Hosting the Mayor

LOOKING AFTER THE MAYOR

The number of questions we receive concerning how to look after the Mayor at an event suggest that a few simple guidelines might be helpful for the Mayor's hosts or those in the Mayor's company.  Set out below are some brief guidelines we would expect anyone / organisation hosting our Mayor to abide by.

The elected Mayor of the Borough is the First Citizen and ex-officio representative within the Borough of the Sovereign. At any function to which the Mayor is invited, and where there is no member of the Royal Family present the Mayor takes precedence over all other guests.

ARRIVAL OF THE MAYOR

Usually the Mayor will arrive by the Mayoral Car and at the time scheduled. The host (the senior person present) or nominated person must meet the Mayor at the entrance to the venue and escort him / her into the function venue. If the function venue is on a public highway, the host must ensure that adequate parking or a drop off point is provided for the Mayoral Car.

If people are seated (though this does not necessarily apply to a theatre or concert audience),

it is usual for the host to arrange for the Mayor to be announced upon entering the venue, so that those present may stand to acknowledge the status of the Mayoralty. 'Ladies and Gentlemen, pray be upstanding to receive The Worshipful The Mayor and Mayoress/Consort (when there is a male Mayor) and Consort (when there is a female Mayor).

During a function,the Mayor and Mayoress are not to be left unescorted. 

HOW TO ADDRESS THE MAYOR

In speaking directly to the Mayor - when addressing a male Mayor the mode of address is Mr Mayor.

When there is a male Mayor and the Mayoress accompanies him, she is addressed as Madam Mayoress.

When there is no Mayoress present and a guest accompanies the Mayor, then the guest is addressed by title and name only e.g. 'Mr Brown' or 'Mrs Smith'. This also applies to the Guest/Consort of a female Mayor. Speaking about or referring to the Mayor the usual form is "The Worshipful the Mayor", e.g. 'We are delighted to have the Worshipful The Mayor with us this evening'. Should the Mayor be mentioned more than once in a speech then, after the first time 'The Worshipful the Mayor' may be shortened to 'The Mayor'. In public the Mayor is never called by his/her forename. When a formal speech is made by the person presiding over the event he/she begins, 'Mr / Madam Mayor, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen...'. If a speech is made by a person other than the person presiding, the form should be 'Mr President/Chairman (or Madam President/Chairman), Mr / Madam Mayor, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen...'.

TABLE SEATING

Regardless of whether or not there is a special guest speaker (unless a member of the Royal Family is present) the Mayor is seated on the immediate right hand of the host or chairman. The second most important guest should then be seated to the left of the host. If a Member of the Royal Family is present he/she would be seated on the immediate right of the Host and the Mayor on the immediate left.

LOOKING AFTER THE MAYOR

(These guidance notes also apply to the Deputy Mayor and Alderman)

TOASTS AND SPEECHES

If you wish the Mayor to propose or respond to a Toast, or make a speech, prior notice should be given. Please include relevant details of the subject matter with the enclosed form.

AT THE END OF AN EVENT

It is usual for the Mayor to be escorted out before the other guests depart.

CHURCH SERVICES

The Mayor and Mayoress should be met at the entrance to the Church and conducted, usually, to the front right hand pew. (At funeral services, it is normal for family mourners to occupy the front right hand pew and for the Mayoral party to take the left). It is courteous for the congregation to rise at the Mayor's entry and at his/her departure.

VISITS TO SCHOOLS OR MEETINGS

Where appropriate, the assembly should rise upon the Mayor's entrance and again on his/her departure. 

MAYORAL CAR

See above (ARRIVAL). Please indicate arrival point (i.e. main entrance) and supply map of

venue/local area.