Lyme Regis welcomes friends from Bermuda

Lyme Regis will once again celebrate its long-running friendship with its twin town of St George’s, in Bermuda, at Somers Day celebrations on Wednesday, July 19

The day honours Admiral Sir George Somers, a former Mayor and MP for Lyme Regis, who founded Bermuda after being shipwrecked on the islands in 1609, while leading a fleet on a voyage to the new English colony of Jamestowne, Virginia

Somers drove his ship, the Sea Venture, onto the reefs surrounding the islands and managed to get all 150 crew and passengers safely to shore The wreckage is believed to have been the inspiration for Shakespeare’s play ‘The Tempest’

They remained on the islands for 10 months, exploring, collecting supplies and building two new ships – the Deliverance and the Patience – from the wreckage and Bermuda’s plentiful cedar wood, eventually continuing their journey on to Jamestowne When they arrived they found the settlement almost completely wiped out from starvation and disease

Somers returned to Bermuda to collect more supplies but he died on the island in 1610 His heart is believed to have been buried in what is now the historic town of St George’s, and his body was returned to the Cobb in Lyme Regis for burial in Whitchurch Canonicorum, near Charmouth, where Somers had lived at Berne Manor

Lyme Regis was ofcially twinned with St George’s in Bermuda in 1996 and tripled with the archeological site of Jamestown in 2015, creating the Historic Atlantic Triangle

But the Somers Day goes back far longer, having been held annually for more than 40, first instigated by former Lyme Regis town crier, the late Richard Fox MBE, and his counterpart from St George’s, Bob Burns, who met while competing in international competitions and founded the links between the two towns

This year ’ s Somers Day celebrations will be held on Wednesday, July 19 with a visiting party from Bermuda in attendance, including the town crier of St George’s, E Michael Jones, and of the capital Hamilton, Ed Christopher

Twinning association members from both sides of the Atlantic and civic guests will assemble at the Pound Street entrance of Langmoor Gardens at 11am, and will process to the statue of Admiral Sir George Somers in the gardens for a cry by Lyme Regis town crier Alan Vian at 11 25am

The party will then continue onwards, down through the gardens, along Marine Parade and on the historic Cobb for a flag-raising ceremony and speeches at the end of Victoria Pier

4th - 12th August 2022

A week packed full of fun events lymeregiscarnival.co.uk

Family-run traditional café and delicatessan serving quality, locally-sourced produce

Fresh bread from Leakers of Bridport and Pauls Bakery of Seaton

Award-winning Chunk of Devon pasties

Fresh coffee from The Coffee Factory

Delicious bakes from Spongbakes Cakes

Range of fresh sandwiches, baguettes, soups and specials made in-house

Selection of cheeses, charcuterie and artisan products

Eat in or takeaway - find us at 21 Broad Street, Lyme Regis

Enjoy Good Food by the Beach this summer!

Based in the historic Old Bonded Store on Marine Parade, the café is just a few minutes from Lyme Regis’ main sandy beach.

Open everyday from 10am-4pm, we serve a selection of freshly prepared, local food and drinks to eat in or takeaway.

On the beach and want to skip the queues?

Order online via the website below and collect your food/drink within minutes.

www.thegoodfoodcafe.co.uk/by-the-beach

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