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The Mace Bearer

Welcome to the Summer 2004 edition of “The Mace Bearer” and in the style of the late lamented British Railways I have to apologise that this magazine was reported running 3 weeks late at printing.

So it’s goodbye from me… I can’t believe that it is now five years since I took over as Editor of this magazine and I’m sure you will agree that I have pushed it kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century in all manner of controversial ways! My life has also changed dramatically in those five years and it now means that it is time for me to hand over my “baby” to someone else. My job has changed with the loss of one member of the Mayoral staff at Charnwood and so I no longer have the time to devote to the magazine that it really needs. I am also uncertain about staying in my current job and have applied for other vacancies which might mean that I no longer qualify to be a member of the Guild! (More news on that in the next edition if the new Editor chooses to print my letters!) So who is to be your new Editor? Well, that is up to the AGM in Cambridge to decide but if you are interested in finding out what is involved I would be happy to talk you through the job on the phone – just give me a ring. Don’t forget that the computer, printer etc all comes with the job (I’ll have to buy myself a new computer when I hand this one over!) and the Editor receives an honorarium each year to cover those little necessities (like a bottle of scotch after each magazine is finished!) I will continue to accept material from members for the next edition until the identity of the new Editor is known so please keep the stuff coming in!

…and it’s goodbye from her

Having secretly made my decision to resign some months ago I felt like the rug had been pulled from under my feet when Olwyn stole my thunder by announcing that she wanted to step down as Guild Training Officer. Fortunately she has agreed to hold on to the job for a little longer until a successor can be found but with Edward spending more and more time in his Spanish villa it does beg the question who will run the Guild in the next few years…? Do you think it is right that the key members should retain their jobs for many years or would it be better if the faces changed more often? When I first joined the Guild it had been run in the same way by the same people for donkey’s years and that was one of it’s problems so perhaps a change is due before we all become those people we so heavily criticised when we took over!

And talking of criticism…

Yes, it’s spot the deliberate mistake time again! I was stunned when some weeks after the last magazine had gone out I spotted the most awful gaff. No matter how many times I checked it I had completely failed to spot the missing letter in the title of the Spring Training Day. “Effective Pesentation Skills” – a one-day course in being a peasant? Perhaps that explains why there were few takers!

And Finally…

I took this photo years ago in the depot at Charnwood and have been waiting for the right time to use it, but this might be my last chance so here it is. The sign says “Sit here for next submarine dive”

Peter E. Legg

IN THIS EDITION… From the Desk of the Prime Warden ~ 2 Mace-bearers Miscellany ~ 11 Obituaries ~ 2 Prize Competition ~ 13 Welfare News ~ 3 Napkin Folding for Beginners ~16 Profile of a Mace-Bearer ~ 4 & 6 The Ged Collins Column ~ 18 The High Sheriff (Part 2) ~ 8 Membership List Amendments ~ 19 Letters ~ 10 Guild Officer Contacts ~ 20

•••••• Semper Fidelis •••••• 1

The Mace Bearer

From the Desk of the Prime Warden

Hello Again! I can’t believe it is that time again when the Guild Editor starts hounding me for a magazine article! I really haven’t got that much to say. As usual it is all-quiet on the Guild front, which is just as well as we are very busy at work following the retirement of a colleague. Lucky him! Let me just wish you all a good summer, terrific holidays and I hope to see you at the Guild Conference in Cambridge soon!

Paul Hyde

James Young

Mace-bearer Jim Young (left) with colleague Trevor Cartner (Sword Bearer)

City of Newcastle upon Tyne

It is with great sadness I have to inform you of the death in service of Jim Young, Mace-bearer to the City of Newcastle upon Tyne. Jim, who was married to Vera for forty-four years, died at the age of 66 on 24th May after suffering from cancer for a very short time. He was a trained mechanic and they emigrated to New Zealand in 1962 returning home after twenty-five years in 1987.

He was Chauffeur/Butler to the Lord Mayor for ten years after which he became the Mace-bearer, a rank he held for six years.

Jim was a gentle and very courteous man, which stood him in very good stead for the positions he held. He was well respected by all who met him and his greatest honour was to meet and serve the Royal Family at the Mansion House in Newcastle.

He was also a very capable artist with over sixty paintings to his name. Many of his painting have been sent all over the world as gifts from the Council. His local scenes are displayed in the Lord Mayors Gallery and councillors restaurant.

His funeral was attended by many, including past Lord Mayors and councillors. Jim will be sadly missed by all.

