The annual election of the Mayor of Ock Street took place earlier today in Abingdon-on-Thames. The election of the Mayor of Ock Street is taken very seriously by Morris dancers. The Mayor is responsible for leading the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers (ATMD) and for representing the town at various events. The election is held on the closest Saturday to the midsummer solstice and celebrates the town’s ancient Morris dancing heritage.
The day began with the polling boxes being put outside the Brewery Tap and inside Mayott House. All residents of Ock Street, its side streets, and all Morris dancers have a vote.
There followed a morning of Morris dancing in town.
The dancers and followers process between the venues behind the iconic Ox.
Voting continued throughout the day.
The two candidates were Harry Knight, who has been Mayor of Ock Street for eight of the last nine years, and Roger Cox, who was Mayor of Ock Street for the seven years before that.
Mr Stuart Jackson, the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers’ president, announced the result. (He was Mayor of Ock Street for eleven year in a row.)
The winner was Roger Cox.
The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Councillor Gwyneth Lewis, congratulated Roger and presented him with the insignia, the sword and the cup of office.
The Morris Dancers then chaired Roger Cox along Ock Street.
That was followed by more Morris dancing at more venues in town.
The excellent visiting sides this year, who helped in the dancing, were Old Speckled Hen North West Clog Morris,
and Traditional Bampton Morris Dancers.
Lastly, here is a video of the tree commemorating former ATMD bagman, Tony Russell, near the Almshouses. The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers dance round that tree every year on The Mayor of Ock Street’s Day.
