THE Pirates of Poole and four Cornish pilot gigs from Swanage Sea Rowing Club will set the pace among the leading boats during Sunday’s River Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

As part of the flotilla’s man-powered section, the gigs and the Arry Paye boat will be among the first to salute the Queen on the Royal Barge Spirit of Chartwell.

Pirates of Poole chairman John Lambert, who said he was “immensely proud” to represent Poole in the pageant, joked: “This must be the closest a pirate has ever been able to get to the Queen without being hanged.

“It will be nice to be able to pass the Tower of London without swinging from it.”

The pirates will follow a launch of the Second Sea Lord’s personal cutter, crewed by volunteer Royal Naval personnel in full costume.

John explained: “It will be great for the crowds as we’ll be behind them ‘pirated-up’ with a cannon on board.”

“It is going to be a great day and it is a real honour to be involved.”

Four pirates will crew Arry Paye, alongside three members of Swanage Sea Rowing Club.

Another 32 rowing club members will crew the pilot gigs.

Rowing club trustee George Wallace, who made the application to join the flotilla, told the Daily Echo: “We will row past the Queen’s barge and salute, then the barge will file in behind.

“If you were to ask the people from our club taking part if they’d rather be in the pageant or have tickets for the 100 metre Olympic Games final, they’d rather be in the pageant.

“It is going to be a magnificent spectacle of British marine heritage.”

Swanage RNLI crewman Rob Aggas will be coxswain aboard the charity’s newest £2.7million all-weather lifeboat, Diamond Jubilee, as it takes part in proceedings.