A pirate-loving grandad's ashes are set to be fired from a cannon across a harbour.
Clive Mencarini, one of the biggest fans of the Brixham Pirate Festival in Devon, will be given a special send-off as this year’s festival gets under way.
Clive died at the age of 63 in January 2020 after a life of health problems, which started when he was born with a heart defect.
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Clive was a huge fan of the Pirate Festival – and his daughters Leigh and Dee planned to honour their dad during the event he loved so much, according to Devon Live.
His ashes were due to have been fired from a cannon at the event in 2020.
But Covid-19 intervened, causing the festival to be called off in 2020, and again in 2021.
Now, as the event comes back to life after its long absence, Leigh and Dee will at last have the chance to give their dad his explosive send-off.
“It has been a long time, but a pirate always keeps his word,” said Leigh.
His ashes will be fired from a cannon on Brixham harbour’s Middle Quay at lunchtime on Saturday, the opening day of the three-day 2022 festival.
Leigh explained: “Dad died at the end of January 2020, before we knew what was coming in terms of the pandemic.
“I approached the organisers, and they were very receptive and very keen to pay tribute to dad. Of course we didn’t realise then the impact the coronavirus would have.”
But the family and the festival crew stayed in touch, and now the tribute will go ahead.
Leigh went on: “I knew him as dad, but his grandchildren knew him as Pirate Pops. Clive lived in Torbay for almost 30 years and in that time, he attended almost every Brixham Pirate Festival held.
"He invited friends and family from across the country to celebrate with him.
“Clive loved the pirate festival. He created a whole pirate persona for his grandchildren, who duly told all their school friends that they were descended from pirates, too!”
Clive was born with a heart defect that saw him endure several open heart surgeries during his teens and early 20s.
He had a pacemaker fitted at the age of 25, not long after Leigh was born.
“Unfortunately, owing to surgery complications, he contracted an infection which led to macular degeneration,” said Leigh.
“He began to lose his eyesight, and moved to Torbay to earn his diploma in joinery at the local college for the blind in the early 90s.”
He had a “gift of life” heart transplant in 2001, and despite being given a 50/50 chance of surviving another 10 years, he lived almost 20 more and saw the arrival of all five of his grandchildren.
Leigh said the Brixham Pirate Festival had always been the highlight of Clive’s calendar and each year he spent a “small fortune” on costumes and accessories.
“He had all manner of costumes,” said Leigh. “He even got me to dye his beard once! It was part of his whole persona.”
Family members from all over the UK will be making their way to Brixham on Saturday for the event.
“Being fired from a cannon during one of the live skirmishes seems a fitting way to say a final goodbye,” said Leigh.
““He lived as large as he could and left a lasting impression on all he met. What could be more appropriate than going out with a bang.”
