Excitement ahead for Marlborough’s first citizen to wear its newly created gold chain of office

Marlborough’s deputy mayor, Councillor Marian Hanniford-Dobson, who is due to be elected in May, is “very, very excited” at the prospect of being the town’s first citizen to wear its new 18 carat gold mayoral chain.

She and the current mayor, Councillor Guy Loosmore, visited the Birmingham headquarters of  international jewellers Fattorini, founded in 1827, who are making the new chain to replace the historic one stolen last October from the Town Hall.

That  elaborate chain, decorated with semi-precious stones and fine enamel symbols, was created in 1911, and had been described at the finest town insignia in Wiltshire.  It was paid for by public subscription whereas its replacement by a specific council insurance pay out of £96,550.

“It’s very sad that our original chain was stolen but now I am very excited at being the first Mayor to wear this new chain  –and highly honoured,” Councillor Hanniford-Dobson told Marlborough News Online.

“In Birmingham we saw the drawings of the design of the chain and similar pieces to the chain that we have ordered.  I really was impressed by the company – they do hold a Royal Warrant of course – and I believe we are in safe hands.

“And I was convinced that any product they make will be one of quality.  That was what we were worried about as we do really want to emulate the quality we had in the stolen chain.”

The mayor and deputy mayor had an opportunity on their visit to see Fattorini’s techniques of using a mixture of modern and traditional techniques to create jewellery that goes round the world.

They saw the company’s graphic designers work and their talented gold and silversmiths at work, as well as seeing machinery at work and visiting its enamel workshop.

Councillor Guy Loosmore said: “This is the first chapter in the story of the how Marlborough is determined put back in place its stolen heritage.  I have every confidence that Fattorini will create an exceptional and exquisite replacement for the original chain and one which Thomas Free himself would have been proud of.”

The Town Council will be following the story of making of the Mayor’s Chain with more updates right up to when it is completed in May 2014 – in time for the installation of Marlborough’s next mayor.