Pirate Plunder May 2024

Pirate Parade at 12 noon, all pirates welcome to join... Live Music – Fairground rides – Wimborne Militia Cannons

Meet Jack Sparrow and our very own Pirate Surgeon Sawbone Coffin Children’s Fancy Dress Competition & Treasure Hunt Stocks – Tombola – Stalls – Ball & Chain – Aunt Sally Boards

Face Painting & much more – Pirates of Poole Shenanigans for all!

Organised by: Pirates of Poole piratesofpoole@yahoo.co.uk – Activities subject to change –

Collecting on behalf of 3 local charities A huge thank you to our Sponsors

Volume 7 Number 18

May 2024

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 Young Editorial Services

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©2024 Young Editorial Services

Front Cover. Main image: Under cover of night,

from Portugal

harbour. Inset: Ric

The Brixham Pirate Festival was, as I report on page 14, an unqualified success, with something for everyone to savour. When I launched Pirate Plunder exactly six years ago, my intention was to give British pirate crews a chance to tell their tales, but I took no view on how they or individual pirates that have charitable intentions should comport themselves.

I have every respect for those who take a serious view of pirate history by ensuring that their clothing and weaponry is faithful to the times in which they were worn and wielded, but Brixham proved that pirates come in all shapes and sizes, and included some very attractive wenches, whose attire would not have afforded much protection against a brisk South-Westerly! I met a Steampunk Pirate, Caroline Wallis, who assured me there was no such thing as ‘over the top’ as far as pirate fashion was concerned and the throng on the quayside and in the taverns of the town proved her right.

The Pirate Brethren of these isles do much for charity and clearly enjoy having fun whilst doing so – we can all drink to that!

Scuttlebutt

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

Broadside

Letters and e-mails from readers have informed the Editor aboutthe next generation of pirates, charities donated to by University of Manchester Pirate Society and Pirate Plunder on TV.

There be pirates in

Camden Town!

The Pirate Castle, Camden’s community boating charity, has been flying the flag for opportunity, learning and adventure for almost 60 years, opening up the waterways for people of all ages and abilities through a raft of canal boating, kayaking/canoeing, training and volunteer initiatives.

Captain’s journal

The Captain and his quartermaster, Davy, set themselves to find a Voodoo man to lift the curse on their ship. They did, but Mr Madiba proved to be a charlatan.

Smugglers’ HQ in

The Walnut Tree

The Aldington Gang, an infamous band of smugglers known as The Blues, made The Walnut Tree in Aldington, Kent, their headquarters and used the inn as a drop point for others of the gang to deliver illicit contraband.

Festival focus

The Editor reports on the mighty Brixham Pirate Festival and gives advance notice of three new fests for 2024, including onethat has been revived from a decade ago.

Pirates of the Florida coast

14

18 Cap’n Bill (Mayhem) McRae of the St Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum tells how Sir Francis Drake burned St Augustine to the ground in 1586. The settlement was sacked again by the dreaded Robert Searles in 1668, leading to the construction of what is the oldest masonry fort in the continental US.

Shantyman

20

Some fabulous shanty artists are booked for the 18th Harwich International Shanty Festival, including a return visit from the very popular and talented UK crew, Kimber’s Men, with theiramazing harmonies and amusing banter.

Trading post

22

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

How to become a pirate

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.

the carrack Nao Victoria

glides into

(Captain Blackheart) Vince of Brixham has the drop on Wayne Mark Truman of The Captain’s Cabin in Heanor, Derbyshire (both pictures courtesy of Chris Slack Photography).

Drummers inspired by pirates

The Raven drumming band was inspired by all the Johnny Depp look-alikes marauding through the streets of Hastings to put a tune together simply called ‘Pirates’. It features loud drumming and shouting that captures the essence of the town’s passion for pirates.

The band’s home town is currently holder of the Guinness Book

Raven drummers outside The Seadog in Hastings.

of World Records for the largest gathering of pirates, which it first set in 2010. The following year, Penzance took the title, with a total of 8,734 people dressed as pirates, privateers and nefarious seadogs.

Not to be outdone, 14,231 pirates gathered on the beach to regain the record for Hastings in 2012, which the town has held ever since.

Starting gun

On St Patrick’s Day, the Sheppey Pirates attended the 10 km Smugglers Run at Minnis Bay in Kent –not to participate, but to fire the starting gun. Although it was a damp March morning, much fun was had by all those

taking part in the event. Instead of firing a pistol, the runners were sent on their way by one of the crew’s swivel guns, which gave the crew a chance to air out some of their weaponry after the long Winter doldrums!

