A well-known tradition has returned to Cornwall after not being held for two years.
On Saturday September 25, the Penryn Mock Mayor event was re-revived.
From 5pm the hall filled with people dressed in Mock Formal finery, with top hats, cocked hats, tailcoats and cloaks, and two ‘mace’ bearers adorned with a wonderful array of traditional cabbage leaves and cabbage “mace’s”.
The event also had the Raffidy Dumitz band in attendance who had come all the way from Penzance to support with their lively and colourful Cornish music.
The mayor of Penryn had also provided a barrel of beer for everyone attending, which no doubt helped to oil the proceedings.
Initially, around six candidates stood for Mayor with manifestos ranging from bonfires and support for woodland creatures to Dutch style red light areas and bus passes for all.
Patrick Vinnicombe was voted this years Penryn Mock Mayor by means of a ‘clapometer’ and was duly presented with the robe, chain and ‘lovely’ cup.
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The crowd then moved outside where the sacred turf of Mylor was trodden on, the band played and a mysterious creature named “Pen Hood” appeared on a visit from Penzance, with a horses head and flying black ribbons.
The band, with cabbage bearers and the Mock Mayor borne aloft in his chair, then paraded through town.
In good time honoured tradition, three of the local hostelries were visited, starting with the Kings Arms where there was much drinking, eating, singing, dancing and more music, whilst Pen Hood continued to amuse as terrify various inhabitants and passers by.
The band and Mayor then moved on to the Penryn Bowling Club for more eating drinking and music and finally, via some of the narrow and ancient alleyways, down to The Famous Barrel where there was more music and a traditional serpent dance in and out of the pub and the ale was tested by being poured onto a stool and sat on.
The ale was deemed to be not as sticky as tradition claimed it should be, but that didn’t seem to put anyone off drinking it.
This traditional event which is documented as occurring back in the 1800 and probably well beyond, had been revived several years ago but hadn’t happened for two years.
Organisers have praised the weather as well as saying how good it was to see this fun and colourful event happening again.
Organisers have also said how they hope it will now be a regular event again, along with the many other fetes and fairs that happen in Penryn.
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