I was first elected to the ancient and historic office of Sheriff of Nottingham, on 12th. May 1980, and, immediately, realised that, whilst there was a good deal of information on the subject, there appeared to be an absence of any single document which would tell me, from beginning to end, about the important office I was to occupy for the next year, or the type of persons my predecessors had been.

Given the admirable coverage provided by Duncan Gray, City Librarian, from 1935 to 1953, and the several histories, written by other past Nottinghamians touching on the subject, plus the notes handed down to me by Mr. David W.Taylor, former Lord Mayor`s/Sheriff`s Secretary, and the staff at the County Library, Angel Row, Nottingham, the use of the Borough records, County Archives and Council House Records, I have completed this sketch of the Sheriff of Nottingham, and the office, in the knowledge that, in the main, when one writes historical accounts it is almost certain that they are using the information penned by others before.

My intention has been to relate to the facts, found in acceptable documents, and from reliable sources; in this, I hope I have offended no one.

There is need for me to acknowledge the help given, in addition to that by those referred to earlier, by my wife Frances and my grandson Sean McGuiggan who, throughout, have been my motivators. The one aim has been to provide the future Sheriff`s of Nottingham, and the people of the City of Nottingham with the history of an office which, on evidence found, is at least a thousand years old.

Honorary Alderman Frank Dennett, MBE; Sheriff of Nottingham 1980 - 1981 and 1984 -- 1985 Prepared :- 1994 and updated year on year

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