DRESSING up in ceremonial costume and preceding Worcester’s mayor on official engagements doesn’t appear to be that arduous a job really.

But Worcester’s sword bearer for the past 25 years Frank Southam reveals that wearing his costume and holding the city’s two-handed ceremonial sword in the vertical position for an hour is more difficult than it appears.

“The sword dates from 1655. Oliver Cromwell took the first one on a non return basis,” jokes Frank. “It weighs 10 lbs which doesn’t sound very much but it’s a lot when you’re holding upright for an hour. And the costume weighs a ton.”

Frank, now aged 78, originates from Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent and first came to Worcester in 1963 to join his family who ran a hardware store in New Street.

In 1968 he started working for the city council as an electrician in the housing department and part of his job was dealing with electrical maintenance at the Guildhall.

“One day I was at the Guildhall when the civic party came out with all the regalia and it appealed to me. I thought ‘I would like to do that’.”

The role of sword bearer in Worcester dates back to the Royal Charter bestowed by King James 1 on October 2 1621 which reviewed and recast the whole government of the city.

The government of the city was entrusted to the mayor, 'six lawfull and discreet citizens' as aldermen, a sheriff and two chamberlains, a body of twenty-four, including the mayor and aldermen, and a body of forty-eight, including the two chamberlains.

Provision was also made for the election of a common clerk, auditors, coroners, escheator, sword-bearer and sergeants-at-mace.

Frank, who served in the RAF and loves the pomp and ceremony of long held traditions, put his name forward for the job in 1980 but had to wait for 10 years before the role became available.

He initially combined his work as an electrician with being sword bearer – having to take holidays from work in order to carry out any ceremonial duties taking place in the day - until taking early retirement from his full-time job on health grounds in 1993.

While Frank - dressed in breeches, tights, robes and a magnificent ostrich feather adorned cap of maintenance - has provided a dependable dignified presence for a quarter of a century, he has seen 25 mayors come and go.

As Worcester’s sword bearer his duties – providing protection and authority to the mayor – have included leading the mayor in various processions such as on Armistice Day, taking part in ceremonies to bestow the freedom of the city, attending twinning events, fixing his sword upright behind the mayor before the start of business at full council meetings and on Royal visits to Worcester.

He considers the biggest feather in his cap was the visit of the Queen in 2012 when he formally welcomed her to the city outside the gates of the Guildhall by presenting the hilt of his sword for her to touch.

“I also had the honour of escorting the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to their table for lunch in the Assembly Rooms at the Guildhall and back out after lunch. It does not get any better than that.”

It was not the first time he had come face-to-face with Her Majesty as he was in a guard of honour at the Oxford University Air Squadron in the early 1960s when she visited and was Worcester’s sword bearer when she came to the city in 2001 with the Duke of Edinburgh as part of the 250-year celebrations of Worcester Porcelain and to open the new Worcester City Police Station.

“They came to the Guildhall and had lunch,” Frank recalls. “I think the Queen is wonderful.”

To mark Frank’s remarkable 25-year service as Worcester’s sword bearer, city MP Robin Walker invited him to take a tour of the Houses of Parliament with him and stay for lunch, which Frank really enjoyed and viewed as a real honour.

Ironically, Frank admits the only major event he has missed as Worcester’s sword bearer was when Robin’s father, the late Peter Walker who was the city’s MP from 1961 to 1992, received the Freedom of the City in 2003. He had already booked his holidays when the date was announced!

Apart from his role as city sword bearer, Frank is also a casual attendant at the Guildhall and a casual driver for Vauxhall dealer Baylis in Worcester. He used to be the mayor’s chauffeur until the city council decided it no longer wanted a mayoral car.

He has also played a big part in Worcester and District Football League as registration secretary for 17 years and was made a life member. He provided the Southam Trophy to the league in 2012 to mark the work done by him and his late wife Maureen, who was the league treasurer for 15 years. Frank also played football up to the age of 64 for a ‘golden oldies’ team playing at Norton Barracks.

Asked how much longer he will continue as the city’s sword bearer, Frank said: “I will carry on until I cannot do it with the dignity the job warrants. You have to keep busy at my age or things seize up.”

He added: “Worcester and the city council has been the biggest part of my life for 46 years and it has been a pleasure to put something back into the city because it is a lovely city to live in. I have loved every moment of it. I am still a ‘Potter’, but I am thankful to the city.”