Biography: The Sheriff of York
Ms Fiona Fitzpatrick is the Sheriff of York for the civic year 2024 to 2025, and has prepared the following summary of her life and career to date.
The Sheriff of York and the Sheriff's Consort, 2024 to 2025
Originally a Londoner, I've lived in York for nearly 20 years. I moved to Yorkshire to work in Hull schools as a consultant for the National Strategies programme to raise school standards. I have been a local authority advisor and an Ofsted inspector of schools. I've also taught in London, Liverpool and Milton Keynes, as well as Hull.
I have represented both the Hull Road and Guildhall wards of the city. I live in Walmgate, an area my relatives moved to in the last century, as economic migrants, from the west of Ireland. I am very proud of my Irish heritage, and belong to the York Irish society.
I love living in the city centre, enjoying its coffee shops, bars, restaurants and live music venues. I can regularly be found on a Friday night having a curry in my favourite Indian restaurant.
I am passionate about inclusion and diversity, having been partly instrumental, as a Councillor, in introducing the annual Pride parade into York. I am also a longstanding friend of York Mosque and I was honoured to have been asked to cut the ribbon at the opening of the new Mosque a number of years ago.
I have a son and 2 young grandsons living in Brighton, and a daughter living in West Yorkshire.