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Preparations Continue for Arbroath Sea Fest 2011

Preparations are underway for one of the highlights of the Angus summer – Arbroath Sea Fest, which takes place on Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14.

With over 30,000 people expected to attend Sea Fest this weekend, the organisers are making sure everything will be ready when the gates open at 10am on Saturday morning. “Despite a couple of very wet days and a few minor hiccups, everything is on schedule,” said Eleanor Whitby of Red Pepper Events, Event Director of Arbroath Sea Fest 2011, who has been based in a portacabin at Arbroath Harbour for almost a week to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Alistair Martin, Chair of Arbroath Sea Fest Committee, organisers of the annual celebration of Arbroath’s links with the sea, revealed that there have been several late additions to the Sea Fest programme, including, on Saturday, August 13, a performance by talented local dancers from Showcase The Street. “And, on Sunday, we’ve been able to squeeze a few more acts into our packed entertainment programme,” continued Alistair.

“There will be a country dancing demonstration on board a boat in the harbour by the East Angus Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, who will treat spectators to a performance of the Bell Rock Reel, which they danced around the Bell Rock Lighthouse a few weeks ago. There will also be demonstrations by chainsaw sculpture Gary Shand and a chance to hear Pipe Major Stephen Russell of Arbroath British Legion Pipe Band play ‘The Year of the Light’, which he composed in honour of the 200^th anniversary of the Bell Rock Lighthouse.”

Alistair also highlighted the wealth of children’s activities during Sea Fest 2011, including regular storytelling sessions on Beacon Green, a sandcastle competition, fun fair rides and, of course, the thrills and spills of the freestyle jet skiers and the chance to explore fishing boats from long ago. “Sea Fest is an event for all the family,” continued Alistair. “There’s something for everyone.”

Admission to Arbroath Sea Fest 2011 costs £3 for adults, £2 for children (under-5s free). For more information about Arbroath Sea Fest 2011, visit www.arbroathseafest.co.uk

SEAFEST – ARBROATH’S SHOP WINDOW!
Every year since 1997, Arbroath Sea Fest has been showcasing Arbroath’s talented people, delicious food and produce and top-quality seafood to the 30,000 visitors the two-day event attracts to the town. This year’s Sea Fest, which takes place on August 13/14, will continue with this tradition and the organisers are keen to hear from local businesses and organisations who would like to participate, either by taking a stall, providing entertainment or adding their own dash of flavour to the fun-filled event.

“The Sea Fest cookery demonstrations are always very popular,” said Eleanor Whitby of Red Pepper Events, Event Director of Arbroath Sea Fest. “Demonstrations take place from lunchtime onwards on Saturday and Sunday and offer chefs from across Angus and Dundee the chance to show off their cooking skills.”

The high quality, local ingredients which feature highly in these cookery demonstrations are one of many reasons people visit Sea Fest and several local produce suppliers have already booked stalls at this year’s Sea Fest, including Iain Spink with his traditional, freshly-cooked Arbroath Smokies and Angus Quality Fish, who sell fresh fish and seafood via a door-to-door service throughout Angus and also at local farmer’s markets. “At Sea Fest, we focus on cooked seafood which visitors can sample there and then,” said Sharon Teviotdale of Angus Quality Fish. “This year, our stall will feature hot-smoked salmon, dressed crabs, lobsters, prawn cocktail, Arbroath Smokies, oysters – and even that largely-ignored local delicacy, whelks.

“This is our third time at Sea Fest,” continued Sharon. “Having a stall at Sea Fest is a great way of telling people who we are and what we do, which, in turn, boosts sales.”

There’s always an excellent variety of entertainment at Sea Fest and, so far, several local organisations have signed up to perform during Sea Fest, including Arbroath Instrumental Band, Angus Folk Group and Thomson Leng Productions. In addition, throughout the weekend, a swashbuckling band of pirates will be reminding everyone that visitors to the town were not always so warmly welcomed…

“Arboath’s pirate links go back to medieval days,” said Bill Smith of Arbroath Abbey Timethemes. “According to legend, Ralph The Rover cut the original bell from the Bell Rock so he could salvage the cargos of the ships that would then be smashed against the deadly reef and there are historical accounts of a pirate attack on Arbroath.”

In recognition of Arbroath’s buccaneer past – and courtesy of Arbroath Abbey Timethemes – Ralph The Rover and a few equally-dastardly pirates will be sharing their stories with Sea Fest visitors on Saturday, August 13. Then, on Sunday, August 14, there will be a re-enactment of the story of the Bell Rock, with Ralph The Rover in the starring role.

