READER LETTER: It's the greatest flower carnival on earth... Long may it last!

Monday 23 January 2023

I love the Battle of Flowers - it's the biggest and most creative flower carnival in the world by islanders, for islanders, and for our visitors of all ages and abilities.

Each year, it reminds me how many fun-loving islanders there are, regardless of age and the challenges we have to face individually or collectively each year.

I also had so much fun and was made so welcome when I helped for the first time to pick and stick on the night before.

I can understand moving from Thursday to Friday for those wanting to take time off Friday afternoon and fly in for a short weekend - but for young families with young children and babies, surely it should still start after lunch on Friday not after 20:00 when most young children will be asleep in bed?

Meanwhile, older people may find it difficult to attend so late and, with less frequent buses, to get home after 22:00.

Furthermore, the Battle of Flowers volunteers keep working to the early hours on the day of the first parade and are no doubt exhausted and need a good early night's sleep so they well rested for the following day's Moonlight Parade.

Pictured: "If I can't enjoy the brilliance as a mad Jerseyman in the midday sun, I will be there to enjoy as the sun sets in my twilight years as i have so enjoyed  in the past."

Also if it rains in the afternoon it is less of a concern than if it rains as the sun is setting.

When you become wet you may benefit from the heat of the midday sun to warm up again and dry out, remembering August is the wettest month of the summer

But regardless if I can't enjoy the brilliance as a mad Jerseyman in the midday sun, I will be there to enjoy as the sun sets in my twilight years as I have so enjoyed in the past.

Many thanks to those responsible for the greatest flower carnival on earth and long may it last.

Christopher McCarthy
Grouville