TOWN councillors and former mayors gathered to pay tribute to and gave a standing ovation Monday night for the man they call “Mr Monmouth”.

John Blake, BEM, who has been macebearer to the mayor of Monmouth since 1965, has stepped down from the role after 53 years, serving 47 different mayors.

Councillor Terry Christopher, the newly elected mayor of Monmouth paid tribute to John who started with the borough council, then transferred to the town council.

“It’s the end of an era and the closure of a chapter in the history of the town and the town council.”

Cllr Christopher continued: “He was committed to the town as a macebearer, but was also involved with the football clubs and was recently made a life president and he was also a stalwart supporter of the town’s carnival.”

In 2008, John paid for a chain for the badge of deputy mayor as he felt the ribbon that held the badge was “not befitting the office”.

Cllr Christopher added that a bench is to be sited on the Rockfield area of Monmouth to honour John’s commitment to the town and presented John with a plaque inscribed with his name to be attached to the bench.

Councillors rose to their feet and gave John a standing ovation for what has been a unique lifetime achievement in civic life.

Thanking the town council, John explained how he came by the job of macebearer.

“The two macebearers had finished, and I had come down to Monmouth to have a trial with the borough council,” he said. “Council officers came down the council yard and said, ‘you, you and you, whoever the uniform fits, you’re macebearer for the next month’, and I’ve been stuck with it ever since!”

Reminiscing of his time as macebearer, John added: “It’s been really good. Princess Margaret said to me once when she came here, ‘have you seen my lady-in-waiting?’ I said no ma’am and the Princess replied ‘tell her I have gone to the ladies’. When she came back, she looked at me and smiled: ‘I’ve got to follow you have I?’ I said yes madam, we’re running late and no talking!”

When Prince Edward came to Monmouth, he said to me: ‘You’re the Mayor of Monmouth then?’ and shook hands with me. I replied ‘No sir, she’s over there!”

Another Royal John has the pleasure of meeting was Prince Charles who said to him: “You look alright in that uniform, I reckon they’ll bury you in that!”

He fondly remembered the time he met Princess Diana when she came to Bridges Centre when it was on Hadnock Road. “She was a very nice person, a lot of these royals don’t say a lot outside, it’s inside when you get to speak to them”.

His last duty will be the civic ceremony in July.

Councillors mixed with 17 former mayors and enjoyed a reception in the Mayor’s Parlour with refreshments supplied by MJ’s.