J.-J. Merlin's inline skates will kick off the event

HUY SOON SUMMER J.-J. Merlin's inline skates will kick off the event The rollers will set off for 20 km, on this evening of the Music Festival Jean-Joseph Merlin alone embodies the synthesis of the roller parade and the Music Festival, the highlights of this upcoming weekend, which will mark the transition from spring to summer. The man who was born in Huy in 1735 is indeed not only the inventor of the inline skate, but also of musical instruments, such as the six-string harp, a kind of harpsichord. He also played the piano and the violin. His biographers explain that one day, shortly after developing his inline skates, he went to a masked ball given by a famous London socialite at her Soho Square residence. Wearing his skates, he began to spin around while playing the violin. But, unable to brake, he crashed into a valuable mirror, which he broke, as well as his violin. He himself was injured in the adventure. Today, the musician-skater returns to his hometown of Huy. He will indeed be at the start of the roller parade, at 8 p.m., on Avenue des Ardennes (gathering at Grand Place from 7 p.m.). At least if the weather permits, because, it's a constant for Belgium Rollers, within which the Huy parade is organized, that failing the pilgrim, rain stops the skater. Before that, the roller park on Rue des Messes, for acrobatic figures, will have been inaugurated, around 5 p.m. Huy, London, Polish This brave Jean-Joseph Merlin, for the occasion, will have come from Poland, Avenue des Ardennes, Baudouin bridge, Amay, Ombret bridge, and back to Huy via Liège. Irek Grabowski is 39 years old, the same age Merlin was when he served as a model for Gainsborough (who is not just anyone!). He has lived in the 'Cité Ardente' (Liège) for 11 years and his profession as a musician leads him to participate in a whole series of events, notably Jazz à Huy, for several years. He admits to being more comfortable with his instrument than with his skates, but, with the roller parade, he runs less risk than his model. His mirror will be the Meuse, since the 20 kilometers of the circuit will never be far from the river. Via the Baudouin bridge, the rollers (but also cyclists, who are welcome) will head towards Amay, cross the Ombret bridge to return towards Huy. They will arrive there around 10:30 p.m., to merge into the Music Festival, and the night of Bassinia. Lord Sandwich J-J Merlin will still be part of the festivities this summer, during the dinner-show that will take place in late 18th-century London, from July 16 to 31 (in several episodes). Lady Sandwich's table will be laden with dishes that can restore the image that her gambler husband gave of English "gastronomy". This admiral knew no other table than that of whist, to the point of having snacks served to him there, which would bring him more notoriety than His Majesty's ships. ■■ M.D. NOTE The Tourist Office will offer a circuit to discover the heritage from the inventor's era. An exhibition will also be dedicated to him, from July 14 to August 22, at the Galerie Espace Place Verte. J-J Merlin, also known as Irek Grabowski, violinist and skater. ■ "John" Joseph Merlin by Gainsborough at the Kenwood Museum. ■M.S.