It’s a fact

The word ‘grog’ for rum mixed with water is derived from the nickname given to Admiral Edward Vernon, Commanderin-Chief of the Royal Navy’s West Indies Station. The crew called him Old Grog because of the old grogram coat made from mohair and silk that he wore when the weather was bad.

In those days, sailors were issued with a half-pint of rum every day, which led to much drunkenness on board.

On 21 August, 1740, he gave the infamous Order to Captains No.349, which required them to add a quart of water to the half-pint or rum from a scuttled butt

Admiral Edward Vernon (picture courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London).

kept on deck. The sailors were not, to put it mildly, happy that the rum ration was to be diluted and thereafter called it ‘grog’ after their nickname for Admiral Vernon.

Lime juice was also added to ‘grog’ as a means of preventing scurvy, which is how the British became known as ‘Limeys’!

Bonny buccaneer

A welcome addition to The Pirate Brethren is Julian David KnightBowers seen here in the arms of dad Craig (AKA Jack Sparrow Essex of the Blackwater Pirates). He is the first child of Craig and Heather, who were told many years ago that

they would not be able to have children, so he is their little miracle.

Craig is the Director of HKCB Designs (see advert on page 11) and told Pirate Plunder that he and Heather hope Julian gets to explore all the fun things life has to offer, from pirating to making friends and, perhaps, becoming a farmer like his parents.

Craig added that one day he also expects Julian to overthrow Commodore Clyde Jackdaw and become the true and rightful leader of the Blackwater Pirates!

Pillaging to save young lives

The notorious Exeter-based pirate Ned Jackdaw has let it be known that on Saturday, 22 June, pillaging will take place in the city of Exeter to raise funds for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol. The hospital saved his youngest child’s life when she was born too early at 26 weeks and four days. The charity that will benefit is Cots for Tots (www.grandappeal. org.uk/cots-for-tots), which was created in

2010. Its vast family of fundraisers share one vision: to ensure every sick or premature baby from across the SouthWest has access to the very best care, 365 days a year.

Ned Jackdaw.

Successful day for pedalling pirates

Valley Hospital Charity supports healthcare at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust by fundraising and volunteering. On 8 February, the crew of Darent Valley Hospital Pirates dropped anchor in the hospital’s foyer to take part in ‘Pirates Pedalling for Paediatrics’. They were ably assisted by the department’s staff and Valley Park Radio’s Traviss, who made the occasion such a successful day.

Always on the lookout for new shipmates, DVH Pirates’ intrepid buccaneers regaled passersby with witty banter, pirate

tales and sea shanties. Their efforts received a hearty response from the hospital’s generous community, who donated an amazing £571 for the Lollipop Children’s Fund. Readers wishing to donate further treasure should contact: www. valleyhospitalcharity.org. uk

Broadside

This is probably the best e-mail I’ve received in 2023 or in the top three at least – thank you very much (Editor: being keen to enlist the next generation o’ pirates, I wrote to say I’d be happy to feature Patrick’s lad on this page. O’course, I be hoping that he’ll eventually become a reader o’ Pirate Plunder).

The cabin boy is called Rory, though he calls himself either Cap’n Rory or The Jolly Rory. Here’s a picture of him with his faithful parrot Squawk and two of his 14 swords, with which he arms himself depending on how the mood takes him.

We live very close to Cambridge and I saw there’s a Cambridge Crew! Do you know if they have any regular events? Rory would be thrilled to

University of Manchester Pirate Society would be honoured to be included in your scurrilous rag (Editor: see page 25)!

Our values as a society are to plunder (voluntarily) the riches of the public to donate to a range of charities fighting homelessness, hunger, poverty, LGBT+ discrimination and animal abuse – pirates lived in fair and equal societies, so why shouldn’t we?

We charge a small optional ticket fee for our events that is 100% donated to charity. The charities that we donate to are Macmillan Cancer Support, RSPCA, Lifeshare and Manchester Pride.

Cap’n Rory and faithfull parrot Squawk.

Bo and Liz, Manchester

Pirate Society

Just watched ‘Have I Got News For You’. Pirate Plunder on TV and even a quote from you! We were both extremely impressed.

Well done (Editor: this message arrived just 18 minutes after the programme ended).

Ian and Sue Marriott, Southampton, Hants

& give no quarter me hearties!

OLD HARRY’S LOCKER

in Swanage, Dorset, for Nautical Curios

Antiques and Collectables

Tel: 07961 572032

E-mail: cw1@gmx.co.uk

There be pirates in Camden Town!

