SWINDON mayor Mick Bray has been presented with a special crystal showing the famous Rock of Gibraltar by the youth offending team from that British territory.

Coun Bray received the trinket on behalf of the borough when the team visited the Civic Offices on October 17. It will be displayed in the mayor’s parlour at the offices, in Euclid Street.

He said: “It’s a very nice gift. If I get anybody from an official visit, I always give them something from ourselves.

“And I gave them a crystal paperweight in a case with the arms of Swindon on. “I also give them a lapel badge with the arms of Swindon on it.

“The Gibraltar crystal was very nice. It’s going in our display cabinet, I’m not allowed to keep anything.”

Coun Bray, who served more than 30 years in the RAF, said: “It’s of great interest to me because I did 30 years in the Air Force and one of my responsibilities was with the dental centres in Gibraltar and I had to visit once a year at least.

“One year I went up the rock and I went up backwards in a Land Rover.”