A COLOURFUL history of a Mayor’s aide has been recounted in a new book.

Former macebearer Keith Holderness recalls his career in a 258-page memoir detailing how he was the right hand man for 25 of Southend’s figureheads.

Like previous holders, he has been part of the background of borough life. Looking at almost any ceremonial photograph from the late 80s until 2012 Keith, in his immaculate uniform, is likely to be somewhere in the background.

The 65-year-old, who is now retired and lives in Spain, said he finally got round to writing his book “Behind The Mace” this year.

He said: “This was my winter project this year and it has taken me a couple of months to put everything together.

"I have tried to tell the story of a very busy mayoral section from my point of view, which I hope readers will find interesting, plus there is quite a few humorous things I was involved with over the years.”

Mr Holderness, the son of a bus driver, was born in Leigh and grew up in Westcliff.

He relocated to Berkshire with his family as a youngster but he was soon back in Southend when he joined the Royal Artillery and his first posting was at barracks in Shoebury.

Mr Holderness still organises reunions and runs the website for his old unit, the 36th.

During his time with the RA, he was a member of the motorcycle display team and while chauffeuring, was talent-spotted and identified as a likely successor, by the then Lord Mayor of Hull’s assistant.

His book covers his work in Hull as well as Southend as he was first appointed Senior Beadle, an official carrying out civic duties, to the Lord Mayor of Hull.

He added: “The book covers my time firstly in Kingston upon Hull, where I was the Senior Beadle from 1982-89, and attended seven Lord Mayors.

“In 1989 I took up my position as macebearer to the Mayor of Southend, and I attended 25 mayors of Southend, retiring in 2012.

“My first mayor in Southend was Jim Hugill, and my last was Sally Carr.”

Apart from the key ritual of installing the mace at council meetings, the macebearer’s prime function is to act as the mayor’s minder.

Like his predecessors, Keith lived in the historic cottage at Porters Lodge and retained a measure of responsibility for the building’s upkeep.

The key personal quality required of mace-bearers, Mr Holderness says, is diplomacy and discretion.

Some years ago, he was head-hunted by another civic authority and offered the most prestigious macebearing job in the country, if not the world – Westminster, but turned it down to stay in Southend.

Read more about the macebearer’s life and experiences in the book Behind the Mace. It is available from http://www.blurb.com/b/6940214-behind-the-mace and costs approximately £15.