New Mock Mayor is making history (From Oxford Mail)

New Mock Mayor is making history

6:38pm Sunday 2nd August 2009 in News By Amanda Williams

Woodstock picked and dunked its new Mock Mayor for the coming year.

And following in the footsteps of our American cousins – who this year elected their first African American president – the town has selected Stan Angol to take the unofficial office and go down in history as the town’s first black Mock Mayor.

The annual ceremony to elect a Mock Mayor has a history going back to 1786.

Re-established in 1986 after a gap of almost 27 years, the Mock Mayor is elected before being dunked into the River Glyme.

Mr Angol, 52, was elected on the strength of a speech he made to a crowd of spectators at the Black Prince pub on Saturday, during which he promised only to ‘be himself’.

Mr Angol, who moved to the town seven years ago, said it felt absolutely wonderful to be picked.

He said: “I am very pleased, I was very emotional when they voted for me. It was a great day, despite the rain.”

Crowds enjoyed traditional Mock Mayor tug-of-war and greasy pole fighting events.

The day is believed to have made more than £1,000 for Woodstock Youth Club, the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance and the Woodstock Football club.

Pamela Mason, who was last year’s Mock Mayor, said although she was sad to say goodbye to the role she was certain it had gone to the right man.

She added: “Stan only moved here fairly recently but since then he has really become part of Woodstock.

“He is also the first ever black Mock Mayor in history, which is quite an achievement and a nice touch.”

After Mr Angol was elected as Mock Mayor crowds took part in a procession around Blenheim Palace and then watched the traditional Mayoral ‘ducking’ in the river.

Michael Davidson, who is a member of the Mock Mayor Committee and held the role himself in 2000, said the day had been a fantastic success.

He said: “Stan was chuffed to bits to be elected, he was almost in tears. He has done a lot for the community here.

“He’s just a really genuine, nice guy.”

Mr Angol said during his time as Mock Mayor he plans to create more things for young people in Woodstock to do.

He added: “I see them around smoking and drinking and God knows what else.

“I would like to set up some sort of workshop for them all to get involved in.”