POOLE Quay is gearing up for the annual Harry Paye Day, one of the town’s summer highlights.

Last year around 15,000 visitors attended the event, which is organised by local charity Pirates of Poole and celebrates the port’s association with the infamous pirate Harry Paye.

The event includes live music, family entertainment, a children’s best dressed pirate contest, stall holders and the Grand Pirate Parade, which snakes its way around Old Town and Poole Quay from midday.

Event coordinator Liz Brown said: “There was the Purbeck Pirate Festival at the bank holiday weekend and they had a lovely lady who was a mermaid.

“She has now agreed to come down to Poole for Harry Paye Day.

“She looks absolutely amazing. Hopefully we’ll have her on a stall on the quay so she can meet the kids, as she was the star attraction at the Purbeck festival.”

This year The Angel pub, Market Street, Poole, will be hosting a pirate-themed week in the run-up to, and during, the event.

Liz said: “This is the Pirates of Poole’s main event of the year, where the townsfolk and supporters from across the land and seas don their pirate outfits to celebrate the live of Harry Paye.

“We have enjoyed some amazing success over the years and we pirates cannot thank those enough who have turned out in previous years.

“It is always a great day and everyone does us proud.

“There are live bands and entertainment for all the family to enjoy, though there are a lot of bangs from the canon and guns so pet owners need to be aware of this.”

The Pirates of Poole emerged in the 1920s after a number of local fishermen decided they wanted to have fun and raise funds for local charities.

This year’s Harry Paye Day will raise funds for Dorset Blind and the Livability Victoria Education Centre.

Liz said: “In the 1400s the average life expectancy of a pirate was just two years. However, Harry Paye went on from being a privateer and was made Warden of the Cinque Ports. He finally retired on a Royal pension and died in 1419.

“There is a memorial brass in Faversham Church in Kent, where Old Harry was laid to rest.”

Harry Paye Day takes place in and around Poole Quay on Saturday, June 16.