Strangways, Marnhull

• 1936 Lieut.-Commander Hector Richard Monro, of Edmondesham, Cranborne, Salisbury

• 1937 Lieut.-Col. John Bernhard Harbin Goodden of Compton Hawy, Sherborne

• 1938 Major Rhys Clavell Mansel, of Smedmore, Kimmeridge, Corfe Castle

• 1939 Henry John Ralph Bankes, of Kingston Lacy, Wimborne

• 1940 Capt. Lewys Legge Yeatman, of Stock House, near Sturminster Newton

• 1941 Sir Claud Schuster of The Manor House, Piddletrenthide, Dorchester

• 1942 Major William John Bates Van de Weyer of Clyffe, Dorchester

• 1943 Ernest Frederick Cambridge Lane of Poxwell House, near Dorchester

• 1944 John Henry Lionel Glasbrook of Manor House, Child Okeford, Blandford

• 1945 William Ralph Garneys Bond of Tyneham, Corfe Castle.

• 1946 Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Philip Colfox, Bt. of Symondsbury Manor, Bridport.

• 1947 Lieut.-Co. George Ambrose Pinney of Horn Park, Beaminster.

• 1948 Colonel George Harold Absell Ing of Jerards, Sandford Orcas, Sherborne.

• 1949 Sir Philip Francis Cunningham Williams, Bt., of Bridehead, Little Bredy, Dorchester.

• 1950 Lieut.-Colonel John Fitzherbert Symes Bullen, of Catherston, Charmouth, Dorset.

• 1951 Lieut.-Colonel Joseph William Weld of Lulworth Castle, Dorset.

• 1952 Commander Henry Kelsall Beckford Mitchell of Folke Manor, Sherborne.

• 1953 Sir Arthur Nugent Floyer-Acland

• 1954 Lieut-Colonel Sir Thomas Henry Salt, Bt, of Shillingstone House, Shillingstone, Blandford.

• 1955 Admiral Sir Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley of Mappercombe Manor, Powerstock, Bridport

• 1956 William Wigan Llewellin of Upton House, near Poole.

• 1957 Lieut-Colonel Edward William Seymour of Tarrant Albbey, Blandford.

• 1958 Major Etienne Henry Tudor Boileau, of Rampisham Manor, Dorchester.

• 1959 Lieut.-Colonel Kenneth Greville Williams of Stock Hill, Gillingham.

• 1960 Sir Thomas Edward Lees, Bt., of Post Green, Lytchett Minster, Poole.

• 1961 Lieut.-Colonel Robert Stanley Grosvenor Perry of Moor Lane House, Briantspuddle, Dorchester.

• 1962 Lieut.-Commander George Gosselin Marten of Crichel, Wimborne.

• 1963 Colonel Richard James Longfield, of Lower Silton, Gillingham

• 1964 Lieut.-Commander Robert Hugh Hodgkinson of Milton Abbey School, near Blandford Forum.

• 1965 Commander Roger Henry Charles Fetherstonhaugh-Frampton of Moreton House, Dorchester.

• 1966 Major William Harry Gibson Fleming, of Ranston, Blandford.

• 1967 Henry Rolf Gardiner of Springhead, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury.

• 1968 John Mansell of Smedmore, Wareham

• 1969 Sir William John Colfox of Symondsbury Manor, Bridport

• 1970 Major-General Edward Alexander Wilmot Williams of Herringston, Dorchester.

• 1971 Major Nigel Darner Martin, of Came House, Dorchester.

• 1972 Lieut-Colonel John Lewys Yeatman, of Stock Gaylard House, near Sturminster Newton.

• 1973 Peter Frank Tiarks of Melplash Court, Bridport.

1974–2000
• 1974 Brigadier Stafford Floyer-Acland

• 1975 Lieut.-Colonel James Thomas Amcotts Wilson

• 1976 George Edward Sealy Woodhouse of West Lodge, Blandford

• 1977 Major-General Henry Mark Garneys Bond

• 1978 Major Graham Neville Yeatman

• 1979 Lady Elizabeth Mary Garneys Williams, of Bridehead, Littlebredy, Dorchester.

• 1980 George Anthony Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers of Manor House, Hinton St Mary, Sturminster Newton

• 1981 Sir Stephen George Hammick, 5th Baromet, of Badgers, Wraxall, Dorchester.

• 1982 Deric Sydney Scott D.L. of the Crest, Bournemouth <

• 1983 Richard Greville Earle of Frankham Farm, Ryme Intrinseca, Sherborne

• 1984 Mark Roper of Forde Abbey, Chard

• 1985 Christopher John Rolph Pope of Wrackleford House, Dorchester

• 1986 Colonel Kenneth Dubois Ferguson, D.S.O of Studland Bay House, Studland, Swanage.

• 1987 Lt-Cmdr William Victor Percy Crutchley, R.N. of Mappercombe Manor, Nettlecombe, Bridport

• 1988 Henry Walter Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax of Charborough Park, Wareham

• 1989 The Hon. Mrs Mary Anna Sibell Elizabeth Marten, O.B.E of Crichel, Wimborne

• 1990 Peter Winder Allsebrook, C.B.E of Milton Mill, West Milton, Bridport

• 1991 Edwin William Ludlow, of Friar Waddon Farm House, Friar Waddon, Weymouth

• 1992 Giles Patrick Sturdy of Trigon House, Wareham

• 1993 Richard Guy Grosvenor de Pelet

• 1994 Capt. Michael Fulford-Dobson, R.N. of Cerne Abbey, Cerne Abbas, Dorchester

• 1995 John Derek Wrighton of Preston, Weymouth

• 1996 Wilfrid Joseph Weld

• 1997 Richard Walter Fielding

• 1998 Cmdr Peter Gelson Gregson RN

• 1999 Anthony Graham Yeatman

• 2000 Michael John Ashley Bond

2001–present
• 2001 Charles Arnold Grosvenor Perry

• 2002 James Richard Boughey

• 2003 Eleanor Weld

• 2004 Allan Frank Simmons

• 2005 Charlotte Anne Townshend

• 2006 David Harold Woodhouse

• 2007 Adrian Eason Bailey Scott

• 2008 John Roland Raymond

• 2009: Victoria Mary McDonaugh of Wimborne

• 2010: Timothy John Palmer of West Woodyates

• 2011: Alan John Frost of Bournemouth

• 2012: Jeremy James Richard Pope, of Dorchester

• 2013: Catriona Janet Payne of Dorchester

• 2014: Jane Stichbury of Ashley Park, Ringwood

• 2015: Jennifer Sheila Coombs of Stepleton House, Iwerne Stepleton, Blandford Forum

• 2016: Sir Philip Williams, 4th Baronet of Bridehead, Littlebredy, Dorchester

• 2017: Simon John Young of Blandford

• 2018: Jacqueline Anne Swift of Poole

• 2019: Philip Henry Warr of Canford Magna, Wimborne

• 2020: George Henry Streatfeild of Bridport

• 2021: Michael Matthew Patrick Dooley of Dorchester

• 2022: Sibyl Fine King

• 2023: Colin William George Weston