This is Staffordshire
A Unique Shrieval Year
Several factors set Staffordshire apart from other counties, making the Shrieval Year a distinctive experience.
Staffordshire’s rich blend of history, rural beauty, industry and significant cultural landmarks offers a significant variety of place to visit, and contributes to the multifaceted role of The High Sheriff of Staffordshire.
The City of Stoke-on-Trent was granted city status by His Majesty King George V in 1925. Known as “The Potteries”, the City is a significant cultural and economic hub. In 2024, Stoke-on-Trent was awarded World Class City status by the World Crafts Council. This recognition as a leading centre for crafts, artistry, industry and innovation places the City on a global stage of excellence.
Staffordshire is also home to the National Memorial Arboretum, 8 Prisons and YOI’s, Lichfield Cathedral and Tamworth. During Anglo-Saxon times, Tamworth was the Anglo-Saxon capital of the Kingdom of Mercia and home to King Athelstan – widely believed to be the first King of England.
https://www.tamworthcastle.co.uk/athelstan-1100
The High Sheriff’s involvement in numerous events, visits and initiatives taking place across the county is vital to support Staffordshire communities, public services and business initiatives and to shine a bright spotlight of success and appreciation.
National Memorial Arboretum
The National Memorial Arboretum is a British site of national remembrance at Alrewas near Lichfield. It is situated on a 150-acre visitor site on the edge of the National Forest and its objective is to honour the fallen, recognise service and sacrifice, and foster pride in the British Armed Forces and civilian community.
In March 2017, after undergoing a large scale regeneration project, the Arboretum’s new award-winning Remembrance Centre was officially opened by The Duke of Cambridge. Featuring three new exhibition galleries, larger restaurant and shop, separate coffee shop and a courtyard with garden, it provides visitors with facilities fitting that of a large scale visitor attraction.
In 2018 the National Memorial Arboretum was awarded Gold Large Visitor Attraction of the Year in Awards for Excellence, as well as Coach Friendly Attraction of the Year in the British Coach Tourism Awards.
The NMA welcomes over 300,000 visitors from all over the world to its site each year, including over 20,000 young people for formal and informal learning visits. Visitors can enjoy discovering almost 400 memorials nestled amongst some 25,000 trees, experience riverside walks and participate in a wide variety of daily activities such as guided walks, land train tours, memorial talks, exhibitions and buggy tours.
Each year around 250 events take place on site, from small intimate services of Remembrance to set piece events like Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday, a summer proms and Armed Forces Day.
Lichfield Cathedral
East view of Lichfield Cathedral Lichfield Cathedral is the only medieval three-spired Cathedral in the UK and is a treasured landmark in the heart of England – in our county of Staffordshire.
It is one of the oldest places of Christian worship and the burial place of the great Anglo-Saxon missionary Bishop, St Chad. This magnificent building has a rich history, reflected in its architecture and treasures. As a place of great beauty, it continues to inspire and encourage all who visits it as tourists, pilgrims or worshippers.
Police
Staffordshire Police, under the leadership of Chief Constable Chris Noble, is responsible for policing the county. Its headquarters are based at Weston Road in Stafford. Policing in Staffordshire is locally-based with 22 locations across the county.
Judicary
Staffordshire has a Crown Court in Stafford presided over by The Resident Judge of Stafford Combined Court, Her Honour Judge Kristina Montgomery KC, and a Crown Court in Stoke-on-Trent presided over by The Honorary Recorder of Stoke-on-Trent, Her Honour Judge Sally Hancox.
Coroner’s Office
There is a Coroner’s Office in Stafford and in Stoke. The South Staffordshire Coroner (Interim Senior Coroner) is Mr Andrew Barkley and he is supported by three assistant Coroners in Stoke-on-Trent & North Staffordshire – Richard Hughes, Heather Westerman and Emma Serrano.
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
Ben Adams is the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and is supported by his Deputy, Helen Fisher. The Commissioner is responsible for delivering the strategic vision and holding the Chief for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Mr Rob Barber, to account in delivering that vision.
Magistrates
Staffordshire Bench Chair (Elect) is Kate Fitzpatrick JP. Magistrates Courts are based in Cannock, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafford.
https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/stafford-combined-court-centre
Probation Service
The Staffordshire and West Midlands Community Rehabilitation Company manages low and medium risk offenders in the community, those subject to a court order and those released from prison on licence. The CRC has offices in Stafford, Tamworth, Leek, Stoke, Hanley and Longton. The National Probation Service manages high risk offenders.
Prisons
Staffordshire is home to 8 prisons or young offender institutes; HMP Brinsford, HMP Featherstone and HMP Oakwood, all in Featherstone, South Staffordshire; HMP Swinfen Hall in Lichfield; HMP Stafford and HMP Drake Hall in Stafford; HMP Dovegate in East Staffordshire and HMYOI Werrington in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Click on the links below to visit each of the prisons websites:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-prison-and-probation-service