Unique Arun civic badge bought at car boot

A badge worn by the first civic head of Arun has been returned to the district council, after it was picked up for £3.50 at Ford car boot sale.

Councillor John Charles, who represents Barnham, noticed the piece, which was worn by Leslie Walwin from 1973 to 1975, when Arun District Council was first created, and snapped it up.

“I saw the red box and thought its contents may be interesting. I could not believe my eyes when I saw what it was,” he said.

“I purchased it and brought it back to the council, and I am so pleased it is now in its rightful place.”

Arun’s chief executive, Ian Sumnall, traced the badge’s history through the council archives, and found committee papers referring to Mr Walwin, the then chairman, purchasing his own badge for his term of office.

He also found official black and white pictures of him wearing the humble lead piece, which bears little similarity to today’s elaborate gold-plated chains of office.

Ian said: “It’s incredible that after all this time the first-ever chairman’s badge, one we never even knew existed, should find its way back to the authority via a car boot sale.”

It’s not known how the badge ended up at the car boot sale, but it has now been given to Arun’s current chairman, Dennis Wilde.