Pirate Plunder August 2023

Volume 6 Number 16

August 2023

Pirate Plunder is an independent title published thrice a year in May, August and November for The Pirate Brethren of the British Isles. It aims to encourage the fundraising activities of pirate crews by promoting pirate festivals and other events where charitable pirates are to be found.

EDITORIAL

Cap’n Davy Young

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Talking to a member of one of our long-established and more active pirate crews recently, the subject of what level of authenticity today’s re-enactors from the Golden Age of Piracy should aspire to achieve arose in our parlay. There’s even a name for it coined by ‘The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows’ – Anemoia: nostalgia for a time you’ve never known.

Whilst saying I admired the efforts of some crews to achieve a high level of historical accuracy in their choice of clothing, weapons and portrayal of pirate life, I also felt bound to point out that Pirate Plunder makes no distinction between them and societies that dress up, have fun and entertain visitors to festivals and other events whilst collecting for the charities they support.

Every pirate crew is different, but a magazine like mine must publish material that appeals to them all. I’d therefore welcome ideas or contributions for future issues.

On the fourth day of August in 1943, I slipped my moorings and sailed down the canal to begin my voyage on the great sea of life. I can now truly say “Aye Matey” (I’m 80) to all pirates and their wenches!

Scuttlebutt

News and rumours from The Pirate Brethren of the Seven Seas.

Broadside

4

Festival focus

14

7

Sem Vine has issued a cordial invitation to the old port of Weymouth for three days of shameful skulduggery from 7-9 October with The Dolmen.

The evolution of a crew

8

Read how the Coastal Union of Pirates, Privateers, Aviators & Steampunks founded by Smugglepunk author Nils Visser became known as Corin’s South Coast Scoundrels when he embarked on a joint project with photographer and digital artist Corin Spinks to create illustrations of historical smugglers.

Captain’s journal

Kate is blamed for a rash of accidents and poor judgement aboard the Captain’s ship because having a woman on board had angered the sea gods.

Inn at the centre of island’s smuggling

The Isle of Wight has a rich smuggling history that goes back hundreds of years and The Buddle Inn at Niton, which callsitself a ‘Smugglers Inn’, is sited in the area where most of the villages carried on this illegal trade.

10

A review headed ‘Half a dozen of the best fests’ covers five pirate festivals that have taken place since the May issue of Pirate Plunder and makes a return visit to Conwy to include a picture that was omitted from a report on the town’s past event.

Making a large ship’s wheel

18

Jonathan Mann of Glipso – Custom Reenactment Woodwork has made a number of practical ship’s wheels for use and display. He writes that this is a project that can be quite easily undertaken to stunning effect and describes how with the aid of step-bystep illustrations.

Shantyman

20

The Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat in Sussex has formed a sea shanty singing group called the Pett Slip Buoys to help raise funds in support of their life-saving service.

Trading post

22

Weapons, clothing, boots, hats, eye patches, earrings, tankards for grog and all manner of gear for pirates.

12

How to become a pirate

24

List of active pirate crews from the coast of South Devon up to the shores of the Forth and Clyde.

Where to see pirate action

26

Calendar of festivals or re-enactment events either organised by pirates or likely to be subject to a pirate attack.

Front Cover. Main image: Smugglers descend to the beach weapons at the ready to collect contraband (picture courtesy of Corinography). Inset: Callum and Lindsey Sparrow of Burnham Pirates (no relation to Jack) pose at this year’s Pirates on the Quay event (picture courtesy of Ali Elmes, ASV Productions).

Sad loss of ‘Bag O’ Rags

We are sorry to report the loss of the ‘Bag O’ Rags’, which has sunk in Penzance Harbour in the wake of storm Antoni. She was built in Brittany in 1973 and named the ‘Ar Bageergan’ (eye of the wind in the Breton language).

Following an eventful career fishing for tuna and crab off the French

Who’s a naughty boy?

A man driving on the M62 with an African grey parrot on his shoulder was spotted by North West Motorway Police, who signalled him to hove to. He was subsequently reported for a traffic offence as animals or birds should be secured

in suitable carriers or restraints when being transported in a vehicle. However, the officer who pulled him over admitted he wasn’t sure whether to use the term ‘driver’ or ‘pirate’ when he wrote up the incident. The parrot’s comment on these proceedings was unprintable!

Coast when she engaged in battle with Spanish fisherman in what

became known as the ‘Tuna Wars’ of the 1990s, she passed to a Newlyn fisherman and operated as a drift netter before her final owner, Clare Trevaskis, converted the sturdy fishing boat into a floating pirate shop, which became a notable attraction for tourists to Penzance and welcomed many visitors aboard.

It’s a fact

If a lanyard is mentioned these days, most people associate the term with those attending meetings when a cord is used to carry an ID card giving a person’s name and position in the company or holds an event pass to identify visitors to an exhibition and often features a bar code that can be scanned so that pre-registered attendees can receive further info.

