| Mayors
Regalia
The Mayor’s
ROBE is of dark red cloth trimmed with fake black fur. The
robe was purchased from Michaels of Bristol, along with new
robes for the Town Clerk, the Macebearer, and the Town Crier.
A smaller Town Crier’s robe was made locally in 2002
to fit the current holder of the post. The original Mayor’s
robe was a gift from Mr. A.C. Rogers, Mayor, during his term
of office in 1902. This is on display in the Old Gaol Museum.
There
is a COCKED HAT for the male Mayor and a TRICORN HAT for the
female Mayor.
The JABOT
was presented to the Borough by Mr. Holton and is trimmed
with Buckingham lace, representing the lace industry in the
Town.
The robe,
lace and hat are worn on all civic and ceremonial occasions.
Mayors
Chain
The Mayor’s
chain with badge is of silver gilt. It was presented in 1884
by Sir E.H.Verney and Lady Verney of Claydon House.
It consists
of 81 quatrefoil links, each enclosing a Tudor rose and united
by smaller links. The circular badge displays the Borough
arms on one side with a wreath of laurel and on the other
side the Verney arms bearing the inscription “Sir Harry
Verney Bart. MP for Buckingham 1832-1841, 1857-1874, 1880-1885”.
The Chain was gilded in 2003 by Vaughton’s of Birmingham
and placed on a velvet collar.
The Mayor’s
chain is also worn on all civic and ceremonial occasions.
Mayoress' Chain
In
1924 the Council was having difficulty in persuading a Councillor
to be Mayor, and it was decided to fine the next person who
refused. This was Councillor Roper, who paid his fine of £10
on the 4th February in silver threepenny pieces which were
made into a chain for the next Mayoress of Buckingham.
Mayor's
Consort Badge
A
gold plated sterling silver and enamel badge on a ribbon collarette
was provided in 2001 as an alternative to the Mayoress’
chain.
The
Mace
The
Mace is also of silver gilt, tempo Charles II, and is historically
of great interest, having been made or converted in the Commonwealth
period and re-converted at the Restoration. It is 3ft-4ins
(1.0m) long and has a plain shaft, three knobs and a spreading
base; three brackets support the head, the surface of which
is divided into three compartments displaying first a swan
with wings expanded and gorged with a coronet and chain amid
foliage, second a harp, and third a rose.
Surmounting the head is an elaborate cresting of open work
from which rise three gilt feathers, curved inwards and meeting
at their extremities; on these rests a cushion carrying a
crown.
On the raised flat top are the Royal Stuart arms; between
the letters at the base is an inscription as follows:-
“In the 12th year of the reign of our sovereign lord
King Charles II by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland,
France and Ireland 1660”.
During the Mayoralty of Mr. A.C. Rogers in 1902 the Mace was
gilded. It was re-furbished in 1988 and re-gilded in 2003
by Vaughton’s of Birmingham.
It may not be generally
known that on the occasion of a reigning sovereign entering
within the Borough precincts it is etiquette for the Mayor
at the time to tender the Mace with an expression of loyal
submission and then to receive it back again.
The Mace
is carried before the Mayor on all ceremonial occasions.
The
Sealing Ring
The
Sealing Ring is an item of regalia that has not necessarily
been in use by all Mayors. It originally belonged to Henry
Thorpe, Mayor from 1893-1895.
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