Trevor CartnerSword Bearer


The Mace Bearer

Welfare Officer’s Report

A round up of member’s news from the Guild Welfare Officer. Bill Banton 2 Eastern Close, Prittlewell, Essex SS2 5QY (01702) 309067

Well, with the exception of the recent sad and premature death of our colleague from Newcastle upon Tyne, I am pleased to say that I have little to report this time. A card has been sent to Jim’s widow and a donation to their chosen charity. Don’t forget that the welfare fund is here for any of our members in need of comfort and I am only a telephone call away if you know of somebody we should be thinking of.

Cinque Ports Guard of Honour

The photograph below was taken at the funeral of Mr John Prior on 24th October last year. John was a member of the Guild who served as Mayor’s Sergeant of the Cinque Port town of New Romney for more than forty years. Six of his fellow Sergeants from the Confederation of the Cinque Ports acted as pallbearers and a guard of honour was formed by the others. A similar honour was bestowed upon Ken Gill, Town Sergeant of Rye at his funeral in January 2004.

The Confederation of Cinque Ports consists of the towns of Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich, along with the two antient towns of Rye and Winchelsea, which make up the Main Ports and whose Mayors are addressed as “Right Worshipful.” The other towns belonging to the Confederation are Lydd, Tenterden, Folkestone, Deal, Faversham, Ramsgate and Margate, which are known as Limbs of the Main Port.

The Town Sergeants of the Cinque Ports have formed an Association and have published a directory which lists all the Town Sergeants, Town Clerks and Mayor’s Secretary’s. This has proved to be a very useful source of information. We also hold an annual dinner which is held in a different town each year and is always an enjoyable event. The Association was formed and is administered by Bryon Walker, Town Sergeant of Dover and Terry Higgins, Town Sergeant of Deal.

Information suppliedby Joe Barnes

Town Sergeant ofNew Romney

Photograph reproduced courtesy of the Kent Messenger Newspaper Group


The Mace Bearer

Profile of a Mace-Bearer Bill Surringer – City of Cardiff (Rtd.)

I was born in Cardiff in 1933, a good year; they electrified the Southern Region Trains and an aircraft flew over Everest, Hitler also came to power. I enjoyed life as a young boy hardly realising how poor we were because every one I knew was in the same boat. I attended a primary school, but I was off ill with bronchitis and meningitis for 6 weeks right up to the exams, so I missed out on the chance of attending a secondary modern school.

I was not unduly bothered as I wanted to leave school at 14 to be a sheet metal worker, but the Government raised the school leaving age to 15 and I had to wait to start earning. There were so many jobs available then it was amazing, teams of men were visiting schools trying to interest leavers in the building trade: rebuilding Britain after the wartime bombing was a priority. I eventually joined a coach-building firm which had been founded in the 1890s and had moved on to producing the horseless carriage. It was a marvellous education: after the war parts for motorcars were unavailable, every body part was made on the premises including the road springs. I was so excited at working there I did not even ask the wages or how many days holiday I would get. Incidentally the holiday entitlement had risen in that

year (1948) to 2 weeks, and the weekly wage for experienced panel beaters was £5.25! My Indentures warned against spending my pay-packet in alehouses, and gambling dens! After completing my 5-year apprenticeship I was called up to do National Service in August 1953 in Honiton, Devon, what a nightmare! After 2 weeks in Barton Stacey (that’s 6 miles from Andover and 7 miles to Salisbury, way out in the country, all built up now I expect) I was posted to Ashford in Kent. I had never been abroad and immediately I applied for an overseas posting only to be unlucky. I was one of only two sheet metal workers in Eastern Command in the R.E.M.E. so I spent 2 years there for little reward. On demob, aged 22, I returned to a job at Lewis’s. After 5 years I received a phone call to offer me a job at more money and unlimited overtime so I grabbed it. I had got married 3 years previously and we applied for a mortgage to buy our house so all appeared to be going well. Another 5 years past and I had another job offer from a business man who intended opening a garage nearby. I received a wage increase of one third. I stayed for ten years, but by then the profits on property were much higher than in running a garage and the business was run into the ground. I was eventually made redundant at 50. I remained unemployed for a year until my brother-in-law, who had just retired as Safety Officer for Cardiff, approached the City Hall Superintendent and asked if any jobs were available (not the way council recruitment happens today!) One temporary job as car park attendant was open to me, and I swallowed my pride and took it. After 12 weeks I was stood off for a week so that they were not obliged to keep me on, but the former attendant never returned and I was offered the permanent job. With overtime I was a bit better off than in the Garage, and the car park was cleaner than it had ever been!


