50 for the future

50 for the future takes a different local object or theme to explore our work as your local council. Join us week by week as we explore how Wycombe district deserves to be proud of our past and fit for the future.

We will be publishing a new object on Facebook and on this website every week.

Visit our 50 for the future Facebook page to join in (links open in a new window).

 

Each object fits within one or more of our three priorities: people, place or pounds. Read the corporate plan.

Week 18: Medieval May Fayre

Proud of our past

• The tradition of Mayor weighing in Wycombe dates back to 1678. This took place in the bar iron warehouse in White Hart Street. The mayor is weighed annually.
• More recently the ceremony has taken place in front of The Falcon which would be watched by the entire Borough Council.
• The Mayor, Aldermen, councillors and officers of the Council would all be weighed and as each weighing took place the Macebearer would shout out the weight adding the words "and some more" if weight had increased over the previous year, or "no more" if they were the same or had lost weight.
• Spectators would jeer if the mayor's weight had increased as it was believed they had grown fat at the expense of the town, or cheered if weight had been lost.
• The ceremony was discontinued but was revived in 1892. In 1999 the tradition of a drummer accompanying the procession to the Guildhall was revived and continues to this day.

Fit for the future

• The weighing of other Council officials has long since stopped but the tradition of weighing the Mayor continues to this day.
• The 2012 ceremony takes place on Saturday 19 May in Frogmoor.
• The Mayor weighing is now part of High Wycombe's Medieval May Fayre. Besides the weighing, the day will be filled with medieval themed entertainment including Morris dancers, musicians and jesters, an Italian Market and history tours as well as the chance to try Bucks Badger, an authentic local dish. The event starts at 10.30am with the weighing ceremony starting at 11.30am.
• The Medieval May Fayre is organised by High Wycombe Town Centre Partnership (HWTCP). For further information call the HWTCP on 01494 452 705 or visit their website below.
• We have provided funding to the Partnership in support of activities.
• The May Fayre is part of the HWTCP's work to promote High Wycombe town centre as a place to visit, shop, relax and do business. The Partnership with the support of council funding is currently developing proposals to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) in High Wycombe town centre. A ballot of businesses in the area takes place in June.
• If approved, businesses in the town centre would pay an additional one per cent levy on their business rates. The BID would be run by an independent company with businesses electing the Board of Directors and would run for an initial five year period. The BID would run projects and services over and above those already delivered by WDC and other partners. More information can be found from the BID website below.
• The work being undertaken by us and the HWTCP to run events in the town centre and to establish a BID helps to deliver our "3P" priority of place. We are committed to working with others to help retain and generate jobs in the district.

You can also find more information on the weighing ceremony on the Mayor's website below.

Read more about our priorities of people, place and pounds in our Corporate Plan.

See our 50 for the future Facebook page for more information. (Link opens in a new window)

More about our corporate plan.

You can view our previous objects from the 50 for the future campaign on our 50 for the future - archived objects page.