The history of lanyards stretches back to the 1500s when pirates and soldiers used them as a way of keeping their weapons close at

hand. Pirates would use lanyards to ensure that they didn’t lose flintlocks or cutlasses whilst they climbed the rigging of their ships or engaged in combat.

In fact, the word lanyard actually comes from the French word ‘laniere’, which means strap or thong. The first lanyards were just simple straps made of rope or cord found aboard the ship, but were eventually developed with specific attachments to hold tools and other objects for use in both military and civilian life.

Blackwater Pirates see action

Essex-based Blackwater Pirates have seen action three times in May and June. They were invited to the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre in London to appear alongside the London Concert Orchestra, whilst they played the music of Hans Zimmer and John Williams.

The orchestra were absolutely thrilled with Blackwater’s popularity with the audience before the shows and during the intervals, so much so that they invited the pirates to rejoin them at the Royal Albert Hall. They were looked after fantastically well by the production company, Raymond Gubbay, and were once more a hit with the music fans, spending a very full day at the event having their pictures taken and watching the orchestra perform.

They also collaborated with El Galeon in a ‘fundraiser’ at Southend Pier. They first met the crew of El Galeon at Brixham Pirate Festival, who were enthusiastic about them coming aboard to support Little Havens Children’s Hospice. In the single day Blackwater were

booked to appear, they raised over £600 to benefit the charity and thousands of people bought tickets for El Galeon. It was reported by the pier’s staff that they had never seen it so busy.

The crew stormed the Albert Hall (picture courtesy of Lucien Lowtide) and boarded El Galeon at Southend Pier (picture courtesy of Gaz De Vere).

NMMC holds lectures on piracy

In conjunction with the National Maritime Museum

Cornwall’s major exhibition in Falmouth called ‘Pirates’ the Museum has held a series of lectures on various aspects of piracy. The next two are by experts in their field and the first by Dr Jo Esra, a lecturer at the University of Exeter specialising in 16th and 17th century maritime literature and culture, entitled ‘The lamentable cries of at least 1500 Christians’ takes place at 7.30 pm on 12 October.

Piracy was rife in the early modern Mediterranean, with the so-called ‘Barbary’ pirates of North Africa becoming notorious for their taking of people rather than

goods. Captives were held for ransom or enslaved in the Islamic worlds of Morocco or Ottoman Tripoli,

Tunis and Algiers. From the 1620s, North African pirates extended their activities out of the Mediterranean and preyed upon the coasts of the West Country. Focusing on documentation within British archives, this talk will explore the experiences of captives, their families and their communities, in addition to looking at the wider cultural and political impact of this form of piracy during the 17th century.

The second is by Dr Richard Blakemore, Associate Professor in Social and Maritime History at the University of Reading. His research focuses on seafarers

during the 17th and 18th centuries, and he has published books and articles on the British civil wars at sea, Atlantic piracy, trade and violence in West Africa, wages and economics in shipping, and maritime law. Its title is ‘Did pirates bury their treasure?’ and will be held at 7.30 pm on 9 November.

We all know what a pirate is, the way they dressed, how they spoke – or do we? This talk will delve into the popular and enduring stories that surround the history of piracy: pirate codes and buried treasure; talking parrots; and walking planks. It will explore how those stories originated and whether any of these things really happened. Looking at some the most famous pirates of the 17th and 18th centuries, including Blackbeard, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, and ‘Black Bart’ Roberts, and paying close attention to surviving historical evidence, it will examine how stories about pirates, as much as the actions of pirates themselves, defined ideas about piracy in that period and continue to shape our understanding of piracy in the present day.

More information from www.nmmc.co.uk

Edward Teach known as Blackbeard.

An engraving of European slaves.

Ahoy all ye saucy folk, ye ragged ruffians, rusty rogues and naughty maids, tis time for bit o’ roarin’ and cavortin’ out in the high seas sunshine... and that we have already begun!

We know you have all been searchin’ that there far horizon for a sign o’ Weymouth Pirate Fest 2023!

Arrrr!! An’ so it be true, ye scurvy scallies! Not only do we ‘ave the germinations of a new album. ‘Bring Me That Horizon’, a treasure chest o’ songs and delinquent ditties for your delight, but we indeed be settin’ sail once more for an Octoberfest of merriment, a good old Pirate Party!

Ye all be cordially invited to the old port of Weymouth for three days of shameful skulduggery

from 7-9 October, a rare old piratey knees-up!

Whichever century they say it be, it always be the Golden Age for pirates! The Dolmen Age of Piracy continues, so climb aboard our facebook pages: The Dolmen, The Dolmen Pirates Parlay and

Weymouth Pirate Fest, and our websites: www.thedolmen.com and

www.weymouth piratefest.com for the latest news and updates!

