Paul Harding, of Discover History looks at the background to the gold chain of office worn by Worcester mayors TODAY tourists pause to watch a civic procession, today the mayor’s charity banquets put thousands of pounds to good causes and the mayor has the casting vote during important council meetings. However if we turn back the clock to the medieval period, Worcester had no mayor. Instead the city relied on the powerful guild that was created by the 1189 Charter. This had evolved to become two chambers known as the 48 and the 24. These were made up of important men who made decisions about the city. They were led by the high bailiff (a forerunner of the mayor’s post).