Hundreds of people gathered on Wareham Quay in Dorset to witness a pirate invasion of the town – and to help fight it off with the help of militia cannon and musket fire.
The second of four fun Wareham Wednesdays – the pirate invasion – was raising money for the Allison Campbell Trust, a small Purbeck charity which supports people receiving end of life care in the community.
Wareham’s own Jack Sparrow led the crowds in repelling the pirate invasion
Motley crew eventually defeated
The Muddlecombe Men sailed up the River Frome on Wednesday 14th August 2024 with plans to soak the local population and create mayhem in the town centre.
But thanks to Wimborne Militia who valiantly held the town bridge for the King, and a huge crowd led by Wareham’s own Jack Sparrow, squirting water back from every vantage point possible, the motley crew was eventually defeated and put in the stocks.
Militia men on Wareham town bridge open fire on the invaders
Wareham Wednesdays August 2024
- Wednesday 7th: A masquerade ball themed event with the band Tudo, raising money for the Lexi May Trust
- Wednesday 14th: The pirate invasion with music from The Captain’s Beard, raising money for the Allison Campbell Trust
- Wednesday 21st: The wheelbarrow race followed by music from Fever Street and The Hanging Basket, raising money for #Willdoes
- Wednesday 28th: The raft race followed by music from Allsort’d Choir and MacBusted, raising money for Allsort’d
Wareham’s month-long extravaganza began on Wednesday 7th August 2024 with a Masquerade Ball on the quay to raise money for the Lexi May Trust, supporting children with terminal illness or life limiting conditions in Dorset.
It continues on Wednesday 21st August with a wild wheelbarrow chase through Wareham to raise funds for local charity #Willdoes, which aims to help young people who find life tough or struggle to cope with daily life.
And a week later, on 28th August, Wareham Wednesdays concludes with a race raft in support of Swanage’s Allsort’d, a charity which helps young people with learning disabilities lead their best lives in their own communities.
Skull and crossbones flew from river boats as crowds gathered on Wareham Quay
Even dogs were called on to swell the pirates’ numbers
New volunteers stepped forward
Dave Burgess of Wareham Wednesdays said:
“We have had a lot more help this year from volunteers, stepping forward thick and fast. It makes our life a lot easier because in previous years there have been just the odd 10 of us who did everything, ending up with picking up the litter at 1 o’clock in the morning.
“But because the local community has come together and more volunteers in yellow jackets have stepped forward, we have been able to do more fundraising – many hands make light work, as they say.
“In the past we have just raised as much as we can and asked local charities to get in touch with us, but this year we have chosen four charities, one for each of the four different nights, in the hope that will help to raise more money.
“By doing that we get extra support from those charities on their chosen night and also create more interest among the spectators by highlighting local good causes. It is definitely working in our favour!”
Crowds gathered along the Frome to join in the Wareham Wednesday fun
The militia kept a keen lookout from the best vantage points in town
“It’s fantastic fun!”
Dave added:
“I’m really pleased with the turnout so far, we have had two really positive, successful events and we have seen the bucket takings rise to £1,500 – and not only that, we now have card readers for those who don’t carry change with them.
“The weather has been good, which is a blessing, and over the years our pirate invasion night has grown and grown and become so popular that I can’t ever see us stopping it.
“You can feel the anticipation in the Quay growing as the pirate ship gets closer and closer with water pistols at the ready, Wimborne Militia waiting for them on the bridge, and then you get huge explosions – it’s fantastic fun and all the kids love it!
“I do wonder whether we can make it even better in future. We are lucky to have the support of The Twins FX, a Wareham company who make these amazing theatrical stage effects and illusions, and it would be fantastic to somehow work something of theirs into the show.”
Pedalling pianist Chloe Marie Aston joined the pirates’ side for the evening
Pirate folk rock band The Captain’s Beard provided live music
Pirate pedalled her own piano
All of the Wareham Wednesday events feature a fireworks display at the end of the evening, as well as live music, barbecue and food stalls, a beer tent, games of skill and luck and fairground rides.
Pirate folk rock band The Captain’s Beard entertained the crowds during the pirate invasion, and singer Chloe Marie Aston from North Devon, who happened to be on holiday in Purbeck and travels everywhere with her piano bike, also joined the fun.
In the warm evening sunshine, families picnicked on the banks of the Frome with plenty of children jumping into the water to cool off, while fairground attractions continued past dusk.
Pause for reflection – the fairground attraction along the banks of the river
Pirates are particularly good at skittles – who knew?
Town’s playground comes up the river
Dave Burgess said:
“We have a wonderful river in Wareham, even if we’re not quite Henley on Thames, but we should utilise it more – Wareham’s playground comes up the river and we should celebrate it.
“At the end of August we’ll have the raft race down the Frome, which is my personal favourite event and always leaves people with huge smiles on their faces.”
A job well done – Wimborne’s Militia, celebrating their 25th anniversary, saw off the pirate invasion
Like all Wareham Wednesdays, the evening ended with a fantastic fireworks display
Lots of ideas for future events
Dave added:
“Next year, perhaps we may be able to get Dorset Water Park involved with their water assault course, or It’s a Knockout style events – we have lots of ideas to make our summer Wareham Wednesday bigger and better than ever.
“I have been really excited about this year’s events, the extra help has been amazing and we have been blessed by good weather so far.
“We are in awe of what Swanage Carnival achieves and if Wareham Wednesdays could be half as good as them we would be very, very happy!”
Watch Wimborne Militia see off Wareham’s pirates
Further information
- Follow Wareham Wednesdays on Facebook
