The High Sheriff of Cheshire

A Thousand Year Tradition: The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and has its roots at least 1,000 years ago.

Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions are now largely ceremonial.

Today’s duties include attendance at Royal Visits to the county, escorting High Court Judges on circuit in the county and acting as Returning Officer for parliamentary elections in county constituencies.

The Office of Sheriff is now held for one year. A nomination ceremony is held each November in the Royal Courts of Justice. Three names are put forward for the Office of High Sheriff in each county and one of them is selected by the Sovereign at a subsequent meeting of the Privy Council, when, by ancient custom, the appointed name is “pricked with a bodkin”.

The Office is independent, non-political and unpaid. High Sheriffs have a particular interest in law and order and pay special attention to the work of such statutory bodies as the Police, the Prison Service and the Probation Service. In recent years, the Crimebeat charity has enabled the High Sheriff of Cheshire to play an active role in the reduction and prevention of crime, particularly among young people.

The High Sheriff for Cheshire in 2010/11 is:

Mrs Diana Barbour,
Bolesworth Castle,
Tattenhall,
Chester, CH3 9HQ.

Telephone: 01829 782210