Wearing of Civic Chains at a funeral

General
1

Hi all - does anyone have any advice regarding the wearing of a civic chain at a funeral please? What do we cover? Also does anyone have any experience of placing black rosettes on the shoulders of the chain please?

Thanks. Andrea

2

Hi Andrea, With regards to Civic Funerals we have protocols (which actually form part of our London Bridge Protocol - Tier 4) in relation to that. We give the family options

  1. Civic Head in robes and chain of office accompanied by Mace (and in our case Cap and Sword) to
    1. lead the coffin in or
    2. lead the family in or
    3. follow from behind.
  2. Lord Mayor in attendance just in robes and chain of office
  3. No Civic Arrangements

We place the Mace, Cap and Sword on the coffin (we pre-arrange this with the Funeral Directors prior to the funeral - they tend to rearrange the flowers on the coffin or place the flowers beside the coffin - as agreed by the family)

Our Lord Mayor will never sit in the front (that is left to the family) - but where appropriate we do ask for a reserved seat for them and the Mace Sergeants….even if its at the back of the church.

We also cover the Mace in black gauze; tie black ribbon on the sword and around the hat, and put a black rosette on the chain of office. We also lower the City Pendant at the Guildhall on the day of the Funeral.

We will always go by the wishes of the family

Hope this helps :blush:

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3

Hi Andrea

Our Mayor would only attend a funeral in chains of office at the express wishes of the bereaved family. No robes would be worn, no mace present. A request for the Mayor to attend in a Civic capacity would likely come from the family of a Former Mayor, a sitting Councillor or a Senior Officer of the Council. Alternatively, the Mayor would attend in a personal capacity.

Hope that helps?
Thanks

Sally

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4

Yes we are the same, The Mayor will wear a black tie if male, if female a black hat, (not a large one). Our chain is not affixed to a black felt backing so the Mayor will have the chain tied at the shoulders with black ribbons. If the Mayor is attending a funeral out of borough, the badge is worn on a black collarette.

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