They’re here, me hearties! Thousands of spectators watch the annual Pirates Landing in Hog Sty Bay by Harbour Drive. This year promises to be bigger and better. A pre-landing pageant to get everyone in the mood followed by explosions, smoke and many surprises. The arrival of those dastardly pirates is the centre piece everyone is waiting for. Will they over power the cowardly redcoats and capture the Governor? Of course they will.

Pirates Week: history and personal memories

In 1977, the Minister of Tourism, the late Jim Bodden, started the festival now known as Pirates Week to boost tourism during our low season.

He succeeded and the event has grown bigger each year. Music, street dances, District Days, costumes, parades, local food and drinks, song competitions, children’s day, sports events, fireworks and of course the pirates landing including the capture of the governor.

Only in the first day was the real governor captured (Thomas Russell) and after he was jostled and pushed around a bit too much, it was decided to have an actor play the part ever since.

I had the honour to be that actor thirteen times. Yes, unlucky it was one year when the boat sank carrying me to the shore! To add even more insult as I waded almost chest deep in the sea to the shore a huge water balloon hit me in the head knocking me down into the sand to much laughter. It was not a dignified entrance.

I did get my own back when, at my last appearance as the governor, the pirates that came ashore to do the capture asked me who was the governor? I was standing alongside my attaché (who was dressed only in a shirt and trousers whilst I had on the full attire – coat and feathered hat) and I pointed to him. He was bound and carted off.

[nggallery id=196]