Warwickshire's Final Ox Roast?

The Ox Roast of 1991. Roasters were Graham Marshall, David Alsop and Rowan Parker | Image supplied by Rowan Parker
The Ox Roast of 1991. Roasters were Graham Marshall, David Alsop and Rowan Parker
Image supplied by Rowan Parker

A long-standing tradition of roasting an ox for the annual Mop Day was revived in Southam in 1975 by Mayor Councillor Rowan Parker with support from the Southam Lions. The popular and well-attended event continued until 1991, when due to the epidemic of BSE in cows, (popularly known as ‘mad cow disease‘), the roast could no longer take place.

The last feast?

Former Councillor Parker has kindly provided photographs from that final roast, which may have been the last such Mop Day feast to take place in Warwickshire. If anyone knows of a later one, let us know in the comments.