Former governor of the Bank of England Sir Mervyn King was presented with a £10,000 painting of himself as a leaving present when he stood down from the role.
Sir Mervyn, now Lord King, who is an Aston Villa fan, also received a £597 silver napkin ring and a £2,505 sculpture of German playwright and scientist Johann von Goethe when he retired on July 1.
The £13,000-worth of gifts were all paid for by the Bank of England, which is owned by the country.
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Sir Mervyn, attended Warstones Primary School in Wolverhampton and went on to the Grammar School there, before he became a professor of investment at the University of Birmingham at the age of 29.
Three events were also held to mark his departure from the Bank, which cost more than £10,000. An evening reception on June 26 cost £4,672, while a £3,450 dinner was held the following day. Another dinner was held on June 28 at a cost of £3,800, with the flowers and invitations for the three events coming to £1,501.
The information emerged following a freedom of information request, with the Bank of England insisting the gift of the silver napkin ring is normal for all departing senior directors.
The Bank added: “As with previous retiring governors, the bank commissioned a portrait of governor King, and presented him with a copy. This cost £10,000.
“In addition, the governor received a replica bust of Johann von Goethe. This cost £2,505.
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“These costs were met by the bank, with the approval of the court of directors.”
Sir Mervyn, who was paid £305,000 a year as governor – a role he had held since 2003 – reportedly has a pension of £198,200 a year.