Former High Sheriff of West Sussex remembered for his enthusiasm for life

Mark Burrell will be remembered for his enthusiasm for life and the respect he had for people from all walks of life. He died peacefully at home in Shipley on December 9.

Although best know for his work in the city, his roots were in Sussex, with the family – Denmans, Cowdrays, Pearsons and Greenwoods – having links to the county going back to the 13th century.

Daughter Sophie Burrell said: "He did huge things as a director at Pearsons, like the BSkyB merger and North Sea oil, but he also loved being on the farm in Sussex. It was his happy place. He loved the history of Sussex and would often talk about it when he was out on his walks.

"He touched everybody's lives in different ways. He got a double first at Cambridge in engineering and all he wanted to do was build things, so if somebody's bridge collapsed, for example, he loved to get involved and help by redesigning it."

Born on April 9, 1937, Mark went to prep school at Westbourne House in Chichester, then Eton and Cambridge, where he studied engineering, a subject he loved.

He missed National Service due to a back injury he suffered while playing football at Eton. He worked at the Pearson family’s oil company, Whitehall Canadian Petroleum, in the summer holidays and went on to be a rigger on the oil derrick.

After Cambridge, Mark went to work for Vickers at Crayford, where he gained experience in factory management. He took a gap year to travel around the world then joined Pearson, starting as an assistant to chief executive Oliver Poole.

He ended up in charge of electronics and headed the purchase of Thames TV and Yorkshire TV in the 1990s, and later the Sky merger, having developed satellite television. He was with the firm for 38 years before moving to Lazard & Co, where he was managing director, working on take-overs and venture capitals.

Mark and his wife Margot were married on April 20, 1966. They had three children, sons William and Anthony and daughter Sophia, known as Sophie. Sadly, Anthony died of pancreatic cancer in March 2022, at the age of 53.

Among his many business interests, Mark was chairman of Royal Doulton and chairman of Millbank Financial Services. He also chaired MFS, the investment management company responsible for the family’s taxes, trusts and accounting, for 25 years until his stroke about eight years ago.

He was master of the Crawley and Horsham Hunt for 16 years, and later chairman. While working at Pearsons, Mark bought Bakers Farm in Shipley as he needed land for hunting, his great passion. The neighbouring Dragons Estate was owned by his parents, along with Southwater Woods, Pollards Hill and Brickkiln.

Mark had many sporting interests, including squash, tennis, golf, polo and skiing. He learned to play croquet on his honeymoon and went on to mow a croquet lawn at the family home, Bakers House in Shipley, before challenging his cousins to a tournament – which became a family tradition.

Sophie said: "He was so much fun to play with and his enthusiasm, he just loved life. He worked hard but he also played really hard."

Mark was appointed High Sheriff of West Sussex for 2002-2003 and carried out 240 visits during his year in office, as well as hosting many dinners and garden parties with Margot at the family home.

Sophie said: "He was genuinely interested. He loved it when he went to Gatwick with the police. He was excited to be meeting people. There was a respect, it didn't matter where you came from."

Mark loved to see his nine grandchildren thrive and was a great support to Sophie with her businesses, Platinum Ambulance Service and Air Land & Sea Repatriation Services.

She said: "He had a stroke about eight years ago and had not been well since August but his mind was as sharp as anything."

The funeral will be a private service but a Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be held at St Mary the Virgin Church, Shipley, on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 2.30pm. Email [email protected] to indicate your attendance and for further details.