Bedfordshire Lieutenancy: New High Sheriff of Bedfordshire sworn in at virtual ceremony
Date Added: 08/04/2021
The new High Sheriff of Bedfordshire for 2021/2022 was installed on Wednesday 7 April 2021. Eric Masih, who succeeds Susan Lousada DL, was sworn in at a virtual ceremony in the presence of Mr Simon Smith JP.
Eric was born in Punjab, India and was brought to the UK by his parents in 1967 where he was educated locally. Eric has continued to live in Bedford with his wife, four sons and four grandchildren. His hobbies include Asian classical music and martial arts, and he continues to practice as Southern Region Area instructor for the Tetsudo Martial Arts Association.
Eric has been a well-respected and well-known face within Bedfordshire for a number of years. He started his working life within the Geophysical Services Institute before moving into the insurance industry where he held a number of managerial and financial roles.
Eric’s true calling came in 1996 when he entered the Property and Mortgage sector and established his current business, Gold Crown Estate Agent. Within this sector, Eric is particularly committed to providing affordable and social housing in Bedfordshire. Following on from this, Eric has sought to introduce business opportunities into local areas which have previously been considered run down and derelict and in 2006, Eric took over the previously derelict Irish Club on Midland Road in Bedford, in an attempt to attract business to the locality. After an extensive refurbishment project, he launched the Midas Bar and Club.
Within the local community, Eric holds roles with several charities and organisations including the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC) for which he is a trustee, founding member of the Bedfordshire Asian Business Association (BABA) and Queens Park Academy School where he is a governor.
In 2013, Eric was appointed as the Chairman of Queens Park Community Organisation (QPCO), an organisation committed to building bridges between Bedford’s diverse communities.
Eric plays an active role in community cohesion and by the hosting of numerous fundraising events, fayres, and activities he has very quickly gained full support of local businesses, residents and the local Community Policing teams. His dedication has always been intent on casting a light onto the melting pot of Bedfordshire’s varied and diverse communities.
Eric is honoured to have been nominated as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire for the forthcoming year and recognises that, despite the joint efforts to keep communities going, there is yet much work to do. The unforeseen effects of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year have brought to the surface the financial, social and emotional hardships faced by many throughout the Borough. Eric passionately feels that it is through community cohesion and, in particular, through the work of local voluntary groups, that we can start to move towards a recovery phase.