Vikings was the theme for this year’s Broadstairs Water Gala in honour of the 75th anniversary of the arrival of Hugin the Viking Ship.
To mark the occasion Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council worked with other town and parish councils and the Water Gala to present a range of events and activities. This year’s Water Gala gained an additional grant from the Town Council and the evening culminated in the lighting of a Viking Ship beacon after the traditional firework display.
The Town Council also hosted a showing, at Pierremont Hall, of footage taken of The Hugin Viking Ship back in 1949. The footage was published by British Pathé Ltd who allowed the council to show the clips through their YouTube page. These links can be found here https://www.broadstairs.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Footage-Viking-Ship.pdf.
Thanks to members of the public, the council also showed clippings from newspapers and original programmes.
Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council also created and funded a Viking Ship brochure that was shared within the community. It tells the story of the ship, publicises events in Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Cliffsend around the celebration of the 75th anniversary and encourages people to undertake the 5.5mile trail from Viking Bay, Broadstairs, through Ramsgate and ending at Pegwell Bay, Cliffsend, where the Hugin now stands. This brochure can be found here https://www.broadstairs.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Viking-Ship-Brochure.pdf.
The trail can be undertaken on foot or by using the open top bus for part of the journey. It is clearly signposted and includes many points of interest and places for refreshment along the way.
The activities yesterday (July 24) included fun with Thanet Coast Project, exploring the rock pools and chalk reefs at low tide, the popular Teddy Bears Picnic at Lillyputt Mini Golf, paddle board lessons, beach games all day, sandcastle competition, best dressed beach hut in Viking theme competition, Punch & Judy, RNLI Lifeboats at the Jetty, Shipwrights Sea Shanty Crew, King Neptune arriving and Viking story telling.
Bandstand entertainment featured live music, local dance schools, drumming, Juggle it all children’s entertainer, Viking craft making in Balmoral Gardens, walkabout characters and lots more.
There were also craft and gift stalls along the promenade, plus a funfair on Victoria Gardens and fireworks in the evening.
Ramsgate RNLI volunteers were out in full force with the Tamar class Lifeboat Diamond Jubilee and the inshore Claire and David Delves.
This was the first time the Tamar attended the Water Gala after the departure of Trent Class Esme Anderson earlier this year. Being much larger than the Trent and with a higher side, sadly at the peak of the high tide there was a large swell making the step up onto the boat too high and dangerous, especially when taken from the slippery steps on the pier. This meant that people weren’t able to visit the boat all afternoon as was planned, however she still provided a spectacle moored up in the harbour, dwarfing the smaller boats around her.
The RNLI shop was there as well as the Thanet Fundraisers team and Ramsgate Water Safety Team giving advice to members of the public enjoying the seaside, and handing out free stickers.
Mayor of Broadstairs Cllr Mike Garner was one of the first to go onboard the all-weather lifeboat and afterwards shared a few words with Chair of Ramsgate RNLI Management Team, Eric Burton.
Broadstairs Sailing Club provided lunch to the volunteer crew of the RNLI, reinstating an old tradition that had lapsed since Covid.
There will be another firework display on July 31st, where The Nylon Tigers will be performing at the Bandstand at 8pm.
While the bands perform, food and drink will also be available to buy from the Bandstand café.
The following dates are scheduled for the end of August. Wednesday 21st will see The Dial taking to Bandstand stage, and finally the 28th will feature the very popular Ozzie and the Uglies to close out the firework season.
All events are free entry to the public for everyone to enjoy and are put on by the volunteers who take time every year to organise and marshall the events. Sponsors include Thorley Taverns, Morelli’s, Harvey Waste Management as well as a grant from the town council.
To donate for future events, you can do so here, donations are also welcome on site.