Early morning stroll around Maldon, down by the boats, close by where the Tin Shed Parliament used to meet. 

“The unconstituted and unelected members of this salt-water club was made up of successive generations of Maldon fishing families.”

Members such as “Flounder Pitt” and “Belter Sexton”, “Skatey”, “Slosher”, “Whooper” and “Whilks” met to put the world to rights. They kept time, not by nearby St Mary’s clock, but by the tides and we’re reported to speak in “quaint fashion about fishing, weather, boats, the town and its alterations.” Debates ended with the words “that’s water over” which signalled time for beer.  Extras of the views plus one of the more recent political figures, also out for a stroll.