The Mayor of the The Randwick Wap, Randwick, Gloucestershire, UK
The Randwick Wap is a colourful procession of costumed villagers led by the Mop Man who wields a wet mop to clear crowds. The procession travels from the War Memorial to the Mayor’s Pool. The Mayor and Queen are carried shoulder high and escorted by an entourage of flag boys, ladies in waiting, cheese bearers, princesses, a sword bearer and a flag man. However, this dubious honour culminates in a dunking in the pond for the Mayor who is then washed with spring water. The event finishes with cheese rolling at the Well Leaze. After the procession there are bands, morris dancing, stalls and refreshments. It is claimed that the Randwick Wap originated 700 years ago when the church was built. The story goes that one of the workmen so enjoyed a liquid supper that his colleagues refreshed him with a visit to the pool. More serious versions link it to priestcraft; or to a Saxon word ‘Wappenshaw’, when the men gathered to show they were ready for battle.
Size: 3407px × 5110px
Location: Randwick, Gloucestershire, UK
Photo credit: © Nick Turner / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ancient, anglosaxon, boys, cheese, cheeserolling, cotswold, cotswolds, custom, customs, duckpond, dunked, england, english, festival, gb, gloucestershire, mayor, medieval, mop, pond, randwick, rolling, rural, soaked, soaking, spring, springtime, tradition, traditional, uk, wap, wet
