THE Bude Castle and Canal buzzed with crowds and activities on Sunday, August 8 as the first Bude-Stratton Heritage Day took place in beautiful sunshine.

It was a day of something for everyone, young or old, steam or brass band enthusiasts, canoeists or anglers. The afternoon saw children of all ages entertained by two of Cornwalls top showmen master of the sleight of hand, Richard Ready, and Professor James Gordon with his ever-popular Punch and Judy Show, complete with policeman and baby.

Marvin Farthing, aka Graham Eccles, weaved his way in-and-out of the crowds on his 21st Century Penny Farthing. In his hands balloons were transformed into crowns, swords and even one amazing windmill hat, while Hayley Ayres of Music Train was busy painting faces including one very realistic Spiderman in shorts and t-shirt!

At lunchtime, providing they were quick, people were able to munch on a scrumptious pork and apple sauce bap from the hog roast cooked up by Kit Davis of The Castle Restaurant or tuck into the delicious fare baked by Lin Hills.

The days musical contributions came from the areas two favourite brass bands Bude Metric Brass and the Bude Town Band. For jazz-lovers the Pig Ankle Quartet entertained as only they can and fiddler Lindsay Ritch played a mixture of traditional and contemporary Celtic music. Bude Folk Club gave a stirring rendering of Trevithick, (named after Richard Trevithick) which was appreciated by the members of the society, while The Barrel Rock Boys, The Peasants Chorus plus guests Andrew McKay and Carole Etherton all in their own inimitable way provided a most rousing musical finale.

Bude and Stratton Town Clerk, Christine Kett, said: This is the first year for the Bude-Stratton Heritage Day and weve had a great response from participants, from everyone in fact.

While there may have been a change of name, from Bude Canal and Gurney Day, the day is still a celebration of the Bude Canal, Sir Goldworthy Gurney and Cornish inventiveness. In fact, this year weve had more canal stalls, steam engines, tractors and models than ever before.

All the vehicles on show attracted much attention. Among them were Bude Motor Clubs lovely classic cars; Andrew Medland and friends with a wonderful variety of vintage tractors and engines; Kevin and Gordon Burrows small steam engines and John Briggs with his miniature steam engine.

A definite highlight of the day was the arrival, all the way from Penzance, of Dr Robert Dyke with his amazing 1902 White Model B-6hp Stanhope steam car. Mayors and consorts from Bodmin, Launceston and Bideford were in attendance and were delighted to be driven around town in a selection of Bude Motor Clubs open topped cars.

Among the many stall holders was the Whalesborough Farm with their award winning cheeses; The Cornish Crisp Company; Baghappy with a beautiful selection of handbags and accessories and Ashtree Pottery where you could talk to potter Rowan Fawdon and watching her using potters wheel.

The Bude Horticulture Society was well represented by members, vegetables and a hive of honey bees! Also present was the ever-popular Bude Old Cornwall Society, whose members are always such a mine of information about all things to do with Bude-Strattons heritage.

The Cornish Language Partnership attracted much interest and two of their Cornish language speakers held workshops for those wanting to learn to say a few words in Cornish. Learning was very much the intent of herbalist Linda Morans two herb walks, one along the Canal and one on the sand dunes. Expert in every variety of herbs you can think of, Linda explained how our ancestors would have picked and treasured so many of the plants we consider weeds today for their food and medicinal properties.

Bude Canal and Harbour Society and Bude Canal Trust were alongside The Rolle Canal; The Grand Western Canal, South West Water and the Inland Waterways.

On the Barkhouse Green the RSPB had a stall and activities for children and offered portrait drawing sessions. The RNLIs ladies also had a stall selling RNLI and Bude souvenirs and promoting sea safety and later took part in the RNLI blessing of the sea service in conjunction with St Michaels Church at the Sea Lock Gates.

The Bude Canoe Clubs first-ever Bude Sprint Regatta took place above the Falcon Bridge. Steve Davenport, club chairman, said:We are absolutely delighted that it was such an outstanding success so much so, that next years will be on a much larger scale involving the British Canoe Union.

The PA was supplied by John Collacott and the day was threaded wittily together by the master of the one-line quip from James Kendling of Kendling & Partners, Estate Agents and Auctioneers.

Cllr Barry Garvie, Chair of the Heritage and Culture Committee, said: I think I can say its been a most successful day. I would like to thank everyone for coming and say see you next year.