Rye to host bigCinque Port day

Rye is the current holder of the historic Speakership this year and the celebrations will include a procession of Mayors and dignitaries in full regalia.

At 10.15am the Lord Warden of the Confederation the Admiral the Lord Boyce, the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, the Bishop of Dover, the High Sheriff of East Sussex, Mayors, Mace Bearers, Town Clerks, the Admiralty Judge and the Deputy Constable of Dover Castle will process from the Town Hall in full ceremonial dress around the town, led by the Rye College Bloco band, before attending a special Service at St Mary’s Church. Members of the public are welcome to attend the Service at 11am.

Other invited guests include the Chairmen of Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council. They will be joined by the previous three Rye Speakers, Paul Osborne, Roger Breeds,L Geraldine Bromley and John Ciccone, who instigated the first Speaker’s Day in 1992.

The 14 Confederation Members comprise the five Head Ports – Hastings, Sandwich, Dover, New Romney and Hythe – together with the two Antient Towns of Rye and Winchelsea, and seven Corporate ‘Limbs’: Deal, Ramsgate, Folkestone, Faversham, Margate, Lydd and Tenterden.

Long before England raised its own Royal Navy, these ports were granted royal privileges for defending the country and King from frequent attacks. For further information on the Confederation visit www.cinqueports.net.