The Office of High Sheriff of Greater Manchester is the ceremonial position of High Sheriff appointed to Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England.[1][2] The appointment is made by the British monarch, in their capacity as Duke of Lancaster, by pricking the Lites.[3] Created in 1974, the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester has the duty to "protect and assist in upholding the dignity and well being of His Majesty's judges and to represent the Queens executive powers in respect of the administration of justice in the county".[4]
The Office of High Sheriff is normally awarded to people of stature in Greater Manchester who have significantly and positively contributed in some way to the county's community either through voluntary work or through commerce or industry.[2] The High Sheriff of Greater Manchester holds the post for one year and automatically becomes an ex officio trustee of the Greater Manchester High Sheriff's Police Trust during their year of office.[3]
In addition to the role of "Keeper of The King's Peace in the County",[2] foremost duties include looking after the High Court judges when they are sitting in the Manchester Crown Court. However, much of the administration being undertaken by an undersheriff.[1] The post is granted in a ceremony at one of Greater Manchester's Town halls or other prominent venues in April each year.[1][2]
List of sheriffs
Each High Sheriff begins their year in office on 1 April.
| Year | Sheriff |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Sir Neville Butterworth[5] |
| 1976 | Colonel Sir Richard Dawnay Martin-Bird[6] |
| 1978 | Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw[7] |
| 1982 | John Nightingale[8] |
| 1983 | Angela Fishwick[9] |
| 1985 | Col. Tom Sherman *[10] |
| 1986 | Col. Sir John Timmins[11] |
| 1987 | Col. Arthur Axford[12] |
| 1988 | Alan W. Guest[13] |
| 1989 | Col. William M. Elder[14] |
| 1990 | Norman Quick of Altrincham[15] |
| 1991 | David Wilson[16] |
| 1994 | Sir John Zochonis[3] |
| 1995 | Edmund Gartside[17] |
| 1996 | Mary Flora MacKinnon Firth[18] |
| 1997 | Warren J. Smith[19] |
| 1998 | John Lee, Baron Lee of Trafford[20] |
| 1999 | Norman K. Stoller[21] |
| 2000 | Major John Noel Abbott of Alderley Edge[22] |
| 2001 | Lady Joyce Montgomery[23][24] |
| 2002 | Sir Netar Mallick[25] |
| 2003 | Sue Hodgkiss[26] |
| 2004 | Robert Eric Hough[2][26] |
| 2005 | Sir David Wilmot[2] |
| 2006 | Alexandra Burslem[27] |
| 2007 | Michael Oglesby[28] |
| 2008 | Edith Conn[29] |
| 2009 | Christian Wewer[30] |
| 2010 | Anil Ruia of Didsbury[31] |
| 2011 | Christine Lee-Jones[31] |
| 2012 | George Almond of Bromley Cross, Bolton[31] |
| 2013 | Paul Griffiths of Lower Peover, Knutsford[32] |
| 2014 | Paul Lee of Stanton Avenue, Didsbury[32] |
| 2015 | Sharman Birtles of Audenshaw[33] |
| 2016 | Lady Smith of Leigh |
| 2017 | Kui Man Gerry Yeung[34] |
| 2018 | Dr Robina Shah[35] |
| 2019 | Mark Adlestone[36] |
| 2020 | Eamonn O'Neal[37] |
| 2021 | Diane Hawkins[38] |
| 2022 | Lorraine Worsley-Carter[39] |
| 2023 | Mary-Elizabeth Walker[40] |
