Former mayors call for regalia to be given to Whitehaven Town Council

Former town mayors have hit out at Copeland Council, which currently owns the civic regalia worn by the mayor of Whitehaven.

Town councillors want Copeland Council to hand over the historic items, before the authority is dissolved and Cumberland Council takes over on April 1.

Chris Hayes, a former mayor of Whitehaven, said: “It’s crazy. On the back of every chain link is the name of past mayors.

“It says on it, the mayors of Whitehaven. It doesn’t say the mayors of Cumberland.

“It’s a disgrace. Get it back to the people of Whitehaven.

“It was left to the people of Whitehaven by Lord Lonsdale. He’d be turning in his grave if he thought it was going to be given to Cumberland.

“I don’t know what they hope to gain from it. They need to give it back.”

Graham Roberts, also a former mayor of Whitehaven, said: “What is the point of handing over ceremonial regalia to an authority that isn’t a ceremonial mayor authority.

Graham Roberts wearing the mayoral chain (Image: Archive)

“What is the point of doing that? It seems crazy handing it over to an authority like that.

“It belongs to the people of Whitehaven.”

Copeland's Deputy Mayor, Cllr David Moore, said: "The regalia is currently on loan to Whitehaven Town Council and, as with all Copeland’s assets, its ownership will transfer to the new Cumberland Council on April 1.

“At a Full Council meeting on February 27, Mayor Mike Starkie explained this and added that he saw no reason why the loan shouldn’t continue under Cumberland and that, in addition, he would be happy to ask Cumberland Council to transfer ownership of the regalia to Whitehaven Town Council."

An extraordinary meeting of Whitehaven Town Council has been called on Thursday and ownership of the regalia is to be discussed by councillors.

READ MORE: Row over ownership of Whitehaven's mayoral robes