Abingdon ‘Mayormaking’ day

Then Sat 22nd saw us again joining Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers for the Abingdon ‘Mayormaking’ day, which we previously attended in 2009. The day is centred around the election of a ‘Mock Mayor’ of Ock Street. The election takes place in the afternoon – prior to this there is dancing around Abingdon before the election takes place at the Brewery Tap pub. Once elected, the new mayor (once again this year the same as the old mayor) is carried around the streets on a chair supported by poles, with the poles and chair carried on their shoulders by Abingdon Morris dancers and also their guest team i.e. this year us. The trick when carrying is not to be too tall, as it’s the tall ones who finish up with the most weight while the shorter ones walk along looking innocent. At the end of the day’s dancing there was once again an excellent supper provided in the 15th century grade 1 listed Long Gallery, part of Abingdon’s old Abbey buildings. After the supper there were some excellent entertainment provided by way of some high quality floor spots, with Jameson once again very capably painting the parlour on our behalf, so to speak.