A look back at Whitehaven Maritime Festival 25 years after it began

In 1998, wine merchant Gerard Richardson had a warehouse shop on Marlborough Street on Whitehaven Harbour and was struggling to get shoppers to come over from King Street which was bustling at the time.

He decided to host an open day with some bottles to taste and suggested to his wife Dianne, that it would be good to get a tall ship in the harbour for the open day.

Gerard Richardson at the launch of the Maritime Festival at The Beacon in Whitehaven in May 1999 (Image: The Whitehaven News archive)

An hour later, the basic plan for the first festival was drawn up with street theatre, the local radio Cumbria stage and a tall ship, but it was still planned to be one day.

Gerard later realised that most of the available vessels would have to sail from the south coast and it would therefore be more practical to hold a two-day event.

He adapted the plan and called Hilary Scott, who at the time, was the editor of The Whitehaven News. She ‘loved the idea’ and joined the committee.

Terry Ponting Chief Executive of Whitehaven Develoment Company, M.E.P. Tony Cunningham , Michael Richmond R.E.M. Managing Director, Peter Nuttall B.N.F.L. Project Manager, Mandy Norman Historical Tableau Producer, Gerard Richardson Committee Member (Image: The Whitehaven News archive)

Later in the year, the Whitehaven Festival Company was registered and began running as a not-for-profit company of volunteers.

Gerard said: “Over the years, more than a dozen people made up the board of directors, with some there from the start all the way through to the end.

“They were fantastic times and while I couldn’t do it again now due to my health, I certainly miss them and I enjoy reminiscing in the shop with people about them.”

The first Whitehaven Maritime Festival in 1999 (Image: The Whitehaven News archive)

The first Maritime Festival in 1999 was expected to attract 10,000 people but a crowd of 80,000 descended on Whitehaven Harbour over the weekend.

The event's success developed over the years and branched out to include major concerts and other shows. As well as 10 displays from the Red Arrows, the festival attracted many big names to the town, including international soprano Katherine Jenkins, and music acts such as McFly, Madness and Boy George.

McFly play on the Quay Street car park at the festival in 2013 (Image: John Story)

Former X-Factor judge Louis Walsh visited after attempts made by Gerard to get Westlife to come to Whitehaven. Other famous faces included hairdresser-to-the-stars Nicky Clarke, magician Dynamo, soap star Michelle Collins and celebrity chefs Ainsley Harriott, Jean Christophe Novelli and Gino D’Acampo.

Gino D'Acampo served up a treat in front of a packed-out Sugar Tongue in 2010 (Image: The Whitehaven News archive)

In total there were 10 Maritime Festivals, two home and garden shows, and a film festival in 2015 got the town’s Gaiety Cinema up and running again after 12 years.

Michelle Collins gets a tour of the festival from Gerard Richardson at the 2012 festival (Image: John Story)

There were also a number of tall ship visits and three stadium rock gigs with Status Quo, an 80s line-up headlined by Rick Astley, and a separate gig called Whitehaven Live with Big Country, The Stranglers and Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats.

A typical festival included two live stages, a giant fair, over 200 stalls, celebrity chefs, air shows, tall ships, multiple street theatre performers, deep dive displays and on three occasions, ferry trips along the coast by the MV Balmoral.

Tall ships and fireworks at the 2005 festival (Image: Submitted)

Then of course, there were the spectacular firework displays with a teaser display on Friday night leading up to the main 15-minute display on Saturday evening. There were also jet skis, giant model yachts and seven military parades over the years.

A highlight for Gerard was hosting Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in 2008. Gerard was awarded the MBE in 2011 in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for his services to the tourist industry and to the community in Whitehaven.

Gerard, who runs Richardson’s of Whitehaven on Lowther Street, said: “During the festival years, we used to joke in our shop that you never knew who you were going to answer the phone to because over the years we had calls from celebrities, US Admirals and an NCIS Agent as well as the occasional wine buyer.

Gerard and his wife, Dianne at the Razorlight concert at The Whitehaven Festival in 2011 (Image: The Whitehaven News archive)

“Great memories and I’m glad we were able to bring the Maritime Festivals to the town when we did because land developments and the loss of South Beach, together with more rules governing air shows would make it virtually impossible to do on that scale now.”