Mayor Making Across Oxfordshire

Over the past couple of days, the Oxfordshire Shrievalty has had the great privilege of attending four Mayor Making ceremonies across the county – each one a unique celebration of civic service, community spirit, and local leadership.

But what exactly is a Mayor Making?

At its heart, a Mayor Making is the formal annual meeting of a town or city council during which a new Mayor is elected and takes office. Often steeped in local tradition, it’s both a ceremonial and administrative moment – an opportunity to reflect on the past year and to look ahead to the future. These events typically include thanks to the outgoing Mayor, a summary of the work and charitable focus of their year, and the swearing-in of the incoming Mayor, who then outlines their intentions and chosen causes for the year to come.

On Monday, I was honoured to attend the Bicester Mayor Making, accompanied by Mark (as ever) and Kayla, one of our excellent High Sheriff’s Cadets representing the Police Cadets. It was a joyful and community-driven occasion, with clear affection shown for the outgoing Mayor and great excitement for the year ahead.

At the same time, the Shrievalty was well represented elsewhere – David, our ever-dedicated Under Sheriff, attended the ceremony in Henley, while Anne, my thoughtful and warm-hearted Chaplain, took part in Abingdon’s event.

Today, I made my way to Banbury, this time joined by Mark and Sofia – another outstanding High Sheriff’s Cadet, this time from St John Ambulance. Banbury’s ceremony was warm, inclusive, and steeped in local pride, echoing many of the themes we’d seen elsewhere while offering its own distinct character.

What struck me most across all four events was their shared sense of continuity and civic pride. Each celebration marked the end of one mayoral year and the hopeful beginning of another. Each recognised the hard work and dedication of the outgoing Mayor and their chosen charities. And each welcomed the incoming Mayor with a clear message: our towns value leadership, community, and service.

It was a true pleasure to be part of these moments – and a reminder of the strength of local democracy, the importance of tradition, and the tireless work of those who serve our communities with such devotion.