Sunday 3rd August Well it rained… only for the beginning of the parade…. But did it dampen down the spirits.. Not at all… More people than ever came out to see the parade! I was amazed to see the streets lined with 10 people deep at places watching the parade. The parade itself was a flamboyant mixture of colour, artwork and passion from small community groups to the large commercial lorries. Here’s a first… the winners of the floats are being announced in this blog!

The best float and winners of the Mayor’s Cup was Revenge and their Antarctica Float.

The best community entry and winners for the Guest Judge’s Cup who was the Mayor’s Consort chose Brighton Theatre Group and Australia.

The best walking tableau and winner of the Tom Hough Walking Tableau Cup was Estrondo, a 22 piece samba band.

It was such a long day for me. I had the pleasure of the company of the Mayor, Gary Peltzer Dunn and Deputy Mayor Carole Theobald. With them also Councillors Brian Oxley and Dee Simpson. Among the other guests on the Mayor’s Bus were Judith Richards, the wife of the Police Chief Constable, several members of GEMS, the Gay Elderly Men’s Society. I thank them all for attending and in the process we all were drenched. Thank you to Burger King for housing the Gay Police Association and providing electricity for the Bus too.

As we were about to move off at the back of the parade, I offered the damp Mayor an umbrella and he commented, “It’s a bit late now!”

Once going through the city a sea of people was following the bus all coming to the celebration at Preston Park.

The park was awash with people and looked amazing. The rain had stopped and eventually the sun came out and near the Wild Fruit Tent there was a big cheer from the entire sea of people as it did.

I started speaking to various sponsors and all various tents where things were happening culminating in making a speech on the cabaret stage in front of 3000 people! This was the first year I wasn’t nervous. But was speaking frankly on the fact that in 77 countries around the world they are still struggling for the freedoms we enjoy just for being ourselves.

Maisie Trollette was one of my favourite turns on the Cabaret stage and also it was a privilege to award David Raven for 15 years of performing at Pride becoming the first “Friend of Pride”!

I finally left the park at 10pm after everything was finished already the clean up operation is under way! Everything is fully recycled and in few days the park will be better than ever!!!

Having been to friends for a quick bite I then went and sat in the police station which was a fascinating to see the city revellers enjoying what has become the safest Pride with the fewest incidents Today is the turn of the street party but as I write this I think it is spitting with rain… And having been down the street already rain will never dampen the spirit and people are still out!!!

Then finally tonight I will see the end of the all day Cabaret Fundraiser at the RBar. Yes we are still collecting money..

IF you haven’t seen the pink edition of the Argus today it was a fabulous edition with 24 pages of Pride in Pictures Also will be even more in tomorrow’s edition Right I need to go and eat.. at least I can relax today!!!