Mayor

[LittleWonder]

How do you say it? It seems everyone says meh?!

[marina]

Mare

[nickytwotimes]

I roll my (Scottish) 'r's at every opportunity.

[LittleWonder]

so nicky - is that marrre or may-orr?

[AMumInScotland]

I'm another Scot with rolling r's - I'd say may-errr

[MrsBadger]

Mare

[youknownothingofthecrunch]

May-err

[LittleWonder]

ah, now why is that? Are you posh/common/regional?

[Swedes]

mare

I was born in London, within the sound of the Bow Bells (Cheapside) so I probably should say meeehhhHHHHHHR.

[MrsBadger]

I am posh and southern

the OED says 'mare' too

[Swedes]

I've just seen a BBC website which incorrectly claims that you are a true cockney if you are born within earshot of the church bells at Bow, East London. That's wrong. It should be born within earshot of St Mary Le Bow (bells) on Cheapside, EC2 (which is very central London - not Eastenders' country!). Hence this rhyme:

'Clarke of the Bow belle with the Yellow lockes,
For thy late ringing thy head shall have knockes,
Children of Cheape, hold you all still,
For you shall have the Bow bell rung as you will.'

[nickytwotimes]

Sorry, buggered off back to RL for a bit there.
I say it in the same way as AmuminScotland - may-err

[LittleWonder]

They have been saying may-err on Radio 4 all day, so I do feel relieved.