Reporter Tom French speaks with two gentlemen from Okehampton who are ensuring a centuries-old tradition continues into the 21st century for future generations.

AS life gets faster and technology changes our lives more and more, it would be easy to let historic traditions fall by the wayside.

Two men from Okehampton are ensuring one of the town’s proudest traditions carries on into the 21st century.

David Hollinshead and Basil Jones have nearly 50 years of experience as Okehampton’s macebearers between them. Both have fulfilled the role on an entirely voluntary basis, never being paid for their time and efforts.

A macebearer accompanies the town mayor to civic events and functions to ensure that the mayor has ‘free passage’ of the town. In effect they act like bodyguards, carrying their maces to ensure the mayor’s safety.

As the name suggests, each of the two macebearers carries a mace while on duty. The two maces are identical, made of silver and measure 3 feet and one inch. On the head of each mace is an open, arched crown adorned with the royal arms of George III, the arms of the Duke of Bedford and the arms of the borough. They were presented to the town by John, the 4th Duke of Bedford on July 14, 1761. Due to their value they are kept in a bank vault when not in use.

They are two of only three maces of their style in existence. All three were made by a silversmith in London and the third is believed to be in America, possibly owned by a private collector.

The role is ceremonial compared to centuries ago. David and Basil’s dedication ensures the tradition is kept going.

Mr Hollinshead said: ‘The role of a macebearer is to protect the traditions of the town and to protect the mayor — not as an individual but more as the head of the town. We must ensure they have free passage and are not accosted. We also advise and help with things like timekeeping.

‘In the Dark Ages the maces would have been made of wood. These silver maces took the place of a wooden club.’

David Hollinshead, aged 84, has been a macebearer for over 35 years, having been recognised for his efforts with a mayoral award. He fell into the role almost by accident.

He said: ‘I had a knock on the door one Saturday afternoon. It was the borough surveyor, asking if I wanted to fill in for one of the macebearers who was off sick. I was to join Harry Smith who was the other macebearer at the time. That was for a special commemoration service in Launceston on June 15, 1980. I’d never carried a mace before but I’d previously been involved in parades with the Territorial Army so I suppose that’s what made the councillors at the time pluck my name out of the air.

‘It was an honour to be asked and to represent the head of the town, to represent yourself and protect the traditions.’

For the next couple of years he helped to cover the position until he took it on permanently.

Basil, aged 83, has been a macebearer for 14 years. He said: ‘David asked me if I would be interested in doing it. I’ve been here all my life and I thought it’d be a good thing to do for the town. We’d been mates for a long time before I took it on, with both of us ex-servicemen, me with the RAF and David with the Royal Artillery.’

The pair have to attend several key events in the town each year. These include the mayoral choosing ceremony, the mayoral civic parade and service, Edwardian Evening and the remembrance parade each November. The macebearers lead the parade up to All Saints Parish Church.

At each event they attend the pair must wear a tricorne hat and traditional robes. The garments they wear are very similar in design to those worn by the town’s original macebearers.

All their time given to the role is entirely voluntary. Mr Jones said: ‘It is a voluntary role! People seem to think we get paid a small fortune but that is not how it works. We are both proud to be macebearers for the town.’

Town clerk Paul Snell said: ‘It is one of those special things that works well in Okehampton. It is helped by the continuity and support of the community and Okehampton would be much poorer without them. As a council we are hugely grateful for David and Basil’s service over the years and they continue to work in such a high profile role to maintain the dignity of the town’s traditions.’

Mr Hollinshead said: ‘It is nice to hear words of appreciation like that. It is nice to know we are doing some good.’