Bonfire of the Loyal Subjects

News from the Falkland Islands......the remote outpost of Britishness, anchored in the middle of the South Atlantic.  Residents and visitors brave wild weather, banana shortages, and aggro from the neighbour, but sometimes all that is forgotten when we enjoy an event that links us with millions across the globe, and with our ancestors millions of years ago!

A few hours later, the sea was beyond the flagpole!

Along with other parts of the world that used to be coloured pink in Atlases, there were celebrations here to mark the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth 2.  On Monday, as millions watched Her Majesty light the beacon outside Buckingham Palace, several hundred Falklanders gathered on a beach outside Stanley.

Biggest Beacon in the World?

All weekend, volunteers had collected valuable pallets and stacked them on the beach.  As the day progressed, the pile got higher and the sea came closer!  The full moon may have raised the High Tide mark by a few metres!  The surf was well and truly up, and local residents of the furry kind were enjoying body surfing in the huge waves.  We watched this guy (below) for about 30 minutes, throwing himself onto the rollers.

Relaxed seal surfing in Surf Bay...

Come the appointed hour (6.25, Stanley Time; 22.25 BST), the pyre was lit , and the crowd looked on in wonder.  Would the fire take hold, before the tide came in?

Will the waves put the fire out?

It was a close-run thing, as the crowd was gradually moved higher up the beach to avoid the encroaching sea.  The beer tent was not so lucky, as the waves came under the walls.  Some people had had the sense to wear wellies, and so continued drinking until the bonfire reached its climax.

The sea makes an appearance in the beer tent!

As well as the beer tent, there was a BBQ and hot drinks, plus loud music.  But the star of the show was not Rolf Harris, or Tom Jones, as in London, but the Beacon!

Going up in flames; encroaching waves on right.

Having watched the "bush TV" a few times in Africa, I can understand how this ancient form of heating and lighting has captivated Man down the millennia.  I think there is something that transports us back to those pre-historic days.  Watching the flames devour the wood, and feeling the heat through 5 layers of clothing,  I could imagine staring at a fire at the entrance to our cave, as the whole tribe settled down to chewing the cud after a successful day hunting mammoth....

Fascinating... .. Could our ancestors have watched a fire like this?

Hypnotic - the fire and the waves...

All too soon, the flames began to dwindle, as did the crowd.  (The Jubilee concert from London was about to be shown on Falklands TV!).  But the bonfire builders looked to have planned it to perfection. The incoming tide would gentle extinguish the last embers, thereby saving the the Falklands Fire & Rescue team having to be called out to rescue any penguins that strayed too close.

The flagpole and fire about to be engulfed

The hackle of a Fusilier.

Some of the spectators came from the Mount Pleasant garrison.  I noticed their distinctive hackles, which I thought were traditionally only worn by Scottish Regiments.  But chatting to some of the soldiers, I learned that the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers are allowed to wear the hackles to commemorate the stealing of them from defeated French troops  at the battle of St Lucia in 1778.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Regiment_of_Fusiliers

Something reminded me of that classic film noir, "The Wicker Man"!

The next day, I returned to the beach for some exercise.  If I hadn't have seen it, I would never have guessed that anything had taken place as there no evidence, except some bulldozers tracks.  The wood had had been consumed by the flames, and the ashes washed out to sea.  The tents had gone, hopefully onto a lorry and not out to sea.....

Verdict - Better than TV!  

And no annoying commentators to spoil ones' enjoyment.  Hip, Hip...HOORAY!!

Peter