The Race the Dragon event, The Portishead Shanty Festival, and Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival

Hi, this is Skip and you're listening to Shipshape and Bristol Fashion.

Shipshape and Bristol Fashion.

Boys along the hardest side from evil gorge to wonderful heaven all the line Secure the barrels down below Find and tie and match em this vessel, she is certified shipshape from Bristol Fashion.

Hello and welcome to Shipshape and Bristol Fashion.

My name's Justin and it's great to have you on board.

Shipshape and Bristol Fashion is a podcast that covers the work of the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew.

And the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew is an amazing group based in Bristol singing old fashioned shanty songs and anything with a modern twist.

On this month's episode, we are going to be delving into live coverage from three events that the crew have been up to this month.

It's been a busy one, so it seems almost right that we give everybody a little bit of airtime.

We're going to be hopping down to Porter's Head where a few of the crew went down to a sea shanty festival that happened in Portish Head and the crew took part in.

We're then going to go along to a dragon boat race that happened in Bath.

And then finally we're going to listen to some of the audio that was captured at a shanty festival in Falmouth, which is an incredibly large event that the crew took part in.

So first and foremost we're going to pop down to the signaller.

Hello, shipmates, it's Ash here masquerading as the signaler.

It's been another fantastically busy month for the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew.

Lots and lots going on and it seems that it's as the weather's got a bit better, it's wedding season.

We've done a couple of weddings this month, both of them lovely events and some very, very generous donations from both of happy couples to boost our funds, which is, which is great.

We even nearly had a proper bit of donkey riding at one of them when Neddy the Donkey turned up at the request of the bride at one of our events, which was very different for us.

We've also been singing at a pub which is probably the best venue that we like.

That was down at Rington at the Golden Lion.

Our dear friend Sam Glenn invited us down to sing at a village event that he holds there year.

And, and we love supporting Sam, he's a great guy.

And, and it was a lovely day.

Not as good as previous year's weather, but still great to do it.

Following on from that, we then had probably one of the most amazing shanty events that we've done in the two years we've been going.

And that was going down to Falmouth for the Falmouth Shanty Festival.

What an event.

Just amazing.

Three days, 50,000 people in Falmouth and 80 plus shanty bands.

Apparently it's the biggest maritime related event in Europe and we managed to do five gigs, all brilliantly received by the audiences.

Very different.

We were a bit worried about doing a late night one at 10 o' clock, but it seemed that people have been relaxing during the day and.

And certainly were a lot happier to join in some of the songs as the.

As the evening progress.

It was so good.

We've never felt so loved as a band by our audiences.

We got a great reception, albeit that on the final day there was a bit of croakiness going on, but we managed to get through it.

We were delighted to be invited down to Falmouth and we certainly will be going back next year.

And I can say if anybody gets the chance to go down there, it is such a good event, you would love it.

We popped down to the Fox east of Compton over the weekend.

That was great.

And oh, that was to support the seven Whalers, friends of ours who have come along and supported events that we've done and they put on a lovely event for a veterans charity.

The most exciting part of that event was that we had the first outing of our new crew member, Oggy, or Justin as some of you might know him.

Auggie we decided on, as his nickname is, he's a Cornishman, which is brilliant because it gives us the chance to do a couple of other Cornwall songs that we really don't do.

And me and Oggy are looking to try and get Cornwall, my home, going if we can.

So welcome Oggy.

You're a great addition to the crew.

I thought you sang beautifully on the weekend.

And we look forward to many happy hours in your company and can't wait for you to start doing some of the solos with that great voice you seem to have.

Most recently this week we were with the Teenage Cancer Trust people.

So the Teenage Cancer Trust had the 10th anniversary of the opening of their Bristol unit.

They call it Area 61.

And it was just a marker in time really to say, you know, it's an amazing feat that they've managed to keep this center that they have which does such an amazing job with young people who are suffering from cancer and gives them a place, I guess, to get treatment and maybe relax in an environment that's more conducive to people of that age.

So we popped along, we gave them a couple of songs, we listened to some speeches, we had a bit of cake, which was really important and so delighted to be celebrating with them.

Probably the best thing that's happened this month is that we have managed to reach our new target that we set ourselves of raising £30,000 for the teenage Cancer Trust.

I don't think any of us can quite believe how well this fundraising has gone.

