Mock Mayor memory

Posted on April 6, 2025April 6, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 2019, Celebration, Ceremony, Fun, Humour, Memory, Mock mayor, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Play, Theatre3 Comments

Today I had the honour of holding the Cerimonial Mace of the borough of Newcastle under Lyme. We were Celebrating the Mock Mayor Ceremony that was held in 2019 to crown a Mock Mayor for the day. Then covid happened so there hasn’t been another event and I’m effectively still the Mayor! My hubby played the Mayor’s wife in one of my dresses…

The marvellous Glenn Martin James who organised the extravaganza is standing next to hubby in this photo by a lady called Amanda. Glenn has done a wonderful drawing of the whole cast at the event and it is now on display at the Guildhall. Hopefully there will be a new ceremony in the future. X

Had a lovely but tiring afternoon. Might post more later!

Newcastle under Lyme

Posted on March 11, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged A few years ago, Acting, Comedy, Fun, Memories, Mock mayor, Newcastle-under-Lyme, TimeLeave a comment

My friend designed this banner for a Mock Mayor ceremony he organised in 2021? To celebrate the ancient tradition of electing a Mock Mayor (like a lord of misrule) for a day. I’m not sure of I’ve remembered the right date. But Covid happened and a new ceremony was postponed.

That means I’m still the Mock Mayor! It makes me laugh. It’s not real or serious but it is a nice thought that I was allowed to play the part! My hubby got to wear a dress and play the lady mayoress, he revelled in it. Fun memories….

Let me go back

Posted on September 23, 2020September 23, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged 2019, Back in time, Celebration, Ceremony, Cross dressing, Fun, Mock mayor, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Parade, Poem, Poetry, Random, Speeches, Woolen wigLeave a comment

Let me go back to 2019

When I played mock mayor

And was wigged in wool hair.

My hubby was wearing

A gown with great bearing

Cross dressed

In his best

In straw hat with beard

While his words were heard

Speaking prattle and tosh

To a crowd all a hush

Paraded the iron market

With oyez oyez, harked

A speech for the day

The people to play

Drink and be glutton

And eat best mutton

Till the end of the day

With nothing to pay.

Mock mayor on that day.

To the world on display…..

Today

Posted on September 21, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Butter Cross, Entertainment, Fun, Guildhall, Humour, Life, Mayor, Mock mayor, Newcastle-under-Lyme, PerformanceLeave a comment

Belly dancers at the Heritage weekend at Newcastle-under-Lyme today. This was after the Mock mayor ceremony which went really well considering I was wearing a large white wig and it has the effect of turning me into some sort of old English sheepdog! I delivered my speech on the steps of Newcastle-under-Lymes’ Butter Cross, which is outside the Guildhall. After we had done the performance we walked around the Lancaster building on the other side of the cross. We had to process and I started saying Good Afternoon in a posh voice to everyone to keep up the character of the Mayor. Returning to the Butter Cross we had photos taken with the real mayor. They might follow if they are not too embarrassing.

Mock Mayor

Posted on September 19, 2019September 19, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Ceremony, Fun, Guildhall, Humour, Life, Mock mayor, Newcastle-under-Lyme, StaffordshireLeave a comment

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In Victorian times Newcastle-under-Lyme was a rotten Borough. The citizens of the town decided to choose their own Mock Mayor and Mayoress. There is a famous painting in the Brampton museum and art gallery depicting the scene. A man stands on the market cross steps with a wooden staff and a horse tail switch. His wife is falling off a donkey. Mace bearers with cabbages on sticks are in his retinue. The town crier and other mock officials officiate.

So me and my hubby were asked to join in and have ended up being chosen to play the mayor and mayoress parts. Then we found out the mayoress was played by a man! So I had to find a dress to fit him. The thing is he suffers badly from anxiety so he took a lot of persuading. The thing in its favour is that he enjoys acting. It takes his mind off the anxiety. It’s because he’s laying a character. It’s hard to explain. If he is just being himself his anxiety is through the roof. But as long as things go OK when he’s acting he’s OK. If I am not there he can’t do things… Anyway that’s just how things are.

The Ceremony recreation is on Saturday. I’m hoping I don’t fall off the steps, fluff my lines, forget where to stand, plus support hubby…… Eek!

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Mock mayor