Since 1678, the people of High Wycombe have subjected their civic leaders to a unique trial. The annual weighing-in ceremony at the Guildhall remains one of Britain's most unusual traditions of public accountability.
Origins in a Drunken Misdemeanour
The tradition began in 1678 following the behaviour of Mayor Henry Shepard, who was "reported as being drunk and misbehaving himself." In response, local authorities decreed that the great bell should be rung out in testimony of such misdemeanours. What started as a specific punishment evolved into an annual civic ritual that has continued for more than three centuries.
The ceremony originally took place at the bar Iron Warehouse in White Hart Street before moving to its current location. The BBC noted in 1958 that the custom "dates back to medieval times," suggesting possible origins that predate the documented 1678 incident.
The Ceremony Unfolds
The weighing takes place at the beginning and end of each mayoral year, connected to the election of a new mayor. The event begins at the Mayor's Parlour in Victoria Road, followed by a colourful procession to the Guildhall on the High Street.
The mayor and corporation members are weighed in full public view using the same apparatus employed since the 19th century. The macebearer, dressed in traditional costume, performs the weighing and rings a bell to announce the result.
The symbolism is straightforward: if the mayor has gained weight during their term, they are judged to have been "indulging excessively at the ratepayers' expense." The crowd's reaction depends on the outcome.
"And No More" or "And Some More"
The town crier delivers one of two pronouncements. If the mayor has not gained weight, the macebearer calls out "And no more!" and the crowd cheers. If weight has been gained, the call is "And some more!" accompanied by jeers and boos from the assembled townspeople.
Notably, the actual weight is never declared; only whether the person has gained or lost is announced. Historically, those who gained weight faced more than vocal disapproval; rotten fruit and tomatoes were thrown at offending mayors.
The Guildhall Setting
The ceremony takes place at High Wycombe Guildhall, a Grade I listed building constructed in 1757 to a design by Henry Keene. The neo-classical structure continues to serve its original ceremonial purpose nearly 250 years after its completion.
The Guildhall replaced earlier meeting places and has witnessed countless weighings, making it one of the few buildings in Britain specifically associated with this form of civic theatre.
Historical Records
The weighing has produced some memorable moments and notable weights throughout the decades. In 1958, Councillor Lesley Brain weighed in at 13 stone 2 pounds. The same year, Councillor R. A. Wood weighed 20 stone and reportedly slid off the scales, earning a loud "Boo!" from the crowd. Wood later entered the record books at 20 stone 5 pounds.
The heaviest recorded mayor was Councillor Nigel Vickery, who weighed 21 stone at the end of his term in 2002.
A Tradition Revived
In 1999, incoming mayor Councillor Peter Cartwright revitalised the ceremonial aspects of the event. He reintroduced the tradition of a drummer drumming out the old mayor during the procession, a practice that had ceased with the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835. The revived "tolling out" element added further historical colour to an already distinctive ceremony.
Democratic Accountability
The weighing represents more than historical curiosity. It embodies a tangible form of accountability between elected officials and the public they serve. The mayor holds office at the pleasure of the townspeople, and this annual weighing provides a physical manifestation of that relationship.
What began as punishment for one mayor's misbehaviour has become a cherished local tradition that continues to draw crowds to the Guildhall steps. In an era of remote governance and digital engagement, the weighing-in ceremony offers a rare moment of direct civic participation: the public, gathered in the High Street, literally weighing the performance of their representatives.
