Sussex Day is being celebrated at Rye Town Hall on Monday, June 16. Organised by town crier Paul Goring, there’s a ceremony outside the Buttermarket at 1pm.
The day is chosen each year to honour the county of Sussex in England and marks the feast day of St Richard of Chichester, the patron saint of Sussex. The day was officially recognised in 2007.
The half hour event begins with Ryebellion Drummers drumming at 12.45pm and will be followed by speeches, poems and music.
The town crier will proclaim the Sussex Charter and Mayor Andy Stuart will lead three cheers for the people and county of Sussex.
Famous local poems will be read, including: The South County by Hilaire Belloc, Sussex by Rudyard Kipling, and Sussex Won’t Be Druv by W Victor Cooke.
Revd Paul White will give the prayer of St Richard of Chichester and the event will end with communal singing of Sussex By The Sea, led by Rebekah Gilbert.
The song, regarded as the unofficial anthem for the county was written in 1907. It has five verses and includes the following chorus and refrain.
For we’re the men from Sussex, Sussex by the Sea.
We plough and sow and reap and mow,
And useful men are we;
And when you go to Sussex, whoever you may be,
You may tell them all that we stand or fall
For Sussex by the Sea!
Oh Sussex, Sussex by the Sea!
Good old Sussex by the Sea! You may tell them all we stand or fall,
For Sussex by the Sea.
Image Credits: Ktbruce .