Houghton Feast Ox Roasting: The Carvers

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Names of those who've carved the Ox Roast at Houghton Feast more than once

You may expect there to be 44 people who have had the experience of carving the Houghton Feast oxen, but four people have had the rare privilege of doing the honours twice!

John Mawston, 1967, turning the spit

Cllr Elizabeth Porter at the 1975 ox roasting

Cllr George Elliot at the 1984 ox roasting

Cllr Bill Stephenson at the 2004 Houghton Feast ox roasting

Cllr John Mawston

Cllr Elizabeth Porter

Cllr George Elliot

Cllr Bill Stephenson

1967 & 1987 1970 & 1975 1973 & 1984 2004 & 2005

1967 as Chairman of HUDC and in 1987 as Mayor of Sunderland. 1970 as Chairman of HUDC and in 1975 as Mayor of Sunderland. 1973 Chairman of HUDC in 1973 and in 1984 as Mayor of Sunderland. 2004 as Deputy Mayor* of Sunderland and in 2005 as Mayor of Sunderland.

* Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor James B Scott, was meeting a member of the Royal Family at the time.

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Paul Lanagan wishes to place on record his thanks to the following:

With thanks to Joan Lambton; John Mawston; Elizabeth Porter; Bill Stephenson; and Ron Young for their time, help, memories and photographs.

[ YOU ARE HERE: Houghton Heritage > Articles > Houghton Feast > Ox Roast Carvers ]
[ RELATED PAGE: Houghton Heritage > Articles > Houghton Feast > Ox Roasting History ]

PAGE UPDATED: 03/04/2012

Between 1967 and 2011 there have been 44 oxen roasted at Houghton Feast. The ox would be carved by the Chairman of Houghton Urban District Council (HUDC) but the tradition was continued by the Mayor of Sunderland when HUDC merged with Sunderland Borough Council following the reorganisation of local government. You may expect there to be 44 people who have had the experience of carving the Houghton Feast oxen, but four people have had the rare privilege of doing the honours twice! CLLR JOHN MAWSTON 1967 & 1987 1967 as Chairman of HUDC and in 1987 as Mayor of Sunderland. CLLR ELIZABETH PORTER 1970 & 1975 1970 as Chairman of HUDC and in 1975 as Mayor of Sunderland. CLLR GEORGE ELLIOT 1973 & 1984 Chairman of HUDC in 1973. 1984 in his capacity as Mayor of Sunderland. CLLR BILL STEPHENSON 2004 & 2005 2004 as Deputy Mayor of Sunderland (Mayor James B Scott was meeting a member of the Royal Family at the time) and in 2005 as Mayor of Sunderland.


Cllr John Mawston	Cllr Elizabeth Porter	Cllr George Elliot	Cllr Bill Stephenson
1967 & 1987	1970 & 1975	1973 & 1984	2004 & 2005
1967 as Chairman of HUDC and in 1987 as Mayor of Sunderland.	1970 as Chairman of HUDC and in 1975 as Mayor of Sunderland.	1973 Chairman of HUDC in 1973 and in 1984 as Mayor of Sunderland.	2004 as Deputy Mayor* of Sunderland and in 2005 as Mayor of Sunderland.