Pirate of the Peninsula

The banks of the Mersey have been awash with pirates this weekend as Merseyside’s premier beach resort, New Brighton (Southport may beg to differ...), has played host to Pirate Fest!

It’s been an opportunity for children and adults to raid the dressing-up box, listen to some bands playing sea shanties, watch some sword-fights and musket displays, get involved in all manner of nautical naughtiness, and eat plenty of chips and ice cream (let’s hope they don’t all go down with scurvy...)

New Brighton, on the Wirral Peninsula, has a rich history of sea-fairing skulduggery, piracy, privateering and smuggling; from the infamous Mother Redcap in the 18th Century to the fabulous 21st Century pirate ship created from driftwood by local artists Frank Lund and Major Mace. The ship, named The Black Pearl, in tribute to ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, has had to be rebuilt twice, after arson and storm-damage, and remains a very popular local landmark and playground.

Today’s Blip is of Frank Lund himself, watching the festivities at Fort Perch Rock.


Today’s tune is provided by local(ish) lad, George Harrison. Here he is performing ‘The Pirate Song’ on Rutland Weekend Television back in 1975... https://youtube.com/watch?v=_ACyZIXkHq0