Today Is Sussex Day — June 16

June 16 every year is the County Day of Sussex.

(Click or tap on Lewes Castle, above, to hear "Sussex By The Sea".)

The festival co-incides with the feast day of St. Richard of Chichester, who church authorities see as Sussex's patron saint.

According to historical records, on this day in 1276, St. Richard's remains were moved from their original burial place, in the nave of Chichester Cathedral, to an elaborate shrine.

This year, to mark the day, the West Sussex County Records Office invites the public to a free, on-line tour of the archives.

How Did Sussex Day Begin?

In 2008, West Sussex county archivist Richard Childs told how Worthing resident Ian Steedman approached local newspaper the West Sussex Gazette, and both East and West Sussex county councils, and other local authorities, with the idea of holding a day to celebrate Sussex.

What Does The Sussex Charter Say?

On the day, in several towns, a document known as the Sussex Charter is proclaimed to the public, though More Radio has been unable to discover this document's origin.

A commonly-circulated version of the Sussex Charter reads:

For all the people of the ancient kingdom of Sussex!
Let it be known: the 16 June of each and every year shall be known as Sussex Day.
Sussex day shall be celebrated according to the rites and traditions of Sussex.
Let it be known all the people of Sussex shall be responsible for the maintenance of those boundaries that join to those of our neighbours.
Let it be known all the people of Sussex shall be responsible for all the environs within those boundaries.
Let it be known, the people of Sussex shall recognise the inshore waters that lie inside a line drawn from Beachy Head, and extending to Selsey Bill as being, the Bay of Sussex.
Let it be known, the people of Sussex will undertake responsibility for the general well being of our neighbours.
Let it be known the people of Sussex shall be guardians of our wildlife.
Let it be known the people of Sussex will, through custom support all local business.
Finally, let it be known, as guardians of Sussex, we all know Sussex is Sussex … and Sussex won’t be druv!
In God we trust.
God Save the Queen!

What Is The Sussex Anthem?

Sussex's unofficial anthem, Sussex By The Sea, can be heard at the head of this article, in a 1958 performance by the Band of the Grenadier Guards, conducted by Maj. F. J. Harris.

The first two verses of the lyrics, below, can be sung to this recording.

It became popular as a regimental march of the (then) Royal Sussex Regiment, particularly during World War I. 

The music is also played when Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club players run out onto the pitch at The Amex.

Marching bands also frequently perform the tune during Sussex Bonfire processions, particularly at Lewes Bonfire when it can be heard many times in the course of the evening.

What Are The Words?

Written in 1907 by William Ward-Higgs (1866–1936), the lyrics are:

First Verse
    Now is the time for marching,
        Now let your hearts be gay,
    Hark to the merry bugles
        Sounding along our way.
    So let your voices ring, my boys,
        And take the time from me,
    And I’ll sing you a song as we march along,
        Of Sussex by the Sea!

Chorus
            For we're the men from Sussex, Sussex by the Sea.
            We plough and sow and reap and mow,
            And useful men are we;
            And when you go to Sussex, whoever you may be,
            You may tell them all that we stand or fall
            For Sussex by the Sea!

Refrain
    Oh Sussex, Sussex by the Sea!
    Good old Sussex by the Sea!
    You may tell them all we stand or fall,
    For Sussex by the Sea.

Second Verse
    Up in the morning early,
        Start at the break of day;
    March till the evening shadows
        Tell us it's time to stay.
    We're always moving on, my boys,
        So take the time from me,
    And sing this song as we march along,
        Of Sussex by the Sea.

Chorus and Refrain

Third Verse
    Sometimes your feet are weary,
        Sometimes the way is long,
    Sometimes the day is dreary,
        Sometimes the world goes wrong;
    But if you let your voices ring,
        Your care will fly away,
    So we'll sing a song as we march along,
        Of Sussex by the Sea.

Chorus and Refrain

Fourth Verse
    Light is the love of a soldier,
        That's what the ladies say –
    Lightly he goes a wooing,
        Lightly he rides away.
    In love and war we always are
        As fair as fair can be,
    And a soldier boy is the ladies' joy
        In Sussex by the Sea.

Chorus and Refrain

Fifth Verse
    Far o'er the seas we wander,
        Wide thro’ the world we roam;
    Far from the kind hearts yonder,
        Far from our dear old home;
    But ne'er shall we forget, my boys,
        And true we'll ever be
    To the girls so kind that we left behind
        In Sussex by the Sea.

Chorus and Refrain