When planning a crier’s costume, there are almost infinite opportunities for additional embellishments Doug the wonderful hat maker suggested a new one the other day that I particularly like.
He showed me a picure of a cape clasp which was worn as part of police uniforms until as recently as the 1950s.
The lion’s heads can be seen as a nod to the Lion in the royal borough crest while there is also a personal connection for me. My grandad used to proudly talk about one of our ancestors as having been the tallest man in the Essex constabulary. Sadly, there is nobody left alive in the family for me to check this little gem, but I think a lions head cape clasp could be a nice little memento to dad’s side of the family.