Boatbuilder and former Olympic sailor Robert White has been elected as the Deputy of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea.

He was confirmed in the 500-year-old role at the traditional Choosing Day ceremony, which takes place on the first Monday in December and was this year moved to St James’ church for the first time while restoration work takes place at All Saints’.

Mr White, who runs boatbuilding business White Formula UK on the town’s Shipyard Estate, takes over from Mark Wilby, who told the assembled Freemen of the town that he had had a very successful year, raising thousands of pounds for various charities.

“It’s been an amazing honour to have been your Deputy,” said Mr Wilby.

Seconding Mr White for the year-long post, Alan Goggin said that it was “entirely appropriate” that he should become Deputy given his links with the sea. He had won world, European and national sailing championships, and represented the country at three Olympic games.

His father, Reg, won a gold medal at the 1976 Olympics and his grandfather, Bert, had been a fisherman and Deputy in the late 1950s. Oyster layings in Brightlingsea Creek which were worked by his grandfather supplied oysters for the town’s first oyster feast earlier in the year. “The role is very close to my heart,” said Mr White.

Twenty-five new Freemen – who must have lived in the town for a year and a day – were ‘recognised’. Those “who had the good sense to have married a Brightlingsea girl” are given their freedom without payment. “Foreigners” are fined eleven old pennies for the privilege.

Deputy’s Assistant Peter Beadles was given the Deputy’s Medal of Merit by Mr Wilby in recognition of his work with local organisations, charities, and eductational trusts. “A helpful, generous and likeable gentleman,” said Mr Wilby.

Following the service, which was also attended by the Mayor of Sandwich, Jeff Franklin, Brightlingsea Mayor Mick Barry and other dignitaries, the Choosing Day lunch was held at Brightlingsea Community Centre.

The Cinque Ports were originally the most important channel ports, contracted to provide ships and men “for the service of the monarch”. Brightlingsea is a limb of the port of Sandwich and the only one not in Kent or Sussex. The Deputy’s role – and that of the Cinque Ports – is now purely ceremonial.

For more information about the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea, click here.