IT is a tradition dating back centuries.

Last night almost 300 people packed out a ceremony at Winchester’s Guildhall to see Councillor Dominic Hiscock become the city’s 810th mayor.

During the mayoralty, which is the second oldest in England after London, Cllr Hiscock officially took over the chains of office from Cllr Michael Read.

Cllr Hiscock, ward councillor for St Bartholomew for the past ten years, said: "I am looking forward to using my time as mayor to visit the people who live and work in our District. It is a beautiful part of England. However, it is the people in our communities that make it such a fantastic place to live."

Cllr Hiscock’s wife Caroline, a Consultant Radiologist in Southampton, will serve at the Mayoress.

The couple moved to Winchester 27-years ago. During the mayor making ceremony guests heard how Cllr Hiscock was a Morris dancer and that he was a regular at the King Alfred pub.

The family share a passion for rugby and football, and are active members of Winchester Rugby Club.

Cllr Hiscock has previously held the City Council’s Portfolio for Housing and will be supporting the Trinity Centre for the homeless and Emmaus Hampshire as his chosen charities during his term as mayor.

He has also sat as a governor for St. Bede’s Primary School for eleven years; the last five years as Chairman.

Cllr Hiscock is also a trustee of The English Project, which celebrates and encourages the use of the English Language as a world wide tongue.

The new deputy mayor is Cllr Richard Izard.