The Mace Bearer After seven months the Super told me that there was a job being offered in the post room for Messenger and third Mace-bearer. I didn’t have a clue what this involved, but if the hot line to the Lord Mayors Parlour went you could be called up instantly to assist. You travelled around the city delivering material with a bus pass and with all clothing supplied; you also sorted the post in the mailroom. The mail I delivered could not be entrusted to the mail services, and mostly had to be delivered within an hour.

Inside the post room worked the second Mace-bearer who stayed in the office, unless called to serve the Parlour. He did not like civic work so eventually took another job leaving an opening for me. I was a full time mace-bearer now and enjoyed the work. After a couple of years the top man retired, I applied and got the job as Lord Mayors City Officer and for the next 8 years I had a wonderful time travelling around with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress. One memorable trip followed an invitation by the Welsh Gunners on duty in Cyprus and off we all went - well someone had to do it!

After many happy years as Lord Mayor’s City Officer the County Council administration took over the City and they swept away many of our established offices. The offices of City Solicitor, City Officer etc., were dropped and changed to `County` Solicitor etc and the Sword-bearer, who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marines, was sacked twenty minutes before the Lord Mayors installation (the story made the London press!) Eventually the plan to change us entirely to Cardiff County failed because it would have lost the Lord Mayor his “Rt. Hon.” title amongst other legalities! The leader of the Council, who had adopted the title of Lord Mayor (illegally) for two years, had put the robes out of use and into storage however as the Lord Mayor is President of Cardiff University he must appear robed twice a year at the awards ceremonies and he was forced to wear them at these affairs in the company of the two macebearers. I took (slightly) early retirement six years ago but was called back a few times to carry the mace for these occasions, until a couple of years ago when the other macebearer left the corporation. One of the two maces used for ceremonial duties had two of the scrolls broken off and they have never been replaced, they were put into a safe spot 4 years ago, but who knows if they will found after a few more years. The maces date back to around 1620 and I find the lack of pride in these kind of matters very sad: perhaps it is telling that our councillors have the biggest salaries in Britain for an authority with a population of just 300,000.

Bill Surringer.

Bill has been anactive memberof the Guild formany years, anda regularcontributor toour magazine.He is picturedhere (3rd fromfront on left) atthe installationof Steve Dennisas Guild Rep forthe South West& South Wales.


The Mace Bearer

Profile of a Mace Bearer Richard Beale MBE – London Borough of Sutton

Richard Beale of the London Borough of Sutton certainly had cause to celebrate as the new year chimed in having been awarded an MBE in the Queens New Year Honours list, and clearly the local paper thought it was a notable occasion giving him pride of place on their front page.

Articlereproduced courtesy of the

Sutton Comet Newspaper


The Mace Bearer


I suspect some members may dispute the description of Richard as the “last remaining full time Mace-bearer in London” but perhaps somebody can explain to those of us north of Watford exactly what the paper meant.

I am sure, however, that we will all want to pass on our congratulations to Richard on achieving this personal success and thank him for, in this notable way, bringing a little more lustre to the job that we are all proud to do.

Richard’s Honour gained him further press coverage in The Post and I am grateful to them also for allowing me to reprint their article here.

The Mace Bearer

The High Sheriff

John D. Jackson CBE, High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, was one of the guest speakers at the 2003 Guild Conference in Leeds. In the second of two articles taken from his talk he looks at his first few weeks in office.

We have so far visited Carr Manor 7 times at 6.30pm prompt to welcome High Court Judges to West Yorkshire. Perhaps it was rather more that we were being welcomed! The tradition, so I had been informed, was that we should depart by 7.15pm in order that the judges can dine at 7.30. On no less than all 7 occasions I espied Richard, the Butler/Manager, hovering outside the drawing room door at 7.25. He even kept moving the mantle piece clock to more prominent positions in the hope my eyesight might improve. However, he continues to pleasantly usher us in at the start of each visit. I have also sat in court on 7 occasions, following which we have given lunches for an average of 20 guests. The seating plans are always a little difficult mixing protocol or precedence with creating a happy and talkative

I was installed as High Sheriff of West Yorkshire on the 14th April 2003 by making my declaration at a ceremony before the Presiding Judge of the North East Circuit, the Hon. Mr. Justice Holland. The Circuit is made up of the four counties of Yorkshire (North, South, East and West), Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and Durham. Leeds, Sheffield & Newcastle are the main High Court centres although visiting High Court Judges also try cases at such places as Hull and Bradford from time to time. High Court Judge’s may belong to the Chancery Division, the Queen’s Bench Division or the Family Division and tend to specialise as such.

