Sussex Day is on the 16th June each year. As a proud man of Sussex I penned a few thoughts about the history of the county

Barry Silsby

Sussex Day 2020

Great forest of Andred
Neolithic settlements, Iron Age smelting
Celtic land of the Regni and Atrebate
Caesar defier, puppet for Claudius,
Iron exporter, world trader.

Aelle’s kingdom, South Saxons,
Absorbed by Alfred’s Wessex
Harald’s eye pierced, Guillaume le bâtard
Heretic burner, Commonwealth defier,
King’s escape route.

Prince’s debauchery
Fishing village, dirty weekend
Residence of Holmes and Gunga Din
Boar’s Ridge, County death day,
Hospital to the Raj.

Home of Pooh and Piglet,
Eeyore’s gloomy place
Small ships provider, Britain’s battle foremost,
Sea defences, invasion facilitator
Place of Seagulls and rainbows.

Sussex by the sea.