Sem Vine, Weymouth,

Dorset

It was lovely to see you and Saucy Sue enjoying the good weather on Sandpit Field at the Swanage Pirate Festival.

I wondered if I might see also see you at Harry Paye Day. It was one of the best for a long time and they reckon about 15,000 people were in attendance! Fingers crossed that the charity donations go some way to match the footfall.

Liz (Betty the Bosun) Adams, Brighton, East Sussex

Josh and Taloch take the wheel of the Golden Hind in Brixham Harbour.

The evolution of a crew: from CUPPAS to Corin’s South Coast Scoundrels

Back in 2020, CUPPAS (Coastal Union of Pirates, Privateers, Aviators & Steampunks) was founded as it seemed a fun way of bringing locals with overlapping interests together –pirates, smugglers and steampunks, not to mention Smugglepunks, a hybrid fusion invented by local author Nils Visser.

The first convivial in Worthing was in preparation when Covid-19 struck. Social gatherings were axed and CUPPAS ground to a standstill, with the members specifically focused on organising social events drifting away.

However, one activity was squeezed

in just before the first lockdown. The Smugglepunk author had persuaded awardwinning photographer and digital artist Corin Spinks (www. corinography.co.uk) to embark on a joint project. Knowing that a busy and wellattended event limited the number of good photographs Corin could take, the author

figured that an event without a public, set up to suit the photographer, might yield a greater crop. It was to be ‘hysterically’ incorrect. The whole purpose of historical smugglers was, of course, to blend in and not be noticeable at all – with a few exceptions like the infamous Hawkhurst Gang, who took centre

place in taprooms like that of the Mermaid Inn in Rye, with their weapons shamelessly bared on taproom tables. With that last in mind, it was decided that our smugglers would be ostentatious (ie dressed more like pirates than smugglers) and that the aim would be to capture a flavour rather than adhere to historical accuracy. A crew was mustered and willing locations found, namely Rye Castle and the aforementioned Mermaid Inn. The experiment yielded fantastic images. Although nominally a CUPPAS event, Corin’s South Coast Scoundrels were more of an offshoot.

Having lost local authority funding, volunteers trying to keep Rye Heritage Centre running approached the author/photographer team. The centre was planning to set up a new attraction, a modest ‘smuggler’s experience’, and were hoping to use a few of the Smugglepunk pictures. They were granted permission to use them all and that encouraged them to point out certain iconic smuggling activities were missing. This had been discussed by the Smugglepunks, who were able to answer that they had hoped

Smugglers move across Camber Sands under cover of darkness.

CUPPAS founder Nils Visser.

to capture these in a homage to Russel Thorndike’s Dr Syn (The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh), but that ideal locations like Camber Sands, Camber Castle, and churches in the marsh were protected heritage locations and hard to access. “Hold our grog,” said the centre, well-connected as they were in Rye. All desired locations were acquired, albeit with the requirement that any shoot in Camber Castle had to be completed by mid-February, “ere the ravens start roosting”. Thus it came to be that 20 dubersome* volunteers braved the icy cold winds of the marsh in the Winter of ’22 and recreated

an interpretation of Thorndike’s Dr Syn at castle, in dunes and around an ancient Norman church. Part of a local tourist attraction now and gaining notoriety,

Corin’s Scoundrels were next invited to a haunted medieval house in Pevensey in 2023, right next to the castle, but that is a tale to be told another time. If you live in this

area and would like to become part of CUPPAS, you can join the group on Facebook (see page 24).

dubious in the old Sussex brogue.

The Pirate Shop in the North Wales town of Conwy is the UK market leader for swords, daggers, guns, clothing, flags and accessories.

A global distributor for Red Dragon Armoury, we sell the products of major international manufacturers such as Deepeeka, Windlass, Art Gladius, Medio Evo and

Marshal Historical in the UK. We also stock other wellknown brands such as Hanwei, GDFB and SPES. On-site facilities at our 12,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution centre only five minutes from the centre of town include a trade showroom and a product development studio.

*dubersome:

Contraband is toted past Camber Castle on its way to grateful clients.

Unrest among the crew! In the two weeks since last I wrote, we remain resolutely ignored and unnoticed by the ‘curse’ (as Jacob insists on calling it despite repeated reprimands and on one occasion tobaccobased bribery). Perversely this lack of supernatural attention is making everyone more nervous, which has prompted a rash of accidents and poor judgement amongst even the most experienced. The sail was left thrashing when the jibs weren’t properly tightened, a sullen and seemingly unrepentant Daniel was discovered drunk and napping on duty, and worst of all, Curly lost a finger to a winch. When dogged by ill luck, resourceful men of every nation, stripe and creed respond in the most intelligent way possible, by looking for someone else to blame. Kate, being both the

newest member of the crew and of course a woman, ended up in the unenviable position of scapegoat. After a hasty meeting with Davy and Chalky so they could tell me what to tell them to do, we agreed to first take Kate away from her current duties, ensconced in my quarters as an onhand assistant away from the resentful gaze of her shipmates. Then to speak with Jacob and the other superstitious malcontents he’d been riling up, openly and in front of the whole crew so all could hear and decide.