When we set out just over two years ago to raise something like 1500 pounds and we didn't dream, not in our wildest dreams did we think we'd get to that figure.

And we are so grateful for all of the crews out there, all of our friends, everybody that comes to support us and listen to us who dig deep into their pockets and it's only through them that we've managed to raise this money.

So we are really proud and aren't going to stop there.

So the fundraising continues.

We will get to a new target, whatever that might be.

And I think that's about it.

We've had a bit of a scary outbreak in the crew.

We've had a bit of laryngitis, we had a bit of COVID we've had a bit of dodgy knees, Jake the Peg or the one One Legged Yorkshireman.

But everybody's recovering, I think, and we're looking to a bit of sunshine, a bit more singing and spending more time with all of our lovely audiences that make what we do so worthwhile.

So that's the news from the Signaller.

So casting off.

I'll speak to you soon.

Thanks for that, Ash.

That's fantastic.

And yes, that is my big news.

I have clearly been listening to the Shanty Crew for several months now and those songs are just earworms.

And it feels almost right that I join the crew and I'm really grateful that the crew have been so welcoming as I step across that threshold and sing with them.

I'm still learning the songs, but you'll see me out there and about.

And of course, I am now also known as Oggy, which again, I need to get used to as well.

So let's start to listen to some of the audio.

First and foremost, let's listen to some of the audio that was captured down in Portishead at the earlier part of this month.

So we're.

We're here with Roger, who is chairman of the Porters Ed Town Council is going to come and open things up for us.

Roger, it's very kind of you to do this.

Good morning.

Yes.

Kind of you to invite me along.

Pleasure.

Resplendent in your lovely chains.

Yes.

How long have you been the boss man of Castle Roger?

Oh I think.

I think it's been a.

About two weeks now.

I am very new in post.

I hope this isn't your first event that you're going to remember this for the rest of your life.

This is my first event.

Your first event.

Oh brilliant.

But what a great event going on here in Potter's Head to have to have this.

This shanty festival in what used to be known when I was a child as the docks which is now the.

And the power station site which of course is now the marina.

That's fantastic, isn't it?

It's such a change over well 50 odd years I've been living in Portishead to see all of this come up and such an improvement over what was here before as well.

So you're going to stay and listen to some of the bands you were showing?

Oh yeah, most definitely.

You've got to be now I'm here through till the.

The close of the meeting of the festival.

I'm going to close it off at 6 o' clock as well.

Great.

Well thanks for coming Dan.

We do appreciate it.

We'll see you during the rest of the day.

All right, thank you very much.

Thanks Roger.

So Nobby, we're here in hall and Willows in the marina down in Port's Ed.

Good day.

Looking forward to it.

Very.

So I'm hoping that I can catch a lift on a boat somewhere going out the channel.

I've seen a couple of nice ones about.

Yeah, good.

And what we singing?

What are you singing today?

Your classics.

South Australia.

Yeah like Corn Creek.

Nice.

And Rodeo Chariot.

Good.

Bit of a shame we can't be outside.

It is.

Yeah.

I'm sure the place will be buzzing.

Well I just hope the cup final doesn't cut across.

Oh I know.

Turning up.

Yeah, I know.

It's got to challenge is it?

We're going have to find a corner somewhere in a television.

Well I can remember in the old days we used to spend all Saturday morning.

Yeah.

Watching the Builder how they got there and then in the afternoon after the game we went out on the village on the Green and had a kick around and we probably.

Gordon bank is he.

Who's Gordon Bank?

Gordon bank coming back.

No, thanks very much.

Have a good day.

It's a good day, Ash.

Take care, Doc.

South Australia and Cape Horn We're Bank south all the way in.

Rolling Kings, Evil Way and Holloway all the way.

As I walked out one morning Fair Evil Way and all the way there I met Ms.

Nancy Blair.

So I'm.

I'm here with paddles.

We've done our first set.

What did you think?

I think it went really well and it was a good start.

Got them all going.

So, yeah, it's been a.

It's been a great start to a great day.

And it was good to have art back, wasn't it?

It was excellent art back and nice to see young Nobby die returning from.

From the South.

From the South.

From the.

From the bad water in the south, bless him.

But it's.

The sun's glorious today and the beer is good as well.

Yep, we're on the beer and.

But we've got a bit of a wait now, haven't we?

