Wellness Institute's annual parade is a huge success
The opener in the afternoon’s events featured an eight-foot map of old Bermuda showing the nine parishes, which was by the New Dimension Programme.
The Island Pipe Band, a mainstay in the Pre-Bermuda Day Parade, was followed by a classic car display, a jet-black Austin Minor that made a few laps around the field.
Among other themes in this year’s parade were the mom and pop shops displaying the name establishments that were once a landmark in many of the island’s neighbourhoods.
A small van, courtesy of Charles William Grant, was adorned with shopping bags with the names of some 30 establishments. Some names escaped this scribe, some have come and gone but such notables were Simmons Variety in Somerset, Pitcher’s Variety in St. David’s, Hodgson’s in Hamilton Parish, SKS, also in Hamilton Parish, and Belvin’s in Devonshire.
Those present were treated to a piece of history as the owner of Belvin’s rode in the mom and pop float and is considered by many of the neighbourhoods as an icon of sorts!
Shifting gears to a one-horsepower vehicle was the entrant by Reid House and Paula entitled ‘Old Time Religion’. The horse and buggy was an accurate representation of when churchgoers decked out in their Sunday best would bundle into a six-seater buggy and head off to church.
‘Shackles On My Feet’ gave attendees a visual recreation from the clients of the Mount Hill Group Home. Their recreation of life during the slave era, when slaves were shackled as a means of discouraging escape, was thought-provoking, to say the least.
The next community group who have been a steady supporter of the Pre-Heritage Day Parade were the Prospect Twirlers, who boasted a troupe of 28 girls and 12 drummers, whose ages ranged between seven years and the early 20s.
It is no easy feat to have dozens of artists performing a choreographed routine on a muddy field but the Twirlers made it look deceptively easy!
The Rosevilla Group Home entrant was entitled ‘Midwives Delivers Pet Cream’. Older women easily identified with this entrant as it had been part of local oral history as Gloria Easton and McMurray Pitcher dressed in outfits made their rounds around the field before making way for the next entrant.
This year’s event wouldn’t have been the same without a float from the department of Works & Engineering, simply called ‘Cannon’. Emcee Patrice Dill, director of the Institute (formerly St. Brendan’s), gave a brief synopsis of the importance of cannons that dotted the island in an effort to ward off potential invaders.
The next majorette troupe was the PHC’s who are always entertaining and judging from the cheers and thunderous applause it was evident this troupe has amassed a loyal following.
It was interesting to note that the youngest member of the elite group was only five years old she held her own as the other 169 members eased through their routine.
Face painting by ‘Sniggles’, music by DJ Shock N Lust and photography by Allen Richardson and other groups helped to make this year’s event a resounding success.
Parade organiser Rosette Jackson, who has been at the helm for the past decade, proudly mentioned those who worked tirelessly prior to the parade.
“I really would like to thank Lyndel Davis, Shikira Lawrence, Cynthia Swan and son, Paula Hanley, and especially Gloria Easton, Shirley Pace, Margaret O’Connor, Laneisha Hayward and congratulations to the Learning Disability Staff and the Community Home Staff. Also I must give a special thanks to Oleander Cycles, SKB Ltd., SAL in Devonshire and Vincent Savery for their support.”
Flashback to another timeline, courtesy of Cigno Villa and Lightbourne Drive, which was simply called ‘Bad Sport’. This representation was of some of the sport played by many locals.
The entry entitled ‘Raise UM Eat UM’ was by Keepers Cottage which explained how families raised their own animals (complete with a replica of a cow) long before free range and organically-grown became a buzz word. G&B Quality Labour and Construction donated the transportation and its driver was none other than ‘Blacka’.
On a political note, ‘The Milk Man Delivers’ — and that’s no bull — appeared as a blue and yellow express, courtesy of Dunkley Dairy, made a few laps around the field much to the delight of those in and out of the political arena.
The Hamilton Hot Peppers made a grand entrance, as they have been staunch supporters of this event for the past 14 years. One of the many floats that graced the field was the offering from Keepers Cottage Group Homes called ‘Hook Um and Cook Um’.
This was a representation of how locals depended on the sea to provide sustenance. The fisherman known to all and sundry as ‘Bopsy’ provided the transportation and helped with the vehicle’s decoration.
‘Back in D Day’ was a dual entry by the Boaz Island Group Home and A-Tec Contracting Service. This float, complete with props, showed how laundering was done without the aid of electronic appliances.
The clients were really into character as a display of a traditional scrubbing board and a solar-powered drier (commonly known as a clothesline) were added to this mobile entry.
Douglas Mews’ replica of a Bermuda aloop was a well-crafted entry and with the help of Stephen Rubinchak, this crew was ready to weigh anchor and sail off into the sunset!
The next two community entertainers were the Bermuda Drumline and The Rocketts. In traditional fashion, the H&H Gombeys closed out the evening’s festivities. Since the Institute’s first parade 16 years ago the Gombey troupe has been featured as part of the entertainment.
Recreational therapist and activities co-ordinator Juliette Basden has watched the parade grow from a few neighbours to well over 1,000 attendees in 16 years.
“It has become so large now and the community support has been really great. We have always tried to have themes the public can relate and react. I would like to thank Donovan Williams, Maria Burgess, Heidi Murray, Carol Anne DeShields, Sean Simmons, Dorothy Anne Lacey, Carolyn Hayward and Luann Joell for helping to make this year’s event a success,” she said.
