The splendours of the Mayor’s Parlour were put on display for the people of Macclesfield at a fund-raising coffee morning hosted by the Mayor of Cheshire East, Councillor Margaret Simon. For the sum of £1.50, visitors to Macclesfield Town Hall took coffee with the Mayor, followed by a guided tour of her Parlour and a rare opportunity to see the glittering cabinet housing the treasures of Macclesfield’s civic past. The event was held to raise money for the Macclesfield Talking Newspaper for the Blind and the Macclesfield Eye Society, two local independent charities offering help and support to people with a visual impairment.

Delights included the silver and gilt ceremonial Mace, which dates from 1573, and which is still used during council meetings, the gold chain of office used by all the Mayors of Macclesfield, and silverware presented by visitors to the town. Councillor Simon said, “I was quite overwhelmed when I was first shown into the Parlour. I find it sad that the people of Macclesfield don’t get the opportunity to see these artefacts more often. It is my intention to open the Parlour as often as I can”.

Visitors were unanimously impressed. 78 year old Alan Ottaway (pictured with the Mayor in front of the silver cabinet) has lived in Macclesfield all his life. He said, “I never knew all this was here! It’s spectacular and has obviously been well looked after.”  Talking Newspaper Editor Lynn Hilton described the coffee morning as a great success and thanked the Mayor of Cheshire East for her time. “This has been a most enjoyable and informative morning and has raised much-needed funds for the two local charities involved”.