High Sheriff of Bedfordshire

History

The Office of High Sheriff is at least 1,000 years old having its roots in Saxon times before the Norman Conquest. Originally the office held many of the powers now vested in Lords-Lieutenant, High Court Judges, Magistrates, Local Authorities, Coroners and even the Inland Revenue.

The area administered from Bedford by Jarl Thurcetel had become known as “Bedfordshire” by 1011. Sheriff Godric was probably killed at Stamford Bridge in 1066, leading men of Bedfordshire.

The High Sheriff remained first in precedence in the counties until the reign of Edward VII when an Order in Council in 1908 gave the Lord-Lieutenant the prime office under the Crown as the Sovereign’s personal representative.

The High Sheriff is now second in precedence to the Lord-Lieutenant except when precedence is by courtesy deferred to a Mayor or Chairman of a Local Authority in their own District.

The High Sheriff of Bedfordshire: Mr Nazir Jessa, 2008 - 2009

Contact Information:

Correspondence should be addressed to:

Mr Brian A Hall LLB
Under Sheriff of Bedfordshire
6 Bedford Road
Sandy
Bedfordshire
SG19 1EN

Contact at Under Sheriff’s office: 

Mrs Mary Millar

Tel: (01767) 680251
Fax: (01767) 692799
Email: mmillar@woodfines.co.uk|