The new Marlborough mayoral chains had their first outing on Friday at the town’s mayor making ceremony.

Councillor Marian Hannaford-Dobson took office as the town’s 519th mayor after being nominated by the outgoing mayor, Guy Loosmore.

He said: “Marian brings a wealth of experience with her and is a very determined lady who enjoys getting involved and making things happen, so I am sure we will see plenty of things happen in the course of the year.

“I’m sure she will be an excellent ambassador for our town.”

Coun Hannaford-Dobson has been a member of the town council for 14 years and is the one of the few to have held the posts of town, county and district councillor.

On the night she revealed that a new mayoral robe had been commissioned to compliment the new £96,500 chain.

She said: “I feel very honoured to be the first mayor of Marlborough to be inaugurated with this fine new chain and to wear it for its first year of office.

“What I have also tried to do is follow in the traditions set by Thomas Free by deciding to commission a new Mayoral robe, which I am wearing for the very first time tonight.

“If Thomas Free is looking down on us, I do hope he will approve.”

Among the crowd of well-wishers were deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Robert Lawton and representatives of the 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, which marched through the town in November.

Coun Hannaford-Dobson named Leukemia Research and Macmillan Nurses as her charities of the year.

During the final meeting of the civic year, Councillor Margaret Rose, who has sat on the town council for 11 years, was elected as deputy Mayor.

The evening ended with a dinner for guests, councillors and members of Coun Hannaford-Dobson’s family in the Assembly Hall.