THE Mayor of Reigate and Banstead has struck the first commemorative medal marking the 150th anniversary of the borough of Redhill and Reigate.
Councillor Lynne Hack visited Pobjoy Mint to create the first of the medals, which will be given to volunteers who organised the celebratory events and some schoolchildren who took part in the festivities.
On September 11, 1863, following a four-year campaign by residents, Queen Victoria signed a Royal Charter to create a municipal borough of Redhill and Reigate.
For the first time, this placed responsibility for the administration of the area into the hands of an elected council which was the forerunner of today's Reigate and Banstead Borough Council.
Last Tuesday, Cllr Hack struck the first medal at the mint in Bonsor Drive, Kingswood, from a design used to mark the borough's 50th anniversary in 1913.
Geraldine Herneman, from Pobjoy Mint, said: "A hundred years on, it seemed appropriate to resurrect such a commemorate token and Pobjoy Mint was pleased to be able to strike these medals to mark this anniversary."
She added: "The Pobjoy Mint was pleased to gift the medals to the council as it is based in the borough and wanted to show its support for the celebration."
The design on the medal features the borough's coat of arms on one side – a tree and Reigate castle– with a commemorative inscription on the other.
Last year a series of events, including a Victorian market and the creation of a floral arch, were held to mark the anniversary.
Several hundred medals are being produced but the final number has not been decided.