To the next set.

Yeah, it's about midday, isn't it?

I always think it's about half past four.

Half past four.

Can we just interrupt here?

This is the rev.

We are sticking strictly to the two point rule, which is we have no more than two points before a set.

So we've already had two points.

So we're in big trouble, basically.

Yeah.

And now I know what's wrong.

I thought it was two points before each set.

Ah, well, that's a very liberal interpretation which I'm very happy to endorse.

And on that bombshell, I think it's time to leave you.

See you soon.

So we're here at hall in Woodhouse again.

And I've actually got family down here this time.

They've heard me sing before, so I'm surprised they're back again.

I bought my earplugs.

Yeah.

Not nice, is it?

Yeah.

Well, we'll get you up and join in a bit.

I will.

Yeah.

I'll be there for you.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

No, no.

No messing.

Yeah.

This is.

I am operatically trained in.

In singing or.

Or back out, you know, staging or something.

Stage.

So you've heard us before.

Are you looking.

Looking to any particular songs for us to do?

What's your favorite?

Like them all?

You like them all?

Yeah.

That's good.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Sal, what's.

What's yours?

Yeah, I like them all too, but I get any of them with the pirate song, so I don't.

I don't like that it's the last song that you sing.

Which always is.

It is the pirate.

Yeah.

Okay.

Ear.

What's it called?

Earworm.

Earworm.

You get an earworm with a pirate Song.

Oh, I'll tell Chuffer.

Chuffer be delighted.

It's where you keep hearing the same song.

Yeah, yeah.

We get the pirate.

Pirate song in your head.

Yeah.

So.

So you're going to have to join in.

Parrot.

What about me?

Parrot?

Is that okay?

We can get you a parrot if you like.

A nice parrot.

All right.

What will his name be?

Well, enjoy your day.

Will his name be Enjoy your day, Have a nice time and I'll see you later.

All the way.

All away.

All the way, boys.

Thank you.

I like that man.

So I'm with Fish and he's going to tell me what are we doing here in this wonderful place.

Well, this wonderful place was host to us last October when Doc arranged a shanty festival or a shanty day here.

Okay.

And CK and Sup Paddles.

Yeah.

Which is a boating company opened.

Byron, or Byron Baker Smith.

Yeah.

Very kindly donated a river cruise.

And earlier on this year, he got into contact with me because I knew him from diy.

So that's days.

Yeah.

And said, I'm doing a gig for Darcy House House Hospice.

Would you be free?

Did you notice he's a name dropper?

He is a name dropper.

On these podcasts.

You've got to drop names.

It's all about the listenership, isn't it?

You gotta names.

I can tag them.

Anyway, so we're here as part of a kind of a charity fundraiser for Dorothy House and as a thank you to Byron.

Yeah.

And the pub and everyone else.

And to have fun.

Here we are.

Yeah, absolutely.

So what is happening today?

Do you know?

Yeah, it's the.

It's a dragon boat race.

Okay.

It's a paddle boat race.

It's a.

Whatever race you want to do on the water race.

Which I'm not involved in.

No, you're not.

You've got your voice and your stick, of course.

Yeah.

So sticks here.

Yes.

Yeah, absolutely.

And there's a lot of people around in fancy, fancy dress.

They're in there.

And we've just into Locum, which is a ukulele band.

We've come down from London specifically to be here today.

And the lead of Locum is a guy called.

I can't remember his name, but he's Joe Brown of the Brothers.

Joe Brown of the Brothers.

It's his son and he's come down with his group just to play for Byron.

It's pretty good, isn't it?

Yeah, good stuff.

All right, thanks.

I'll let you crack on drinking your beer and I'll talk to you in A bit.

Okie dokie.

So I'm with Paddles and he's drinking a nice beer, getting ready to sing.

How are you, Paddles?

We're good, thank you.

Y.

Looking forward to today.

It's a little bit overcast, but it's warm, so mustn't complain.

When I first arrived, it was pouring with rain, so I'm glad you arrived.

You brought the sunshine with you.

So you're the first pint down.

Two pint rule.

We're going to keep to.

Of course.

We discussed this at the event on Saturday.

We've come up to the ruling that it's two pints before every set.

I see before.

Right.

And enduring.

Well, you've got to keep the vocal cords and leave.

Nice, nice.