As Her Majesty's representative my primary duty is the welfare of the High Court Judges. We (that is my wife, “the sherifina” and myself) greet them on their arrival in their lodgings, Carr Manor. The Manor is an old imposing house in Leeds which has a manager, a cook and a maid, everything needed to look after the judges and their clerks in safe and confidential conditions. We sit alongside the judge in court - we are introduced as the High Sheriff but cannot speak or interfere. We hold lunches in court and dinners in the evening at home for the judges. It affords the judges an opportunity to meet the people you look after and other local & county office holders, as well as our friends. There are also opportunities for the judges if they have time, to attend cricket and football matches or visit the theatre in the evenings.

atmosphere. Whilst I love my wife dearly we do run out of words from time to time and meals are a good opportunity to share interests with others, so husband and wife seating has been dispensed with which enables the visiting judges a chance to meet Yorkshire folk from varying parts and who have differing interests & responsibilities. In addition we have held 5 formal dinner parties for 12/14 guests (on one occasion we had to seat my stuffed lamb to avoid 13 being at the table) again these have proved happy and joyous occasions - especially for the hosts! By way of being able to entertain as many people as possible during our year in office we held two summer barbeque parties. We took a big chance with the weather but were very lucky, the caterers and bar staff were first class and the West Yorkshire Police Band excelled themselves to the delight of a wide cross section of guests. Guests came from all levels of the judiciary, many friends, civic heads etc. including the Lord Mayors of Leeds and Bradford (both of whose mayor-makings we enjoyed) there were also the mayors of Calder dale, Wakefield and Kirk lees whom we got to know quite well soon after taking office. The new mayoral year commences shortly after the beginning of our legal term and the Bishop of Bradford threw a luncheon party for all us new boys & girls. Hilary and I have spent a great deal of interesting time with the police force. The Chief Constable


The Mace Bearer and the Chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Committee entertained us for dinner. We have also visited the Wakefield Divisional Police HQ and lunched with the Chief followed by a trip to the helicopter, the horses and the police dogs, all housed at Carr Gate. We went on to do a little shooting after witnessing the firearms training procedures and I soon discovered it is almost impossible to miss the target at 25 yards using these modern semi-automatic guns. Perhaps the most interesting part of that day was at the riot training facility in and around a large warehouse. Evidently, since the Bradford riots all police officers have to experience life-like riot conditions and, dressed in full riot gear with shields, there are Molotov cocktail fire bombs and wooden bricks thrown at them as they advance. We stood just in front of all this and I have never seen Hilary run as fast as on that occasion! The police have much of very great interest, which I don't believe the public really understands and the media aren’t of much help. I also thoroughly enjoyed the driver training skid pan although I’m not so sure about Hilary who declined a drive yet sat at the back as I skidded around only hitting one bollard in 15 mins! Then there was the visit to "viper" -video identity parade electronic recording, this makes live parades a thing of the past. One thing that has stood out, not only from our police contacts but just about everywhere we have been, is that crime is very much related to hard drugs, something the government must tackle urgently and stop dilly-dallying on this serious matter. We have been to the ambulance emergency control room - a real eye opener. We have also been to the Fire Brigade HQ and toured Leeds/Bradford Airport. Hilary & I have been to three prisons -the category C & D prisons at Wealston and to Armley in Leeds, the latter following on behind HRH The Princess Royal on her visit we then learnt how "Crime Concern" was working at a school in Halton Moor, Leeds and visited the Ponderos Rural Therapeutic Centre in Liversedge. We have twice been with Prince Andrew on his visits - part of our role is to welcome royal visitors when they come to the county. We followed him through three textile factories, in Huddersfield & Bradford, at one of which he

presented the Queens Award for Innovation to the company, then we went on to the Huddersfield Textile Centre Of Excellence where I had the opportunity to meet a large number of old friends - I being the customer some years ago. Finally that visit ended at JCT (Jack Tordoffs) newly built BMW garage in Bradford which had been completely destroyed and 80 new cars completely wiped out at the Bradford riots, to which I have already referred.