Just a stone’s throw from Camden’s famous locks and bustling markets, you’ll find The Pirate Castle. Yes, it really is a castle – with turrets, ramparts and spooky underground vaults. It’s also home to Camden’s community boating charity, of the same name. It’s been flying the flag for opportunity, learning and adventure for almost 60 years, opening up the waterways for

people of all ages and abilities through a raft of canal boating, kayaking/canoeing, training and volunteer initiatives. It all started in Autumn, 1965, when a group of bored local lads hollered across the Regent’s Canal “Oi, Mister – can we ‘ave a go in yer rowin’ boats?”

Little did hereditary peer Lord St Davids know what his kindly act would set in motion when he agreed to take the boys out boating

that day.

Word quickly spread and numbers swelled, despite the gloom and gales of Winter, and recognising the need and potential, by the Summer of ‘66 ‘Old Pegleg’ (as the kids called him) had bought ‘Rosedale’, an old steel Thames barge, for use as a floating club-house for the now 120-strong crew of young boaters, secured a berth from Camden Council and cobbled together a fleet of rowing boats, sailing

craft and canoes, so was The Regent’s Boat Club born. Along with boating and safety skills, the boys and girls learned how to splice ropes, rig sails and also plunder, raiding passing trip boats for pieces of eight to help fund the club. Their raids soon became infamous and the kids coined a new and appropriate name for their motley crew –

Preparing for a ‘seal’ launch of a kayak below the castle.

Young pirates learning the ropes.

Volunteers Lorraine Fox (left) and Hazel Saunders.

‘Pirate Club’.

They acquired their own castle in 1977, when the electricity board asked Camden Council if they could lay cables beneath the towpath, which runs through the borough. The Council agreed on the condition that they built a new club-house for the young pirates opposite the proposed cooling station. The quirky castle was designed by Sir Richard Siefert, a renowned architect better-known for Centre Point and the Natwest Tower.

Canal boating was introduced in the 80s, with two 70 ft narrowboats, Pirate Princess and Pirate Viscount. These enabled the intrepid young pirates to explore new waters on residential trips and learn to steer the boats and operate canal locks. Prince Charles and Princess Diana even came to launch Pirate Princess, with much celebration.

The charity was renamed ‘The Pirate Castle’ in 2010, a few years after the building was extended to make it fully-accessible, with changing rooms and showers. Despite challenges over the years and the pandemic threatening to sink the enterprise, this small, but mighty, charity’s going from strength to strength. Its fleet now includes a fully-accessible wide beam canal boat, a

traditional narrowboat and a wide array of kayaks and canoes. It’s a member of the National Community Boats Association and trains volunteer skippers and crew in-house. It’s also a Paddle UK (formerly British Canoeing) club, with a focus on providing low-cost and

often free activities for kids, special needs and disability groups and disadvantaged communities. Today, over 4,000 people take to the water with the club each year.

It relies on fundraising and the hire of our services to keep afloat, and couldn’t do

what it does without its amazing crew of volunteers. If you’d like to find out more or get involved, check the website below or, even better, come and visit –The Pirate Castle’s skull and crossbones is always flying!

More information from www.thepiratecastle.org

Captain’s journal 1 st March, 1674

Afortnight has passed since my spectral visitation. Before the crew’s return, I’d recovered my wits sufficiently to get to my cabin, open the bottle I’d fetched and promptly lose them again under a tidal wave of rum. On the morrow, a consultation with Davy (while nursing a hangover of monstrous potency) brought me to a point of action. The book hadn’t helped much with letting us know what we were up against, now we needed a professional. Back home there was little chance of seeing a wise woman. No doubt they were still around, but consorting with someone accused of witchcraft could get you hanged as a witch yourself, so only the desperate would dare. Here in the Caribbean beliefs are different and intermediaries with the lost and the damned still own respect, so we set ourselves to finding a Voodoo man. Yesterday we found one. It all looked promising at first, we’d put the word out that we’d pay good coin to anyone who found us a contact. A few days ago, a young lad, one of the natives, offered to take us to one ‘Mr Madiba’. So, with a certain amount of trepidation we made our way to his dwelling on the outskirts of town. Our guide left us outside a gaudily-decorated building with instructions to knock three times and wait to be called forward. Chalky went and knocked while I inspected the various items

littering the yard before the house – cloth charms, wooden dolls hanging from a tree and a ramshackle chicken coop with a couple of scrawny bantams desultorily scratching at the dirt.

urgently.

“AAUUUEEEOOOGH!”

“What an eccentric performance,” I whispered to my visibly alarmed companion.

“AWOOOOOGH!!!”

At this point several things happened at once: the items on the table before us sprang into the air, floating without support; letting out a thin scream, Chalky jumped to his feet and, being a very tall man, banged his head on the ceiling; the ceiling opened and a screaming midget fell headfirst on to the table, knocking himself out cold. “Good lord Chalky, he’s summoned up a comatose midget! If he can’t help us I don’t know who can!”