I.

Every time I come to these events, the rule does keep changing.

It's all around the two.

I have found that I sing better.

I appear to sing better when.

When I've had these or.

I certainly hear that I've sounded better than when I've.

I have the same.

I have the same analogy when I'm in the shower.

I sound amazing.

Really.

On my own.

So what songs are we looking forward to singing this afternoon?

So there's one or two that might have their first outing, I believe.

Yeah.

I'm trying to persuade the Rev to come up with Strike the Bell, Second mate.

Okay.

Yes.

Or otherwise known.

Strike the Bell.

Strike the Bell.

Yeah, That's a favorite of mine.

But I think we sometimes just try to play to find out what the audience likes.

Yeah, of course.

And.

And fill in.

Fill in the gaps where, you know, if there's something that they're really joining.

Try and go with that.

Yeah.

I'll leave you to it.

Get the other pint in and we'll look forward to hearing you later.

Thank you.

I'll see you soon.

Okay.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are the Port of Bristol shanty crew In South Australia.

I was born evil way Haul away South Australia and Cape Horn.

We're filed for South Australia all the way.

You ruling kings evil way all the way.

Oh, and you'll hear me sing.

We're bizarre Australia as I walked out one morning fair either away a full away there I met miss Help me fall.

I'm bully in the alley way fully in the alley help me fall Blind bully in the alley Bully lanishing bo now so help me fall.

I'm fully in the alleyway.

Oh, a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm.

Oh, a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm.

Oh, a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm and we'll all hang on behind and we'll roll carriers alone we'll rolly o chariot along Right, so we're going to sing.

Well, Rev, thank you very much indeed for that long winded introduction.

But before we sing our last song, can I just everybody why we're here today, which is to raise money for the Dorothy House Hospice, based just over the hill.

We all potentially may need to benefit from that organization and the excellent work that it does.

It's a sad fact that one in three of us will suffer with a cancer diagnosis at some point in our lives.

So if we're not affected, we'll know a family member who is or has been.

And the hospice movement is incredibly important.

They receive some funding from the National Health Service, but the majority of their resource is driven by charitable fundraising.

And Byron, who runs channel Kayaks here, has raised a phenomenal amount of money during his time operating operating here in excess of £45,000.

And we're trying to push that over the 50 grand marker today.

So anyone who's passing you with a collection bucket, if you've got any spare change, then please do give generously or float the notes down into the bottom of the bucket.

Fine example, madam.

Thank you very much indeed.

So do please give generously because you never know when you might need their care and support.

I thought I heard the Reverend say John Kanakanaka July Good day.

Today's a bank holiday.

John Kanaka Naka to liay to I a O2 I a John Kanaka naka July we're outward bound at break of day we're outward bound for Farisco Bay.

Junkanaka Naka July O2 liay John Kanaka Naka July we're outward bound around Cape Hornack.

You'd wish to God you'd never been born.

We're a Bristol ship and a Bristol crew.

John Kanaka Nakatuaye East City red we're gusset blue John Kanakanac John Kanaka Naka July We're Bristol born and Bristol bred.

John Kanaka Naka 2 I A East Thick of Om East Thick of Ed John Kanaka Naka July 8There's Nobby.

River fish makes 3.

John KanakanakaTulay There's Skip Bernard and then there's me.

John Kanaka Naka 2L A O2L A John Kanakanakachu Lia There's Chuffer and there's his paddles too Chunkanakanaka July Old Bill and Ash complete our crew John kanaka naka July O2L.A John canaka naka July when we get to Frisco Bay John Kanakanaka July we'll bail off ship and draw our pay Just one more verse and then we're through.

Okay.

A little song marching inland.

It's a song really, about a bloke who had enough of being at sea so he thought he'd march inland with an oar over his shoulder until someone said what's that funny thing you've got?

And then he'd know he was far enough away from the sea Never, never to go back again Lord Nelson knew the perfect way to cure your mildime and if he pay attention his secret I will share there to any C6 sailor he give this advice for free if you feel a seat sit Sit underneath the tree so I'm marching in land from the shore over the shoulder I carry in a When someone asked me what is that funny thing you got?

