My wife’s cousin dances for the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers side near Oxford so we made our way to their area of the country to watch the Mayor of Ock Street elections in 2012. This involved arriving a day early and drinking with many of the dancers into the early hours of the morning before getting up after only a few hours of sleep to tag along as the Abingdon side and another couple of guest morris sides took part in a parade through the town to most of its pubs and public spaces, in each one drinking, dancing, and performing music. Quite how any of the dancers had the stamina to do what they did is a mystery to me.
We loved seeing the traditions played out, the sense of companionship, the noise and sights, and there was something about seeing mostly middle-aged and older people taking part in public group activities to the enjoyment of other people that reminded me somewhat of our time in China at the Temple of Heaven.
As the day wore on votes were cast and a new mayor was elected, thenceforth to be carried around by other members of the Abingdon morris dancers.
Since my wife had a close connection with one of the morris side members we were granted special dispensation to attend the evening’s entertainment later that day. The surroundings and music were wonderfully medieval and it proved to be a fabulous end to a thoroughly interesting day in Oxfordshire.
There are a few more photos from the election of 2012’s Mayor of Ock Street in Abingdon on Flickr – Abingdon Mayor’s Day 2012.