What a glorious day it was and certainly one I will remember for the rest of my life.
I met up with my fellow Barons of the Cinque Ports on Friday evening when we enjoyed dinner together and the following morning, after a light breakfast organised by the speaker and mayor of Hythe, Jim Martin, we set off by coach at 6:30am from our hotel in Woolwich. Despite warnings received of possible severe traffic congestion, our journey to Lambeth Bridge went very smoothly and we were through the security check point in Victoria Tower Gardens before 8am.
After that our day really began! Over 2,000 guests assembled and all were seated by 9am to witness and enjoy a magnificent programme of religious and secular music before the coronation ceremony. This was performed by the coronation orchestra, the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry, the Fanfare Trumpeters of the RAF, the Coronation Brass Ensemble and the assistant organist of Westminster Abbey. The music accompanied the Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, the Ascension Choir, and the Byzantine Chant Ensemble, all enhanced by a number of outstanding instrumental and vocal soloists. The music ranged from Baroque via the essential Crown Imperial by William Walton to recently composed pieces.
The atmosphere was electric when the processions into the abbey began, first of the faith leaders followed by that of the commonwealth realms and culminating with the procession of the king and queen and their entourage of over 140 attendants. The coronation ceremony lasted for two hours and is permanently etched on my mind. I sat close to the pulpit from which Rishi Sunak delivered his reading and to Katy Perry who performed at the evening concert in Windsor. As I said during my interview with BBC Radio Sussex after the event, one thing the English can excel at is the staging of unforgettable national events which are the envy of the world. In my opinion this was clearly proved on 6 May 2023.
The title, Baron of the Cinque Ports and the granting of honours at court were again conferred on the representatives, usually the mayors, of the Cinque Ports towns attending coronations. This has been the case with Barons of the Cinque Ports attending every coronation since that of Richard I in 1189. All 14 of us representing the original five ports, the two ancient towns (Winchelsea and Rye) and the seven limbs felt honoured, but, in view of the 834 year old precedent, not surprised to be recognised in this way. After the ceremony, the mayor of Hastings and I were approached by an officer of the College of Arms, the bluemantle persuivant who enthusiastically greeted us as Barons of the Cinque Ports. What a lovely way in which to receive confirmation of our honorary title, the icing on the cake, to a traditionalist such as me. A truly unforgettable day.
Image Credits: James Bacon , Sandra Merrifield , Rebekah Gilbert , Jim Martin , David Merrifield , Guest at the Coronation .