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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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High Sheriff
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An official in each *county of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, appointed for one year by royal patent, whose main task now is ensuring the safety and comfort of High Court judges when the court is sitting within the county. The office of sheriff dates back to before the Norman Conquest, as the local representative of royal authority and the chief executive of the law (celebrations were held in 1992 to mark the supposed 1000th anniversary of the office). The sheriff remains the principal legal officer of the *crown in a county, and he still has certain legal responsibilities; but these are in practice carried out by a professional civil servant, the under-sheriff. The sovereign's personal representative in a county is the *lord lieutenant.
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