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Civic functions
Every year, there are civic functions
that the Mayor attends throughout Medway. These include:
Annual Council
The main purpose of Annual Council is for the council to vote
for and ratify the new Mayor. The preceding Mayor will start the
meeting. The Mayor Elect is officially nominated and seconded and
then the vote takes place. There follows a short pause while the
office of Mayor is transferred over (including a change of robes
and chains) and then the Annual Council continues with speeches
from both the outgoing and incoming Mayor and any other
business.
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Mayor's Dedication
Held at Rochester Cathedral in the beginning of June, this is a
thanksgiving service on behalf of the councillors and it also
welcomes the new Mayor to the cathedral. Members of public are
welcome to join the service and it is a spectacle to see the Mayor,
cadets and councillors processing through the streets of Rochester
from the Guildhall to the cathedral and then, after the service, to
the Corn Exchange.
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Admiral's Cruise
Held the same weekend as the Admiral's Court, the Admiral's
Cruise enables the Mayor to beat the bounds of the River
Medway.
Throughout its history, Rochester Cruising Club has maintained
close links with the local community and council and in the past
many members of the club were also members of the council. It was
in 1960 that the then Mayor of Rochester and Admiral of the River,
Councillor Jack Phillips, sought the assistance of Alderman Maurice
Cole, a club member, in reinstating the old custom of the beating
of the Admiral’s bounds, from the Hawkwood Stone to Sheerness.
This event was to forge a close relationship between the council
and the club, which has stood the test of time to the present
day.
On the Saturday, members of Rochester Oyster and Floating
Fisheries (ROFF) host the Mayor and members of the court and sail
up-river as far as Hawkwood Stone. This is followed by a buffet at
Rochester Cruising Club, all of which is supplied by ROFF. Finally
the day ends with a party at the Cruising Club.
Then on the Sunday, Rochester Cruising Club hosts the down-river
cruise, when members host the Mayor, as Admiral of the River, and
selected civic guests. The whole weekend is then wrapped up with a
farewell buffet and Sunset Ceremony.
As part of the Admiral's Cruise, there is also a memorial
service held in honour of HMS Bulwark. In 1914, the
Bulwark was destroyed by an explosion while moored at Kethole
Reach, with the loss of 727 souls.
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Admiral's Court
This is held every year, presided over by the Mayor as Admiral
of the River Medway, together with a number of officials and
councillors.
The title of “Admiral of the Waters of the Medway from
Sherenesse to Hawkewode” was first conferred by a Charter granted
to the City of Rochester by Henry VI in 1446.
In 1728, in the reign of King George II, an Act of Parliament
was passed for “regulating, well ordering, governing and improving
the Oyster Fishery in the River Medway and waters thereof, under
the authority of the Mayor and Citizens of the City of Rochester,
in the County of Kent.” This act was followed by another, passed in
the 28th year of the reign of Queen Victoria, titled An Act for
Better Regulating the Rochester Oyster Fishery and for other
Purposes.
By these and subsequent Acts of Parliament, the Mayor of the
City of Rochester as Admiral of the waters of the Medway and his or
her Aldermen were given jurisdiction over the waters of the Medway
and its creeks and tributaries between Garrison Point, Sheerness
and Hawkwood Stone.
The Oyster Fishery was free and common to all oyster fishermen
and dredgers who had served seven years' apprenticeship with any
free fisherman or free dredger of the fishery. Upon application by
the Fishery, the Mayor summoned an Admiralty Court for regulating
and ordering the Fishery. The fishermen and dredgers were summoned
by the Mayor’s Water Bailiff to attend the Court when a Jury was
elected.
There is much documentary evidence that bears witness to the
history and purposes of the floating and oyster fisheries and the
Admiralty Court is still held today on the first or second Saturday
in July, with the Admiral of the River (The Mayor of Medway, as the
successor to the Mayor of Rochester), a number of councillors fully
robed, the Chief Executive of Medway (as successor to the Town
Clerk of Rochester) as Registrar of the Fishery and other
Dignitaries in attendance. The Jury is sworn and appointed, the
list of Free Dredgers is called, the Water Bailiffs are sworn in
and appointed and the Jury, through the Chamberlain, presents its
report on the previous year's fishing in the River Medway, which is
then approved by the Court.
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Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance services are held each November in memory of all
those who gave their lives in the two World Wars and other
conflicts since . The weekend starts with the Mayor attending the
Royal Marine Memorial and Turning the Page Ceremony at Rochester
Cathedral. Then Sunday usually starts with the Mayor attending the
War Memorial at Great Lines in Gillingham for the Royal Naval
Memorial Service, continuing with the main service in Rochester
Cathedral. He or she also attends other Royal British Legion
services throughout Medway, with the kind support of the Deputy
Mayor and Group Leaders.
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High Sheriff Lunch
Medway has the honour of hosting the annual luncheon to say
farewell to the outgoing High Sheriff of Kent and welcome the new
High Sheriff into office. This usually takes place in March.
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Citizenship Ceremonies
Every month, the Mayor oversees Citizenship
Ceremonies. All adults wishing to become British citizens in
the United Kingdom are required to attend such a ceremony, which is
conducted by the Registrar.
Becoming a British citizen is a significant event and is
celebrated in a memorable way. At the ceremony, the new citizens
are welcomed into our local community and can meet other people in
the area who are becoming British citizens.
Attendance is by invitation only and usually takes place at the
Corn Exchange in Rochester. During the ceremony, the Mayor usually
makes a short speech welcoming the new citizens to Medway and
encouraging them to play an active role within the community.
Following the welcome, all new British citizens are required to
take an oath of allegiance (or you can make an affirmation if you
prefer not to swear by God) and a pledge. The words of the oath,
affirmation and pledge are all given below.
Oath of allegiance:
I (name) swear by Almighty God that, on becoming a British
citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth the Second, her heirs and successors, according to
law.
Affirmation of allegiance:
I (name) do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm
that on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear
true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her
heirs and successors, according to law.
Pledge:
I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its
rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will
observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as
a British citizen.
Further information on citizenship ceremonies can be found on
the Home Office website (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/).
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