The Lord Mayor of York plans to wear a badge instead of her chains at some official events.
Cllr Margaret Wells was given the Lord Mayor’s badge this morning.
City of York Council typically award the emblem as a thank you at the end of the mayor’s service.
Today, director of housing communities, Pauline Stuchfield, gave it to Cllr Wells seven months early.
The Lord Mayor has plans to wear the piece, made by Cheshire firm Michael’s Civic Regalia, at appropriate official functions.
Cllr Wells feels that the gold chains can act as a barrier to making connections with residents: “There are times when the chains and robes are appropriate, but one of the best times I’ve had is when I went to a care home and I just sat and talked to people.
“One of the ladies, she started crying, and I could just hold her hand and just tell her that it’s OK. Would it have worked if I’d have been in robes and chains? I don’t think so,” Margaret told YorkMix.
She still plans to wear the robes and chains at events, including for school visits. “When little children see you, I’m wanting to say to them: ‘I’m an ordinary person. This is what’s happened to me and the same can happen to you’.
“You know, it doesn’t matter where you come from, you can still do it.”
Some feel the Lord Mayor should always be in full regalia. In response, Cllr Wells said: “I don’t mean that the Lord Mayor’s as important or anything as as the as the royal family – but we don’t expect them to come in all the royal regalia but we still want them to be there.
“And I think that that’s the balance that we’ve got to make with people. That they can have the Lord Mayor there, the Lord Mayor wants to be there, but not necessarily in the robes.
“Especially when in summer, they’re very heavy, and you really wouldn’t want to be stood in the sun.”