Perfect Poppies

Well done to all those pupils at St Mary’s, St Peter’s and Preshute schools who created wonderful paintings for the Marlborough in Bloom poppy themed painting competition. These will be judged by the Town Mayor next week.  Winners go through to the South West in Bloom finals.

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Trees in Trouble

Earlier this week, a Horse Chestnut tree came down at the Common.  You might  like to be aware that another of the Common’s magnificent trees is currently diseased and needs to be felled.  Our Grounds and Estates Manager in consultation with other tree care specialists keeps a close eye on all those trees under the responsibility of the Town Council.  If they are diseased or dangerous, it is sometimes necessary to take a decision to fell them before any damage is done. 

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Mayor Marian Hannaford-Dobson

At the Annual Meeting of the Town Council on Friday, 23^rd May, Councillors voted in Councillor Marian Hannaford-Dobson as Marlborough’s 519^th Mayor with Councillor Margaret Rose as the Deputy Mayor.  It was also the inauguration of the new Mayor’s Chain which Cllr Hannaford-Dobson wore for the first time following the theft of the original in October 2013.  It has been produced over the last few months by craftsmen at Royal Warrant holders,Thomas Fattorini Limited of Birmingham. 

The Council meets on Monday, 2^nd June for the first Full Town Council meeting of the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

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Your Council Tax

Read more about your contribution towards the running of the Town Council and the services it provides.  Read more.121.87 KB

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Community Clear-Up thank you

Thank you to those who came along to the Cemetery Clear-up at The Common on Sunday, 13^th April.  A successful morning and lots of progress made.  In addition, a war grave was uncovered which will now be registered.  Look out for details of another community gardening session in the coming months.

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New Path at The Common

Residents will be pleased that a new footpath now runs along the edge of The Common. This has been a long held aspiration for the Town Council and it’s good to know that everyone will now find it easier to walk to the Diamond Jubilee Plantation, the Rugby Club, onto the Cemetery and then back into town.

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Councillor Nicholas Fogg, MBE

Press Association Images

Congratulations to Councillor Fogg following his Investiture at Windsor Castle where he received the MBE from the Queen for services to the community.  Cllr Fogg, a former Mayor and long serving Town Councillor as well as a Wiltshire Councillor, is also a founder member of the Jazz Festival and played a key role in initiating the Literary Festival.
Arriving in Marlborough in the 1970s with his wife Edwina, herself a former Mayor, Nick is also an expert on Shakespeare's life and works and has lectured widely on the subject.  A big well done to a man who is a real asset to Marlborough and who continues to work hard for the town.

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Mayoral Chain in the Making

Following the theft of the Mayoral Chain, Councillors have decided to return what was taken in the best way they can. Marlborough’s historic insignia worn by the town’s First Citizen since 1911 is being replicated by Royal Warrant holder, Thomas Fattorini Limited in Birmingham. This will be worth the value of the original chain as agreed by the Town Council’s insurers.

The Town Mayor, Cllr Guy Loosmore and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Marian Hannaford-Dobson, have just visited Fattorini’s Head Office in Regent Street, Birmingham to see for themselves how the chain will be crafted. The company which was founded in 1827 is a real mix of the very modern and reassuringly traditional where the latest I.T. and manufacturing technology sits comfortably alongside highly skilled goldsmiths and craftsmen.

Sales Manager, Michael Moore, toured the workshops with the Town Councillors who were able to learn more about how the chain will be made. They started by meeting the graphic designers who have studied pictures of the original chain and have been able, with the latest graphics technology, to re-create it incorporating the beautiful enamelled work and precious stones. Then they moved on to look at machinery which will be used to form certain chain link and pendant components. From there, they visited the enamel workshop, where the chain will be hand embellished with vitreous enamel and finished by meeting the goldsmith who will craft the 18 carat gold pendant and chain, piece by piece.

For well over 100 years, Fattorini has designed and created pendants, chains of office and other fine regalia for parish, town, city and district councils, associations, and universities - nationally and internationally. This isn’t the first time that Fattorini has been involved with Marlborough – the company designed the Mayoress’s badge in 1935.

The Mayor’s Chain was first worn in 1911 by six times Mayor, Councillor Thomas Free and paid for by subscription. His son Councillor Eric Free, MBE was also Mayor on five occasions. The Free family were saddened by the theft and have taken a real interest in the new commission prompting Cllr Free’s great great granddaughter, Lucy, aged 15 years, to visit the Town Hall a few weeks ago learn more about the history of her family.

Following his visit to Fattorini, the Mayor 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.

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