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Staffordshire
County News
2009/2010
At the end of my year as High Sheriff it is extraordinary for the first time to look back on a remarkable year.
 High Sheriffs are encouraged to hit the ground running and this was certainly the case for me. Having made my Declaration in Stafford Crown Court on 23rd April, early the next morning I was shaking hands with HRH Prince William at the headquarters of JCB, one of the major employers in the country. Since then we have had ten further Royal visits which have been a great privilege and an insight into just how hard our Royal family work.
The main reason for so many Royal visits to Staffordshire is the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. By far the most moving day of my Year was the unveiling of the names of servicemen and servicewoman killed over the previous year.
Sadly, as I took over as High Sheriff the Judge’s Lodgings in Stafford were closing down. As a result we have had only two High Court Judges visit during the last year. It has been a great privilege, as well as being fascinating, to sit with both the High Court Judges and the Crown Court Judges in both Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent Courts.
In addition to this I have visited two of our Magistrates Courts and spent several days with the Probation Service as well as visiting six prisons in Staffordshire. I have also spent quite a few days with Staffordshire Police including a very revealing day with the Number Plate Recognition Unit. My overall impression is that the forces of law and order do an excellent job and too often receive a disproportionally poor press.
 My wife and I decided we wanted to raise some money for charity during our year and we ran the Potteries Half Marathon in June and the Stafford Half Marathon in March. The money raised in June went to the Staffordshire Community Foundation High Sheriff Fund and it has been wonderful experience being able to present cheques to various small Staffordshire charities. The money raised in March was going to be spilt between the CommunityFoundation and the National Memorial Arboretum.
The emergency services have been incredibly supportive and are always happy for me to take part in their activities. As I write this I have a complete fireman’s uniform at home ready for me to wear when I spend a day as a proper member of the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service responding to any calls which are received.
There have many other events and visits in my Shrieval Year and what has repeatedly struck me is what an incredible County I live in. It has been a very special year.
Richard Haszard
High Sheriff of Staffordshire 2009/2010
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