Who are these people?

I have learned that some questions are better left unasked. Every time the Mayor of Bath arrives at a ceremony (civic or religious) this entourage shows up with her. Carrying maces and swords and wearing strange outfits they take their duties quite seriously -and Bathonians seem to take it all in stride. I was pleased that the Bath Chronicle included this photograph of her lackeys or perhaps in more up-to-date parlance her posse. This was the mayor entering the Abbey for the 40th Anniversary Service mentioned earlier.