Description:Wooden gavel and block presented by Mr R. Fern (President 1963-1964) to the Burton and District Grocers Association when he took up his official duties in 1963.
Turned wooden gavel has waisted handle with barrel shaped head. Turned circular wooden block has domed centre with engraved chrome plaque. Green baize covers base.
The Burton and District Grocers Association was founded in 1934 to protect the interests of private traders from monopolies and folded in 1968. It was purely a trade association with membership restricted to owners and directors. Similar associations existed in most large towns throughout the country. Speakers attended their meetings to give talks and demonstrations relating to foodstuffs and factories were visited, mainly in the food and confectionary industry. The annual dinner was considered to be one of the highlights of the social calendar. The first presidential chain of office was presented on Wednesday, 28 January 1953 at the annual dinner, by the association's senior past president (1936), Mr W.C. Hubbard to Mr P.E. Green who was then the President.