A big crew with a big heart
T
By John Nurden, Ade Collins and Mark Jenkins*
he first the public knew about the Sheppey Pirates was an appeal in the Sheerness Times Guardian and the Sheppey Gazette on 5 July, 1997. It read: “Wanted: Pirates for Treasure Island” and was a whacky attempt by John Nurden to put the Isle of Sheppey back on the tourist map. In March, 1997, businessman Bill Bishop and John had put together a five-year plan called ‘Selling Sheppey’ to market the Island. The ‘Sheerness Show’ would become ‘Sheppey Pirate Week’, featuring the first World Walking the Plank Championship. A news release seeking a ‘Captain Cutlass’ for Sheppey was issued. It was Adrian Collins, a 28-year-old instrument technician
12 12 Pirate Plunder c May 2019
from Minster who found himself press-ganged into this role. Even at his work in Kemsley Paper Mill, it was said, “Ade always dressed like a pirate”. His colleagues even called him Son of Blackbeard. Ade was a member of and campaigner for the Monster Raving Loony Party and had been ‘Pirating’ with them for a few years. On Sunday, 17 August, 1997, the stage was set for the World Walking the Plank Championship at Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey. It had been decided to strap a gangplank (scaffolding board) to the side of Neptune’s Jetty at high water so spectators could gather on the beach to witness the display. Donations would be
collected for the RNLI. There had been features appearing in the local press, together with stories in national papers such as the Daily Mail, The Guardian and the Weekly News – in advertising terms, the coverage was worth more than a quarter of a million pounds. The event was a news feature on the BBC, ITN’s Meridian programme and BBC Radio Kent, with the winner being interviewed broadcast on American and Australian radio networks. A second championship committee was formed in 1998 and the Sheppey
Pirates was launched with Ade Collins as Captain. As the event was threatened by logistical problems and bad weather, it was moved in its entirety to Queenborough Harbour. By the third year, there were contestants from Denmark, France and the USA. A film crew from Japan turned up and even insisted its presenter take part! During this year, some of those taking part began to investigate authentic piracy – its history, customs, weapons and clothing. The fourth battle of the plank dawned on Sunday, August 13, 2000, with a Junior Pirates Day and water-fight at Barton’s Point Coastal Park. Captain Cutlass was even named in The Sun newspaper’s top ten
