Today was the day when the people of Ock Street had the chance to vote for their Mayor for next year.

Lesley Arygle was Mayor of Ock Street for seventeen years and still attends the annual day of dance.

There were a lot of Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers out today, many young.

There were fewer visitors. Pictured above are the Berkshere Bedlam, the visiting team, from Wokingham.

Stuart Jackson another ex Mayor of Ock Street held the office for eleven years.

But the real legends of Abingdon Morris Dancing are The Hemmings Family – a dynasty that Mayored Ock Street for much of the twentieth century.

This year Roger Cox was up against two very good candidates, but he won again for the seventh or eighth time, on a very good turnout, and can be seen being chaired along Ock Street.

Behind the scenes the story of this years Mayor Making was that a younger generation have taken over organising the event.

On Saturday 22nd June, three candidates are standing for the post of Mayor of Ock Street (or Mock Mayor of Abingdon and Squire of The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers) …

Roger Cox has done an excellent job as Mayor since being first elected in 2007. But he has strong competition in 2013 …

Harry Knight would make a fine Mayor. But I fear the Morris Dancers would miss his accordion playing.

Duncan Brown would make a fine Mayor. He was the youngest ever Mayor of Abingdon and has acted as a fine fool for the Morris Dancers since taking on that role last year. But I fear they would miss his fooling.

There are no manifestos in this election. Election day is a day of dancing and drinking.

First dance is outside the Black Swan at 10am. The result is declared soon after 4pm at the Brewery Tap. Dancing continues until 8 or 9pm. Last dance is on the Market Place.