We have been to two army events - a presentation and a Beat-The-Retreat concert. I attended a moving consecration service for the incoming Bishop of Wakefield in York Minster and subsequently attended the enthronement of Bishop Platten in Wakefield cathedral. It was an extremely proud time for me to be in the prime lay position after the Lord Lieutenant at that wonderful service. We have been guests for a dinner for the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and attended Bradford University’s School of Management 40th Anniversary Luncheon as well as that university's degree ceremony.

It was a very great privilege to have been offered this opportunity to be High Sheriff of West Yorkshire for a year. During the sheriffina's & my first few months having over 80 engagements in 100 or so days we have learned just how enormous & pleasurable that privilege has proved to be. We are learning so much about the whole county. We have in our turn entertained over 500 people and been warmly welcomed wherever we have been. Averaging some 6 engagements a week we do try to keep weekends wherever possible for our growing family and ourselves although that is not always possible. We have met hundreds of people who are carrying out their important work in both the public and voluntary sectors for & on behalf of the community they serve. They are all doing great work. There are still many more opportunities to pursue and for us to learn from and we are looking forward to the rest of our year in office.


The Mace Bearer


Letters

Dear Editor,

Medal for Service in the Suez Canal Zone

Further to the item in the Spring Issue of ‘The Mace Bearer’ regarding the above medal, the Queen graciously approved the award of the General Service Medal (1918), albeit after a 50-year delay, in June 2003! Those veterans, like me, who served in Egypt between 16 October 1951 and 19 October 1954, should now apply to the appropriate addresses as stated, quoting full name, service number and date of birth, also dates of service if known. For those many servicemen who died in Egypt, their next-of-kin can claim it. Stuart Wallace of Weston-super-mare quoted from the Veterans’ Agency web site – it’s about time they amended it because they are way behind the times! I applied for my medal on 1st July 2003, and received it with the ‘CANAL ZONE’ clasp on 18th December, exactly 49 years to day of leaving Egypt.

Some people may be under the impression that they cannot wear two General Service Medals. This is a misconception. I was awarded a G.S.M. for Service in Northern Ireland in 1982, for which I received my medal after only 28 days continuous qualifying service. Medals are worn in

the order they were awarded – the 1918 G.S.M. will be nearest the centre, then the 1982 G.S.M. and in my own case the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (with Bar). Before H.M. the Queen approved the award, commemorative medals were available for many theatres of war, and I purchased the Suez Canal Zone 1939-55 medal. Although it was not ‘correct’ I wore it on many ceremonial occasions with my two other ‘official’ medals but I only had one adverse comment! Do the public really know their medals?

I am one of the early members of the Suez Veterans Association, formed in 1996 and I maintain the web site

www.suezveteransassociation.supanet.net which lists all our current (approx 1800) members. Should you wish to make contact with an old comrade on that list, just telephone or email me, and I can put you in touch. Perhaps Stuart Wallace may wish to become a member of the SVA, in which case I can get details of our Association to him.

John SmoothySt. Ives, Cambs.

A message from the Bursar

When the last magazine was published 77 members had not paid their subscription, now in early June 56 have still not paid! All members received a letter last October and there was a reminder in the last magazine, these subscriptions are now 5 months overdue and the Clerk and I do not know what the answer is to this problem!

At the Council meeting in Cambridge I suggested that the top table guests at Conference should be paid for by the Guild Central Fund rather than these costs being included in the conference fees. This had always been the case up until the Leeds AGM. These are guests of the whole Guild not just the members attending conference, and this will be rectified this year.

If you are attending the conference this year please pay your fees before hand or at registration. I do not wish to have to spend

the little free time I get at conference chasing members for their fees. Last year Olwyn and I were still chasing people for payment until the end of October! If your Authority is paying for you to attend please make the necessary arrangements well in advance.

Sorry to nag – hope to see you in Cambridge.

Gill WeatherheadGuild Bursar

Full details of the Conference 2004 are in the brochure posted with this magazine so now is the time to book and pay if you wish to attend. Be warned – this year there might just be a couple of bouncers on the doors, armed with large maces, with instructions to throw out anybody trying to attend the workshops before handing over their cash!

