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Mayor's damaged badge repairs to cost £1,650

Daniel Esson
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Leas Dental Studio A woman in a busy room wearing black clothing. She is carrying a glass containing an orange liquid and is wearing a gold medallion on a red ribbon.Leas Dental Studio
Mayor Abena Akuffo-Kelly said the badge became detached from its ribbon while in use

A Kent mayor's "incredibly heavy" badge will cost £1,650 to repair after it fell onto the ground and broke.

Abena Akuffo-Kelly, who was appointed as mayor of Folkestone in May 2024, said the jewellery was insured so the council would only pay £100 of excess.

The badge became detached from its ribbon around her neck while in use, Ms Akuffo-Kelly said.

Folkestone Town Council's finance and general purposes committee voted unanimously to authorise the repairs, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Folkestone Town Council An enamelled gold medallion featuring the word' Mayor' and the Folkestone coat of arms.Folkestone Town Council
RAF Hawkinge gifted the medallion to Folkestone Town Council in 1961

Ms Akuffo-Kelly said: "It's incredibly heavy because it's pure gold, and if you look at what it's attached to, it probably wasn't as secure as it could have been."

RAF Hawkinge gifted the nine-carat gold medallion to Folkestone in 1961, the town council said.

It includes the town's coat of arms below a silver Royal Air Force crest, and was originally presented attached to a blue silk ribbon in a blue jewel case.

The estimated cost of the repairs were £1,375, plus VAT, totalling £1,650.

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