The Presidents Badge of Office
A feature of all official BAPRAS events, including its annual Congress, is the President’s badge of office.
The badge comprises a 9-carat gold pendant enamelled with the Association’s heraldic coat of arms. It is suspended on a chain of gold links. The badge is more than decoration. Each link tells part of the story of both BAPS and BAPRAS, engraved as they are with the name of a president and the year they served.
A Slow Start
The idea for a badge wasn't instantly accepted. In late 1948, Alexander B. Wallace — the first editor of the British Journal of Plastic Surgery — had raised the idea of a chain of office at a council meeting. The council felt the suggestion was premature and shelved it for at least another year.
The Grant of Arms Arrives
The idea resurfaced in July 1955, when the council received its grant of arms from the College of Heralds. With production of a physical coat of arms now officially in hand, members of council began discussing how it might be further used, on stationery, Association publications — and on a Presidential badge too.
To take the idea further, a subcommittee was formed comprising then-Council stalwarts John Barron, Richard Battle, and David Matthews. Their job was to explore what was possible, and what it would cost.
Getting Quotes
David Matthews did most of the work, confirming that the coat of arms could legitimately be incorporated into a presidential badge, then approaching the renowned jewellers Garrards for quotes. They came back with the option of silver gilt or 9-carat gold badges with either a ribbon or matching metal chain. Since a chain emerged as the preferred choice, a silver version would cost £60, or £140 in gold. Council was also keen on a "past president's" lapel badge, the die for which would cost £15, then £13 for each badge struck from it afterwards. Choosing between the options proved difficult, but by the year-end council had opted for a badge of gold.
The Badge Takes Shape
Both the badge and the coat of arms displayed in a temporary frame, were ready in time for the clinical meeting in the summer of 1956, held at the University of Sheffield, where they were formally presented to council.
To mark each presidency, it was decided that every president would have their name and year of office engraved on a link of the chain. Presidents were “invited” to contribute £10 for every year they served, to help offset the cost of the insignia. By 13 December 1956, the Association's past presidents had together contributed £60 towards the cost of their presidential chain name links.
Whilst the badge's cost was written off against capital expenses, £1 was carried forward in the accounts each year as a small but symbolic gesture recording the badge as an asset of the Association. Meanwhile, all the insignia were insured for £600. Whoever held office would initially keep the badge in their care — ideally lodged at their bank.
Today, the Presidential badge is worth considerably more to BAPRAS as an artefact in its own right, held very securely between its formal outings. The chain has been retired in favour of a purple ribbon. The right to wear it around one’s neck is still the pinnacle of professional privilege for any British plastic surgeon.