Arbroath Harbour is part of Councillor Donald Morrison’s ward. “Every year, Sea Fest benefits many local businesses, including pubs, restaurants, fish merchants and guest houses,” said Cllr Morrisson. “At a time when people are increasingly holidaying at home, Sea Fest is an excellent way of encouraging people across the United Kingdom to discover for themselves how much there is to do and see in Arbroath.

“Thanks to the Year of the Light, Arbroath has gained national and international recognition over the last few months and hopefully Sea Fest 2011 will help to boost Arbroath’s share of the limelight even further.”

This is great support for the Arbroath Sea Fest ..  Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Pepper-Events/55605489487#!/pages/Arbroath-Sea-Fest/372913508565

MAKE A DATE FOR ARBROATH SEA FEST 2011
Arbroath will once again celebrate its maritime heritage when Sea Fest takes over the town’s harbour area on Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14, 2011.

As part of the Year of the Light, the series of special events taking place in and around Arbroath throughout 2011 to mark the 200th anniversary of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, this year’s Sea Fest will feature several exciting new additions to the programme, including an appearance by none other than the legendary pirate, Ralph The Rover.

According to local legend, way back in medieval times, Ralph The Rover stole the bell which gave the Bell Rock its name – only to come to a watery end when his own ship hit the deadly reef. On both days of Sea Fest, Ralph will be joined by other local worthies from Arbroath’s history (factual and perhaps not-so factual!), who will share their stories of the Bell Rock and its lighthouse with the crowd.

During Sea Fest 2011, there will be regular appearances throughout the weekend by ‘Bassey’, one of the best-known members of the team who built the Bell Rock Lighthouse. Bassey was the heavy horse who, two hundred years ago, pulled the sling cart which carried the massive stones used to construct the Bell Rock Lighthouse from the stonemasons’ yard where Ladyloan Primary School now stands to the harbour. Sea Fest’s modern-day Bassey will be pulling a replica of the sling cart used over two centuries ago, although this time it won’t contain the one-ton granite blocks which make up the first course of the Bell Rock Lighthouse!

Sea Fest is centred around Arbroath Harbour’s marina, with many boats making the voyage to Arbroath specifically to take part in the annual event. One of the most eagerly-awaited nautical guests at this year’s Sea Fest will be Spider T, a 1920s ‘super sloop’ and runner-up in the 2011 National Historic Ships Flagship of the Year. “We sailed Spider T from our home port in North Lincolnshire to Arbroath for the 2008 Sea Fest and received such a wonderful reception, we’re returning for the 2011 Sea Fest,” said Mal Nicholson, owner and skipper of Spider T. “The trip to and from Arbroath will take Spider T’s eight man crew two weeks but it will be worth it!”

In addition, there will be breathtaking aerial performances by the Xtreme Action freestyle jet ski team, and, of course, the ever-popular launch of the Arbroath Lifeboat. There will also be a children’s sandcastle competition; lots of chances to sample local delicacies such as the Arbroath Smokie; over 70 craft, jewellery and confectionary stalls; and a host of musical entertainment, including performances by the highly-acclaimed Thomson Laing Musical Society.

“This year’s Sea Fest promises to be bigger and better than ever,” said Eleanor Whitby of Red Pepper Events, Event Director of Arbroath Sea Fest. “The 200th anniversary of the Bell Rock Lighthouse has certainly brought Arbroath into the spotlight and we’re hoping to add extra sparkle to the town’s Year of the Light celebrations with Sea Fest 2011.”

The fireworks, which were accompanied by music, launched the Year of the Light, the town’s celebrations of the bicentenary of the Bell Rock Lighthouse and were voted a great success by the 5,000-strong crowd. “The best fireworks display I’ve ever seen,” said Sharon Cummings from Arbroath. “The fireworks were fantastic and the fact that they were choreographed to music made the evening even more memorable.”

Louise Milne from Dundee agreed. “So much work must have gone into this display, which was definitely the most impressive event I’ve been to in Arbroath for a long time,” said Louise.

Pastor Gary Carter of Arbroath Life Church was equally impressed. “The fireworks were incredible,” said Pastor Carter, who is Canadian but now lives in Arbroath. “We’ve been to some of the finest fireworks displays in the world and this was right up there with the very best of them. It was certainly a wonderful tribute to the Bell Rock Lighthouse, the men who constructed it and the lightkeepers who worked on it.”

Taxi driver John Swankie of JB Taxis found that the fireworks resulted in a welcome boost to business. “Tuesday is normally quiet but we were kept busy all evening,” said John. “My father-in-law was a lightkeeper on the Bell Rock during the 1960s so it was wonderful that there was such a great turn out for the Year of the Light Fireworks.”