Editor

The Mace Bearer

Mace-Bearers Miscellany

“The Mace Bearer”

The next edition of “The Mace Bearer” is due for publication on November 1st. All items for inclusion to the Editor by 1st October please. Letters, articles, photographs and competition entries are all welcome. Discs (Word format) or pictures sent in will be copied and returned in due course. Items are particularly welcome by Email. Items may continue to be sent to Peter Legg at the address given in the front of this magazine and will be forwarded to the new Editor once their identity is known. Contact the Editor at:

[email protected]

Guild Memorabilia

for Members

Description Price No required Total Plaque Shield with emblem & scroll (shown above) £15.00 + postage & packing £1.30 Mace Brooch Gold finish (brooch fastening) £8.00 Silver finish (brooch fastening) £8.00 Gold finish (butterfly fastening) £8.00 Silver finish (butterfly fastening) £8.00 Blazer Badge Guild emblem to be sewn on to blazer £7.00 Tie Grey with crossed maces and “GM” £6.50 Blue with crossed maces and “GM” £6.50 Maroon with crossed maces and “GM” £6.50 Lapel Badge Emblem with gold finish (brooch fastening) £3.50 Enamel emblem (butterfly fastening) £3.50 Cheques should be made payable to “Guild of Mace-Bearers” Total All orders & enquiries to Mrs G. Weatherhead, Guild Bursar, amount 15 Portway Wells, Somerset. BA5 2BA. Tel. (01749) 674875 due

£ •••••• Semper Fidelis •••••• 11

The Mace Bearer

Competition Solution Tricky-Dicky’s Word Puzzle

U N I F O R *M

I N S I G N I *A

A G R E A T M A *C E

L I M O U S I N *E

M A Y O R S R O *B E

S P E E C H *E S

F R E E M *A N

P A R L O U *R

E X E C U T I V *E

S E C R E T A *R Y

M A Y O R E S *S

Arch fiend Richard Strudwick seems to have fooled everyone again although I didn’t think that this was as difficult as his previous puzzles. Nevertheless, there were no correct entries for this quiz before the deadline of 1st June and so the £10 Book Token goes unclaimed and rolls over to the next competition. For those of you still scratching your head here is the correct solution.

“UP-MARKET VELOCIPEDE” - Limousine “THE OTHER HALF” - Mayoress “QUILL PUSHER” - Secretary “MADE” - Speeches “ENSIGN” - Insignia “CHIEF” - Executive “FRONT ROOM” - Parlour “UNVARYING” - Uniform “NOT A LITTLE ONE” - A great mace “THE SLAVES OPPO” - Freeman “WORN” - Mayors robe

Yes I know some of the clues may be a little abstract but at least the eleven-letter word that they revealed was predictable enough! Another quiz awaits you on the next page…


The Annual Conference of the Guild of Mace-Bearers featuring the 2004 Guild Training Workshops and Annual General Meeting will be held at The Guild Hall, Cambridge on 3rd and 4th August 2004.

A brochure giving details for the conference is enclosed with this magazine. There is no separate programme of events for spouses and other guests but your guests are welcome to attend any part of the conference except the Annual General Meeting itself. The agenda for the Annual General Meeting is as printed in the Manual of the Mace.

The programme has been carefully planned so that the majority of time will be given over to training modules and guest speakers. You are entitled to training. The better trained and more knowledgeable you are, the better you will serve your Mayor and your Council and all members will gain from attending. If you have been to a conference in the last few years you know how good they are!

If you haven’t been recently, or have never been - come and find out. If you don’t go you will never know!

CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE 22000044

The Mace Bearer


Wordsearch Prize Competition £20.00

PRIZE

E D I G N I T Y L M E N T O R E

B I E N T D W P S E H J X D E S

S A L D E R M A N M O T T O C V

E S H I A G N O U B Y E H C I I

H O N O U R A B L E N A N C F C

C K J G R Y T L A R O Y A M F A

E N S I G N W E F S I R M U O R

E J O L L Y P A F H S E E P E D

P I R D E D K L I I M R E D L P

S E G E L I V I R P I U R G N I

K R A D L E Z S E A D O F C S H

I G N A G N I A H C C L U Y M S

A V D M A K U C S E Y R U L E R

R E G I S T R A R F M A I J B O

M S B A E E O L D A R P W E O W

T O W N C L E R K R E C T O R E

Words can read in any direction, up, down, diagonally and backwards! The words in the grid are:

FREEMAN SHERIFF VICAR RECTOR HONOURABLE RECORDER CRIER PRIVILEGES REGISTRAR ROBE DIGNITY GILDED WORSHIP MEMBERSHIP SPEECHES TRADE DIAS ALDERMAN MEDAL ENSIGN MOTTO JOLLY PARLOUR FLAG ODO CHAINGANG CHAIR ROTA MENTOR OFFICER TOWNCLERK RULER

Good Luck!