Kate, it has to be said was incandescent. She accused me of manufacturing the whole debacle to get her shut in my cabin for nefarious purposes, then she slapped me, then she insisted on partitioning my cabin, both to give her private time and so she didn’t have to look at my face! Completely

unwarranted, so much for the ‘fairer’ sex.

The talk with Jacob went as well as you’d expect it to go. His claim that having a woman on board had angered the sea gods was, unfortunately, sympathetically received by much of the crew. As was his suggestion that Kate go shirtless. Apparently, a barechested woman had a calming effect on the seas and Jacob argued that this effect would extend to the crew and the ship as a whole. This solution was swiftly abandoned when I asked who wanted to be the one to tell her (remembering that half the Caribbean would have heard Kate’s protests at her confinement – my ears are still ringing).

In the end, it was agreed that she could return to her duties amongst the crew and they would behave

themselves on the proviso that she garbs herself as a man, a daily offering of wine is to be poured on the deck, a silver coin’s to be placed heads up under the main mast and finally a suitable (for suitable read bare-chested) figurehead commissioned for the ‘Lady Mondegreen’s Wrath’ and fitted as soon as can be arranged. I’m happier with some of these than others, dresses and tresses are no good when working a ship, but the other three seem a waste of wine and money. It’d be cheaper to get rid of Kate, but a man’s word is his bond and, frankly, I’d be too scared to try. Till next time then, when the night’s dark and the winds blow, keep your blade sharp, let the rum flow.

EXPLORE BENEATH THE SURFACE

A MAJOR EXHIBITION IN FALMOUTH MARCH 2023 – DECEMBER 2024

Inn at the centre of island’s smuggling

The Isle of Wight has a rich smuggling history that goes back hundreds of years and many local families were involved in the import of illicit goods, mainly brought by boat from France, particularly ‘tubs’ of brandy and fleeces of wool. The Buddle Inn at Niton, which calls itself a ‘Smugglers Inn’, is the most Southerly public house on the island and is sited in the area where most of the villages carried on this illegal trade. By 1830, most of Niton was involved in the ‘Free Trade’ of goods from the continent either directly by running goods or indirectly by buying goods from the homeward-bound ships or as financiers for the trips to France. Revenue cutters and gun brigs would patrol the Channel, and Niton was so strategic to the illicit trade that it had its own coastguard station and lookout building.

Until the death of Isabella de Fortibus in 1293, when ownership of the island passed to the King, it had been selfgoverning and it is thought that part of the reason for the proliferation of smuggling was that islanders despised being ruled from what they considered to be the mainland. Whatever the reason, the trade was rife and a Smugglers Trail devised by Niton and Whitwell Parish Council encourages walkers to follow the pathways and hiding places connected to smuggling activities.

A cat and mouse style of chase between the smugglers and the revenue men led to ingenious hiding places and a host of interesting stories.

The Buddle Inn – its name is derived from the Old English ‘bothele’ meaning ‘dwelling’ – is believed to be least 400 years old and was first described as a public house in 1859. The pub is the nearest to Blackgang Chine, where an enormous cave was once used for the storage of contraband, but this has sadly been lost to coastal erosion.

The Buddle Inn was at the centre of this trade, with Castlehaven beach being one of the coves where smuggled goods would be unloaded, under the noses of the customs men, who would be at the lookout post at St Catherine’s Lighthouse.

Poet Sydney Dobell visited the area in 1860 and observed, “The whole population here are smugglers. Everyone has an

ostensible occupation, but no one gets his money by it, or cares to work in it. Here are fishermen

who never fish, but always have pockets full of money, and farmers whose farming consists of ploughing deep by night, and whose daily time is spent standing like herons on lookout posts”.

Originally a farmhouse, it has been extensively refurbished, but retains ancient flagstones, beams and an inglenook fireplace, and displays many interesting photographs. It is also favoured with a large garden overlooking the English Channel where meals are served in Summer. A popular

Dorset Hospitality in a Family-Run C17th Traditional Inn

destination dining pub, offering good locally-sourced food, it also has a strong following by patrons who appreciate real ale. The pub has many links to Trinity House and it is rumoured that Prince Philip was a regular visitor when his sailing companion Uffa Fox lived nearby.

These days, the smugglers are gone, the duty has been paid on alcoholic drinks and you will be assured of a warm welcome!

