Roma Gypsy King Election
June 27th, 2011
With a gold crown perched jauntily on his head, Britain’s first-ever elected ‘Gypsy King’ takes a bow. Ladislav Stojka, 53, was crowned after thousands of travellers in the UK’s Roma Gypsy community cast their vote in an historic ballot. Mr Stojka, was chosen from 19 candidates by representatives from 10 cities including Bolton, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford and London.
He was given a traditional crown and ‘old sticks,’ but left by sleek limousine rather than horse and cart to attend a celebration party with friends and family in his home city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
Once Ladislav was officially named the winner, he sat on a throne as Miss Roma 2011, Maria Kalinacoba, 17, of Chatham, Kent placed the crown on his head. His coronation was announced at Peterborough Town Hall where representatives met to cast their block votes from each community during an election which lasted little over an hour.
Around 100 members of the Roma Gypsy community, largely from Czech Republic and Slovakia, attended the inaugural election ceremony.
Pictures published in The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Daily Star and the Daily Mirror.
