The Role of the Mayor

First Citizen
Every year a long serving councillor is appointed as the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane.

The Mayor is the first citizen of the borough. This means that only HM The Queen, members of the Royal Family and the Lord Lieutenant take precedence over the Mayor at events in the borough.

The Mayor's correct title is 'The Worshipful the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane'.

The Mayor's term of office is one year and the Mayor changes in mid-may.

Functions
The Mayor attends many different types of functions throughout the borough of Basingstoke and Deane, such as formal dinners, official openings of events or new facilities, talking to clubs and societies and visiting schools.

The Mayor also hosts visits to the Mayor's Parlour from various organisations and is always happy to receive a request for a visit.

The Mayor asks the Deputy Mayor to stand in if the Mayor is not available.

The Mayor is responsible, in a non-political way, for furthering the interests of the borough whenever and wherever an appropriate occasion arises.

The Mayor acts as host to distinguished visitors to the borough, including royalty, national representatives of various organisations and foreign visitors, especially those from our twin towns.

The Mayoress, Consort or Escort
If the Mayor is male, it is entirely up to the Mayor who he calls his Mayoress, it can be a wife, daughter or friend. The title has no official recognition and is a strictly honorary one.

If the Mayor is female then her husband would be the Mayor's Consort. If the Mayor is unmarried her official escort is named the Mayor's Escort.

The meaning of 'Mayor'
The word 'Mayor' and 'Major' derive from the same Latin word 'Magnus' meaning 'great'. The office of Mayor, together with the Domesday book and the feudal system, were brought to this country by the Normans. Such an office had existed on the continent since at least the fifth century.

First Mayor
The first English Mayor was the Mayor of London, appointed in 1189 by Richard I. The first Basingstoke Mayor, George Baynard, was appointed in 1641.

Civic Occasions
On very formal occasions, such as the annual meeting of the council, Remembrance Day, Civic Sunday and Freedom of the borough ceremonies, the Mayoral robes are worn. On these occasions, the chain of office is also worn with the Mayoral robes, which are edged with synthetic fur. The chain can also be worn on its own for other important engagements in the borough. When the robes are worn the Macebearer is in attendance.

The Mayor's chain and badge
In 1978 the Basingstoke District Council successfully petitioned the Queen to be made a borough and the borough of Basingstoke and Deane was formed.

The Mayor's chain and badge was purchased by local companies - which are listed in the Mayor's Parlour - and presented in 1979.

The chain is made of gold links and was made by Thomas Fattorini of Birmingham.

The Mace
The Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane has two maces, the King Charles mace and the Queen Anne mace.

The use of ceremonial maces has its precedence in the use of the mace as a weapon of war. Today's ceremonial maces are a highly ornamental descendant of the prehistoric club or bludgeon.

In the course of time, the mace became no longer a weapon but a symbol of authority. Today's ceremonial maces are therefore carried upside down.

The mace precedes the Mayor when entering and leaving the Council Chamber and rests horizontally in front of the Mayor when council is sitting.

The Mayor's Chaplain
The Mayor's Chaplain is chosen by the Mayor. It is an honorary title and the Chaplain attends civic functions, for example Remembrance Day or any occasions when the Mayor is robed. He/she is responsible for prayers before council meetings and Grace at Civic Dinners where requested.

Role of the Mayor

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