Long Serving Mayor’s Sergeant Retires; Oh yes he does!

The long-serving Mayor's Sergeant, David Wicks, is retiring from the role. David has proudly served the council for nearly 44 years and retires from the role due to health issues. David has served an impressive forty-four Mayor's, alongside seven Town Clerks.

As the Mayor's Sergeant, David was appointed to attend upon the Mayor, to bear the Mace before him or her, to add dignity and grace to council proceedings and to assist the Mayor during his civic year.

Many will have seen David carrying the Mace on his shoulder, in his Mayor's Sergeant uniform, on official duties. He officiated at the Mayor's Civic Service, Remembrance Sundays, the Christmas Sparkle light switch on, the Bedesmans' Day Services and the Town Carol Services, as well as the monthly council meetings.

In Higham Ferrers the role of Mayor's Sergeant can be traced back to at least 1420. There is no reference to the Mace at that time, but it is mentioned in later records around the time of the town's Charter of 1556. Maces were originally old weapons of war. Overtime, maces were replaced with the more elaborate and ceremonial maces that we are familiar with seeing today. The Higham Ferrers Mace David carried is silver gilt, weighing 2.5 kilograms with the head bearing an open arched crown with orb and cross.

If being the Mayor's Sergeant wasn't enough, David is also well known locally as a Pantomime Dame. Last Christmas the council staff were delighted to attend the Castle Theatre in Wellingborough to see David playing his 39th Pantomime Dame, this year as Rapunzel, oh no he wasn't Rapunzel we hear you cry, oh yes he was!

The Leader of the Town Council, Cllr Tony Reading, pays honour to David's long service "I have known David for over 26 years of his near 44 as the Higham Ferrers' Town Council's Mayor's Sargeant. I would regularly exchange "one liners" with him, although his were always quicker and better honed by his many years on stage during the pantomime season. He will be a hard act for anyone to follow".

Councillors also pay tribute "David, who has been the Mayor's Sergeant and Mace-Bearer, has been a big part of ceremonial occasions in the town. He has always made sure, whether it's a town council meeting or ceremonial occasion, that everything is carried out punctually and professionally."

"Thank you for your extraordinary 44 years of dedicated service. Your attention to tradition, especially during the magical Christmas Sparkle, has brought joy to generations. Your warm welcomes during school visits and council chamber tours have inspired countless young minds. With unwavering care, you've ensured Mayors are dressed (and sometimes undressed!) with dignity and humour, always ready for duty. Your loyalty, grace, and behind-the-scenes devotion have helped uphold the ceremonial heart of our town. We are deeply grateful and wish you a well-earned and sparkling retirement."