A New Slant on Community Service - The Mayor's Bodyguard

A New Bodyguard For A New Mayor - Wednesday 23rd May 2012

Our esteemed Treasurer, Alan Ribchester MBE PHF, has been invited to become a member of the 15-strong Durham Mayoral Bodyguard, protecting the City's Mayor.  He was sworn in as a new member of the Bodyguard at the City's Mayor-Making Ceremony today.

Alan's looking just a mite nervous before the ceremony.

"I'm delighted to have been asked to become a member of the Mayoral Bodyguard" says Alan. "The Rotary Club of Durham has always had very strong ties with the Mayor of Durham, particularly through the work it does all year round, raising money for local charities and volunteering within the community. In fact, many of Durham's mayors, including the 2012 incoming mayor, are also Rotarians themselves. Yet this is the first time that a member of the Durham Rotary Club has had the honour of protecting the Mayor in this way. I look forward to upholding the long and proud traditions of the Bodyguard for many years to come."

The Mayor of Durham has the oldest Mayoral Bodyguard outside the City of London. The Bodyguard pride themselves on having never failed to respond to the Mayor's call to duty ever since the first Mayor of Durham was appointed in 1602.

The function of the bodyguard in the 17th Century was to collect taxes from the toll gates of the city. The proceeds went into civic coffers, but when the mayor left office, so did this money.

Today, the Bodyguard consists of 15 self-governing individuals, dressed in long black coats and Tudor-style hats, and although largely ceremonial, they are still well-armed!

Each of the 15 members of the Bodyguard carries a halberd - a long pole with a spike at its end. Two members of the Bodyguard carry staffs - implements which were originally used by the constables appointed by the Warden in the days prior to the Police Force. The Captain of the Bodyguard carries a silver-topped cane, and a Civic Sword and Mace are carried by special bearers.  The mace has precedence over the sword and is a symbol of the Mayor's authority in the City.  The Mayor has precedence over everyone in the county except the Sovereign and the Lord Lieutenant. If either of them are present then the Mace is carried inverted.

Such is the tradition and protocol of this great city - and yet another aspect of Alan's wide involvement in the local community.  So, is this another aspect of Community Service?

After the Ceremony, the Bodyguards stand by as the new Mayor and his entourage troop out on to the Town Hall steps. 
Can you spot Alan?

The assembled throng.
Apart from Alan, there are several other Rotarians in this photo!

Alan seems to be settling into his new role ...

... and is finally pictured with the new Mayor - John Wilkinson - who just happens to be a member of the
Rotary Club of Durham Bede!

I know I've said it before, but what is it about Rotary and Mayors?  Between us - the Rotary Clubs of Durham and Durham Bede - we number among our current and past membership several Mayors, ex-Mayors and, who knows, Mayors-to-be.  We even have a Mayoress in the Durham Club.  It must be something to do with Community Service!