As there was no winner inthe last competition we nowhave a bumper roll-overprize of £20 in book tokens.The winner will be the entrywith the most wordscorrectly identified on thegrid.

In the event of there beingmore than one totallycorrect entry I will draw thewinner from my hat at theGuild Dinner on August 3rd

The Mace Bearer

Above article reprinted by kind permission of the Daily Mail


I have just received the photographbelow from the Lord Mayorpictured, some years late andcompletely out of the blue! Itreminded me of a very interestingevent when we attended the namingceremony of the only plane flyingwith the welsh language on it! Theplane is named “Dinas Caerdydd”or "City of Cardiff.”

It was named in the early 1990`s and you can see the name sign-writtennear the loading platform. At the ceremony there was a large Welsh choirand we had lunch with them upstairs onboard. Two of the flightcrew wereWelsh, and one English: they had the curtain drawn so we couldn’t see intothe cockpit but I remember looking back from the nose and thinking this istoo big to take off! We had watched it land before the ceremony so weknew it could do it but I’m sure they only keep the different sectionscurtained off as some passengers would panic at the size of the thing!

Bill Surringer (Ex Cardiff)

The Mace Bearer


Above article reproduced courtesy of the Warwick Courier 28th May 2004

Photographic Archive Following the death of John Wade in 2002, George Langley took over as Mace Bearer for Chipenham Town Council.

Having completed most of the usual engagements at least twice George says he now considers himself an “old hand”. The photograph below was taken as the civic party was about to set off to St. Pauls Church, Chippenham on Patronal

unday, 25th January 2004. S

Don’t forget to send in a picture of yourself in your mace-bearing outfit for the Guild Photographic Archive. Pictures should be sent to Terry Gardner at 14 Bury Road, Royal Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV 31 3HN

The Mace Bearer

Napkin Folding for Beginners

On holiday on a cruise ship in the Canaries a few months ago I got a nasty shock. Staggering back to our cabin in the wee small hours one night (having had a small sherry or two) I was confronted with a chimpanzee dangling from the ceiling wearing my sunglasses. Having recovered my composure I discovered it had been made from folded towels. It seemed it was a speciality of the Cabin Steward who went on to produce a different animal almost every night – a lobster, a dog, a rabbit… the list went on. Later in the week a demonstration of towel folding appeared on the entertainment programme and I attended thinking it might make a good article for a magazine, however, having failed to get any suitable pictures (largely because of the speed of the Stewards) I thought you might settle for a little napkin folding (which I’m sure will be more practical to you in your day jobs!)

Peter E. Legg


The Mace Bearer

Apologies for the print quality on this item. The pictures were taken from a very poor photocopy


The Mace Bearer


The Ged Collins Column

Summer's here, well most of the time anyway and this really is the time for tarnishing!

All your silver will become darker with the close humid pawl that descends over our country laden with fumes from cars. There is sulphur in both petrol and diesel, and when run on short distances, the catalytic converters on petrol cars sort of hoard it in their casings. The catalytic converter is a heated box through which the exhaust gases pass, filled with either platinum or palladium dusted ceramic honeycomb which burns off any unburnt fuel and converts carbon monoxide to dioxide in order to reduce harmful emissions. When the engine really gets it hot (usually when being given a bootful up a hill) the cars behind will be able to smell rotten eggs (ventilation system permitting). This smell is sulphide gas which when in contact with silver forms silver sulphide. (Keeping up with me so far?) Silver sulphide is itself a transparent skin. As the thickness builds up, however, it changes the way light is reflected from the surface eventually changing from yellow to blue then black as the layer becomes as thick as the length of the longest wave of visible light. This action is called tarnishing. Pop a silver spoon into a boiled egg and you can see the transformation before your very eyes, yes- rotten eggs give off sulphides too and consequently so do we if we eat them! Garlic and onions also harbour sulphides and some people just turn silver black within minutes of wearing or handling it. Generally the more acidic your skin is the more sulphides are on it! Hydrogen sulphide is the offending gas, when this touches water it forms mild sulphuric acid or sulphonic acid (rain is very weak sulphonic acid). Most things that were once alive, when burnt give off this gas too. Alternatively for a quick sniff of it put some iron filings in sulphuric acid and it is given off. All your silver will succumb to this assault unless in a plastic bag or a case specially designed to absorb sulphides. There is a material impregnated with sulphide absorber from which bags can be made or cutlery stored in to avoid the need to clean them but cleaning isn’t too difficult. Gilding, which is a protective thin coating of pure gold shows its worn spots by becoming black where thin or missing. One often sees black

