Moot Horn announces walk promotion

Hythe’s Town Crier used the council’s ancient Moot Horn to announce tickets for a charity walk are on sale.

Cllr Jim Martin, Mayor of Hythe Town Council, accompanied Town Crier Chris McNeilly for the announcement ceremony at South Kent Mind’s charity shop in Hythe high street.

The sponsored #MindWalk will raise funds for the mental health charity and be held on the morning of Sunday, 18 September. Walkers are encouraged to wear blue.

Tickets for the walk cost £4 for adults and are free for children. A treasure trail with prizes will feature along the route to add extra interest for children. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Check-in for the walk runs from 9am to 10am at the South Kent Mind charity shop at 105 High Street, Hythe. The Town Crier will attend in full regalia to ring his bell and announce the start of the charity walk. Participants are invited to have their photos taken with him before they embark on the 7km circular route which takes in the historic high street, beautiful beach and Royal Military Canal.

The Moot Horn was donated to Hythe Town Council in 1582 by Thomas Torney, who later became Mayor. The horn was used to call the populace to the town hall for meetings. The word moot means people, so it was ‘the people’s horn’.

Simon Dolby from South Kent Mind said: “We are so grateful to the Mayor and Town Crier for their support and thrilled they will be able to join us at the start of the Hythe sponsored walk on 18 September. We hope this will encourage many more families to take part in this important annual event.”