THIS is Mayor R P Clarke being weighed in during a special ceremony on May 19,1953.

The weighing in of new mayors is unique to High Wycombe and is thought to date back to medieval times.

According to Wycombe District Council, it is not known how the ceremony began but there is a direct report from 1678 of a change in procedure arising from the misconduct of a certain dignitary who became very drunk and "offered affronts to several gentlemen".

The residents of High Wycombe were so disgusted by this behaviour that he was stripped of his title and "in token thereof it was ordered that the great bell should be rung out in testimony of his misdemeanours".

From then on, the "old" mayor was tolled out on the morning of the election of his successor and, on the parade to the church, the procession was proceeded by a drummer who continued to drum the old mayor out.

This became a custom and new mayors were drummed around the market place and the bells would toll, but the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835 put a stop to that tradition.

Now when mayors are weighed in to office their weight is shouted out by the macebearer.

The mayor is also weighed out of office and if they have gained weight they are jeered by the crowd and it is traditionally believed they have got fatter at the expense of the townspeople.