On entering the house, the first thing to hit you was the smell – strong incense mixed with a barnyard aroma, the second thing was the heat. There were two fires burning on either side of the room and lit candles planted on every available surface. As soon as you walked inside, the sweat broke out on your forehead and you started feeling claustrophobic inside your own clothes. The overall effect was very impressive it has to be said. This was all amplified by Mr Madiba himself, a diminutive character of extraordinary appearance seated in an old leather chair. His head resembled a skull and his chin was adorned with a whispy beard. He beckoned us forward and led us to a table with various items placed on it, bones, jewellery, etc.

After paying him a frankly exorbitant fee, we gave him our story and asked him our questions, what is haunting us, how do we make it stop? Madiba’s eyes suddenly rolled up into his head, he jumped up and screamed

Chalky being rather faster on the uptake and realising he’d been tricked into screaming like a tiny, demure schoolgirl, switched from terrified to terrifying. Slamming the feebly protesting charlatan against a wall, he extracted from him not just all our money, but also an oath not to breathe a word to anyone about him screaming. Oh, and on the way out, we stole his chickens! Back to the drawing board I fear.

Smugglers HQ in The Walnut Tree

On the first of December, The Walnut Tree in Aldington, Kent, gained a new and enthusiastic landlady. Hannah Scullion (27) now runs the charming Shepherd Neame country inn, which she knows well having washed up there during the school holidays for the previous landlady, Karen Frith. She has also served at tables and, when 18, worked behind the bar.

The inn was built during the Crusades in the reign of Richard II (1377-1399). Centuries later, it became the headquarters of the Aldington Gang, an infamous band of smugglers known as The Blues that roamed Romney Marsh and the Kent shoreline plying their nefarious trade.

The smugglers were led first by Cephas Quested and then George Ransley, both local men, who

made The Walnut Tree their headquarters and used the inn as a drop point for others of their gang to deliver illicit contraband across the marshes On the Southern side of the Inn is a small window through which a signal light would be shone when it was safe for them to approach.

The gang is thought to have been formed around 1817, but the first recorded mention of their activities was not until November, 1820, after its members returned home from the Napoleonic Wars.

In February, 1821, the Battle of Brookland took place between the Aldington Gang and a blockade force working with Customs and Excise men. The smugglers had sent 250 men down to the coast to unload contraband, but were spotted from the Watch House at Camber.

Fighting then continued over Walland Marsh until

they reached Brookland where the gang turned on the blockade force. In the confusion of battle, Quested passed a musket to a nearby man and ordered him to kill an officer. Unfortunately, the man turned out to be a Midshipman, who promptly arrested him. At the end of the battle, five men lay dead and over 20 had been wounded. Quested was taken to Newgate Prison and sentenced to be hanged for his crimes on 4 July the same year.

After this battle, Ransley took over the gang and it became even stronger, landing goods along the coast from Rye to Deal. In July, 1826, they were caught

on the beach at Dover and a Midshipman, Richard Morgan, was killed. Ransley was arrested at Aldington in October by the Bow Street Runners on suspicion of murder, but as it took place in the dark, the death sentence was converted to deportation

He was sent to work on a farm in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) where he was joined by his wife, Elizabeth, and their children. He was finally granted a pardon in 1838 and died in 1856 at the age of 74.

His gang would probably have appreciated a meal at their old HQ as today it offers homecooked food, including a popular Sunday roast. On Hannah’s first visit from the Food Standards Agency in March, she also received a top rating of ‘Very Good’. More information from www.facebook.com/dineat quarry house/?locale=en _GB

New landlady Hannah Scullion behind the bar with her fiancé Adam Budd.

The inn’s cosy restaurant embellished with firearms (picture courtesy of John Baker).

Festival focus

Pirates: the future

By Marck (Capt’n Smoo) Forget*

In the wake of challenges posed by the post-pandemic era, some crew members still navigate through tumultuous waters. As we charted a course towards rejuvenating spirits and strengthening the foundations of our community, during a ‘meet and greet’ event at The Bullers Arms courtesy of owner Kevin Lang, we discussed initiatives aimed at enhancing camaraderie, organising fund-raising activities and attracting sponsors to finance the activities of pirate organisations around the world.

In the darkest days of the pandemic, the International Pirate Community (IPC) suffered losses – many organisations disappeared, greatly impacting the morale of pirates. Our discussions revealed the need to organise small activities to boost morale and strengthen bonds among crew members. Initiatives such as adopting Catherine Girad’s proposal to declare May as the international month of pirate crews and another suggestion to host social board game nights and visits to children’s hospitals were mooted.

