Making the Mayor
Oxford has a new Mayor, Chewe Munkonge – the first black Lord Mayor of Oxford. Our photographer Roger Close attended last night's mayor making ceremony.
Councillors and members of the public gather in the Town Hall to mark the occasion. The Lord Mayor chairs City Council meetings.
The outgoing Lord Mayor gives a farewell speech.
After being proposed, the Lord Mayor is elected by a show of hands
In the Mayor's parlour, the new Lord Mayor is robed, and the official mayoral chain handed over
Councillor Chewe Munkonge grew up in Zambia. He moved to the UK in 2003 and then to Oxford, to be closer to his wife, in 2008.
He holds an MBA from Oxford Brookes University, graduating in 2012, and works as a Central Admin Officer for an Oxford-based charity. He was first elected to Oxford City Council in 2014 and represents Quarry and Risinghurst ward. He currently serves as Cabinet Member for a Healthy, Fairer Oxford, and as the Council’s Small Business Champion. Between 2019 and 2025, he was also a Governor at The Swan School in Oxford.
Outside of his civic duties, Councillor Munkonge plays football – he is a keen Oxford United fan – and enjoys movies and music. He is also a devoted family man, with three children.
The newly elected Lord Mayor gives a speech to the assembled crowd
The Lord Mayor generally carries out more than 300 engagements each year. These cover a wide range, from Royal visits and leading Oxford’s annual Remembrance Sunday service, to small community group meetings and charity events.
The Lord Mayor also raises money for charity during their year-long term of office. Councillor Munkonge has chosen Sobell House and St Theresa to be his Lord Mayor’s charities for 2026/27.
The first recorded Mayor of Oxford was Laurence Kepeharme, 1205-1209. Mayors’ names stretch in an unbroken line until 1962, when the dignity of the Lord Mayor was granted to Oxford by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Ahead of the ceremony, Cllr Munkonge commented:
“I am deeply humbled and truly honoured to be chosen as the next Lord Mayor of Oxford. Having had the privilege of representing the people of Quarry and Risinghurst for the past 11 years, this moment carries great personal and civic significance.
“Oxford is a city of remarkable history, diversity and opportunity, and I am proud to serve a community that continues to inspire and lead. As the first Black Lord Mayor of our city, I stand on the shoulders of those who paved the way, and I hope to be a source of inspiration for future generations.
“I look forward to championing our communities, supporting local charities, and representing Oxford with dedication, integrity and pride throughout the coming year.”
Outgoing Deputy Mayor Mike Rowley hands over to the new Deputy Mayor Louise Upton.
Aside from the Lord Mayor and Deputy Mayor, there’s one more ceremonial role appointed at the mayor-making – the Sheriff of Oxford. Not to be confused with the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, the city Sheriff was historically responsible for law and order in Oxford.
That responsibility has, of course, fallen by the wayside. But one important role remains for the Sheriff: being the conservator of Port Meadow. Every year, the Sheriff leads a team of volunteers who gather at sunrise for a cattle drive. The aim – which isn’t always achieved smoothly – is to impound the cattle (and horses) grazing on Oxford’s common land, so they can be counted and checked. The date is kept secret so that anyone illegally keeping cows on Port Meadow will be taken by surprise. This year’s Sheriff is Cllr Linda Smith.
A new Sheriff is proposed; Linda Smith