Overview
When Martin Bruce moved to Rye Harbour in 2014 he found many villagers keen to restore the tradition of shanty-singing known there in former times, especially during the hey-day (the 60s and 70s) of Johnny Doughty, local fisherman and performer. Arming himself with a beautiful Lachenal concertina as accompaniment he has brought back to the Harbour and the local area both well-known shanty classics and songs particular to East Sussex, including some of his own writing.
At the start of 2018 Martin Bruce decided to revive this tradition and founded a group called Round Rye Bay Singers.
In 2024, the 200th anniversary year of the founding of the RNLI, for which he volunteers, he will be performing ‘Saving Lives at Sea’, the song commissioned from him by the Institution in celebration of this milestone.
Martin also sings with the shanty group, the Rye Harbour Herrings that he set up in 2019 and may often be found locally giving organ recitals.