More information from www.characterinns.co.uk/thebuddle-inn

Festival focus

Half a dozen of B

urnhamon-Crouch: Organised by Ant Brentnall of Essex-based Burnham Pirates, they were joined by Blackwater Pirates and special guest Captain Jack Sparrow to make Pirates on the Quay a festival of fun and skullduggery on Bank Holiday Monday.

The event included prizes for best-dressed

the inner pirate and his wench were kept satisfied by meals from The Victoria Inn, The Ship, Ye Old White Hart and The Anchor Pub on the Quay, who also hosted The Grub Hub - Wood fired Pizza, Ground Coffee House Grill and Uncle Bucks plus stalls. As for drink, judging from the lady’s Captain Morgan tricorn, rum was definitely on offer! Being held alongside

the Desembarco Pirata in the Spanish Town of Finisterre for the ninth time. After the first Harry Paye Day in 2007, a small crew from the Pirates of Poole presented a cross to the people of Finisterre as an apology for the misdeeds of Harry Paye when he stole a solid gold Cross some 600 years before.

In the interests of good relations, Roger Laird and

Allcroft from Poole didn’t mention the Spanish attack which saw Poole burnt to the ground. The following year the Spanish were invited to attend Harry Paye Day and they were so impressed the Disembarco Pirata was born. The Spanish pirates and the Pirates of Poole bury their differences and their treasure and join forces to attack the town. A

Burnham-onCrouch

of the best fests

bloody battle is fought out on the beach with every combatant slaughtered. Everyone is miraculously brought back to life and good

relations are restored over jugs and tots and a feast of razor clams!

The event is extra special as virtually all the townsfolk take part

either as pirates or defenders.

The Pirates of Poole only take a small crew as their seamanship skills are not up to

tackling the Costa da Morte to the End of the Earth, so it’s a drive, flight, bus and cab, but they hope to swell their numbers next year.

Finisterre

Swanage

Finisterre

Festival focus

Poole: Harry Paye Day in Poole, Dorset, began at midday with a pirate parade led by a fire engine and the Dolphin Marching Band. Organised by the Pirates of Poole, the event celebrates the life of the town’s famous privateer and raises money for various local charities, which this year

included Forest Holme Hospice.

There was live music and various forms of entertainment for visitors to enjoy, as well as a variety of stalls to browse. Unlike Harry Paye, the Pirates of Poole deserve recognition for giving up their time for nothing apart from the gratitude of the causes

‘Vilma’ attacks Conwy

Due to lack of space on page 17 of the May issue, which carried an article on the Conway Pirate Festival showing the Anglesey Hussars defending against the daily attack from the pirate schooner ‘Vilma’, there was no room for an image of the ship

firing on the town. This picture is reproduced courtesy of Alannette Photography, who also provided the picture of cannons being fired from the quay for the original report, as well as the inset picture on Pirate Plunder’s front cover.

Whitby

Whitby

Festival focus

they support.

In 2024, the event will be held on Saturday, 15th June (see advert on page 16).

Swanage: Although Swanage Pirate Festival has been established for some time, it continues to improve, attracting both pirates and the law in the shape of the Wimborne Militia, with re-enactors and exhibitors coming from the South Coast and further afield.

Organised for the second year running by Dawn and Colin Honey, the event is funded by charging stall-holders for their stands so that the alcohol-free festival does not have to charge families for admission.

Stalls selling all manner of booty were set up in Sandpit Field overlooking Swanage Bay, together with living history displays that showed how pirates cooked over open fires or wrote on parchment with a quill and ink.

Entertainment included sword fighting and a deafening display of cannon fire. Visitors were warned not to try this at home as all pirates and militia at the event are trained in the use of firearms, some by the highlyrespected Sealed Knot Society.

Whitby: Held in aid of

the crew of the town’s RNLI lifeboat, the festival has raised over £7,500 so far. In 2023, it once again upheld its reputation for dressing up in marvellous costumes – even the parrots on show had natty waistcoats!

Commodore Clyde Jackdaw (Paul Dudley) of Blackwater Pirates, commented: “Wow! What a fantastic weekend, thank you to everyone that helped in any way shape or form, but mostly to you scurvy lot for coming

2024

from all over the place to attend this event and making this festival fantastic. You really are awesome”.

The Whitby Pirate Festival is scheduled to take place again next year from 30 August-1 September.

har ry paye day

poole

quay - dorset

saturday 15th june 12 noon - 6pm

Pirate Parade led by the Mayor 12 noon, all welcome to join... Live Music – Fairground rides – Wimborne Militia Cannons Stocks – Tombola – Stalls – Ball & Chain – Aunt Sally Boards

Children’s Fancy Dress Competition & Treasure Hunt

Face Painting – Pirates of Poole Shenanigans for all!