Then I know I'll never go to sea no more, no more Then I know I'll never go to sea Ladies of Plymouth, we're saying goodbye Roll down Rock you and row you again by and by Walk around we make boys and roll down and we will roll down Great poison Roll Land the wide bay of Biscay the seas do run high Roll down the poor seasick transports they wish they could die Walk around we play poison Roll down and we will roll down.

So a couple of episodes ago, we mentioned a newly married couple that actually the crew sang at.

And I'm here right now and I've managed to bump into them.

How are you guys?

Yeah, really good.

Really good.

How is married life?

I find that there's a list of jobs that seems to be always discussed about.

Now seems to be a bit more formalized, which is always fun.

Six weeks and we're still smiling, right?

Excellent.

Which is really good.

So clearly the crew sang at your wedding, but that was probably the highlight of the day.

But I'm going to say that now, I think the guests only thought so.

The guest definitely.

It's all about entertaining them, isn't it?

Really good.

So what's your connection with the crew?

Bill's my dad.

Oh, look at that.

Fantastic.

And Herbie, cabin boy, is my nephew.

So we arranged it so that they turned up after the wedding breakfast.

And my dad and Herbie didn't know, so it was a surprise for them.

As a thank you for Paige, boy and father of the bride, Duties so fantastic.

It was a good surprise.

Well, we're going to listen to some of that audio now.

And I spent all my money on how I'm returning with Body Grace.

And of course you've got dog as well, which if the listeners have heard very attentively to the last song that was played, there was a dog joining in.

What's your dog?

What's your dog's name?

It's Rodney and he loves John Kanaka.

Now here next week and like singing to.

To join in, like to do is just thank absolutely everybody for everything.

It's just been absolutely amazing day.

The weather hasn't been the best, but it's been absolutely amazing.

You've stuck with it.

You stuck with us.

And I hear that loads of raffle tickets have been sold.

It's just.

I can't thank you all enough.

Everybody makes the day.

Everybody.

I want everyone just to thank the shanty singer and everybody else has been singing.

Thank you very much from me personally.

I want to thank my team.

I got sleepy Pete, we got Emma.

They've worked ever so hard, sort of behind the scenes building up, getting all of this together.

It's been absolutely amazing.

I can't thank them, Sam.

Cuba Running down Cuba way me boys to Cuba Running down to Cuba we're running down to Cuba where rest of sail way me boys to Cuba Flinging up water all over the bed not so Phil.

This is our first gig at the Falmouth International Shanty Festival.

How's it feeling?

No pressure, is there?

They were a pretty good band, the group that run before us.

So I was too busy in the disabled toilet to notice, like.

No.

We nearly had to give you a hand and find out where you were.

Well, there's a good crowd.

This building up, it's going to be.

It's going to be good.

It's going be to.

To be good.

The setup here seems fantastic.

They so well organized.

Yeah.

Really looking forward to it.

Yeah, we got a proper sound rig so that's, you know, no pressure.

Yeah, absolutely.

Me actually make us sound good.

Sing well.

Thank you, skipper.

Oh, yeah.

How are you feeling?

Excellent, excellent.

Can't wait to get on the stage.

Did you get here on your bicycle okay?

Yeah, but not from Bristol.

Oh, lucky, lucky.

I did come down.

Look at last morning.

It was great.

Great.

Yeah.

Fantastic journey down.

Fantast.

Fantastic hospitality, fantastic friends and has the weather being kind to you?

Yes.

There's only one.

There's no such thing as bad weather.

It's bad clothing.

Yeah, that's true.

That's true.

But we're in a massive marquee now, so whatever happens, hopefully it'll rain and everybody will come indoors to listen.

It will do.

Will do.

We've had the warm up acts, now we've got us.

And what are you singing today?

Good.

What am I singing today?

Good question.

Do you not know?

No, I don't know.

Or just make it up on.

On the spur of the moment.

Excellent.

Do make it up on the spare of the moment, but ad libbing.

Good.

Best way.

Best way.

Well, have a good sing.

Ashley never used it before.

Okay, so here we are in the marquee.

We are.

There's a.

There's a lot, a lot of people around here.

You were first to arrive.

Does that mean you've had a few extra pints?

Beautifully.

They've got a.

A nice dry cider called Sam's, which is a good thing.

The negative thing, it's not on the freebie drinks list, so I'm gonna have to pay for it myself.

Oh, that's a shame.

What are you gonna sing?

