PACIFIC FESTIVAL, BRISTOL, AUGUST 2006

PACIFIC ISLANDS FESTIVAL, BRISTOL, 5-6th AUGUST 2006
With thanks to Keith Dixon

PISUKI 25^th Anniversary Festival (and Annual Get Together of the Kiribati and Tuvalu Association of the UK) at Woodhouse Park in South Gloucestershire

The Festival took take place at Woodhouse Park Scout Activity Centre in South Gloucestershire, just outside of the city of Bristol, in fact, during the first weekend of August. It was a joint venture between the Kiribati and Tuvalu Association and the Pacific Islands Society of UK and Ireland (PISUKI) as part of their Silver Jubilee Celebrations

The Saturday programme commenced around noon with participants from Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomons, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Europe, the Isle of Man and Ethiopia in Africa. However, parties of Cook Islanders and Fijians were unable to be there because of an accident and a transport breakdown. Several happy hours ensued, helped by drinks from the makeshift bar. Members were quick to quench their thirst and relax as they arrived. Around 12.30, everyone was summoned by the master of ceremonies of the day, Patrick Somerville, and he took us through the formalities and the dancing parts of the day. Speeches were made by the chairpersons of both PISUKI and the KTA, Michael Walsh and Samoala Kofe. These were followed by the customary toast to the island nations and cutting of the PISUKI and KTA cakes, and the traditional Pacific Islands Feast. As ever the dance display was superb from Samoa, Rootin Kiribati from Devon and the KTA dance group. After a superb afternoon tea, served at about 4pm, an inter island sports competition took place. The 5-a-side football was popular, as well as the volley ball. Some of us were waiting for the tug of war but the rope was never pulled: maybe next time. It was great to see most participants and competitors sweat it all out that afternoon but lucky that there was plenty of drinks and foods to consume to gain their energy back again.

It was a quiet Saturday night at the campsite, not surprisingly after many people had worked and partied upon arrival on Friday afternoon until 3 a.m. (no wonder there was so much food); and then played all those physical games earlier that afternoon. Well, that is what it is all about: catching up with friends through games, dancing, eating, drinking, etc.

Sunday got going bright and early with breakfast and a campsite clean up, the church service, and then the hall clean up, before everyone broke camp and idled their way home through the Somerset, Gloucestershire and Welsh countrysides.