A Kolkata-born engineer-turned-entrepreneur has been appointed as the first British-Indian high sheriff of the County Palatine of Durham in the office’s 1,000-year history. Dr Arnab Basu, MBE, received the rare honour on Friday.A student of Kolkata’s Birla High School (formerly Hindi High School), Basu earned his first degree from St Xavier’s College and then moved to Durham. He received an engineering degree from Northumbria University and a PhD in physics from Durham University. He has lived in County Durham for almost 30 years with his family — his wife Bea and their two sons Timon and Emile. In 2003 he founded Kromek Group, a technology company specialised in advanced radiation detection in the security, defence and diagnostic imaging markets. He received an MBE for services to regional development and international trade in 2014.His parents Arun Kumar Basu and Chitra Basu still live in Kolkata. They co-founded the Tollygunge Women In Need — an NGO that helps destitute and underserved communities.The office of high sheriff is one of the oldest secular roles under the Crown. Emerging from the Anglo-Saxon system of local governance, sheriffs were originally the monarch’s chief representatives in each shire, responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting taxes, administering justice and raising local militia when required. The modern high sheriff plays an important ceremonial and community role supporting the judiciary, championing voluntary service and encouraging social cohesion.Basu, who has served as deputy lieutenant of County Durham since 2020, said: “To become the first British Indian high sheriff of Durham is a moment of great pride for my family and me. It reflects the openness and diversity of this remarkable county, and I hope it inspires others from all backgrounds to contribute to public life. I look forward to supporting the judiciary and recognising the outstanding work of volunteers and organisations.“