In support of 3 local chosen charities, nominations now being considered

keeping the history of poole alive

Organised by: Pirates of Poole piratesofpoole@yahoo.co.uk

– Activities subject to change –

Making a large ship’s wheel

By Jonathan Mann*

Ihave seen many re-enactment groups making displays, including commercial ship’s wheels. These are really too small to represent a tall ship’s helm and one of my friends suggested that a really large ship’s wheel would be a great idea as a prop and photo opportunity for the Conwy Pirate Festival.

I am a sailor with my own yacht and have already made a number of practical ship’s wheels for use and display, so this was no technical challenge except for the size. However, if you have a lathe, jigsaw or bandsaw and a few other common tools it is a project that can be quite easily undertaken to stunning effect.

The overall size of the project is really determined by the distance between centres of your available lathe. I can comfortably turn 36 inches between centres so my wheel finishes at somewhere just over six feet in diameter taking

the hub into account.

The shape of the spokes requires a comfortable hand grip at the end then a square area for the rim to be morticed into. The rest of the spoke can be as fancy or plain as you want as long as the bottom is left square to enter the hub (picture 1).

The wheel rim sections, felloes, need to be marked out next. I find the best way is to draw a circle on a sheet of plywood using a large trammel bar. I use a timber lath with a nail in the centre and a hole drilled through for a pencil at the required diameter of the rim.

Once both the

inner and outer rim circumferences are marked, the spokes can be laid out on the template and spaced evenly allowing the marking of the ends of each felloe on the template. I then transfer the shape to a card template and after allowing an extra length of timber to each end to form a tennon, I shape the felloes using a bandsaw/jigsaw. Final smoothing can be carried out with a compass plane if you have one or spokeshave/sand paper (pictures 2 and 3). I add a decorative edge with a router.

The next stage is to form the joints. I find a standard mortice and tennon to be quite sufficient. Form a tennon on each end of the felloes and mortice the spokes using the card template to help locate the joints (picture 4). Check all your joints fit (picture 5) and chamfer the inner end of the spokes to meet neatly in the centre of the wheel,

Johnathan Mann, with his six foot plus diameter ship’s wheel.

then assemble the wheel to check the accuracy of each joint (picture 6). I then assemble it using fast curing PU glue, but if this is a first attempt you may want to use a slower-setting glue to give ‘wiggle time’.

I complete the wheel by turning a fancy centre boss on the lathe faceplate, which attaches to the front and rear. Small inserts are placed between each spoke to complete the illusion that the spokes are morticed to a solid hub as in a working wheel. The finished wheel is very strong and my wheel has taken a lot of action from heavy-handed pirates.

I usually make display

wheels from pine for the sake of cost, finishing with a mahogany or teak exterior wood stain. The completed wheel can be used for display as it is or I can choose to add a steering drum mount, so that the wheel can be mounted on a spindle and turned. I use a length of scaffold tube for this purpose with a steel circle welded to the tube and suitably drilled to take screws into the rear of the wheel boss.

One word of warning – if you display a wheel like this in public on a spindle, pirates of all ages like to spin the wheel as fast as possible turning the spokes into a rotary truncheon. After seeing a couple of near

misses, I always lash the wheel now, so that the motion is limited to approximately 30 degrees of centre for safety.

*More examples of Jonathan’s work can be seen on his Facebook page: Glipso – Custom Reenactment Woodwork.

Pett Slip Buoys sing for a lifeboat

The Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat (PLIRB), which serves the coast and inland waters between Camber and Hastings in Sussex, has formed a sea shanty singing group to help raise funds. The team was founded in1970 and performs the same role as the RNLI, but at considerably less cost, and are responsible for raising the money needed to support their life-saving service.

Guided by a singing coach, the Pett Slip Buoys are meeting every Monday for vocal training and already have

a trio of shanties under their life jackets.

PLIRB’s aim is to

raise funds towards operational costs and ultimately the purchase

of a new lifeboat. More information from www.plirb.com

The Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat on its launch trailer (picture courtesy of ITV News Meridian).

Mevagissey 2023 Shanty merchandise

T-shirts for this year’s Harwich International Shanty Festival are now available and the organisers report that they are proving very popular and already selling well. Sold from the Visitor Centre on the Ha’Penny Pier in Harwich, they can also be ordered for delivery by post from the event’s website store.

Other merchandise includes shanty mugs, song books, zip-up hoodies and Breton tops, so check out the full range.

A badge-making

workshop was held in July, with the committee producing an assortment of these festival mementos.

More information from www.harwichshantyfestival. co.uk

This year’s Mevagissey Shanty Festival takes place in this small, but beautifully formed, village on the South Coast of Cornwall from 13-15 October. Visitors can expect a wide variety of welcoming venues to stage the glorious shanty and folk acts just as they did the previous year. In 2022, venues included The Jubilee Hall and Mevagissey Museum, as well as pubs like The Ship Inn, The Fountain Inn, the Cellar Bar and the Harbour Tavern. There was also a ‘Jetty Stage’ on the village seafront and other nearby pubs such as The Rising Sun Inn in Portmellon,

The Llawnroc Hotel in Gorran Haven, The Crown Inn in St Ewe and the Into The Woods bar and restaurant in Pentewan, which all hosted shanty acts.

