Select a region
The Battle of Flowers is celebrating its 120th anniversary today - and one parade stalwart has been involved in almost half of them.
Margaret Fitzgerald, who is now Chair of the Battle of Flowers Board, will be taking part in her 58th carnival this week and she plans be involved in many more.
“I started in 1964 with the St. Clement’s parish float,” she said. “My dad helped to build it and my mum flowered and made the costumes. In the 60s and 70s, I was on the float before I moved onto the committee for St. Clement and then, in 2003, I joined the main board.
“You could say it’s definitely in my blood.”
If that wasn’t enough, Margaret also provided secretarial support to John Farley when he was Battle Officer and then Tony Perkins when he chaired the board.
Pictured: Margaret on the St. Clement's float in 1964, 1966 and 1971.
After 2003, she was parade director and also organised the entertainment visiting from the UK. For the past five years, she has chaired the board, which has included two years of being Battle-less but she is delighted that in her final year at the helm, Battle is back.
“Tickets sales are going well but the lack of accommodation and the current problems with flights have affected our UK-based ticket sellers,” she said.
“But we really hope that in the same way islanders embraced Liberation Day and the Platinum Jubilee, they will take Battle to heart and support this amazing carnival.”
She added: “To be completely honest, I think Battle is a bit like Marmite: some islanders don’t like it and complain about the disruption on a busy summer Thursday, but I’m pleased to say that so many more see the value and benefit of this unique tradition.
“For 120 years, communities across Jersey have come together to put in hours of work, and the end product is spectacular. It is a great opportunity to feel part of a community and have fun. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do - everyone just gets stuck in."
“We estimate that 4,500 islanders get involved in preparing for Battle, from building floats months in advance to turning up to help stick flowers the night before.
“A number of exhibitors also have junior floats, so the children have their own focus, and they get a lot out of being creative and taking responsibility.”
Pictured: Current Battle Chair Margaret Fitzgerald on a magnificent St Clement's float in 1971, an era when more than 30,000 people would watch the parade.
Margaret said that although Battle had evolved over the years, the parade couldn’t be altered hugely as it required a closed arena.
“Victoria Avenue is perfect for that, despite the changed camber and the new bollards, which have made the arena shorter.
“We used to have 34,000 people watching but that has come down to 11,500, for safety reasons but also the fall in visitors.”
Looking to the future, Margaret said she was optimistic that the show would go on, although there needed to be a conversation with Government about future funding.
“All of the money we currently receive from Government goes on the guarantee that we pass on to exhibitors,” she said. “That leaves the costs of infrastructure, entertainment, insurance etc all down to ticket sales.
“I step down soon and there will be a new board in September. I hope that the new board and new government will work together to ensure there is a future for this wonderful community event.”
Margaret, however, will be far from stepping down from Battle, and will return to her beloved St. Clement’s Battle of Flowers Association to help create more floral masterpieces in the years ahead.
The Battle of Flowers Day Parade is today and the Moonlight Parade is on Friday evening.
"It never rains on Battle Day!"— or does it?
'Reel deal' for Battle following flower rule change
Let the Battle commence... against sea lettuce!
Skies to be set alight for 120th Battle
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.