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Over 2,000 at Redcar's fire and steel festival
Evening Gazette
Feb 21 2011
On Saturday night, more than 2,000 people are estimated to have lined part of Redcar seafront for the town’s first ever fire and steel festival.
And as a sculpture depicting iron and steel makers was set alight, few could have denied it was an extraordinary spectacle.
The brainchild of TV Secret Millionaire David ‘DJ’ Jamilly and Redcar boxing coach Frankie Wales - with the various elements skilfully brought together by Redcar and Cleveland Council - this was an eclectic, flamboyant display of Teesside pride.
And from the moment a parade of unicyclists, jugglers, drummers, sea cadets and schoolchildren lined up outside the Redcar Bowl, there was real excitement in the freezing sea air.
As the parade wended its noisy way along Majuba Road, people lining the route made sure they captured the moment on cameras and mobile phones.
But there was a bigger moment to come. After eye-catching displays by fire performers, a huge metal sculpture depicting iron and steel workers was set ablaze - and it’s a spectacle all who witnessed it will remember.
It was a particularly thrilling moment for Derek Mosey and Helen Gaunt, who spent many hours creating the artwork - all the time knowing it was destined to dramatically go up in smoke.
Helen said they had worked from 8am to 5pm on Friday to put the framework up and spent the same time on a soggy Saturday draping paraffin-soaked paper around the metal.
She added: “It’s a lot of preparation for 20 minutes of burning but it’s been worth it.”
As the fire flickered and died, the crowds dispersed to three venues offering various types of free entertainment.
In the Mungle Jungle, kiddies with painted faces packed the soft play area while next door, unicyclists exhibited their skills at the R Kade skate park.
At the Redcar Bowl, Redcar Ladies Lifeboat Guild volunteers dished out free tea, coffee and Greggs sausage rolls, while talented young performers gave a song and dance spectacular, including the first public performance of song Standing Proud, which was specially cast to mark Teesside’s steel heritage.
Next door, in a quieter Redcar Leisure Centre, folk musicians sang poignant tunes in the foyer while, in the main hall, unions and artists mounted fascinating displays to remind everyone what the night was about - commemorating our unique steelmaking heritage and hoping that, before long, it will resume.
Geoff Waterfield, chair of the Redcar steelworks’ multi-union committee, said it had been a “fantastic” event, with no gloss taken off it by the delay of any announcement about the SSI deal going through.
He said: “I want it to happen as soon as possible, but I’m not too disappointed because I’m more than confident it will happen.
“And when it does, it will be another day to celebrate.”
Throughout the evening, quietly wandering among the attractions were the men who, “over a pint”, had the initial vision for a festival - the long-haired London party planner and the down-to earth, more follicly-challenged Redcar boxing coach.
And in case DJ had any doubts of his status as an adopted Teessider, they’ll have been dispelled by the likes of Kathleen Hamilton, from Redcar’s Mickledales estate.
She was heard to tell him: “I just wanted to say thank you for what you’ve done for Redcar. You’ve lifted the spirits of everyone.”
And as people wended their way home, few would have disagreed they’d witnessed a red letter day not just for Redcar, but for Teesside as a whole.
Heck, even the Boro won.
Over 2,000 at Redcar's fire and steel festival
Evening Gazette
Feb 21 2011
On Saturday night, more than 2,000 people are estimated to have lined part of Redcar seafront for the town’s first ever fire and steel festival.
And as a sculpture depicting iron and steel makers was set alight, few could have denied it was an extraordinary spectacle.
The brainchild of TV Secret Millionaire David ‘DJ’ Jamilly and Redcar boxing coach Frankie Wales - with the various elements skilfully brought together by Redcar and Cleveland Council - this was an eclectic, flamboyant display of Teesside pride.
And from the moment a parade of unicyclists, jugglers, drummers, sea cadets and schoolchildren lined up outside the Redcar Bowl, there was real excitement in the freezing sea air.
As the parade wended its noisy way along Majuba Road, people lining the route made sure they captured the moment on cameras and mobile phones.
But there was a bigger moment to come. After eye-catching displays by fire performers, a huge metal sculpture depicting iron and steel workers was set ablaze - and it’s a spectacle all who witnessed it will remember.
It was a particularly thrilling moment for Derek Mosey and Helen Gaunt, who spent many hours creating the artwork - all the time knowing it was destined to dramatically go up in smoke.
Helen said they had worked from 8am to 5pm on Friday to put the framework up and spent the same time on a soggy Saturday draping paraffin-soaked paper around the metal.
She added: “It’s a lot of preparation for 20 minutes of burning but it’s been worth it.”
As the fire flickered and died, the crowds dispersed to three venues offering various types of free entertainment.
In the Mungle Jungle, kiddies with painted faces packed the soft play area while next door, unicyclists exhibited their skills at the R Kade skate park.
At the Redcar Bowl, Redcar Ladies Lifeboat Guild volunteers dished out free tea, coffee and Greggs sausage rolls, while talented young performers gave a song and dance spectacular, including the first public performance of song Standing Proud, which was specially cast to mark Teesside’s steel heritage.
Next door, in a quieter Redcar Leisure Centre, folk musicians sang poignant tunes in the foyer while, in the main hall, unions and artists mounted fascinating displays to remind everyone what the night was about - commemorating our unique steelmaking heritage and hoping that, before long, it will resume.
Geoff Waterfield, chair of the Redcar steelworks’ multi-union committee, said it had been a “fantastic” event, with no gloss taken off it by the delay of any announcement about the SSI deal going through.
He said: “I want it to happen as soon as possible, but I’m not too disappointed because I’m more than confident it will happen.
“And when it does, it will be another day to celebrate.”
Throughout the evening, quietly wandering among the attractions were the men who, “over a pint”, had the initial vision for a festival - the long-haired London party planner and the down-to earth, more follicly-challenged Redcar boxing coach.
And in case DJ had any doubts of his status as an adopted Teessider, they’ll have been dispelled by the likes of Kathleen Hamilton, from Redcar’s Mickledales estate.
She was heard to tell him: “I just wanted to say thank you for what you’ve done for Redcar. You’ve lifted the spirits of everyone.”
And as people wended their way home, few would have disagreed they’d witnessed a red letter day not just for Redcar, but for Teesside as a whole.
Heck, even the Boro won.
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