Features and Reviews

                                         New Faces join old friends at the Parade

The 2007 Heritage Parade began with the familiar face of Edgar Lawrence in full uniform leading the vibrant and colourful Street Heat, with this Samba Band using their powerful beat to capture the attention of the large crowds gathered throughout the town.

They were followed by a whole host of characters many involved in events going on during Heritage Festival week with a few others new to parading such as members of the recently established Brixham Town Council. They joined in the festivities with some of the new councillors dressing for the occasion as pirates, including Chairman of the Council Vic Ellery, Vice Chairman Tina Stockman and councillor Chris Lomas.

Captain Bob Curtis who opened the Parade said, ‘a big thank you' to Pat Osborne and the Heritage Festival Committee for their efforts throughout the year to organize this week long series of entertaining events, which begins with the Parade around the town centre.

This year the Brixham Heritage Museum celebrated the Pilgrims adventures to the New World by parading in the familiar black and white costumes of the Puritans whilst advertising their ‘Mayflower Food Tasting experience' based at the Heritage Museum on Tuesday.

More pirates appeared throughout the Parade as Brixham Theme Day every Thursday now sees several shopkeepers dressing up as these nautical characters, in their efforts to bring fun back into shopping in Brixham. They were also joined by members of the cast of ‘Resurrection Bob', a performance created by the South Devon Players to recognise Brixham's smuggling heritage.

From out of town the Black Bess Border Morris Dancers returned after three years accompanied by their musicians, ‘enjoying dancing for fun, and whilst raising money for charity'. Meanwhile there were jugglers and clowns to be spotted in amongst the trail of characters, and Robert, Pete and Garry, otherwise known as Mr Peabody's Rock and Roll Trio all the way from Birmingham with over 40 fans following them to the festival!

The Trio also back after three years had not previously taken part in the Parade, whereas Paignton Sapphires, regular participants in the Parade displayed their baton twirling skills as they made up the end of the procession.