There was an old custom in Abingdon to roast an ox in Ock Street at midsummer and distribute the meat among the poor. In the year 1700, this being done, a fight ensued between men from ‘up’ town and ‘down’ town for possession of the horns. The men of ‘down’ town won, and it became a trophy they still hold to this day. Their leader was declared the Mayor of Ock Street.

In modern times there is an election for the Mayor of Ock Street – none of the fighting of our forebears. Those ox horns from ‘1700’ are on show. After the election, the Mayor of Ock Street celebrates his victory by drinking from an applewood pint drinking cup, and is then carried in procession by Morris Dancers around Abingdon’s Ock Street.

The only qualification for having a vote is that you must live in Ock Street, or the adjoining courts. There are two candidates this year: Harry Knight – The previous mayor, and Duncan Brown – The reigning mayor. The election of the Mayor of Ock Street will be this Saturday.

Les Badcock led out the Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers on their day of dance today. This is always held on a nearest Saturday to the birthday of former Abingdon Morris dancing legend Tom Hemmings who kept the Abingdon Tradition alive in the mid 19th century.

Teams included Summertown Morris, a women’s side from Oxford.

Ashnah, American Tribal Style Belly Dancers from Abingdon on Thames.

Morris Dancers from Adderbury Village, just south of Banbury;

Borderline from Arborfield, south of Reading,

and Windsor Morris – a female side dancing in the very bouncy style of the nineteenth century Cotswold villages of Badby and Brackley.
Near the Market Place were also members of the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign. There could well be a lot of In Out In Out campaigning in the weeks to come.

Like thousands of other people I decided that I would go to hear the May being greeted at Magdalen Tower at 6am on May 1st.

Afterwards, in Radcliff Square, Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris were performing.

This coming Saturday will be Mr Hemmings Day of Dance when 6 invited sides will join with the Mr Hemmings side in dancing at various venues, in Abingdon, starting at the Market Place. Approximate Schedule:
11am : Market Place
11:30 : Black Swan
12:00 : Punchbowl
1:45: Market Place
2:30pm : Brewery Tap
3:15pm : White Horse
4pm : British Legion

Morris Dancing is first recorded in Abingdon in 1560. A record in St Helens Church has the chamberlain buying “two dossin of Morres belles“.

This is my rather shaky video of the singing at Magdalen Tower. There were barriers preventing people jumping off the bridge. One freelance photographer bemoaned to me the lack of photo opportunities these days.

Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers feature in a music video with the group Stealing Sheep.

There is an interview about the concept behind the video with Dougal Wilson, the director, at
http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2015/october/behind-the-scenes-on-dougal-wilsons-new-video-for-stealing-sheep/

The video was filmed over two days at an idyllic English village location. Cerys Matthews said of the video on BBC Radio 6 “.. makes Morris dancing super cool”.

If you want to be part of the next venture then the Morris practice season is starting soon…
Mr Hemmings practice every Monday in the British Legion on Spring Road at 8pm. First practice is Monday 19th October.
Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers practice in Trinity Church Hall on alternate Thursdays. First practice is Thursday November 5th at 8pm (Meet beforehand and afterwards in the Brewery Tap).

Anyone can turn up to practice… and you can email the respective bagman to warn them you are coming first.
Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers: bagman.atmd@gmail.com.
Mr Hemmings Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers: bagman@mrhemmings.org.uk

There are also opportunities for musicians who can play accordion, fiddle, pipe, or tabor.