Recognising the imperative to adapt and innovate in the postCovid19 landscape, we

discussed establishing a circuit composed of Pirate Festivals. This circuit would contribute to promoting artists and artisans in our international community, and subsidising their travel to different venues across the seven seas, thus transforming each festival into a beacon of pirate culture and a celebration of diversity.

Given the rising cost of living and lack of government subsidies for cultural initiatives, there is an urgent need for pirates to be self-financing. Thus, we explored fundraising activities and major sponsorships. To finance our projects, we considered producing collectible ‘gold’ coins and installing vending machines in key locations to raise funds. The possibility was suggested of entering into strategic partnerships with major companies to support the creation of international pirate events. We also announced that the destination of the next pirate rendez-vous, scheduled for 2026, will be in Canada.

In conclusion, we reiterate that we are ready to collaborate with all pirates to foster the growth of entertainment piracy in this new era of peace.

*Governor, International Pirate Community.

Successful Brixham Pi

The party began on Friday night, with pirates of both sexes spilling out of Brixham’s bars to meet old friends and chat to different crews along the quayside in the balmy air. Meanwhile serious conversations were taking place inside as the festival was host to those representing the International Pirate Community, which last met two years ago in Long Beach, California. The weather was perfect on Saturday, with a blue sky and a light breeze, so the pirates mustered in force, outnumbering visitors by a big margin – anyone not wearing a tricorn looked very out of place!

Brixham Pirate Festival had produced a well-

designed map, which marked the position of assembly points, stages, traders, medical centres and toilets. It also contained a programme of events on the main stage and skirmishes aboard The Golden Hind in the harbour.

Music was provided by a wealth of established talent from pirate entertainers, including

These two Steampunk Pirates

There was a variety of dress codes on display.

rate Festival is best yet

boasted stunning accessories.

Black Friday, the Captain’s Beard, Gurdybird, JollyRoger, the Pirates of St Piran, Queen Anne’s Revenge and Reivers Gallows. The unmistakeable sound of shanty singers was also heard along the quay.

The free-to-attend Brixham Pirate Festival is only able to continue because of its amazing crew of volunteers and friends, who help out in so many ways. Invaluable

support also comes from the Festival’s generous donors and sponsors such as English Riviera Business Improvement District, Inter-Line Building Supplies, Brixham Town Council, the Devon Rum Company, Bays Brewery, Havills Services (electrical and event contractors) and Kents Cavern (prehistoric caves).

The 2024 event was an unqualified success and committee member Louisa Anderson addressed all those who attended with the following message: “Ahoy there, maties! We be o’er the moon to have hoisted Fishbone Freddie and hosted the International RendezVous this year. Ye should know that we be absolutely delighted that plans are under weigh for Brixham’s International Pirate Festival 2025! Fair winds to ye all”.

Festival focus

Three new fests

The pirate lifestyle continues to exert a strong pull on the heartstrings of those of an independent mind and The Brethren and their community seem to be more in the public eye than ever through charitable activities. This growing allure is reflected in the success of pirate festivals and various forms of nautical entertainment such as shanty singing, which has become increasingly popular in recent years.

Three new pirate festivals for 2024 have been added to the list on page 26, two for the first time and one that has been revived from a decade ago.

Ventnor Pirate Fest

The sunny Isle of Wight boasts the Victorian town of Ventnor with its unique heritage and quirky shops. There is traditionally a Carnival week each August with parades and processions. One of the regular floats is a creative pirate ship entered by The Spyglass Inn.

The carnival runs for a whole week, with both adult and children’s entertainment, and on the last day of the celebration (17 August), the town’s seafront will be brought to life by the first-ever Ventnor Pirate Fest. On that day, an illuminated Procession takes place in the evening.

There will be pirate games and shanty singers on the Esplanade and in The Spyglass Inn to provide entertainment supported by a crew of local pirates

Pirates of all ages and both genders mixed together.

The Spyglass Inn will provide entertainment.

Festival focus

to welcome pirates and landlubbers alike!

Faversham

Pirate Festival

Another first-time event is the Faversham Pirate Festival – home to the pirate John Ward, also

known as Jack, who is considered to be the inspiration for Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Ward’s nickname was ‘Sparrow’ and he was known for his flamboyant style, not dissimilar to Johnny Depp!

It will take place on The Town Quay, Front Brents and Standard Quay from 10 am to 6 pm on 7 July. During the day, a range of musical tastes will be satisfied, including folk-rock by ‘The Ragged Bandits’, drumming by ‘Raven’ and shanties

from ‘Upping the Shanty’ and ‘Lowering the Tone’. Children will be well-catered for by a fancy dress competition, face-painting and a Punch and Judy show. The Sheppey Pirates will demonstrate their expertise in small arms fire with pistols, muskets and other weapons. There will also be a cannon display. For those looking for unusual and original gifts there will be a variety of charity and craft stalls, as well as food and drink.