The Meva Shanty Fest 2023 is expected to attract a good deal of support from way beyond the village due to the wealth of talent on display.

Notable shantymen and women taking part last year were The Drecklys, an all-female group, the Tavy Tars, Flash Jack, the extraordinary Cape Cornwall Singers, the Bach Beach Boyz and The Lower Deckers.

More information from www.mevashantyfest.co.uk

Trading post A

Heavy cotton pirate pants Sailor’s diary

long pair of durable, 100% cotton pants (Reference 120062) supplied by Southern Swords is suitable for a variety of roles on board ship from cabin boy to quartermaster. With its draw-string waist, generous cut, slightly flared legs and extra deep pockets, these trousers are comfortable when worn loose or inside a seaboot.

Sizes are S/M and L/XL and they are available in green, as well as black or with black and white stripes.

They should only be drycleaned

The model is also wearing the company’s blue pirate waistcoat (Reference 120063).

More information from www.southernswords.co.uk

Equipped with the Epic Armoury Sailor’s Diary from Larp Inn (Reference PO12950BR) pirates that have learned to write can make sure they know when they are due to set sail on their next pillaging expedition and record their adventures for future generations!

The book is designed as a ring binder with 55 sheets of tanned, six-hole punched sheets measuring 8.5 × 13 cm. It is therefore easy to add or remove additional pages if needed.

The cover and string binding are made from faux leather coloured either brown or red

with three pendants attached – two made from metal in the shape of a ship’s wheel and an anchor, and a third made from crystal. More information from www.larpinn.co.uk

More Bigger & Better Pirate Stuff

Double underarm holsters

Twice the firepower is offered by double underarm holsters created by leatherwork expert Darkblade.

Pirates and smugglers can carry two weapons in these holsters made from medium weight leather (2

mm) suspended from a shoulder harness. They are designed to fit the company’s standard range of pistols and the harness size can be easily adjusted to suit the wearer. More information from www.darkblade.co.uk

Tel: 07986 335478

E-mail: larp@darkbladeuk.co.uk

www.darkbladeuk.co.uk

Tel: 07961 572032

E-mail: cw1@gmx.co.uk

Wooden tankards

Step back in time and try a pint the pirate way by drinking from The Pirate Shop’s genuine, handmade wooden mugs. Available in two sizes, these durable tankards provide an unusual, but enjoyable way to enjoy your favourite pint.

The large tankard has a height of 17 cm and a circumference of 32 cm.

The small version (Editor: suitable for a wench perhaps) has a height of 14 cm and a circumference of 29 cm. More information from www.thepirateshop.co.uk

Fob compass

A dry needle compass in a pocket watch-style brass case is just one of a range of nautical instruments available from Nauticalia Ltd. Brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) is easy to work with, can be polished to a gleaming shine and has a high degree of corrosion resistance, making it the traditional choice of

metal for use in harsh marine environments.

The compass has a diameter of 1.75 inches and the chain is 18 inches long.

It is supplied in a polished hardwood box measuring 3.0 inches square and 1.5 inches deep.

More information from www.nauticalia.com

Captain and crew are visiting as many pirate events as they can with their stall, not the boat, unfortunately!

We shall have all you will need to bring out ‘yer inner pirate’ from shirts, hats, trousers and flags to piratical accessories beyond count. We stock 17th & 18th Century weaponry, as well as Celtic, Gothic, Steam-punk shirts and T-shirts plus a range of jewellery and accessories. So we hope to see you at one of the events this year, but if you cannot make it, we can be found in Penzance Harbour, Cornwall.

www.bagorags.co.uk

Facebook@pirateBagORags @bagorags1

Penzance Harbour

Unless ye intends to steal a ship or become a mutineer if ye are already on one, then the best course of action is to sign on with one of the active pirate crews listed on these two pages. If retired from a life of piracy, then ye’ve a duty to keep faith with The Brethren by celebrating ‘International Talk Like a Pirate Day’ on 19th September every year!

