Request Mayoral attendance at your event

The Mayoralty looks forward to attending events and supporting communities and organisations in the borough of Basingstoke and Deane.

If you would like to invite the Mayor to a function or event, please complete the online request form below giving as much notice as possible (no later than 10 days before the event).

The information requested is vital to ensure that all the arrangements can be made for the Mayor, or Deputy Mayor in the Mayor's absence to attend your function.

It also provides the Mayor the opportunity to learn more about the event and your organisation prior to attending.

Request Mayoral attendance

Order of precedence

The Local Government Act 1972 says that the Mayor "shall have priority in all places in the borough, except over HM The King, members of the Royal Family and the Lord Lieutenant". Therefore, it is likely that the Mayor will be the most important person at your event. For example, the Mayor has priority over Members of Parliament and other councillors.

Arrival of the Mayor

Usually the Mayor will arrive by car at the time scheduled. As the Mayor may be self-driven, it is very helpful if the organiser of the event could identify in advance a parking space for the Mayor’s car.

Please indicate the arrival point (i.e. main entrance) and supply a map of the venue/local area.

Ideally, the host (the senior person present) or nominated person should meet the Mayor at the entrance to the venue and escort him/her into the function venue.

If, in the event people are seated (although 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/guest’ (when there is a male Mayor) and Consort/guest (when there is a female Mayor). During a function, the Mayor and Mayoress should not be left unescorted.

How to address the Mayor

Written correspondence

When writing: The Worshipful the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane

Starting a letter: Dear Mr Mayor or Dear Madam Mayor

On invitations / programmes: When the Mayor is alone: The Worshipful the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Cllr …………….

When the Mayor is accompanied: Either The Worshipful the Mayor and Mayoress/Consort of Basingstoke and Deane Cllr ………. and ……….

or: The Worshipful the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr ……….. and guest

Addressing the Mayor

• For a male Mayor the form of address is Mr Mayor or (more formally) Your Worship .
  
  
• For a female Mayor the form of address is Madam Mayor or (more formally) Your Worship
  
  
• 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 name.
  
  
• This also applies to the Guest/Consort of a female Mayor.
  
  
• When referring to the Mayor in a speech, the correct form is “The Worshipful the Mayor”, e.g. ‘We are delighted to have the Worshipful The Mayor and ……. 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’.
  
  
• When a formal speech is made by the person presiding over the event he/she begins, Mr Mayor/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 Mayor/Madam Mayor distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen…’.
  
  
• In public, the Mayor should not be called by his/her forename.

At the end of an event

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

Press attendance

The local press are notified of the Mayor’s engagements on the Thursday of the preceding week but this does not mean that they will attend all engagements.

Church services

The Mayor and Mayoress/Consort 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 entrance and at his/her departure.

Visits to school or meetings

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

The Deputy Mayor

When the Deputy Mayor has been asked by the Mayor to represent them at an event, he/she is accorded the same protocol as for the Mayor.

The Deputy Mayor is addressed as Mr/Madam Deputy Mayor or Councillor ……

The Deputy Mayoress is addressed as Madam Deputy Mayoress

Organisers are welcome to telephone the Mayoral Events Coordinator at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to resolve any queries they may have.