It started going wrong before it had even started - the first van just didn't go, and, unbeknown to the early arrivals at the beach, the second van, loaded with important party props like sound system, and generator was stranded near Tower Bridge with an empty tank (the nice people at the van hire had omitted to mention that not only did the fuel guage not work, but there really was no fuel in the van either).

Luckily these first hiccups turned out to be the only signs of a "13th" jinx and as soon as the van had been parked below the Royal Festival Hall a small crowd materialised to help transport its conents in record time down to the beach.The decks were soon up, the genie running and the music pumping.

Highlight of the evening was the burning of an effergy of internationally renound terrorist and dictator George Bush, who, replete with Dubya monkey feet and natty suit went up in flames at midnight....

Tunes were supplied by RTB residents Nasca who were joined by two dj's and a pair of laptop DJ's from Brighton and north london hip hop MC's Frost and Grim R. As usual it was only too soon when the tide, lapping at the heels of dancing hundreds, forced everyone off the beach, and after a fantastic mass effort to sort all the rubbish into recycling containers, off into the night.

photos courtesy of Tom G and Rat