Bermuda Day Parades.

With the theme Heritage, twice as many floats -- depicting a hundred years of Bermudian life -- as normal wound their way through the city, delighting crowds of many thousands along the route.

In amongst the parade were several troupes of Gombeys, providing boisterous fun for the crowds which packed every street from Bernard Park to Front Street.

At the Front Street stage, Premier Jennifer Smith, Governor Thorold Masefield and other dignitaries enjoyed a massive three and a half hours of float fun.

And vacationers on the cruise ship Zenith , moored on Front Street, used their vessel to get a crow's nest view of the fun. Even passengers on a West End ferry got in on the act as they got a close up of the action.

Leading the way was the Bermuda Regiment Band, closely followed by some of the Island's elders, including glamourous granny Viola Rogers -- as part of the International Year of Older Persons.

A Shire horse drawn carriage highlighted 100 years of serving drink to Bermuda from John Barritt and Son, whereas Kitson and Co's Penny Farthing cycles showed how Bermudians travelled in the 1930s.

An example of travel for tomorrow came when Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown drove a new electric car, currently being tested for its suitability for Bermuda's roads.

In between the antique cars and bikes, there was music and much baton twirling from several majorette groups including Warwick, Pembroke and Somerset.

And dancing came courtesy of many groups, such as United Dance Productions, Strictly the Best and giving a real heritage feel, the Bermuda African Dance Company.

Schools played their part, with CedarBridge Academy winning a prize for their float and West Pembroke's youngsters delighted the crowd with their lorry showing the last 100 years of leisure.

The multi-cultural aspect of Bermuda was typified with representatives from many community groups. The Portuguese Cultural Association marked 150 years since the first immigrants landed with a replica of the vessel, the Golden Rule .

The Island's tourism industry was represented by the CP Princess Hotels "night of the stars'', Elbow Beach's "90 years of service'' and the former Belmont hotel's bed.

Premier Jennifer Smith and Governor Masefield played their part when the Little Venice Group set up an impromptu "table for two'', serving the pair fishcakes on Front Street.

Huge turnout for Bermuda Day St. David's residents mocked up a model of the Severn Bridge and entertained with some Mystic dancers.

Bringing up the rear were vintage motorcycles, custom cars, mini bikes and causing a real stir were the racing go karts.

Mixed in amongst the floats were Gombey Dance troupes from Parishes all over the Island, rather than bringing up the rear as tradition.

Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister said the idea of putting the Gombeys in was to fill in gaps that had previously occurred.

"I was very pleased with the way it went,'' he said. "We took a big chance with the Gombeys but it worked very well.

"We had twice as many floats as last year, but it all worked wonderfully well.

"Afterwards we will have an assessment and try to make it even bigger over the next two or three years, with a plan to come up with the optimum size for the parade.'' The winners of the Bermuda Day Parade prizes are as follows; Warwick Parish Council and Community Education, best parish and best equestrian; Agape House, best entry, most beautiful, best voluntary organisation; CedarBridge Academy, best high school, heritage award; West Pembroke School, best primary school, most original; The Neighbourhood Picnic, best individual; St. David's Youth and Community Centre, best community organisation; Bermuda Electric Light Company, best commercial and most artistic.

Photos by Tony Cordeiro Float champions!: Two of the prizewinning floats in the Bermuda Heritage Day parade take a bow. Above, is the CedarBridge Academy entry, "It's a new day'', which won the Best High School and Heritage Award. And, at right is the quacktastic duck from Agape House which scooped Best Entry, Most Beautiful and Best Voluntary Organisation float.