The new Deputy of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea was sworn in at the traditional Choosing Day ceremony on December 1.

Tony Linton accepted the role for the next year in front of the Freemen of the town at the ceremony in All Saints’ Church. He take over from Iain Werngren.

Married to Julie, and with three children – Connie, Jack and Will – Mr Linton will be known by many in the town through his work as a self-employed electrican.

Born in Buckhurst Hill, he became a Freeman in 1998 and went on to become chairman of the Gild of Freemen twice and an Assistant to the Deputy for the last six years. Among other voluntary roles, he’s helped with local Cubs and Beavers.

The Deputy’s role is now purely ceremonial and involves much charitable work, but would once have seen him responsible for tax collecting, keeping the peace and jailing offenders in the town.

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

Choosing Day also saw new Freemen – who must have lived in the town for a year and a day – ‘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.

To find out more about the history of the Liberty, click here.