Name/Title
Sussex Police chief constable's mess dress c1970sEntry/Object ID
245Description
Dark blue coloured lightweight wool "Mess" style tunic with a pair of matching trousers. The short tunic has light coloured blue felt epaulettes and lapels, and six large decorative silver plated buttons on the front. There are is also a smaller silver plated button fixed to each epaulette and to each cuff. On the left lapel are three corded loops for attaching a miniature set of medals. All the buttons are marked with a Queen's crown with a laurel wreath and the majority are marked to the rear "Gaunt London". There is also a small black plastic button to the front allowing the tunic to be kept closed.Each epaulette has attached a small silver wire wreath containing crossed tipstaves, surmounted by a silver wire crown. The trousers have button side adjusters but do not have belt loops or buttons for braces. They have pockets each side, one rear pocket on the right and a zip fly. There are no makers labels.Use
For a chief constable to wear for formal dinning eventsContext
In the past it was common for police forces to arrange formal dinners and other events at which senior officers often wore dress uniforms. This particular example is based on military mess dress, which is a formal dinning uniform, comprising of a short jacket and matching trousers. The insignia on the epaulettes of a wreath containing crossed tipstaves surmounted by a crown, signify the rank of chief constable and this particular suit is believed to have been worn by Sir George Terry, who was the chief constable of Sussex Police from 1973 until 1983. It probably dates to the 1970s. As with all chief officer uniforms, the buttons are silver plated and are only decorated with a crown and laurel wreath.
This suit would have been worn with a dress shirt and bow tie. It is shown here with Sir George Terry's mounted miniature medals (item 396). The museum also owns the matching mounted medal ribbons (item 1072).