AS the widow of the late Ken Stephenson, Darlington Borough Council's mace bearer who died aged 61 in 1999, I am shocked at the thought of an elected mayor for Darlington.

Ken was in Durham for many years and was a member of the mayoral bodyguard, rising to captain and progressing to become junior mace bearer, and then his strong arms carried the Sword of the City. He covered many civic occasions and royal visits and as Durham has the cathedral, university and law courts, there were many.

He came to Darlington in 1988 and, having swallowed the "A to Z of ceremonial duties" manual, brought a lot of his knowledge to the town.

He served 11 mayors, always insisting they knew wherever they went "Darlington was the best".

It saddens me to read this may soon be lost if this shocking campaign for an elected mayor gains ground.

He was dedicated to the job he enjoyed and would be very sad to witness what is happening to the tradition of the town he adopted and loved - the system of years of service as a councillor as qualification to be its First Citizen lost forever.

Mrs Maureen Stephenson, Darlington.