Aberystwyth Pirate Society

www.abersu.co.uk/society/piratesociety/

Appledore Pirates

www.facebook.com/app.pirates/ Blackwater Pirates

www.facebook.com/groups/2968567940086465/

Brixham Pirate Festival www.brixhampirates.com

Brotherhood of the Black www.brotherhood-of-the-black.co.uk

Cambridge Skeleton Crew www.facebook.com/Cambridge-Skeleton-Pirate-Crew-21145581 05283991/?ref=py_c

Coastal Union of Pirates Privateers Aviators & Steampunks www.facebook.com/groups/564365187654696

Cutthroats, Pirates, Thieves an Fun Lovers www.facebook.com/groups/626925014509041/permalink/986442898557249

Drumskullz

www.facebook.com/drumskullz

East Coast Pirates (Whitby) www.facebook.com/groups/187485482170319

Essex Pirate Society www.facebook.com/groups/245074562902068

Greyhounds of St Edmund www.facebook.com/groups/156887281148110/members

Hastings and Eastbourne Pyrates www.facebook.com/groups/192667164601226/?fref=nf

Hawkhurst Gang Bonfire Society www.hgbs.org.uk

Heart of the South West www.brotherhood-of-the-black.co.uk/fullscreen-page/ comp-jb2kqfu4/d3247830-2479-4c4c-9b37-75d6cc43dd1e/9/%3Fi%3D9%26p%3Df1lx9%26s%3Dstyle-jf9xgtpi

International Talk Like a Pirate Day www.talklikeapirate.com

Peninsular Pyrates www.discoverlandguard.org.uk

Pirates and Smugglers of the UK www.facebook.com/groups/1503592149898698/permalink/2941689819422250

Pirates of Poole, www.piratesofpoole.co.uk

Piratical Union of Buccaneers, Corsairs and Associated Trades www.pubcat.org.uk

Plundering Pirates of the North East www.facebook.com/plunderingpiratesnortheast

Brotherhood of the Black

Brixham Pirate Festival

East Coast Pirates

CUPPAS Heart

PUBCAT

Purbeck Pirates

www.facebook.com/groups/1224784210899407

River Rogues (Pirate living history re-enactment, Oxford) www.facebook.com/groups/riverrogues

Sea Dragon Pirates

www.facebook.com/frank.sharman.79

Sheppey Pirates

www.sheppeypirates.co.uk

Suffolk Free Company: Pirates

www.suffolkfreecompany.org.uk/piratesuffolks

Sully Smugglers

www.sullysmugglers.webs.com

The Jolly Rogers – Dorset

www.jollyrogersdorset.co.uk

The Pirate Castle

www.thepiratecastle.org

The Pirate Society (University of Sussex)

www.facebook.com/sussexpirates

The Pirate’s Rum Bible

www.facebook.com/groups/3461839360611139

The Sea Dragons

www.facebook.com/frank.sharman.79

Vectis Buccaneers Re-Enactment Society

www.facebook.com/Vectis-Buccaneers-Re-enactment-society-499770177437687/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Whitby International Pirate Society

www.whitbypirates.co.uk

Vectis Buccaneers

Sea Dragon Pirates

Where to see pirate action

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this calendar, but like the weather, dates may be subject to change, so you are advised to check the forecast with the organiser’s website afore setting sail. The Editor of Pirate Plunder would also be much obliged if those arranging festivals would let him know of any changes to location, duration or even cancellation of their events due to battles with bureaucrats, plagues from Far Cathay or other circumstances beyond their control.

Weymouth Pirate Fest

Weymouth, Dorset

6-8 October, 2023

www.weymouthpiratefest.com

Harwich International Shanty Festival Harwich, Essex

13-15 October, 2023

www.harwichshantyfestival.co.uk

The Rumfest

ILEC Conference Centre, Earls Court, London

14-15 October, 2023

www.rumfest.co.uk

St Ives Shanty Shout

St Ives, Cornwall

24-25 November, 2023

www.stivesshantyshout.co.uk

International Mermaid Day

All around the Seven Seas

29 March, 2024

www.daysoftheyear.com/day/mermaidday

International Scurvy Awareness Day

All around the Globe

2 May, 2024

www.scurvyday.com

IPC Rendez-Vous, Brixham, Devon

3 May, 2024

www.facebook.com/ events/1059452565434692

Brixham Pirate Festival Brixham, Devon

4-6 May, 2024

www.brixhampirates.com

Swanage Living History Pirate Festival

Swanage, Dorset

18-19 May, 2024

www.facebook.com/purbeckpiratefestival

The Original Conwy

Pirate Festival

The Quay, Conwy, North Wales

8-9 June, 2024

www.conwypirates.com

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Falmouth International Sea

Shanty Festival

Falmouth, Cornwall

14-16 June, 2024

www.falmouthseashanty.co.uk

Harr y Paye Day

Poole Quay, Poole, Dorset

15 June, 2024

www.piratesofpoole.co.uk

Pirate Mutiny

Matlock Bath, Derbyshire

3-4 August, 2024

www.thefishpondmatlockbath.co.uk

Grain d’Pirate

Binic-Étables-sur-Mer, Brittany, France

10-11 August, 2024

www.graindpirate.fr

International Talk

Like a Pirate Day

All around the Globe

19 September, 2024

www.talklikeapirate.com