Inviting the Mayor

If you wish to invite the Mayor to an event, the Mayor's office provides an on-line form and can help with information and guidance.

Due to the constant enquiries received regarding the procedure to be adopted at local functions attended by the Mayor, you are advised that the following procedure is customary in the City of Southampton:-

1. The correct description for the purpose of printed matter is:-

   The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Southampton (Councillor.......)

   Where both the Mayor and Mayoress are to be present:-

   The Right Worshipful The Mayor and Mayoress of Southampton

   (Councillor .... and Mrs/Mr ...........)

2. The correct mode of address is as follows:-

   The Right Worshipful The Mayor of Southampton, Councillor....

   (on introduction or first time of mention)

   thereafter: Mr Mayor (or Madam Mayor)

   When the Mayors of other towns/cities are also present, it is usual to refer to The Mayor of Southampton in the introduction to the speech as "Mr Mayor" or "Madam Mayor" and the other Mayor(s) as "Your Worship(s)".

3. The Mayor should be met immediately upon arrival by a responsible person who should then present the President, Chairman and/or host. The Mayor should be escorted to his/her seat. Similarly, the Mayor should be escorted to his/her car at the end of the event.

   Protocol requires that the Mayor should not be left unattended throughout the engagement, even if accompanied by the Mayoress or escort.

4. Except in the presence of members of the Royal Family or the Lord Lieutenant of the County in his/her official capacity, the Mayor has precedence over all other persons in the city.

5. The Mayor should be seated on the immediate right of the chairperson/principal host at dinners and functions. At meetings, the Mayor should be seated on the immediate right of the Chair, if not chairing the meeting himself/herself.

6. Toasts

   The Mayor should be asked to reply to the principal toast of the evening, if this toast is to "The City of Southampton" or to "The guests" (or similar). This toast should always follow the Loyal Toast.

   If the toast is to an association or organisation, the Mayor should be asked to propose it.

   The Mayor should never be the last speaker on a toast list (unless there is only one toast) and his/her agreement to speak at any function should be obtained BEFORE details of the toasts are put into print.

7. When several Mayors are to be present at a function within the boundaries of Southampton, the arrival of the Mayor of Southampton should be timed later than that of the other Mayors. If you require that the other Mayors are to wear their Chains of Office, permission must be obtained first from the Mayor of Southampton.