The Tribune

HUNDREDS of Bahamians turned out in support of the annual Fox Hill Day celebrations on August 13.

Among the many events that marked the occasion was a Junkanoo rush-out, a lecture on the history of Fox Hill by the area’s Member of Parliament Fred Mitchell, the renaming of a street in the honour of noted educator Frank Edgecombe, and the popular climbing of the greasy pole event –which had a top prize of $1,000.

The annual event, which marks the celebration of Emancipation Day, was hailed as a major success by Mr Mitchell, who noted that the festival has been an integral part of the Fox Hill constituency since its inception in 1968.

Mr Mitchell added: “In the weeks leading up to this festival, people recalled that it was (former MP) Lionel Davis who is widely credited with bringing back to the modern era the climbing of the greasy pole.

“We all remember him dressed in African garb for these occasions. Today we remember him and all the representatives who served this area.”

Mr Mitchell also commemorated former chairs of the Fox Hill Festival Committee such as William Rahming, Charles Johnson and Eric Wilmott – particularly the latter, who is widely credited with creating the modern Fox Hill Festival by combining the days from Emancipation Day to Fox Hill day into one continuous series of activities.