Rebecca Worrell watched in fascination gripping her daughter close as the Chamberlain Bridge was lifted on Friday.
It was the first time she had witnessed the captivating sight of the “swing bridge” in operation.
Worrell joined hundreds of Barbadians who gathered along the Clennell Wickham Boardwalk as access was granted to vessels entering the inner basin of the Careenage. The boats were due to participate in yesterday’s Royal Regatta Barbados 2014.
Worrell said she brought her daughter Azura Clarke and little brother Timothy Worrell just to see the bridge go up.
She had heard tales of the lift bridge before but was never privileged enough to see it for herself so she left home just to see it on Friday. Worrell made sure she was in position almost half hour early so she could have what she described as, “the best vantage point”.
“It is something that does not happen too often. I wanted her [Azura] to experience for herself so when she grows up she can say, ‘oh I saw it for myself’,” Worrell said.
In the case of Tracey Jacobs and her children Tricia and Mitchon Auguste, they were on their way home from school when they saw the crowd and stopped by to see what was taking place.
Jacobs said she had never seen the bridge lift before so she was happy that she happened to be passing at the precise moment.
The moderate crowd gathered at Independence Square also got a glimpse of the Earl and Countess of Wessex Prince Edward and Sophia.
Prince Edward was on hand to greet the team members participating in the regatta and the students involved in the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards Barbados.
Shirley Belle was especially excited at the prospect of meeting Prince Edward. Belle, who secured a place behind one of the many barriers erected throughout Independence Square, said she made sure she got out of work early so she could witness his visit.
“I will not live to see anything like this again so I made sure I got out from work early so I can catch a little bit of it,” Belle said.
She added that she would also be checking out the activities at Heroes’ Square because she liked the parades as well.
“I like to see the parades and when they dress up in the uniforms. The music and the marching have always fascinated me,” she said.
