High Sheriff of Cumbria
Samantha Scott, 2023/2024
I was born in Sheffield but have lived near Windermere for almost 30 years.
Post Edinburgh University, I worked for several years in London with the wine merchant, Justerini & Brooks. I developed a love of fine wine but London life was not for me in the long term.
I am married to Alex, a 4th generation Cumbrian whose family owned a prominent business in Kendal and also established Abbott Hall Art Gallery and The Brewery Arts Centre along with two significant locally-focused charitable trusts.
I am fortunate to have been a trustee of The Frieda Scott Charitable Trust for 10 years and Chair for 3. The role involves overseeing and providing financial support to multiple organisations serving the needs of the most vulnerable in our county. It is a privilege that is both humbling and inspirational.
Alex and I have 3 adult children who have strong Cumbrian connections and regularly return for weekends and holidays. We live on our family’s organic farm and my wider interests are mostly focussed on the outdoors. I have had a life-long passion for horses and until recently enjoyed watching our children compete. I generally have a pair of binoculars with me when walking our dogs and enjoy learning to identify local flora and fauna, particularly birds.
We are lucky to live in such a beautiful environment and I am looking forward to travelling around our county this year, learning about the challenges faced by many in our communities and applauding those who do so much to address them.
In late April I will be walking the 73 miles of The Cumbria Way, visiting up to 25 charities along the way and raising money for the High Sheriff’s General Fund. The fund is managed by The Cumbria Community Foundation to which charities can apply for funding. At the end of my year in office I will be awarding grants from the High Sheriff’s General Fund.
High Sheriff of Cumbria
Alan McViety, 2022/2023
I was born in Penrith and have lived in the Eden Valley all of my life never more than 10 miles from Penrith. Whilst rooted in Cumbria I have travelled extensively but always looked forward to returning home and have lived in my current house for almost 40 years.
My wife, Marie, is a former magistrate who chaired both adult and youth courts for 21 years, she also sat on appeals in the Crown Court. After attaining a bachelor degree in law LLB (Hons) she studied for a master’s degree (LLM) in International law specialising in Human Rights and Humanitarian law. Together we have 3 grown up children and 6 grandchildren.
I was educated at High Hesket primary school and after passing the 11plus moved to Penrith Queen Elizabeth Grammar School where I became deputy head boy.
After leaving school I trained as Chartered Accountant and was one of the founding partners of a local firm of Chartered Accountants. When we started there were 3 of us and 8 clients, when I retired in 2018 we had 170 staff and annual fee income in excess of £7M. I am now fully retired but have been granted life membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
I have been a trustee of Voluntary Action Cumbria for almost 20 years, a director of Appleby Community Enterprises for 10 years and I was trustee of Appleby Training and Heritage Centre for 20 years until its closure in 2020. I have recently become a governor at Appleby Grammar School.
I am an active member of Appleby Rotary club having held the posts of president, secretary and currently treasurer. During my time in Rotary I have taken part in an aid convoy to Mali, which included visiting Timbuktu, and have been on an excursion to the most northerly Rotary club in Russia, Murmansk. This together with my community work earned me a Paul Harris Fellowship.
My theme for my year as High Sheriff is “Youth Opportunities”
The last two years during the pandemic have been difficult for everyone but particularly so for students in education and those embarking on their careers. I would like to focus on both recreational activities and educational opportunities. The young are our future and we need to not only pass on our skills and knowledge but understand their concerns and aspirations for the future.
High Sheriff of Cumbria
David Beeby, 2021/2022
David grew up on a mixed farm in Nottinghamshire where his family have farmed for over 150 years. The youngest of 5 he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and then moved in to industry.
Following a number of moves in to general management within the printing and packaging industry he relocated to Cumbria in 1987 to run (what was then called) Smith Brothers (Whitehaven) Limited. He progressively moved into international roles within the group that owned the business. In 2004 he moved to run Innovia, headquartered in Wigton. In his time a major investment was the building of a brand new plant in Wigton to make the polymer banknote substrate to supply the Bank of England. He retired from running the business in 2015 at which time there were manufacturing sites in Wigton, Belgium, USA, Australia and Mexico. The business was sold to CCL Industries in 2017 and David was delighted to be able to maintain his contact and interest in the business by becoming an advisor.
In addition to his business career David has been involved in a number of charitable roles including Chair of Princes Trust in Cumbria and member of the Management Committee at Calvert Trust. He is currently Chair of Trustees of Cumbria Community Foundation. He is also Chair of Cumbria CBI and involved in working with a variety of companies, most notably as Chairman of Aqua Power Technologies Limited.
High Sheriff of Cumbria
Julie Barton, 2020/2021
