A SILVER casket once owned by a British Prime Minister has been given to the people of Worcester.

The decorative casket, which would have held a scroll, was presented to Stanley Baldwin in 1923 when he was given the Freedom of the City of Worcester. It was returned to the city’s Mayor, Councillor Andy Roberts, by Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, the grandson of the three-times prime minister, at a reception at the Guildhall, Worcester, yesterday.

On presenting the casket, Lord Baldwin said: “I have very great pleasure in returning this casket as a gift to the city of Worcester in the hopes it can be cherished, and if possible displayed, so that local people can admire it and honour the memory of one of Worcestershire’s greatest sons.”

He added: “I shall miss it because it’s been adorning my hallway at home and I’ve enjoyed it.”

The freedom casket was made in Birmingham, although it is believed local jeweller J W Cassidy was involved. Lord Baldwin said he inherited the heirloom after the death of his mother in 1980 although it was kept in cupboards until recently.

Coun Roberts said the casket would be displayed in the Mayor’s parlour for the rest of his time in office and available, on request, to anyone who wanted to see it.

He added: “I feel it’s a real privilege for me to receive the casket which was presented to a man who was arguably Worcestershire’s greatest ever politician.”

Also at the presentation was the Earl’s son Mark, the Mayor of Bewdley, Derek Killingworth, antiques expert Henry Sandon and his wife Barbara, the record’s office’s archives manager Robin Whittaker, the city council’s head of the paid service Alan Stuttard and the newest Freeman of the City, Cecil Duckworth.

Stanley Baldwin entered parliament as MP for Bewdley in 1908 and was chancellor of the Exchequer before becoming prime minister from 1923 to 1924.

He served a second term from 1924 to 1929 and again from 1935 to 1937. He died in 1947.