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South Yorkshire
County News
2010/2011
The second half of my Shrieval year, commencing with the Michaelmas Term on the 1st October 2010, has proved to be just as busy as the first six months. This Term traditionally marks the start of the legal year with a number of ceremonies to attend including the Red Mass at Westminster Cathedral, the North East legal service held in York Minster, the swearing in of new magistrates in our various courts throughout the County, and our own Letters Patent ceremony presided over by the Honourable Mr Justice Moylan and Sheffield’s Honorary Recorder, His Honour Judge Goldsack.
Other highlights included a visit to Doncaster racecourse, the home of the St Leger, with the Spinal Injuries Association charity. This coincided with a second opportunity in the year to meet the HRH The Princess Royal, whose interest in horse racing remains undiminished.
November was then marked by university graduations at our other major university, Sheffield Hallam, including that of an honorary doctorate given to locally born actor Dominic West (of The Wire fame).
Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh came to Sheffield on the occasion
of the opening of the new SITran building at Sheffield University.
Our programme during December was severely curtailed by the heavy snow. However we did manage to visit some of our prisons, including Marshgate or ‘Doncatraz’ as it is sometimes referred to locally. We also attended a number of carol services with one of the more moving ones being that held at Lindholme prison, an institution that I visited again in order to see the work being undertaken to re-integrate offenders back into the community at first hand.
The New Year heralded in the Hilary Term, and throughout January and February there was a variety of judicial, charitable, civic and armed forces ceremonies and celebrations.
 The South Yorkshire High Sheriff’s Awards Ceremony took place in March, in the newly refurbished Rotherham Town Hall by kind permission of the Mayor. This was the same venue in which only three weeks before we had celebrated the giving of the freedom of the borough to Howard Webb, the World Cup final referee. The quality of the nominations for the High Sheriff’s Awards this year was outstanding, with the major award going to Mr Kevin Bradley, the director in charge of the St Wilfrid’s Centre, an incredible charity devoted to helping the very vulnerable and destitute in our communities.
Then, almost before we had had time to catch our breath, the year was rapidly being drawn to a conclusion, with the South Yorkshire Legal Service and Reception, which is held annually in Sheffield Cathedral and Cutlers’ Hall respectively. This event was a fitting climax to an immensely enriching year.
It has been an enormous privilege and honour to have served the County over the past year and we have been left with many memorable moments. Our thanks and best wishes go to all who have supported and helped us throughout a marvellous year.
 My Declaration day on Tuesday 30th March was presided over by The Honourable Mr. Justice MacDuff, and in attendance were Sheffield’s Honorary Recorder, His Honour Judge Alan Goldsack, my chaplain the Rev. James Blenkinsopp and Mr. Jeremy Baker Q.C. representing the Bar. The ceremony took place in a packed No.1 Court of Sheffield Crown Court with many civic and other legal dignatories, friends and family present.
It was a particular pleasure to welcome back to Sheffield one of our own. Mr Justice MacDuff was educated in Sheffield, and needed little encouragement to remind us all of the great history of the Office of High Sheriff and of the High Sheriff’s current role as the Monarch’s representative in all matters ‘judicial’ in the Shire. It was a lighthearted and humorous introduction to what is fast becoming a busy, interesting, informative, yet highly enjoyable (so far!) year in Office.
From a ‘standing start’ the role quickly developed into a routine of organising court lunches and home entertainment for the visiting Judiciary, and attending formal Civic and Association dinners and celebrations and being involved with Citizenship and Police awards, University degree ceremonies, Probation visits and involvement with the Services, the Coroners Court, charitable, religious and other worthy institutions. There are several highlights to be singled out. In April, taking the Royal Salute as inspecting officer on the Queen’s birthday at one of only a handful of official saluting stations in the U.K., namely York Museums gardens was a memorable event. It was a beautiful sunny day and the event attracted several hundred onlookers as the saluting troop and band processed through the City.
 May brought the Parliamentary elections, and whilst wishing to act as Returning Officer for a number of the South Yorkshire constituencies, I only managed two, one being that of my own (Hallam), which returned the Honourable Member Nick Clegg.
June saw Clare and I welcoming HRH The Duke of Gloucester to the opening of new facilities at the Elmhirst Deer Farm, as well as the presentation of new Colours to the Yorkshire Regiment, with both HRH The Duke of York (Colonel in Chief) and The Duke of Wellington in attendance, at Imphal barracks,York. We also spent a wonderfully hot and sunny afternoon at the Queen’s garden party in London.
July is the month in which the Great Yorkshire Show is held. As guests once again of Mr. Richard Elmhirst, the show’s president, we were introduced to HRH The Princess Royal and enjoyed a hugely rewarding and fascinating day. We also entertained approximately 200 guests at our summer reception which we held at the newly refurbished and highly regarded Weston Park museum.
August brought a much needed rest period, whilst September marks the approximate half-way point in the year, with much still remaining to be accomplished. Two particular events stood out however, the first being asked by the Right Reverend John Rawsthorne, Bishop of Hallam, to represent the Diocese at the wonderful Papal Mass at Westminster Cathedral. It was a truly memorable occasion. The second was to attend The National Crimebeat Awards Ceremony in London. Four young ladies from the Pope Pius X school, Wath-on-Dearne, having in the previous year won the South Yorkshire Police ‘Lifestyle’ Award, went on to come second in this national competition, a second year running achievement for South Yorkshire.
Both Clare and I are looking forward to the second half of our year, which starts with the Michaelmas term, and the North East Region’s Legal Service on 10th. October in York followed by our own Letters Patent ceremony soon thereafter. I would like to say a huge thank-you to all those that have been involved and supported us to date.
Anthony Cooper
High Sheriff of South Yorkshire 2010/2011
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