Independent State of Cuckfield
From Lomwiki, the micronation encyclopaedia
| Independent State of Cuckfield | |
 Insignia | |
| Motto: ? Musical Anthem: ?, by ? | |
| |
| Location: | Cuckfield, West Sussex, United Kingdom |
| Co-ordinates: | 51°00'38.304"N 0°08'26.052"W |
| Area: | 4.32 km2 (approx) |
| Capital: | Cuckfield |
| Membership: | 3266 (2001) |
| Date of foundation: | ? 1966 |
| Leadership: | Mayor Kenneth Gregory (2009-10) |
| Organisational structure: | Republic |
| Language: | English |
| Currency: | Cuckoo |
The Independent State of Cuckfield is a micronation coterminous with the village of Cuckfield, in West Sussex, England.
Inspired by Rhodesia's 1965 unilateral declaration of independence, it was created in 1966 by a group of local residents under the leadership of Peter Bowring.
At the time Bowring was chairman of the Cuckfield Donkey Racing Club, a charitable fundraising group founded in 1951 whose annual Donkey Race day drew crowds of up to ten thousand people, the profits from which were distributed to local nursing homes, the disabled, elderly local residents in financial hardship and other worthy community causes.
Planning for the 1966 race day was thrown into turmoil when Urban Council, the local municipal authority, compulsorily acquired the traditional venue - a group of fields at Mill Hill Farm - and refused the organising committee permission to make further use of them.
In response, Bowring suggested that the residents of Cuckfield show their annoyance by declaring tongue-in-cheek independence from Urban, and electing their own mayor - the candidates being chosen from among the "publicans and sinners of the community", and the winner being the candidate prepared to pay the highest price for the honour at a public auction.
Bowring's suggestion was implemented, and in due course the publican of a local establishment - the White Hart, one Joseph Mitchell, was elected as the inaugural Mayor of the Independent State of Cuckfield - the process being described as "the most unfair election in the world". So successful was the idea that it supplanted the Donkey races as the community's main annual charity fundraising event, and continues to the present.
In addition to the "election", funds are raised via the sale of Cuckfield passports, stamps, cufflinks and ties. Banknotes denominated in "Cuckoos" have also been produced, and these are accepted by local commercial establishments.
References
External Links
- Independent State of Cuckfield at Village life online.
Gallery
 Stamp-like label issued by Cuckfield. |
