Alderman Edward George Butcher

Years Elected: 1953, 1954, 1959, 1960

History:
He was made the first honourary Viking of Denmark and was given full
Viking attire.

In July 1960, Alderman Edward Butcher, and a group of civic dignitaries
visited the Danish town of Frederikssund to celebrate the ratifying of
the twinning of the two towns.

Alderman Butcher was Mayor when the Queen ascended to the throne
on 2nd June 1953, this resulted with an invite to the ceremony as one
of the Mayor's of the Cinque Ports, because of this he was also given
the title Baron.

The award was made during a Viking Valhalla supper with 300 Viking
players and friends.

Alderman Butcher said: "the ties between east Kent and Denmark stem
from the pages of history and yet they are tangible in the present day."

The party also met royalty - Prince Canute and his daughter Princess
Elisabeth - at the Sorgenfrei Palace. It was the first time guests of the
Danish Travel Association has been received at the palace.

The party also visited Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.