Newbury Town Council seeks new mace-bearer
- Published
Garry Poulson is the departing mace-bearer
A town council is looking for a new mace-bearer after the current one announced he was departing.
Garry Poulson, 63, is stepping down from his ceremonial role at Newbury Town Council in Berkshire, which he described as a "wonderful job".
Prospective candidates must be comfortable with standing for long periods of time, in all weather conditions, the council said.
It added the role carried a £100 annual salary, plus a £25 appearance fee.
Mace-bearers carry maces - ornate staffs made of metal or wood, intended to represent the official's authority - during processions, including at mayor making ceremonies, on Remembrance Sunday and during town twinning events.
Mr Poulson explained there were two maces in Newbury - the oldest one was made during the reign of Queen Anne, between 1702-1714.
It is more than 1m (3ft) long, made of gold-plated silver and weighs 5kg (11lb).
'Quite emotional'
"You absolutely have to polish the mace and wear gloves all the time whilst carrying it," Mr Poulson said.
He added leading processions could be "quite emotional".
Any applicant must be politically neutral and willing to learn about Newbury's history, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
When the mayor's attendant is unavailable, the mace-bearer, whose uniform includes a robe and tricorn hat, must stand in.
Ceremonial maces began as lethal weapons of medieval knights in England, Scotland, and Wales, evolving into ceremonial objects carried by sergeants-at-arms.
In the UK, they now represent the monarch's authority in parliaments and councils. Some universities also have their own maces for ceremonial purposes.
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