The sun shone and the crowds turned out in force for the 2023 Blessing and Relcaiming of the Waters in Brightlingsea on Sunday (June 4).
The event establishes Brightlingsea’s rights to the waters off the town after – many years ago – Colchester tried to claim the creek. Brightlingsea’s oystermen, supported by the Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports and Lords of Brightlingsea manor, ensured that the creek remained as the only independent fishery off the Colne.
After a service in St James’ Church, Rob White, the Deputy of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightingsea, led a procession of mayors from Essex and the Cinque Ports in Kent, dignitaries, clergy and musicians to the Hard.
The ceremony was announced by Droit-gatherer Roger Tabor, with speeches by the Deputy, town mayor Ric Morgan, Deputy Lieutenant of Essex Charles Anderson, and Harbour Commissioners’ chairman Andrew Scott.
The service was taken by Brightlingsea vicar the Rev Caroline Beckett and the bishop of Colchester, Roger Morris, with hymns led by shanty singers The Motley Crew. A special guest was former Brightlingsea resident John Osborn, who partnered the Deputy’s father, Reg White to a gold medal in the Tornado catamaran class in the 1976 Olympics.
Following the service, the Deputy and his guests boarded traditional sailing smacks – including the sail training vessel Pioneer – to bless the waters and assembled boats. As the smacks left the jetty they did so to cheers, horns and noise – the traditional ‘din’.
(Pictures in our gallery by Liz Artindale and Stephen Johnson)
