Staffordshire Parish Councils
Association
Established in 1939 just before the outbreak of war, the SPCA is
believed to be the senior County Association of Local Councils in
England. The aim was to be a source of up-to-date information for
Parish Councils and Town Councils
to promote good local government and grassroots democracy. It also
provided a network of communication and lobbied on behalf of Parish
Councils to represent their interests and offered free legal and
financial advice.
In 1998, a decision was made to commission
two badges of office from Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, one each for the President and
Chairman. The badges, in Teal Green Jasper, feature a modified logo
with the letters SPCA replaced on the scroll with the office-holder's
title in gold. The example illustrated is the President's badge of
office and was discovered at Barlaston during an
office clear out. Further enquiries established that the office-holders are in possession of their badges and that this badge is a
duplicate, either made as an insurance against accidents in firing or,
possibly, not meeting the required standard (it has a minute chip on the
reverse edge). Whatever the reason, it was put away and its existence
forgotten until now.
With thanks to Mr Andrew McRae, CEO of the SPCA, for kindly providing information.
Thank you to Lord Anthony Pulford of Glencoe, Scotland for the research on this interesting Wedgwood item, and for allowing us to publish it here!
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