NEW High Wycombe mayor Nigel Vickery was surrounded by All Saints Parish Church's congregation for his first civic service on Sunday.
But the ceremony was overshadowed by sadness after the death of town crier and popular police officer Bill Snelling.
The mayor said: "It was an incredibly moving ceremony and a time when we all reflected on our good friend who did so much for Wycombe. The ceremony went on but all of our thoughts were very much with Bill."
Charter trustees, honorary freemen and burgesses gathered at the Mayor's Parlour in Queen Victoria Road, before proceeding to Castle Street where they joined churchgoers for the service.
Cllr Vickery and the Rev Peter Bradley paid tribute to Sgt Snelling who they described as an 'outstanding public servant.'
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