Sheryll was born in the village of Millbrook, South East Cornwall, where she went to school before continuing her secondary education at nearby Torpoint Comprehensive School. Sheryll was a member of the Governing Body of the school for nine years. Sheryll lives in Millbrook with her husband Bob and her two cats Milly & Louie. Before becoming an MP she worked for the NHS at a local doctors surgery and in Insurance. Sheryll has two grown up children. Her daughter Sally is an officer in HM Forces and her son Andrew works in marine electronics.
Sheryll got involved in politics through her work for the fishing industry. She is the widow of a fisherman and she was very involved in the running of the then family business. She is a former Secretary of the Looe Fishermen’s Protection Society, Director of the Fishermen’s Association Ltd., Chairman of a Fish Producer Organisation and Secretary of the Plymouth Sea Safety Group. She has also represented the UK at EU meetings on Fishing Safety and women in fisheries conferences and been a Member of the Seafish Training Board Southwest. She has been a Member of Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee and a Member of the Fishing Industry Safety Group.
Sheryll has served as a Councillor both on Caradon District and Cornwall County Councils. She served as the Group Leader on Caradon District Council.
In Parliament Sheryll has sat on the Panel of Chairs. The Panel of Chairs is made up of those MPs chosen by the Speaker at the start of each Parliament to chair Public Bill committees and other general committees in the House of Commons. They also chair debates in Westminster Hall and may act as temporary chair during a Committee of the whole House. Sheryll attends the Council of Europe. Sheryll has worked in the Departments of Culture, Media & Sport; Energy & Climate Change and Environment, Food & Rural Affairs as a Parliamentary Private Secretary. Sheryll has been a member of the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee and has previously served on the Environmental Audit Committee and the 1922 Committee. Sheryll has chaired the All Party Fisheries Group, the All Party Group for the Channel Islands and the All Party Group for Cats. Sheryll has also steered two Private Members Bills successfully through Parliament namely the Marine Navigation Act 2013 and the Deep Sea Mining Act 2014.