Solicitor Geoffrey Bond is two-thirds of the way through his one-year term as Sheriff of the City of London.

Here he describes his vital work

The office of the Sheriff of the City of London is the oldest known in this country, dating back to Anglo-Saxon times.

There are two Sheriffs and their role as enforcers of the law predates the Mayoralty, which was instituted circa 1192.

The Sheriffs governed not only the City but also the County of Middlesex, although the latter area of jurisdiction was severed in 1888.

Until recently, City warrants issued pursuant to a writ, usually of fieri facias, were in the Sheriffs' names.

To become a Lord Mayor, one has to have been a Sheriff and must be an Alderman.

The ruling body of the Corporation of London is the Court of Aldermen together with the Court of Common Council, which meets in the Guildhall.

However, not all Sheriffs are Aldermen; I am not.

I was elected by the 25,000 members of the London livery companies on 24 June 2003.

It may seem strange that a person who has practised law for much of his life in Nottingham should be a Sheriff of London.

The fact is I have had strong links with London since I began my career with a City merchant bank, I have been master of my livery company and served on many London committees.

The Sheriffs attend the Lord Mayor on official occasions and meetings of the Court of Common Council.

The Lord Mayor lives in the Mansion House and the Sheriffs at the Central Criminal Court - the Old Bailey.

Our role is full time and although it involves dressing up in knee breeches and gowns, it has a serious purpose.

The Sheriff's work at the Old Bailey, for example, seeing the judges into the courts, ensures the Corporation's sovereignty over it.

Also, we entertain to lunch with the judges a wide cross-section of people from all walks of life.

This promotion of the Corporation as the facilitator of the City is further endorsed by the many business meetings we attend with banks, leading companies and a wide variety of business organisations both in the regions and abroad.

The Lord Mayor is an important ambassador for this country in ensuring the City remains the financial powerhouse of the world.

He spends some 80 days overseas.

Occasionally, a Sheriff accompanies the mayoral team, and I have been to Turkey and Egypt.

This month, I will be visiting some of the EU accession states and later in the year south-east Asia.

These visits are hard work.

We meet heads of state, governors of banks, stock exchanges and similar organisations.

The visits give the Lord Mayor an opportunity to explain how the City's expertise can help individual businesses and countries.

I have had many opportunities to meet distinguished people, from members of the royal family and President Bush, the heads of the services, archbishops and many distinguished lawyers.

Visiting heads of state are usually met on the parade ground at Whitehall and introduced by the Queen to, among others, the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs.

One quality a Sheriff needs is stamina coupled with an ability to communicate with all kinds of people.

I am fortunate to be a part of a happy team headed by the Lord Mayor, Alderman Robert Finch, also a solicitor, together with my fellow Sheriff Alderman Nick Anstee, a chartered accountant.

Being a Sheriff is no sinecure; it is hard work with long hours but very rewarding and it is a great honour to work for the Corporation of London promoting the City.

Solicitor Geoffrey Bond took up his one-year term as a Sheriff of the City of London on 26 September 2003