The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is rooted in history and unusual traditions. It is the oldest of the four Royal boroughs in England, and the only council to still have an officer called a Tipstaff in post. In fact, the only other Tipstaff in the country is an officer of the High Court of England and Wales. This week Kingston Council voted to reappoint Michael Seigel, 70, as the borough’s Tipstaff and Town Crier for another three years. The two roles were officially separate offices in Kingston before they were disbanded in 1914 at the outbreak of World War One.