Monday, March 30, 2009

Weigh the Mayor !

The town of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire weighs its mayors at the start and end of each term.

Any weight gain is deemed to have been made at taxpayers' expense, and it's met with jeers and the occasional tomato.

No one knows how the custom began, but it dates at least from the time of Edward I and apparently was once widespread. Wycombe is the only town in England where it survives.

From Futility Closet:

1 comment:

The Dealer said...

Maybe we should do this with the national debt (encouraging more tomatoes.)

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