THIS year's Black Prince Flower Boat Procession was hailed as a great success despite rain effecting the numbers. The festival, which raises money for the RNLI, sees a flower boat named the Black Prince carried through the streets of Millbrook, Kingsand and Cawsand. Despite dying out some 50 years ago even, the event was revived in 1986 and has subsequently grown in popularity, with more more and more people coming from far and wide to enjoy it. This year's event saw town criers as far as Truro, musicians and children join the procession. Brian Williams, the RNLI Rame Peninsula chairman, said: 'The spirit and enjoyment of the occasion was reflected by the many who braved the morning rain, some of whom said "the lifeboat crews face awful conditions, so the least we can do is to support them by coming." 'A bit of rain is nothing compared with what they have to face!' At the end of the festivities, the boat was carried to the water's edge and launched to sea, accompanied by the singing of the traditional Launching Song by the famous Hanging Johnny singing group from Plymouth.