The Cinque Port Speaker’s Day will be held in Winchelsea on Saturday October 5 starting at 10:30am. The Speakership of the Cinque Ports is a traditional office held for one year in rotation by one of the mayors of the seven Head Ports of the Cinque Ports Confederation. Last year, Hastings had that honour, this year it falls to Winchelsea and its Mayor, John Rodley, and next year it will be Rye’s turn.
The principal part of the ceremony is a procession round the town (weather permitting) followed by a church service. The day will be attended by the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of East Sussex, the Lord Warden, Admiral of the Fleet the Lord Boyce, officials of the Cinque Ports Confederation and Mayoral parties from 13 of the 14 Cinque Ports.
The procession will be led by a band drawn from Sussex Brass and this procession itself will be preceded by the Admiralty Sergeant, carrying the Silver Oar. All officers and civic dignitaries will be fully robed, the Mayor preceded by the Macebearers.
Image Credits: David Page .