parade.

And the crowds were treated to waves of colour and a variety of music, symbolising the culture of the Islands according to Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan.

There were 46 entrants in the Heritage Day Parade which started on Front Street and snaked through the streets to Bernard Park, the site of earlier festivities.

Also taking place earlier, was the Marathon Derby, won by Kavin Smith in the men's competition and Anna Eatherley in the women's. The Heritage Cycle Race was won by Sinclair Packwood.

Swarms of boats and people took to the water in St. George's for the annual Fitted Dinghy racing gala.

Events in Hamilton started at Bernard Park yesterday morning when the Premier officially started Bermuda Day. That signalled the start of entertainment at the park, which was praised by Sir John, again because of its diversity.

Crowds had been gathering on Front Street, Church Street and Cedar Avenue from early in the morning for the parade which started an hour later.

While many of the floats were imaginative, obviously involving hours to prepare, the winners were meticulously planned masterpieces.

The best primary school entry was Bermuda High School's "Buildings from Victoria to AS Cooper, including the Birdcage. It involved intricate reconstructions of buildings with children helping to turn it around. It also won the award for the most beautiful entry.

St. George's High won the best high school and most original awards for their animated "Beat the Retreat/Flagpole Scene.'' The Commercial category went to Barrit's Mineral Man, the organisation award was won by the United Bermuda Party, the community award was taken by Smith and Smith Families and Warwick Parish Council won the parish prize.

Stanley and Esperanza Wilson's Police Birdcage won the individual and judges' awards.

The music as usual was varied and often dynamic. There were many majorette troupes, church groups and the Salvation Army.

Much of the upbeat, live music was saved to the end of the parade with bands in four floats. Then the gombeys signalled the start of much dancing and singing on the sidewalks.

Participants ranged from 23-month-old Venicia Raynor, yawning in front of a manic gombey group, to more mature members of the community like grandmother Mrs. Dee Dee Smith, a lively 61-year-old member of the Clay House Inn's West Indian flavoured float.

There were no reports of accidents or injuries although one horse rider from Western Riding Group had the crowd at the Flag Pole scattering for cover when he seemed to lose control of his horse. He regained his composure in true cowboy fashion.

Minister of Cultural Affairs the Hon. Leonard Gibbons, who started the day with a swim at John Smith's Bay, said the quality was getting higher every year.

Mr. Gibbons spent Sunday evening speaking to some of the people preparing costumes and floats for the parade. He said: "There was a great camaraderie.

These took hours to produce. It was great to see families and friends working together and enjoying themselves over the whole weekend. And the weather was perfect.'' The Premier agreed that the varieties of colours, cultures and music in the parade demonstrated the "whole mosaic of Bermuda.'' Sir John said that it had been a great Bermuda Day and events at Bernard Park and the parade had been "fantastic.'' In his speech to the assembled crowds, Sir John said: "Bermuda has yet to evolve into a society which has totally overcome all of its inequalities.

"It is, nevertheless, a society which has taken great strides towards creating a community in which every member is valued, not on the colour of his skin or the basis of his place of origin, but because of the unique and singular contribution which each of the Island's peoples has made to Bermuda's success and stability.

"Bermuda is the cosmopolitan country it is as a result of the flavour imparted to it by various cultures and various races.

"The mosaic of colours to be found in Bermuda amply demonstrates the scope of the diversity of the Island's peoples and I dare to believe diversity has also helped to reinforce our stability as a country.''