I'm gonna sing Little Eyes like I normally do, which is a bit daunting because this is a Cornwall audience and Little Eyes is well known down here.

But I'm sure they'll join in.

It'll be fine.

It'll be good.

If they don't know the words.

It'll be a sad day.

It would be a very sad day.

They should know the blinking words.

Yeah, well, have a good one.

And you too, mate.

Fish, Fish.

Are you all ready to rock and roll?

You got your stick?

I'm ready to swim away with the tide.

And Porteschooler says you're ready to beat your time.

Excellent.

And what are you singing?

I can't remember now.

Probably all from your grog.

Maybe whatever you're told to.

Excellent.

Yeah, whatever's not on the set list.

Good.

Well, enjoy.

Have a good single.

But it's all part of being a pirate.

A pirate can be a pirate.

So, guys, we had a really successful gig in the Seven Stars earlier on.

Went down a storm.

How are you feeling about this one at the Boathouse?

Should be interesting.

There's a very young audience.

But then again, Doozy was like that as well, wasn't it?

Yeah, true, true, true, true.

It's.

Well, tailor our.

Tailor our gig to the audience.

Well, the audience is a bit biased really.

They are younger, but there again, we were younger in their day, so who knows what's going to happen?

It will be a.

A mystery tour.

We're in the Hands of the reverend who will guide us through our set list, I'm sure with absolute aplomb.

I mean, I'm.

I am convinced that there will be a lot of sinners in there that will repent and join us tonight.

So we have a wag here.

We're just talking about the fact that this is a very different venue to the one that we were in earlier on Katrina.

How.

How's your day been so far?

Dressed as a.

Hey, shanty woman.

Brilliant.

Lovely atmosphere.

I'm loving it.

It's great.

Top shanty wife.

Can you.

Can you just sense the sincerity there?

We singing not be.

We are singing in here.

Very different audience to what we used to previously.

I can see them.

How are you feeling about rallying them with a bit of Santiana?

Yes.

Ready to go?

Ready to start?

This is the Boat House in Falmouth, a new venue for us, and I'm ready to swing it.

Rock and roll party it.

Santiana.

In the words of Rick Mail, let's do it.

So I've just found a young lady here who's traveled all the way from Bath to come and see the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew in their full glory.

Lonnie, you missed the earlier gig, but how are you feeling about our gig here at the BO House?

I'm really looking forward to it.

I've seen the Bristol Shanty Crew before and they're amazing.

And.

And this is my whole reason for coming down here today.

It was a long way, a long journey, but I can't wait.

And another half an hour and we'll be.

Be there.

And who's your favorite crewmate?

Oh, John Hayes.

Oh, well, fantastic.

I hear come the lovebirds.

So ash celebrates his 38th wedding anniversary this evening.

He's brought Pam all the way down from Bristol to the Shanty festival.

The slightly embarrassing thing for Pam is that she forgot it was their wedding anniversary today.

But nevertheless, they're here, they're smiling, and they're still together.

Ash, tell us about your wedding anniversary experience of the Shanty Festival so far.

It's been gorgeous.

We've been to a very exclusive restaurant, just me, Pam, our friends, and about 50 or 60, 70 people eat in Tex Mex, which has been beautiful.

Excellent.

And have you had a card yet?

Not yet, no.

A card or a cardio?

From walking up that hill, I'm not sure.

I'm glad the Revs made it because I was a bit worried about him getting up here.

Well, we left early, in fairness.

Yeah, in case.

Yeah, yeah.

Must be good.

So Far that first game was well.

Yeah, it's been.

It's been a fantastic event.

Yeah.

If the rest of it's as good as this, we can't complain.

It's been a great day.

We can't.

We've had a good time.

Yeah, we have.

Yeah.

Yeah.

See you later.

Cheers.

We on the program are tbc to be confirmed, but we are actually in real life the port of Bristol Shanty crew.

And our motto is a restriction that was given to us when we first started two years ago.

This bloke wrote, he said, the poor of Bristol Shanty crew, the triumph of enthusiasm over talent.

Well, that was something unexpected.

Normally a crew of 10, there are two missing.

I'm the only person in the group who's in gainful employment long they continue.

The rest of them are retired sponging pensioners.

I'm proud of it.

And two of them are so busy in retirement they couldn't even make it today.

One's playing golf and I don't know what the other one's doing in bed.