Before the fireworks began, Lord Southesk, Patron of the Year of the Light, thanked the many people involved in organising Arbroath’s celebrations of the bicentenary of the Bell Rock Lighthouse. “Members of the Year of the Light Steering Committee have devoted two years of planning and hard work to ensuring 2011 is a special year for Arbroath and they should be thanked and congratulated for their sterling efforts,” said Lord Southesk.

“I would also like to thank JD Wetherspoon for coming on board as headline sponsor of the Year of the Light, all our other sponsors and everyone involved in the many Year of the Light events which will be happening in and around Arbroath throughout 2011, ensuring the Year of the Light is as bright as it possibly can be.”

Howard Cargill, the member of the Year of the Light Steering Committee responsible for the fireworks display, added that thanks should also go to 21cc Fireworks and A&J Scaffolding, as both companies had played a vital part in the success of the launch event. “We’d also like to thank Acousta and Speedy Hire (Scotland) Ltd for their support, as well as Tayside Police; Tayside Contracts; Angus Council’s Parks, Waste Management and Emergency Planning departments; and all the local companies who provided help in various ways.

“Thanks also go to Arbroath Football Club, Arbroath Lifeboat and Bruce Road Community Flat for providing stewards and, of course, thanks to the First Aiders,” continued Howard. “Finally, we’d like to thank Arbroath RBLS Pipe Band for the rousing welcome they gave to onlookers as they arrived at Inchcape Park for the Year of the Light Fireworks Display.”

Janet Russell of Arbroath and Area Local Community Planning Team, who is the project co-ordinator for the Year of the Light Steering Committee, was delighted by the success of the Year of the Light Fireworks Display. “This just goes to show what a community can do,” said Janet. “The people of Arbroath wanted to celebrate the bicentenary of ‘their’ lighthouse so local businesses, groups and organisations have worked together to plan the exciting programme of Year of the Light events which will hopefully also encourage many more people to visit Arbroath.”

The next event on the Year of the Light programme is the RSCDS Year of the Light Dance on February 18 and then, on March 10, Professor Roland Paxton from Heriot-Watt University will be presenting a talk on the design and construction of the Bell Rock Lighthouse. “Professor Paxton’s talk has proved very popular,” added Janet. “All the seats have been reserved, which shows just how fascinated people are by the Bell Rock Lighthouse.”

For more information about the Year of the Light or to download the programme of special events taking place in Arbroath this year to mark the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, visit www.angusahead.com/bellrocklighthouse.

Press Release: December 21, 2010

CALLING ALL BELL ROCKS!
With the start of the bicentenary of the Bell Rock Lighthouse – February 1, 2011 – only weeks away, the members of the group overseeing the Year of the Light celebrations which are taking place in Arbroath throughout 2011 are keen to hear how the Bell Rock’s namesakes are planning to celebrate this auspicious occasion.

“So far, we know of Bell Rock hotels, restaurants, cafés, insurance companies and software designers,” said Harry Simpson, chair of the Year of the Light steering committee, which is supported by the Local Community Planning Team. “There’s even The Bell Rock Pub in Brazil, which has a sketch of the lighthouse as its eye-catching logo.”

Harry explained that, as part of the committee’s plans to encourage people from all over the world to visit Arbroath during the Year of the Light, they are planning to contact representatives of as many places and businesses called Bell Rock as possible. “We’ve planned an exciting programme of events to mark the 200th anniversary of ‘our’ lighthouse and we would love people connected to the other Bell Rocks across the globe to join in with the Year of the Light celebrations in some way,” continued Harry.

“We’re kicking off the Year of the Light with a spectacular fireworks display on February 1 so perhaps representatives of the other Bell Rocks could hold a fireworks display of their own or even come to Arbroath and sail around to the Bell Rock?”

The Bell Rock Restaurant in Arbroath is situated directly in line with the Bell Rock and is the nearest neighbour of the Signal Tower Museum, which was once the shore station for the Bell Rock Lighthouse. Azam Salimi, owner of the Bell Rock Restaurant, explained that they have great plans to celebrate the bicentenary of their local namesake. “During 2011, we’ll be featuring special Year of the Light themed dishes on our menu,” said Azam. “I’m confident that the Year of the Light will bring more visitors to Arbroath which, in turn, will mean more customers at our restaurant.”

For more information about the Year of the Light and the celebrations surrounding the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, visit www.angusahead.com/bellrocklighthouse.

Media enquiries regarding Year of the Light, should be directed to Wendy Glass, PR Consultant, Year of the Light (wendy.glass@btinternet.com or call 01575 573210 / 0789 001 7046).