Abingdon is one of the few remaining towns to still have a mock mayor making ceremony and elects a mayor for Ock Street as well as the town’s mayor.

In 2019 the Mayor of Ock Street was once again Harry Knight, after he won by just a single vote in one of the tightest elections to the light-hearted post in centuries.

The annual tradition sees the town's street elect one of Britain's last remaining mock mayors, during a day of dancing, frivolities and drinking.

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Mr Knight, who had been mayor in four of the previous five years, said at the time: "It's a great honour to be be doing this for the people of Ock Street, who vote.

Oxford Mail:

"It's a privilege to do it but my friend Roger (Cox - the defeated candidate) was great - it's a friendly rivalry."

The all-day event saw a 'marathon' of dancing from the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers and visits to a host of local pubs, before the counting took place near the Brewery Tap pub.

Traditionally dressed dancers, sporting floral outfits and elaborate head gear, joined local residents to listen to the results at around 4.30pm.

Oxford Mail:

An Abingdon resident for 45 years, the mayor, 68, added: "Its one of the traditions of this town. Many villages and towns used to have mock mayor but nothing on this scale."

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Upon winning the contest, Mr Knight was paraded through the streets on a ceremonial chair, with the 'Horns of Ock Street' - the symbol of a neighbourhood grudge in which Abingdon's 'Vineyard boys' were beaten by their Ock Street rivals.

Oxford Mail:

Woodstock also has a mock mayor tradition.