Withernsea Pirate Festival

Following the tenth Withernsea Pirate Festival Reunion, it was decided to reinstate the Withernsea Pirate Crew and hold a festival to provide music, dance and games based on a pirate theme at Valley Gardens, Withernsea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, from midday to 10.30 pm on 20 July. Local organisations such as Withernsea Youth Action, Scouts, football

teams, craft groups, etc, benefit from the event as they are offered the chance to take stalls and spaces at the showground on a ‘no fee’ basis to promote their services, recruit members and sell their wares.

An estimated crowd of

Burnham returns

Following its successful launch last year, Ant Brentnall of Burnham Pirates is organising a return of Pirates on the Quay on Bank Holiday Monday (26 August). The event now carries the sobriquet of ‘on Caribburnham Shores’ and sports a new logo. Held alongside the River Crouch, there will be more pirates, more food from around the globe, more musical entertainment, more fun for kids and more pubs participating in the day’s activities. Not to every pirate’s delight will be a few Customs and Excise men, as well as press gangers from His Majesty King George’s Navy! The festival will also have its own grog brewed for the occasion, so that pirates from God’s own county of Essex can celebrate in style.

around 5,000 is expected. Those attending will be mainly local residents (Withernsea has a population of slightly less than 6,000, which increases to an excess of 14,000 during the Summer holidays). In addition, groups of

‘Pirates’ from all over the country previously attended the event and one of the festival’s aims is to improve tourism to the town.

When organiser Lin Wilson accepted the challenge of relaunching the festival, she told

Pirate Plunder, “I never knew about pirating, but am learning fast. Despite their fearsome reputations for being ruthless cutthroats, I am overwhelmed at the kindness I have been shown by everyone in the pirate community”.

HESKIN HALL PIRATE DAY

14th July 2024

Pirate training for kids

32 ft inflatable pirate ship assault course Best-dressed pirate competitions (adult and child categories)

Stalls selling pirate gear. Cafe, bar and beer garden

Pirates of the Florida coast

By Cap’n Bill (Mayhem)McRae*

Some called them pirates. Others called them privateers. It pretty much depended on what end of the weapon you found yourself on when you came face to face with these Men of the Sea.

Florida’s Historic Coast has had more than its share of pirate activity. With over 450 years of history, St Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied, Europeanestablished settlement within the borders of the continental United States.

Florida’s Historic Coast, to include St Augustine and Ponte Vedre, can truly boast of a unique place in

history. It is the area with the most pirate activity and I dare say more pirate attacks on this coast than any other area in the US.

Let me share with you a few details of the pirate history of the state’s great Historic Coast.

French Pirate or Naval Officer, Jean Rebault, was sent by France in 1562 to establish a foothold on the Spanish claimed land of La Florida, building Fort Caroline, in what is now known as Jacksonville, Florida. In the eyes of the King of Spain, the Protestant religion of the French and the acts of piracy committed from Fort Caroline, truly made the French encroachment on

Spanish soil a dangerous nest of pirates. This story ends with the death of Jean Rebault at the hands of Pedro Menendez in 1565 and begins the story of St Augustine.

Sir Francis Drake is termed a privateer in the history books of England, having been granted that status by Queen Elizabeth I, but in the history books of Spain, Drake is portrayed in a completely different light as he arrived in St Augustine in 1586, to pillage, plunder and burn the entire city to the ground. He reached the shores of St Augustine with 23 ships and over 2,000 men in his command, making short work of the

The Men of Menendez recreate the raids by Robert Searles and Sir Francis Drake every year (picture courtesy of LeVeille Images).

total destruction of St Augustine. The sacking of St Augustine in 1668 was carried out by the dreaded Robert Searles, when under cover of the night, his men crept into the sleeping town, pillaging, plundering and killing over 60 people. The devastation and terror of this attack finally prompted Spain to build the Castillo de San Marcos, which still stands tall today as the oldest masonry fort in the continental US. Construction of the fort began in 1672

and was completed in 1695, a 23-year project and now a ‘must see’ attraction for all visitors to the oldest city in America. Every year, the Men Of Menendez, a re-enactment group, recreate Searles’ Raid in March and the one by Drake in June.

Another Pirate of note was Andrew Ranson. In 1684, he was captured on the beaches of what is now called Vilano. His story of capture and failed execution, by the garrote, in the town square is a constant tale told by many a local tour guide. It is also said that he had a hand in the building of Castillo de San Marcos and left a family lineage in the city.

