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News

Whitstable Oyster Festival draws huge crowds in heatwave

By: Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Published: 12:36, 23 July 2018

Updated: 10:39, 24 July 2018

Thousands turned out to Whitstable Oyster Festival this weekend to celebrate the town's heritage.

Crowds gathered by the sea in the heatwave, to enjoy a selection of traditional events and pay homage to the oyster industry for which Whitstable is famous.

The festival kicked off on Saturday morning with the landing of the oysters – which saw three men in traditional fishing garb haul oysters ashore.

The Landing of the Oysters, Lee Sully, Neil Austin and Mike Keam bring the oysters ashore during the Whitstable Oyster Festival on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192534)

These were then blessed by Rev Simon Tillotson, vicar of Whitstable's All Saints and St Peter's churches.

After this, crowds lined the streets to watch the oyster parade wind its way through Harbour Street, High Street and Oxford Street.

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Huge numbers of people in colourful marine-themed costumes processed through the streets.

The winner of the oyster eating competition. Picture: Jon Lambert (3205168)
One of the teams was made up of superheroes. Picture: Jon Lambert (3204276)
The oyster eating contest. Picture: Jon Lambert (3205181)
The contest was won by Blatch & Green. Picture: Jon Lambert (3204314)
Somewhere on the crowded south quay is the parade making it's way to the town at the Whitstable Oyster Festival on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192489)
Members of the Whitstable Sea Scouts hauled the barrow during the parade at the Whitstable Oyster Festival on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192487)
Oceana Pullen who will represent Kent in the Miss Mermaid competition took part in the Whitstable Oyster Festival parade on Saturday. (3192471)
Samba Pelo Mar lead the Whitstable Oyster Festival parade as it makes it's way through the town on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192450)
The Whitstable Oyster Festival parade makes it's way through the town on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192454)
Spectators in the High Street watch the Whitstable Oyster Festival parade as it makes it's way through the town on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192433)
Colourfull and unusual head gear from the Horsebridge Centre in the Whitstable Oyster Festival parade as it makes it's way through the town on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192431)
The giant seahorse from the Horsebridge Centre in the Whitstable Oyster Festival parade as it makes it's way through the town on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192425)
Steve Milward, Natalie Jemmett, Robin Partridge, George Duce and Rhiannon Turner sample oysters at the Whitstable Oyster Festival on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192396)
Spectators watch the Landing of the Oysters during the Whitstable Oyster Festival on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192535)
The Rev Simon Tillotson blesses the haul during the Whitstable Oyster Festival on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192533)
Jamie Good and Maya Butler sample the fayre at the Oyster Festival food fair on Tankerton Slopes on Sunday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3195134)
Rob Newton of Mighty Fine Things offers a tastying to John and Christine Chappell at the Oyster Festival food fair on Tankerton Slopes on Sunday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3195135)
Debbie and Kevin Jardine sample a preserve from Joanne Harrell at her stall at the Oyster Festival food fair on Tankerton Slopes on Sunday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3195138)
Summer Jeffery, six, Harry, 11 and Oliver Venes, seven enloy ice creams at the Oyster Festival food fair on Tankerton Slopes on Sunday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3195142)
Sam Elliott, nine took part in the Oyster Festival Crab Catching Competition on Sunday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3195143)
Leyton Byrne, eight and Maci Polly, seven took part in the Oyster Festival Crab Catching Competition on Sunday. (3195148)
The scene at the Horsebridge for the Oyster Festival Crab Catching Competition on Sunday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3195150)

Many of the costumes were made from recycled and reused materials – in keeping with the 'environmental impact' theme of this year's festival.

The festival has come under fire in recent years for antisocial behaviour, litter and "cramped" conditions at some events.

Back in 2016, the festival took place over 10 days, covering two weekends.

The giant seahorse from the Horsebridge Centre in the Whitstable Oyster Festival parade as it makes it's way through the town on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192425)

But this year's festival – the first to be run by new organisers Full Event Production Ltd – ran for just two days.

Despite this, the family-friendly festival had a schedule packed full of events to suit all ages.

Saturday afternoon saw the much-anticipated oyster eating competition, held on the Harbour Stage.

The oyster eating contest. Picture: Jon Lambert (3205181)

Contestants attempted to swallow six oysters and half a pint of beer in the shortest time, to be crowned the oyster eating champion.

Children gathered on the seafront for crabbing on Sunday morning.

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Prizes were awarded to those who caught the biggest, smallest, angriest, prettiest, and ugliest crabs.

The scene at the Horsebridge for the Oyster Festival Crab Catching Competition on Sunday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3195150)

As well as a long list of activities, plenty also enjoyed devouring oysters – the molluscs for which the town is famous.

Whitstable Oyster Company announced record sales of almost 40,000 Whitstable rock oysters, an increase of 25% on last year.

Steve Milward, Natalie Jemmett, Robin Partridge, George Duce and Rhiannon Turner sample oysters at the Whitstable Oyster Festival on Saturday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3192396)

Tankerton food fair was held on the Slopes from 10.30am until 8pm each day – offering cuisine from producers from Kent and beyond, as well as prime views of Tankerton Bay.

After complaints last year about a "squashed" feeling inside the market area, organisers attempted to open up the venue this time around.

Rob Newton of Mighty Fine Things offers a tastying to John and Christine Chappell at the Oyster Festival food fair on Tankerton Slopes on Sunday. Picture: Chris Davey... (3195135)

They also aimed to minimise single-use plastics, such as plastic cups, plates, cutlery and straws.

On Sunday afternoon, spectators gathered on Long Beach for the annual mud tug.

Teams of brave souls took part in the spectacular tug-of-war in the thick mud.

The contest was won by Blatch & Green. Picture: Jon Lambert (3204314)

The men's contest was won by Blatch & Green, who competed against Whitstable RNLI in the final.

The women's contest was won by the Whitstable Wallys, who defended their champions title after winning the event last year.

The Whitstable Wallys won for the second year running. Picture: Rebecca Richardson (3230596)

But the weekend wasn't without drama.

At about 9.30pm on Saturday, paramedics were called to reports of someone unconscious in Horsebridge Road.

Police officers and ambulance crews attended, and treated a patient who had suffered a "medical episode", but they did not require further hospital treatment.

Ambulances were spotted in Whitstable on Saturday. Picture: Ella Black (3197721)

At about 6am on Sunday morning, Whitstable resident Louis Brett discovered the beach was covered in litter and debris, including glass bottles and plastic bags.

But organisers Full Event Production Ltd scheduled clean-ups into their programme of events.

On Sunday morning, 50 volunteers joined a beach clean organised by Plastic Free Whitstable and Whitstable's Marine Environment Group.

The litter was strewn across the beach on Sunday morning. Picture: Louis Brett (3198185)

Beach cleans were organised for both Sunday morning and this morning.

In total, 72 volunteers collected 247kg of litter – just under quarter of a tonne.

(L-R) Mel Green, Emma Burnham and Linda Proctor at the beach clean on Sunday. Picture: Whitstable's Marine Environment Group (3198930)

For more photos, see this Thursday's Whitstable Gazette.

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