Thanks and here’s to next year’s festival

This year’s 19th Seafest Festival of the Sea was staged within Scarborough Harbour and included seafood cooking, maritime exhibitions, music, real ale, visiting vessels etc and brought together the RNLI Flag Weekend, Sea Cadets, Coastguards, fishing organisations and trusts. Whilst bearing in mind commercially we try not to clash with other traders of the area, we as a group have to be self-funding and rely totally on sponsorship/exhibitors’ fees but continue to link with the sea, both past and present.

I would sincerely thank the Steering Group Team Janet, Rowena, Jamie, Bob, Chris, Dawn, together with the ‘tombola’ group helpers, performers, exhibitors and stewards, Scarborough Harbour staff and Scarborough RNLI management and crew, Coastival team under Wendy Holroyd, Welcome to Yorkshire, Scarborough Borough Council Tourism Bureau, civic amenities staff etc and coverage by The Scarborough News.

Ryan our music co-ordinator, through Acoustic Gathering, once again brought together some excellent music over the three days, the seafood theatre under the supervision of Irene and the leading chefs of our region, who gave of their time to provide continuous captivating seafood demonstrations over the two-day period - sincere thanks to you all.

Thanks to Scarborough Maritime Heritage Group for their excellent exhibition, Coble and Keelboat Society, Jubilee Sailing Trust, The Great Yorkshire Brewery and other exhibitors. Also thanks to the Rev Tina Minett Stevens and organist Graham Brownridge from St Mary’s Church for co-ordinating the Sunday ‘Blessing of the Boats’ service, complimented by Scarborough RNLI, Scarborough Sea Cadets and representations of the Royal and Merchant Navy. Thanks also to HMS Puncher and Trumpeter, not forgetting HMS Pickle who made a welcome surprise visit.

Our sincere thanks to all our many sponsors, including Keep mo at Homes, Scarborough Hospitality, Create and the Arts Council together with my special thank you to the traders of the South Bay and town, Chamber of Trade, hotels and residents for once again helping me with the sponsorship of our spectacular South Bay firework display by Phoenix Fireworks, which was filmed and projected throughout the country.

We now look forward to our 2018 (20th) festival and would welcome new sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers.

Janet Jefferson,

chairperson, Seafest Steering Group c/o 41 Eastborough

Scarborough