The office of Mayor: History and traditions

In the United Kingdom, the civic office of Mayor brings with it over 800 years of tradition and loyalty to the Crown, and a direct link to the monarch through parliament.

The current position of Barnet Mayor was created in 1965 when the two borough councils of Finchley and Hendon were combined with three urban district councils (Chipping Barnet, East Barnet and Friern Barnet) to form the London Borough of Barnet.

The Mayor is elected each year by fellow councillors and is the First Citizen of the Borough. Only the King takes precedence.

Mayor’s Regalia and the Mace

Robes

The Mayor’s scarlet robe traditionally signifies great wealth and status. Centuries ago, producing such vibrant colours was extremely expensive, making them a clear indicator of the wearer’s status.  

The robe is worn with a white lace collar called a ‘jabot’, and a black ‘cocked’ hat, which is trimmed with gold braid. 

For Madam Mayor, instead of a black ‘cocked’ hat, a three-pointed ‘tricorn’ is worn.

The Deputy Mayor’s robe is maroon and their hat has silver braid.

Councillors also have robes - they are black in colour with a black trimmed hat. 

Mauve robes and black tricorn hats with gold braid are worn by the mace bearers. 

The Chief Executive of the Council has a style of robe that dates to the town clerks of the 17th century and includes the traditional wig and bands.

Mace

 

 

 

 

 

The mace started as a weapon. It was an iron rod with a chain and a heavy iron ball or spike on the end.

The King or Queen’s Sergeant-at-Arms carried it for protection in front of a royal person, today known as a mace bearer. Nobody was allowed to come between the monarch and the mace.

That tradition remains today. No-one must come between the mace and the Mayor. Previously, the Mayor was a tax collector, and the mace became a handy weapon of defence.

At ceremonial occasions, the mace bearers carry the two maces of Barnet - one from Hendon and the other from Finchley. Both these towns were granted royal charters in the 1930s. Each mace bears a history of the area they come from.

Badge

The Mayor's badge is an important piece of civic regalia as it forms part of the mayoral chain. 

No legal document is considered legal until it has been ‘sealed’, or stamped, with the borough crest and signed by the Mayor.

In the past, the Mayor kept the important seal safe by wearing it around their neck.

This is why a replica of the borough’s crest, 'the badge', became a symbol of the mayoralty, along with the Chain of Office.

Today, the seal is stored in a safe but is still used to seal all legal documents on a weekly basis.

Chain

The Mayor’s chain was presented to the borough of Barnet in 1965 by the union NALGO, now known as UNISON. The white and yellow gold chain shows the Barnet crest and is worn by the Mayor at all official events.

Coat of Arms

Barnet’s Coat of Arms, as shown on the Mayor’s Badge, is used on all mayoral correspondence and may be seen on signs around the borough and being displayed on the flag of the mayoral car. The Grant of Arms was given to the borough on 1 January 1965.