Saint-Politains and holidaymakers remember the mythical Sea Festivals of yesteryear, in Saint-Pol, hosted by the late André Le Duff. At the time, the whole town gathered on the old quays for the radio-hook which acted as a springboard and for the election of Miss Pempoul and her runners-up. This Monday, August 15, 2022, the Festival retains the highlight of the blessing of the sea, at 10.30 a.m., and a number of other daytime and evening activities, in particular the concert by Gérard Jaffrès, at 9 p.m., following a first part at 8:30 p.m. allowing Aurélien Liennel to showcase his talent. But what if Pempoul found, with even more luster, the splendor of yesteryear? Gérard Jaffrès has ideas…
First scene: August 15, 1973, in Pempoul
And for good reason ! The Franco-Belgian singer associated his name with the summer human tide on the quays.
“On August 15, 1973, a friend from Créac’h ar Léo had signed me up without my knowledge for the essential hook radio station in Pempoul. We were 25 candidates and for my part I sang “Tri Martolod”, by Alan Stivell, accompanied by my first guitar bought in the city center. The start was timid since I finished tenth with a packet of wafers as the prize. The winner was my friend Paul Limouzin. Then, a fortnight later the Belgian orchestra of Burt Blanca hired me and I left the country to pursue a career as a musician. It was almost 50 years ago (49 exactly) and I come back, not without emotion, to sing this evening (Editor’s note: Monday August 15, 2022) on the old port, where it all began. For the occasion, Gérard Jaffrès made proposals: “Why not relaunch the Radio hook which was famous? I have the title “The Voice Pempoul”. And also restore the election of Miss Pempoul… ”