Pirates led by Nicholas

The raid prompted Spain to build the Castillo de San Marcos (picture courtesy of US National Park Service).

de Grammont made not one but two failed attempts to attack St Augustine, first in 1686 and again 1688, after which he sailed off into the Atlantic Ocean to be

lost at sea forever!

For over four centuries Florida’s Historic Coast has stood against all manner of attack and it would not be the place it is today without these stories of pirates to enrich its history.

*Tour Guide, St Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum (www. thepiratemuseum.com).

Excitement builds for Harwich Shanty Festival

Plans are well underway for this year’s Harwich International Shanty Festival, when fearsome pirates will be seen roaming the streets and the quaint and historic town will resound with traditional shanties and sea songs once more in celebration of its rich and fascinating maritime history. The 18th festival in the series will take place from 11-13 October. Some fabulous shanty artists are booked, including a return visit from the very popular and talented UK crew, Kimber’s Men, with their amazing harmonies and amusing banter. International visitors include Brise Glace from Canada and Grietje Sprot from The Netherlands. The French Canadian Brise Glace are a band of four multi-instrumentalists,

who perform lively interpretations of sea songs and shanties with passion and energy. Grietje Sprot dress in traditional costumes and act out their songs about the Friesland fishing community with the aid of authentic props. Many familiar names will be welcomed back to the festival, some of whom have been with the event since it began began.

There will be Shadow Puppetry and beach activities for children, as well as the return of popular events at the Redoubt Napoleonic Fort, including the King’s German Artillery and Sea Fencibles, who will be attempting to protect the town from the marauding River Rogues and Sheppey Pirates. There will also be skirmishes on the beach. Street theatre will be provided by Inner State Theatre and Kipperland will be providing kippers smoked in the traditional way. The talented Andy Peters will also be demonstrating the old and traditional craft of Figurehead Carving.

The Electric Palace Cinema will feature

shows about Hull Trawling and the transportation of convicts to Australia. A wide variety of workshops will include the popular Jig Dolls with Martin Judkins and Corine Nugteren, Bones with ‘Dutch Uncle’ Hans Weehuizen and Singing in Public for the First Time with Liz Randall. There will also be Shanty Trains with pirates and entertainment, Thames Barge Victor Cruises with shanty singers on board, guided tours of Old Harwich, the Redoubt and Beacon Hill Fort, and Christopher Jones’ house will be open to the public.

More information from www.harwichshantyfestival. co.uk

Brise Glace from Canada.

The popular and talented Kimber’s Men.

Sea shanty festivals

Given the growing interest in shanty singing, perhaps as a result of the unexpected success of ‘Wellerman’ about antipodean whalers by Nathan Evans, with a rendition of the song by The

‘Furthest from the Sea’ Shanty and Pirate Festival

Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire 8 June, 2024 www.facebook.com/profile.php?id= 100057568804802&sk=events

Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival

Falmouth, Cornwall 14-16 June, 2024 www.falmouthseashanty.co.uk

Longest Johns from Bristol also entering the hit parade, the number of sea shanty festivals now deserves a separate listing to the calendar of events advising where to see pirate action on page 26.

However, it is good to know

Wild Atlantic

Shanty Festival

Rosses Point, Sligo, Ireland

21-23 June, 2024 www.wildatlanticshanty.eu

Sea Shanty and Folk Music Festival

Weston-super-Mare, Somerset 2-4 August, 2024 www.wsmshantyfest.com

that the free-to-enter festival in Weston-super-Mare to raise funds for the Weston RNLI and Weston Lions has announced that pirate crews will be invading the event and encourages visitors to dress as their favourite pirate and join in the fun!

The Bristol Sea

Shanty Festival

City and County of Bristol 28 September, 2024

www.bristolshantyfestival.co.uk

Harwich International Shanty Festival

Harwich, Essex 11-13 October, 2024 www.harwichshantyfestival.co.uk

BEvery pirate’s favourite sword Pirate ship in a bottle

attlecry has added every pirate’s favourite sword to its line – the cutlass. This weapon was prized for its compact length, which was more suitable for the tight confines of a ship. This version from Battlecry has a slightly upswept blade that has a clip point tip that is perfect for thrusting. The basket is attractively decorated with cut-outs.

Fashioned from 1065 high

carbon steel, the blade has a darkened, battle-hardened finish, so is well-protected from the frequent rust spots and stains that occur so often from everyday practice and exposure to the elements. It has a full tang and is tempered to a low 50s RC. This pre-sharpened blade has gone through rigorous testing and the hands-on nature of its manufacture by master smiths makes this line unique.

A top-quality, genuine leather scabbard with metal throat and chape includes attached frog and belt loop.

