All the ingredients of a classic British seaside event: Sun, and rain, Sandcastles, boats, Giant BBQ to raise money for starving Africans, three Quality live bands, and that great institution that is Sangria.

The sandcastle competition produced a huge range of wonderful oddities, all of which were created with love and a touch of madness. There was the big blobby jelly thing by the De Beauvoir Bombers, a large clingfilm wrapped fallus/tower by SPRM, a game of trench warfare crazy golf and a giant turtle. The acclaimed judges, Ron Arad, Simon Allford and Peter Cook decided the clingfilm thing should claim 1st prize, with the blobby thing a close second.

.Accompanying all of this was some fine music from 3 bands featuring a young lady on a stool singing lovely songs, a funk-laden 3-piece complete with trombone and lastly the fanstaic Freddie Macha; a true performer who played great reggae-music to a swooning crowd huddling from the rain/sun.

The swooning crowd was fed and with goat, barbequed on a giant bbq, to raise money for starving Africans. This African bbq concoction was washed down with Sangria and watermelon served by loverly ladies in coconut bikinis....(the last bit was wishful thinking).

See what you missed Ken? And you say London's too cold for a beach. Pah!

The pictures may take time to load...(1st 2 B/W photos by Sarah Duncan, last 3 by Ben Roy)