Winchelsea hosts Speaker’s Day celebrations for the Cinque Ports on Saturday 26 September 2026
On the morning of Saturday 26th, the Mayor of Winchelsea, David Page, will welcome fellow mayors of the Cinque Ports to the town for Speaker’s Day.
The mayors of Hastings, Winchelsea, Rye, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich succeed each other in turn to hold the ceremonial office of Speaker of the Cinque Ports. This year, David is Speaker – the latest in a continuous line going back to the mid-fourteenth century.
The celebrations start with a parade through the town, led by a band. The photo shows mayors, town clerks and mace bearers assembled on the last occasion Winchelsea held the Speakership in 2019.
There will be a civic service at St Thomas’s where the Bishop of Dover, the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin will give the address, and then a formal lunch.
The Lord Warden, Sir George Zambellas, will take a leading part in the event, and the Lord-Lieutenant, High Sheriff and Admiralty Judge will be among the distinguished guests.
The procession will pass the New Inn and the Court Hall at about 11.15. If you can come out to cheer us on, we’d be delighted!
