Place’s Gombeys burst on to Town Hill Road with energy and vitality on New Year’s Day as families lined the streets to watch them.

The Smith’s Parish road is home to the Place family who lost their patriarch, a longstanding grandmaster, Leon “Sparky“ Place, when he passed away last March.

Mr Place was the last remaining member of the original Place’s Gombey troupe, founded in 1957.

Dennis Parsons, a member of the Place family, drummer and a leader of the troupe, said: “We miss him. His spirit is still here and his son is still here, and is carrying on the tradition.

“We do this every year, this will be our 68th year.

“It is tradition. It is where my granny stayed and my daddy would come off this hill every year, so I am going to keep the tradition alive.

“This is what we like to do. We have to do this.”

The troupe didn’t perform last New Year’s Day but traditionally they open the year starting from Town Hill Road.

Kevin “Niah” Bean and Charles “Fish Man” Robinson, who are from The Glebe Road, Pembroke, were among those on the sidelines watching.

Mr Bean said he was “mesmerised” by Place’s Gombeys and its booming drum they called “Big Bertha”, made from both cow and goat skins. He plays bass drum for the troupe.

He said: “This is tradition, it’s kept with heart. It’s an honour to be part of it.”

Mr Robinson, who plays the cow bell for Place’s Gombeys, echoed his sentiments, saying it was a family event.

An onlooker said the tradition was about “family and unity”.

“Music is a great way to do that for the residents of Town Hill Road,” she added

After Town Hill Road, the troupe headed to John Smith’s Bay in Smith’s, Sleepy Hollow and Crawl in Hamilton Parish, and then locations in Devonshire and Pembroke.

“It is a long day as long as the weather holds up,“ Mr Parsons said.

The Royal Gazette featured Place’s Gombey’s in 2022 when the troupe celebrated its 65th anniversary.