Mock Mayor of Penryn/Mayor of Mylor Election 2017

Join the Cornish Culture Association in celebrating the ancient customs of Penryn and electing the town a new Mock Mayor.
A Mock Mayor was an elected "Sham leader" chosen to mock those at the higher levels of society. These Mock Mayors were often named after particularly undesirable parts of town, and often mannerisms and phrases were adopted, which mimicked the current mayor.
Designed to be anarchic with satire and burlesque speeches, this is another element of the tradition of misrule, and very much like a feast of fools. Many of our towns and villages had such elections and characters, many have been lost, but last year saw the first election in Penryn in around 200 years.
Cabbages are a popular theme in this area of Cornwall, traditionally the Mock Mayor would be carried in a sedan chair through the street, with cabbage bearers instead of the traditional mace bearers, as it was the food associated with poverty. They would then proceed from pub to pub, testing the ales, where a leather trousered person would sit in a small puddle of ale on a stool and if their trousers stuck, the ale passed the test. Those in the processions are referred to as "nutters" as the Penryn Mock Mayor elections always co-incided with hazelnut picking season.
Traditionally, there would be a fire, and fireworks let off in the streets, as well as a band playing music, followed by much merry making.
This year, Dr Theobald of the Splendid League of Physicians, hosts the election, featuring such esteemed candidates as:
John Dudding of Falmouth,
Tony the Sheep Worrier of Old Hill, Falmouth,
Prof. Ben Dover,
Mickey Shagtown, Poet Laureate of Penryn,
Lally Macbeth, the Lady in Red,
Arthur Spear
For more information on these customs, and a vast amount of other Cornish traditions, please visit, www.cornishculture.com
With music from The Raffidy Dumitz Band
Filmed by Paul Betowski
Edited by Tamsyn Swingler