Marc West witnesses an historic, and suitably quirky, mockery of local politics in Old Woodstock

It is said the last person to enter Parliament with honest intentions was Guy Fawkes. And, with our country currently enduring the uncertainty of post-Brexit fallout, I'm inclined to believe there's truth in that sentiment.

The struggle of power between politicians versus the people has been raging since the dawn of (so-called) democracy and no more so than in an historic Oxfordshire market town - where they believe firmly in the notion of "out with old, in with the new."

Since 1786, the outlying borough of (what is now) Old Woodstock has exercised its prerogative to essentially undermine the New town by exerting their "independence".

This light-hearted mockery began as a way of redressing the balance of power throughout the parish and the two opposing sides have kept the tradition well and truly alive to this day.

An informal assembly of individuals bid to become the newly crowned leader in an annual ceremony organised by the Mock Mayor Corporation.

Each of the 10 candidates stakes their claim by making outlandish pledges about what they can achieve if given ‘office’. We’re all used to potential politicians making absurd campaign promises that they'll never deliver on…but, how about lower duty on beer and steak night every night?

As the results came in it was clear that last year’s “governor of community spirit” James Talbot would be overthrown and new blood would be leading the rowdy procession through Blenheim’s serene Great Park and onto the gates of sleepy Woodstock itself.

Dressed in an elegant robe made of blankets and sporting a mayoral chain fashioned from brass curtain rings, James Newton was the man chosen to proudly hold the ceremonial mace aloft outside the beautiful Town Hall and subvert the real mayor’s authority… by publicly turning his back on her.

Despite this parody of the official office, Dr Elizabeth Poskitt took this gesture in jest and honoured her fellow parishioner with a twin-town bash in the market square involving dancing and much merriment into the night.

The climax of the proceedings is the passing of the whole Corporation through the murky River Glyme and thus back across the boundary line handily to the adjacent bar of the nearest hostelry – where townsfolk young and old, Old and New come together to celebrate their differences…at least until next year.

oldwoodstock-mockmayor.com