New Romney broke into a splendour of colour for the annual Speaker’s Day parade.

Yesterday's procession, to mark the historic office of Speaker of the Cinque Ports, went from the Marsh Academy to St Nicholas Church for a service and concert.

New Romney Mayor Roger Joynes, the present Speaker, said: “It was a lovely day and thankfully it didn’t rain until after the parade when we were indoors.

“I would like to thank everybody who took part in the procession and the members of the public who came to join the event.”

The parade was headed by Admiral the Lord Boyce, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and with him were the Lord Lieutenant of Kent Viscount De L’Isle and the Band of the TS Veteran Sea Cadet Corps from New Romney.

They were followed by officers of the Cinque Ports Confederation and the Cinque Ports Mayors also including Cllr Alan Smith from Hythe . Cllr Jennifer Crickmore-Porter from Tenterden, Cllr Alan North from Folkestone.

A total of 80 people took part in the parade, which also included the Bishop of Dover the Rt Rev Trevor Wilmott , the High Sheriffs of Kent and East Sussex, Hugo Fenwick and Christopher Gebbie.

The 1st New Romney Beavers, Cubs and Scouts were also in the procession.

The office of Speaker goes back to the 12th century and it is rotated between the five head ports of New Romney, Hythe, Hastings, Dover and Sandwich and the two Antient Towns of Rye and Winchelsea.

The new Speaker takes over every May. Last year it was the Mayor of Rye and in 2015 it will be the Mayor of Hythe.

Next Year’s parade with therefore be in Hythe, on October 3.

For more pictures of the procession see next Thursday's Romney Marsh edition of the Kentish Express.