Stupid thing under the thumb, you know what?

But nevertheless, okay.

I thought I heard the reverend say chalk and ac singing in Falmouth today.

We're out with them for Crisco Bay.

Come back back to lay we're outward bound at breakup day.

Come to happy happy to the gate to the 8 oh to the Chom Kanaka July 8th.

We're outward bound around Cape Hornackadacka July you'd wish to God you'd never been born We're a Bristol ship and a Bristol Crew Tonka haka haka 2L well, Justin, I'm here at the fabulous Pendennis castle home overlooking the FAL estuary at the Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival.

And it seemed like an appropriate place to launch Gorham, our geocaching travel bug.

He's a little mouse named after Gorham, the famous Bristolian giant.

And we thought we'd launch him on his travels at the Falmouth international Sea Shanty Festival.

So I'm here on a very windy peninsula overlooking the river and I've just described dispatched him in a local geocache here.

So if people want to track him on his travels, I have his tracking number here, which is tango bravo 9x ray642.

So if you are a geocacher and you want to log on to the geocaching website, you can track Gorham's travels.

Hopefully he'll travel around the world across the seven seas, spreading the shanti love and promoting the work of the Port of Bristol shanty crew.

We wish him all the best on his travels and look forward to following his progress and watching some of the logs.

So I'm going to sign off from Pendennis Castle.

Fantastic views here.

An old Tudor castle built to protect and defend the country from Spanish invasion and then subsequently used as a barracks for the Royal Artillery Corps.

I think in.

In the first and.

And then second World War.

So well worth a visit and some stunning views from the top here, which obviously aren't easy to share on a podcast, but.

But yes, Gorham's gone.

He's hopefully will be picked up soon and we'll.

We'll track him on his travels and as I say that, that tracking number is tango bravo 9x ray 640 too.

So if you are a geocacher, then wish him well and follow his progress.

That's amazing.

Home.

And this is my home.

Wow.

Oh, this is my Cornwall and this is my home.

Thanks for taking po.

You.

Oh, this is my corn wall.

I And this is my.

And we have been singing together for about two years.

We've learned virtually all the words, not all.

And the tunes are a bit ropey as well.

What you're going to get, you're not going to get a male voice choir, you're not going to get all these pompsy kits who do all this sort of up and downs and basses and guitars.

What?

We don't do that.

We are pretty rough and ready.

We sing good chantes and we like people to join in.

It makes us look better.

All right, so we've had it.

We have had a request, but we're going to keep singing anyway.

I go into introduce you to the one and only Nobby Die.

Now, Nobby is, as you can see, quite vertically challenged.

Yeah, vertically.

But he is getting tired, he's growing and we're hoping that puberty will hit him.

Any danger?

Feels like it's coming.

Does it?

Yeah, yeah, I'll be quiet about that.

Are you coming?

No, just breathing.

Oh, come on, let's sing a song.

This is a request, genuine request from someone outside the pub who said juice in South Australia.

I said yes.

And he went up the road.

This is a bit worried.

I got.

Oh, there we are.

Here we go.

Little knobby doy.

Small but perfectly formed.

He's going to sing.

South Australia in South Australia.

That's about as good as it gets, folks.

They go downhill now.

Too long In South Australia I was born Heave away all the way South Australia and Cape Horn we're by the South Australia all the way you rolling kings Heave away all the way, all the way.

You hear me sing.

We're bound South Australia I As I walk out one morning Fair eagle way all the way There I met Miss Nancy Blair.

We're bound South Australia all the way you rolling kings Heave away all the way, all the way.

You're here missing.

We're bound South Australia and as we walk around the town Heave away all the way I bounce her the bouncer down.

We're bound Australia.

So, Bill, we've just sung in the games room in Falmouth, but you, you were a bit quiet in that one.

Why was that?

Cuz I've lost my voice.

Well, some people would say that was a blessing.

Yeah, it's.

I.

I sound like Crusty Telly Savalas.

Who loves you, baby?

I loves you, baby.

I pulled his head.

Thank you very much.

So, yeah, we cover a patch which stretches from the old Severn Crossing all the way down to Weston, across to Cardiff, back up all the way and then up the River Avon all the way up to Temple Meads in the centre of Bristol.

So that's our patch.

So we are.

Yeah, Yeah.