staining on seemingly intact gilding. All can be rectified by first of all sponging the surfaces to be treated with warm water (with a dash of fairy liquid) then careful sponging with silver foam or warm silver dip but always make sure you fully remove any residues with clean water and dry the pieces thoroughly. Maces are easier stripped, and if you don’t know how to clean yours then just let us know and we’ll get round to your neck of the woods eventually and hopefully advise you on the best course of action. Some really are badly designed from a cleaning point of view and others are a doddle, however many are just disabled by having been “repaired” by buffoons. Oh and I must add, as usual, my constant complaint about lead soldered repairs. When you have them they are usually black for a different reason and they will stay black. If a component looks as if it has been glued-on with a black metallic glue then you have lead, and remember, this is always evidence of mal-treatment and very specialised rescuing is needed. On another note, the shop is now almost functioning properly, the workshops aren’t yet finished as I’ve run out of cash but time will put that right. I have planning permission for my new windows and drawings done etc but I’ve been a little pre-occupied with personal matters, having a varicose vein removed etc! This week coming however I hope to visit Bath, their collection is special indeed, also I have been kindly invited (as a result of my last column) to Dartmouth. I’ve never had my hands on an oar yet but soon hope to gain this new experience. Remember I’m searching for interesting jewellery too, not just silverwork, the sort of stuff that Mayoresses drool over, diamonds, fine enamels, beautiful craftsmanship and gemstones. I’m also spending a lot more time in the south of England for various reasons and am willing to travel so please get in touch if you have something for me, I love to get any feedback at all. Last month saw the commissioning of a set of new showcases in Bradford Town Hall who now display much more of their very fine collection of silverwares. It is a fine tribute to the housekeeping staff who have been tending these hidden gems for so long and the civic affairs

The Mace Bearer


department are to be commended on such a wise decision based wholly on pride in their city and its treasures, the showcases with their stunning fibre optic lights and purposeful design are well fitted to their purpose and a credit to the manufacturers.

My gilding tanks are happy this month, the colour is just right, so if you are in the market for a re-gild just phone and we’ll come running (eventually, or immediately if its an emergency).

Next time I’ll tell you some history, does anyone out there know much about Heraldry?

Please let me know if you are reading this column, even if nothing to report or ask, just drop us a line, we’d love to hear from you.

Kind regards to you all,

Gerard Collins & Family Precious Metals

4 Burnley Road, Brierfield Nr. Nelson, Lancs. BB9 5HS Tel/Fax (01282) 698872

E-mail [email protected]

Amendments to the Membership List

Herewith the second amendment list to the membership booklet dated 1st September 2003

Page 13 Riley P. J. Amend address to read ’45 Woodview Close, Wingerworth, CHESTERFIELD, Derbyshire, S42 6XG’ and home telephone to read ‘07947 552091’

Page 15 Turner D. M. Delete - resigned Page 16 - Add new members

Buckle, D. (David) Ord-N Tameside BC Work: 0161 342 3087 18 Grovewood Close, Daisy Nook, ASHTON–UNDER–LYNE, Lancashire OL7 9SE

Home: 0161 339 2327

Camp, F. J. (Freddie) Ord-SW South Molton TC Work: 01769 572501 ‘Campions’, Poltimore Road, SOUTH MOLTON, Devon, EX36 4DA Home: 01769 574185 Hammond, S. (Steve) Ord-SE Isle of Wight BC (UA) Work :01983 823145 Berehaven Cottage, Solent Road, Cranmore, YARMOUTH, Isle of Wight, PO41 0XY

Home: 07899 656286

O’Daly, K. M. MBE. (Kevin) Ord-SW Calne TC Work: 01249 814000 7 Duncan Street, CALNE, Wiltshire, SN11 9DA Home: 01249 817953 Rodd, R. A. (Richard) Ord-SW South Molton TC Work: 01769 572501 30 The Gavel, Dart Park, SOUTH MOLTON, Devon, EX36 4BP Home: 01769 573051 Webb, E. A. Mrs. (Lizzie) Ord-SW Wells TC Work :01749 673091 6 St. Cuthbert Avenue, WELLS, Somerset BA5 2JN Home: 01749 676270

The Mace Bearer Only/Documents/The Macebearer Su… · Welfare News ~ 3 Napkin Folding for...

Documents

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