22nd September 2011

BRIDPORT: Thousands help make hat festival a success

By Tom Glover & Stuart Broom

THOUSANDS of visitors helped put the town on the “world map” at the second Bridport Hat Festival.

An estimated 9,000 people descended upon the town, wearing every kind of hat imaginable, to enjoy the three-day extravaganza.

The festival was once again opened with a gig from Hank Wangford and the Lost Cowboys at the Bridport Arts Centre.

The show began with festival organiser Roger Snook welcoming the audience, joined on stage by Henry VIII, aka Mike Farley, and Hank himself to declare the start of the festivities.

The English country and western singer/songwriter paid homage to the festival by composing and playing a song dedicated to the event.

Hat aficionado, Hank, was making his second visit to the event after being asked to open last year’s inaugural festival, and once again changed his headgear after each song.

The main body of entertainment came on Saturday with workshops, live music and exhibitions throughout the day.

In Bucky Doo Square the Howl Open Mic Company, led by singer/songwriter Elijah Wolf, staged music throughout the day. Adam Sweet, Logan Carter, Tia Roos and the Dub Liberators were among the performers.

The square was swamped just after midday when crowds once again gathered for the mass hat photo, cheering and throwing their hats in the air for photographers and film crews

At the Millennium Green there was a classic car show, performances from the Quangle Wangle Choir and the Singamejigs.

Bridport Museum almost doubled the visitors they had last year with the help of the “Wherever I lay my Hat” exhibition.

Curator Emily Hicks said: “This year’s hat exhibition at the museum has been a resounding success. We had lots of visitors during last year’s festival, 675 over the three days. However, this year we beat that with 1,297. Thank you very much to Jay Ann Knox for lending her stunning collection of 1940s-50s hats, and to all those who visited us.”

High winds meant the fly pass from The Devon Strut was cancelled but neither that nor the rain could dampen the spirit of the crowds.

The evening’s entertainment included a comedy and cabaret night at the Bridport Arts Centre and Boy Le Monti performing at the Ropemakers. There was also another impressive hat competition at the Bull Hotel, this year sponsored by T. Snook.

The festival concluded on Sunday with more workshops, led by Fern Berreen and Kate Percival, and a Mad hatter’s Tea Dance at the Lyric Theatre. The last event of the festival was a gig by Away From James at the Bull Hotel.

Spokesperson for the festival, Roger Snook, said: “It was amazing, the whole organisation of the event was absolutely brilliant. The committee worked really hard, there are only six of them so they were brilliant.

“It was a hell of a lot busier than last year and I haven’t heard a bad comment about the festival yet.

“There were some very interesting things going on all over the place. The festival has really put Bridport on the world map and the hat industry are amazed by it and people keep saying we simply must do it again next year.

“It is phenomenal, nobody else has been able to make a festival out of hats but we have definitely done it.”

PICTURE 1: JOHN Morey gives hat festival a thumbs

PICTURE 2: Hank Wangford and two of the four Lost Cowboys (Kevin Foster (centre) and Martin Belmont) who produced a brilliant set, in action on Friday

PICTURE 3: MAYOR and Mayoress of Bridport Dave and Anne Rickard

PICTURE 4: ALEC Moir with his town hall hat

PICTURE 5: THE Lyme Bay Lovelies joined by the Scarlett O’Haras from Portsmouth