Gloucester Tall Ships Festival

On Sunday afternoon I joined the crowds at Gloucester Docks for the Tall Ships Festival.. and was it busy! Each of the 5 tall ships had long queues of budding seafarers waiting to go aboard. I didn't join them. As an experienced Old Salt – I've plied with the King Harry Ferry many a time – I was content to wander slowly around the quayside, take photos and eat ice cream.








This fine-looking 'old' ship (above) is the Matthew, a replica of the original Matthew that John Cabot sailed across the Atlantic in 1497, discovering Newfoundland on the other side. I've been privileged to see her three times before; the first on the River Fal in Cornwall, when I think she was part of a film that was being made, and the second at her home port in Bristol. The third time was the day after the 2015 Tall Ships Festival, as the ships made their way home along the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. Now that really is the way to see them... and no crowds to battle through.

So what, you may be wondering, tempted this intrepid land-lubber to make a 40 mile round trip to see a ship that she'd seen three times before? Ukuleles — of course!

Photo from Danny Sparkes' post on Facebook.  Thanks!

This is Friends Ukenited, a gathering of players from clubs all around Gloucestershire. We never practice together; we just turn up, sing and play. That's our talented leader, Terry, at the front, wearing a yellow and orange shirt.

Oh and did we sing! For over an hour we entertained the crowds with songs old and new, including two of my favourites (because they've got special parts for the girls) – The Tide is High and Valerie. I'm there, strumming and singing away, right in the centre but mostly hidden behind a tall guy on the front row.