I won't ruin any surprises as to why we call the 85ers in a second, but, yeah, so we cover that patch.

We've been singing as a shanti band for the past sort of three, four years.

So it's something we just love doing.

It's something we'd like to do a lot more of.

We don't get the chance to go to many festivals because we're on call lifeboat crew.

So there's a lot of the other crews will.

You'll see them more around.

So we come to the.

The festivals that we can do, but most of the time we're on call, so we can't.

But anyway, that's what we do.

Thanks.

We actually encourage audience participation.

So don't be shy, just sing along.

If you know the words, go for it.

The other night I had a dream the funniest dream of all I dreamt that I was kissing you Behind a garden wall and she said, Little eyes, I love you hey, little eyes, I love you I love you in the springtime and the fall Little eyes, I love you Little eyes, I love you I love you the best I walked my true love home last night Beneath the spreading vine I put my arms around her waist I pressed her lips to mine and she said Little eyes, I love you hey, little eyes, I love you I love you in the springtime and the fall Little eyes, I love you Little eyes, I love you I love you the best of honey do you know what, Justin?

I would just like to say that the, the.

The support and reception from the people who own the venues that we're singing at has been absolutely phenomenal.

When I went to the Seven Stars yesterday, you know, nothing was too much trouble.

I've.

I've had to arrive in my disabled buggy because of my Achilles leg situation and they were just superb.

And the games room that we've just sung at, they let me in through the fire exit, looked after my scooter at the back and put a chair out for me at the.

At the microphone.

And now I've just arrived at the chintz bar and as I drove into the courtyard, this very kind man in a pirate hat just came out and said, I'm really sorry we haven't got particularly good disabled access, but can I bring you out a drink?

I mean, what more can you ask for at a sea shanty festival than somebody coming out and offering you free beer from the bar?

I probably would have had to have paid for it, in fairness, but nevertheless, they have been spectacular in their hospitality.

Every single venue we've sang at has been awesome.

And we're only halfway through, so we're about to sing an impromptu set in the chintz bar.

We weren't actually on the.

The.

On the register or on the timetable to sing here, but there was a gap and we volunteered to step into the breach.

So in true Henry V fashion, we are once more onto the breach to hold the wall up, but hopefully nobody will die.

Anyway, we'll have a good sing here and look forward to updating you later.

We're a Bristol ship and a Bristol crew John Kanakanaka to lions.

We're the Port of Bristol shanty crew Just one more verse and then we're through.

I've just done that one.

It's very, very sa I.

So, Jaffa, it's quite noisy here, but here we are at the cider house for our last performance on the Saturday and you, you joined us at the last minute earlier on in the games room.

It has your day.

Emotional, emotional.

He's a man of few words, is old cha.

Come on, my friend, you can do better than that.

Well, it would have been better if somebody hadn't pinched my windscreen wiper blades this morning, which meant I had to go out and buy them before I come down to Falmouth.

The traffic tell to tell from Plymouth into Falmouth made for an interesting journey, but all trolls put aside.

It's been a wonderful afternoon.

Barely enjoying it.

So you can inject all of that energy into your performance this evening.

We're looking forward to a mammoth rendition of Pirate in front of this monumental crowd.

We'll give it our best try.

Excellent.

Well, that's it for this month.

I hope you really enjoyed the content.

It was great to relive some of those moments again.

So if you're new to this podcast, I hope you got a bit of a flavor of the great work that the Port of Bristol shanty crew undertake.

And it's really great that you did listen all the way to the end.

And we will come back next month where we've got a very special episode where we covered the Teenage Cancer Trust celebrated event happened at, uh, Bristoland Western's teenage cancer unit that has been in existence for 10 years.

And we were invited to come along to do a bit of a sing song.

And also I got to talk to some of the leadership of the Teenage Cancer Trust about what they get up to and what it really means for the crew to be fundraising on behalf of this charity.

But that is it.

Thank you for listening.

Fair winds and following seas I and we'll see you next month.

Ship shape and bristol fashion boys along the harbor side from even gorge to underfall we'll even hold the line secure the barrels down below wind and tie and matchum this vessel she is certified Ship shape and bristol fashion so haul away me laddie boys Haul away you're free Haul away me laddie boys and save a drink for me Haul away me laddie boys Haul away you're free Haul away me laddie boys and say a drink for me.