The weather turned nasty almost on cue and took no prisoners. But the hundreds of Bermudians and visitors who turned out to battle the elements for yesterday's Bermuda Day parade were able to go home drenched but victorious.

Those who had marked out their territory days in advance were the first to line the streets Monday morning - with their tents and large, colourful umbrellas - fully aware of the weather forecasts that predicted a downpour that could have forced a cancellation.

"It's just an example of the tenacity of Bermudians and also the fact that they are indeed very, very steeped in tradition," said Cultural Affairs Minister Randolph Horton when asked to explain why so many people had decided to defy the weather with their presence.

"They will come rain or shine. I thought about cancelling it, but when you see all these people here, there's no way I'm going to cancel it. It's not a pretty day for a parade but it's a parade day."

Besides, some 50 community groups had spent endless hours preparing their entries and were ready to rock and roll come what may.

There was even a rumour going around that PTB staffers had taken two paid weeks off to build their float 'Transporting Through the Ages' which stole the show with four awards - Best Entry in Parade, Most Beautiful, Most Artistic and Best Organisation.

It started with clockwork precision and most of the performers, except the tiniest majorettes, kept their smiles and their energy levels way up even if some kept losing their batons.

At the flagpole stand were the usual suspects - Premier Jennifer Smith, Governor Sir John Vereker and his wife Lady Vereker, Labour Minister Terry Lister, Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons, his wife Kathy and other VIPs - who endured frequent and sudden drenchings.

Cherie Booth Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, made a point of saying what a "marvellous" place Bermuda was - no matter what question she was asked.

The first, and last, time bad weather forced the cancellation of the Bermuda Day parade was two years ago.

It made sense to cancel then because the rain was really coming down in buckets. Yesterday's rain was not nearly as bad, said an elderly woman who had camped outside the Bank of Butterfield with a friend.

"It rains on my parade because of management," she said some twenty minutes before the scheduled starting time. She declined to elaborate.

One man was overhead saying that the parade should have gone ahead on the actual day - Saturday - and all the discomfort would have been avoided.

"You don't mess with tradition," he said.

United Bermuda Party chairman Wayne Furbert couldn't help himself. "I don't think it ever rained on the UBP's parade. This must be the Smith parade."

He, Senator Neville Darrell and party leader Grant Gibbons had walked all the way from the National Stadium just to say hello to the hundreds of people who had lined the route.

Most people we spoke to wouldn't miss the Bermuda Day parade for the world. "Why?" echoed one woman, sounding like she had just heard the dumbest question ever.

"It's Bermuda Day."