This video was filmed and produced by staff and students of St. Lawrence Primary School, Rowhedge.
Rowhedge School is only a few hundred metres from the river Colne and Rowhedge itself is a village with a rich maritime past of fishing, shipbuilding and yacht racing.
In September 2003 the Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Chris Hall, invited the school to take part in the annual opening ceremony of the Colchester Oyster Fishery and to make a short film of the event.
Three students, accompanied by their headteacher, Carl Messer, embarked from Brightlingsea to go aboard the sailing barge Hydrogen where the ceremony was to take place.
They were able to film the entire ceremony as the Mayor, the Town Sergeant, the Chief Executive and Deputy of Brightlingsea appeared in full regalia to officially open the 2003 season.
First the Town Sergeant called everyone to order, and then the Chief executive read the ancient proclamation, which dates back to 1256.
After the fishery was declared open everyone was served the traditional gin and gingerbread (no gin for the students!) and then the Mayor embarked on Saxonia, a traditional sailing bawley, to cast the first dredge of the season.
Later, the video was edited using Moviemaker and Adobe Premiere software and sound and titles were also added. In December the school visited Colchester Town Hall to present copies of the film on DVD to the Mayor and his colleagues.
The Proclamation
Be it known that the Several Fishery of the River Colne and waters thereof hath, from time beyond which memory run not to the contrary, belonged and appertained to the Borough of Colchester by whatsoever name or designation called or known; and this in virtue and pursuance of the divers Royal Charters, Grants, Liberties and Franchises to the same borough conceded.
And be it further known that The Several Oyster Fishery of the said River and Waters is at this time present closed, in accord with ancient usage, and so must remain until it be willed that the same shall be opened.
And be it further known that the will now is that the same Several Oyster Fishery may be and continued opened until such time hereafter it may to the contrary be ordained now therefore it is publicly proclaimed and declared that the Several Oyster Fishery is this day opened, and that the same shall be and continue open henceforth until such day as may, in like accord with ancient usage, be fixed and determined as proper and appropriate for the further customary closing thereof.
Ordered this Fifth day of September in the year of our Lord – Two Thousand and Three.
The following are the words of the ancient proclamation made in the Colne Water in the year 1256, and in subsequent years, by the Bailiffs of the Borough of Colchester, on behalf of the Burgesses of the Borough:
Whereas many of the noble Kings of England before the time of memory, progenitors of our very excellent Lord King who now is, by their special charters have granted and confirmed to the Burgesses of Colchester, and to their heirs and successors, to have and to hold the Borough of Colchester in fee farm freely, with all the franchises and privileges contained in the said charters.
Also that no man nor other person may place piles, weirs, nor other works of hand nearer to our said water than is necessary for the maintenance of their properties.
Nor that any dredgers of oysters may dredge broods in the water of our said Fishery nor in any of the creeks of the same, nor at any time except in the time limited, under pain of forfeiture and grievous amerciaments.
God save the Queen, the Mayor and this Borough
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