One of Frederick Allen’s contributions to the town, along with fellow former mayors Masding and Ker was the gift of a chain of office for the town’s mayoress. The chain is suitably grand and fitting for a town of Bridgwater’s stature, and is quite touching as a memorial of the three men to their deceased wives. These two photographs and the following newspaper clipping, are in the Allen scrap book and ephemera.
Unknown Newspaper, probably the Bridgwater Mercury.
CHAIN OF OFFICE FOR MAYORESS.
FORMER MAYORS’ MEMORIAL GIFT.At this stage in the proceedings the Mayor called upon Mr. F. H. Allen, J.P. (a former Alderman and Mayor), who was among the general public in the Chamber, to address the Council.
Mr. Allen at the outset said it was an unusual thing for one who was not a member to address the Council, but he thought the occasion was more or less unusual. He would like to take the opportunity of being the first “outsider” to offer congratulations to his friend, Councillor Symons, on his accession to the office of Mayor. Proceeding, Mr. Allen said with some emotion: I speak now on behalf of my old colleagues, Ald. Masding and Ald. Kerr, as well as for myself. We have each occupied the civic chair on three consecutive occasions, and I am deputed, as the senior of the three, to speak on this occasion. You may possibly recollect that we have each suffered a grievous loss since we occupied that chair, such losses all occurring within one short year, and it has been suggested—it was from Alderman Kerr really that the suggestion emanated—that a fitting token might be offered to the Town Council to commemorate the dear ones we have lost.
For some time it has been a reproach to Bridgwater that although we have a very fine Mayor’s chain, which is a credit to the town, we have nothing for the Mayoress to wear to signify her position, and the idea that we have brought to fruition is the gift of a Mayoress’s chain. That we three have taken on ourselves to do, and my object here to-day is to ask you to accept from us the chain in the spirit we offer it, in the spirit of reverence and affection, and to take charge of it for the benefit of the town for future years. I am sure when the Mayoress wears it it will add to the dignity of the office. (Applause).
The Mayor, on behalf of the borough of Bridgwater, accepted the gift, and said he did so in the spirit in which it was given. He would not say any more, except to say “Thank you” on behalf of the borough, and to announce that his wife would be happy to wear the chain at the banquet that evening. (Applause).
Alderman Haggatt thought that the Council ought to place on record their appreciation of this splendid gift, and he moved that the Town Clerk draft a resolution of thanks to the three gentlemen for the presentation of a Mayoress’s chain, and that the vote be recorded in the minutes of that day’s proceedings.
Alderman Berry seconded the motion, which was unanimously passed.
THE CHAIN DESCRIBED.
The chain and badge (supplied by Mr. S. A. Huggins) is a beautiful example of the modern goldsmith’s art. It is executed in 18ct. gold, of a design very refined and simple in appearance. Each link of the chain bears a plain shield, on which it is intended to inscribe the name of successive holders of the office. These plain shields serve as a contrast to the more richly decorative design of the pendant. The pendant bears in the centre a representation in enamel of the Borough Seal, carefully executed in true heraldic colours. Underneath is a scroll, bearing the name of the town in gold letters standing through blue transparent enamel. In the top portion is a small oval shield with the letter “B” painted on a white enamel ground, in red. The centre link of the chain, from which hangs the pendant, is an ornamental date panel, bearing the year in which the chain was presented. The whole effect of the chain and pendant is very charming, and though delicate in appearance, it is made up in a very substantial manner. We should describe it as a valuable and beautiful piece of civic regalia.
ELECTION OF COMMITTEES.
The Council afterwards spent considerable time in discussing the constitution of the committees.
Subsequent History
The chain was stolen in 1977. The Western Daily Press of 1 November 1977 reported:
BRING BACK CHAIN, MAYOR ASKS By Nicholas Warboys
BRIDGWATER mayor Mrs Margaret Rees last night appealed to thieves to return the town’s £1,500, 18-carat gold mayoress chain, which is almost 50 years old. Mrs Rees, mayor since April, said: “The chain has great sentimental value to the people of Bridgwater. It is part of the town’s heritage.” The chain, presented to the former borough of Bridgwater by three former mayors in 1928, and now the property of the Charter Trustees, was stolen from the house of Mayoress Mrs Margery Grant.
Also taken from the house in Broadlands Lane, Durleigh, which Mrs Grant and her dentist husband John occupied only a couple of months ago, were a radio, a television and some personal jewellery, including an engagement ring. Mrs Grant had the chain and pendant, both of which are insured, under lock and key. She was to have worn it on the evening of the theft at the 25th birthday of the Townswomen’s Guild in Bridgwater Arts Centre. The break-in occurred during the afternoon, while Mrs Grant was out for an hour. Mrs Grant was too upset to attend the function. She last wore the chain a week ago at a Bridgwater town hall national savings reception.
Said Mrs Rees: “I think this must be one of the most beautiful mayoress’ chains in the country. “I fear that because of the difficulty in getting rid of it, the chain and pendant may be melted down. “That would be terrible — it really is priceless and almost impossible to replace.”
Fortunately for the town, a replacement was commissioned in 1978 and seems to have been a close copy of the original, including the prominent ‘1928’.