The overall length of the cutlass is 74 cm, with a blade length of 62 cm and a width of 3,2 cm. It weighs 907 g.

More information from www.the pirateshop.co.uk

A four-masted ship in a bottle bearing a skull and crossbones on its spanker (Reference SKU: 1527) is one of a range supplied by Nauticalia, including the Cutty Sark, Endeavour, Mayflower and two versions of HMS Bounty.

The dimple bottle is mounted on a wooden stand and sealed with a cork, which is secured with a red seal.

More information from www.nauticalia.com

The LARP beer mug with metal bands (Reference WP0951) from Larp Inn is a throwing weapon handy for impromptu fights against other midnight boozers (Editor: this is not my advice). The mug is carved with a wood texture and coloured brown to resemble the staves of a cask, rimmed with riveted metal-hoops. The hoops connect to the metalcoloured handle which is 8 cm deep, leaving plenty of room for grip. The inside of the beer

Three doubloons tricorn hat Beer mug for fights

mug is coloured black, mimicking a dark wax typically found on the inside of wooden mugs.

The beer mug is cylindrical, standing 20 cm tall with an 18 cm diameter.

More information from www.larpinn.co.uk

This hat is based on those used during the XVIII century. The three doubloons tricorn, intended to be worn both at sea and on land, was a very popular model in its time, replacing the wide wings that had preceded it.

Available in either black or brown, they are made in Spain from high quality 2 mm thick leather, which is sourced from a selection of reliable producers. This is to ensure that the leather is in the best condition, without problems caused by dryness or cracks. Produced for durability

and long life, these tricorns feature double seams and reinforced eyelets to survive bad weather and the toughest pirate festivals!

There are five sizes: Small (54-56 cm); Medium (56-58 cm); Large (58-60 cm); XLarge (60-62 cm); and XXLarge (62-64 cm).

More information from www.southernswords.co.uk

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.

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 Pirates Festival www.brixhampiratesfestival.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

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 Purbeck Pirates www.facebook.com/groups/1224784210899407

Brotherhood of the Black

Brixham Pirates Festival

East Coast Pirates CUPPAS

Heart of the South West

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

Sea Dragon Pirates www.facebook.com/frank.sharman.79

Sharkeye’s Pirates www.sharkeyespirates.wordpress.com

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

UOM Pirate Society (University of Manchester) Instagram: @uompiratesoc

Vectis Buccaneers www.facebook.com/groups/888284338203188

Whitby International Pirate Society www.whitbypirates.co.uk

The Pirate Guys

All around the world and even hundreds of miles above it on the International Space Station, people celebrate ‘International Talk Like a Pirate Day’ on 19 September. To discover how it began by chance in 1995 visit: www.talklikeapirate.com

Vectis Buccaneers

Sea Dragon Pirates

John (Ol’ Chumbucket) Baur

Mark (Cap’n Slappy) Summers

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.

Swanage Pirate Festival

Swanage, Dorset

25-26 May, 2024

www.facebook.com/purbeckpiratefestival

The Original Conwy Pirate Festival

The Quay, Conwy, North Wales 8-9 June, 2024

www.conwypirates.com

Harry Paye Day

Poole Quay, Poole, Dorset 15 June, 2024

www.piratesofpoole.co.uk

Faversham Pirate Festival

Faversham, Kent

7 July, 2024

www.favershamtowncouncil.gov.uk/ event/faversham-pirate-festival-2024

Heskin Hall Pirate Day

Chorley, Lancashire 14 July, 2024 www.heskinhall.com

Withernsea Pirate Festival

Valley Gardens, Withernsea, East Yorkshire

20 July, 2024

www.lin2.co.uk/pirates/wordpress

Hastings Pirate Festival

Hastings, East Sussex

20-21 July, 2024

www.facebook.com/ hastingspiratesday/?locale=en_GB

Pirate Mutiny

Matlock Bath, Derbyshire

3-4 August, 2024

www.thefishpondmatlockbath.co.uk

Pirate Day

The Torbay Inn, Paignton, Devon

10 August, 2024

www.facebook.com/torbayinn

Grain d’Pirate

Binic-Étables-sur-Mer, Brittany, France

10-11 August, 2024

www.graindpirate.fr

List of Advertisers

Ventnor Pirate Fest

Ventnor, Isle of Wight

17 August, 2024

www.facebook.com/ groups/257241670734903

Day of Syn Dymchurch, Kent

24-26 August, 2024

www.dayofsyn.co.uk

Pirates on the Quay

Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

26 August, 2024

www.facebook.com/ groups/101493966363523

Whitby Pirate Festival

Whitby, North Yorkshire

30 August-1 September, 2024 www.facebook.com/ whitbypiratefestival