Looking for something to do for Bonfire Night, I went to Ottery St Mary to see a Devonian tradition. It involves running up and down a crowded street with a flaming tar barrel. The event becomes more and more popular every year and the sleepy little village is over run with visitors intent on a little excitement.
I took my camera and tried to get close to the action to get some photos. I can tell you there was no time for chimping (looking at the LCD) If you don’t keep your wits about you you could get burned.
The tradition has been going since the Gunpowder plot of 1605 but may stem from rituals designed to fumigate buildings and scare away evil spirits. Doesn’t seem to work with onlookers though.
Check out the video on British Pathe of it taking place in the 1960’s http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=41127
Here are some of the photographs. I’m just waiting for my eyebrows to grow back.
The first of the larger barrels is paraded round outside the Volunteer Inn in the square
A carrier dives out of the way to put out his flaming glove
The carrier finds some space
The Carriers find it hard to run with the crowd hemming them in
Finally finding some space a carrier runs through the crowd
someone else risking their camera
The barrel is handed over in the air
I'm just nipping down the Co-Op for a burning barrel dear.
It seems all that protects the carrier is a couple of layers of clothing and some sack gloves
Here that bloke has a flaming barrel on his head.
Photographer dives for safety
As the time progresses the barrel burns down and eventualy collapses.
A crowd gathers for the bonfire, probably waiting for the flames to die so they can put jacket potatoes on
Went to watch the AC45s in action in Plymouth Sound hoping for some action. We weren’t disappointed! It was blowing really hard and the cats were flying round the Sound. It was a shame I couldn’t get much closer to get some photos but the actual sailing was breathtaking. I usually find watching sailing akin to watching paint dry. Loads of people turned up to watch. Plymouth Sound makes a great amphitheatre and there were people everywhere. The game seemed all about the spectators with races being 20 minutes each and finishing right in front of the crowd. The only fly in the ointment was caused by the staff at Smeaton Tower who shut just as the last race was finishing so I didn’t get to watch the end. Still it was like being in a helicopter! 
Racing on Thursday Nights in Brixham has finished for the season. Winter is on the way. Still we were seen off with a lovely sunset as we were putting the boats away. I am a bit disappointed, last year we had dolphins too.
In fact, this year has been a bit of a year for sunsets. I think the bright pinks may have had something to do with ash from volcanoes.
Motoring the boat home after the last Thursday night in Brixham. The last of the fleet finished as the sun went down
This weekend Brixham Yacht Club hosted the Sonata Southern Area Championships. I managed to get a ride on one of the support boats and get some pictures. Thanks go to Jerry for putting up with a cranky photographer.
Sonatas head fight for clear air off the start lineThe fleet running in very light airs."A Sharp Exit" rounds the leeward mark on the way to the finish
"A Sharp Exit" rounds the leeward mark on the way to the finish
The fleet running in very light airs.
Also putting in an appearance was the sailing Trawler Vigilance. With the aid of the RiB driver, we got very close in. So close I banged my head on the bowsprit.
Vigilance from an unusual angle
A couple of weekends ago in May (ok a month ago) I managed to borrow a RIB from Brixham Yacht Club and get some photographs of the Brixham Heritage Festival sailing. The weather was rough and overcast. Conditions in the RIB were difficult. Sky covered the event as part of their series they are doing on Brixham. This created some interesting opportunities when a helicopter turned up to film the event. The helicopter flew really low to get film of the boats. I think I managed to get in the way. Well I got a free haircut!
Helicopter flies low over yachts whilst filmingThe Heritage Fleet sail upwind with help from a helicopter
Leader reaches towards Berry Head
It’s amazing how you can look at a photograph on your camera and be unimpressed and then get it home and look at it on a large scale an be impressed with it.
Really looking forward to photographing the Michelmores Cup yacht racing event hosted by Brixham Yacht Club in the morning. It’s a really fun race. Hopefully I will get some images the sailors like.
