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Is there a place for Battle in the modern age? What does it bring to the island? How does Battle evolve to meet the expectations of Jersey, its residents, and its visitors in 2023 and beyond? Who drives that change and how soon does it need to happen?
Battle received a £150,000 grant from the Government this year. If islanders see the value of the parades as a community event, should that help increase?
Indeed, should the parade be free for all to watch at a time when most islanders can attend?
Although opinions vary, all seem agreed that such questions need to be answered. And answered fast.
Over the next two days, Express will speak with exhibitors, organisers and Government to draw out some of the key issues at stake...
Paul Whiteside – Battle of Flowers’ Board and Exhibitor Director
Pictured: Exhibitor Director Paul Whiteside (in red) talks to the media when he and his family and friends used to enter a float.
The Battle of Flowers celebrated its 120th anniversary this year with a return to Victoria Avenue after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic.
More than 20,000 people attended the two parades, including 13,000 on a balmy Friday evening, which ended with a spectacular firework display and aerobatics from two firework-firing planes.
Battle was back after fears that covid might threaten the largest community event in Jersey.
However, with 21 floats, it was the smallest parade ever with a number of parishes not entering senior floats this year, including the most populous St. Helier, and the largest, St. Ouen.
Paul Whiteside last exhibited in 2019, with his Whiteside Family and Friends team, but stopped because of a lack of volunteers and the time it took to fundraise. He is now on the main Battle board and is Exhibitor Director.
“Cautiously optimistic” for the future, he recognises that Battle needs to change, it needs to be “massive” and it needs to be fast.
“Battle does need to change to survive - it needs to honour its history while also letting go of it,” he said.
“If we make massive changes in the next six months, we will have a parade next year. If not, maybe we will need to have a year’s gap in order to regroup.
“We don’t have long as we have to order the flowers by February, so the floats have to be committed to a design by then.
“We need the right people in the right place with the right backing. I am still confident that there will be a Battle next year, and it will be fit for the future.
“It will take a lot of hard work, but the strength of Battle as Jersey’s biggest community event will prevail.”
Paul recognises the challenges, but also offers some solutions, including – with Government support – making the Battle free for all, making it easier for new communities to enter, the island buying its own events’ infrastructure, and more help with finding sheds for exhibitors.
“We had the least number of floats in this year’s parade, and we need more exhibitors,” he said. “I’ve had lots of suggestions about introducing a smaller class of floats to allow families and others to take part.
“We also have to adapt Battle for the new Jersey, with its Portuguese, Polish and other communities. Battle should embrace its many communities and encourage everyone to come together.
“I can think of no better event for that to happen, but Battle needs to change to make it suitable for them. I read most public and social media comments about Battle; some want it gone while others want it changed and altered. The middle ground is usually the best way.
“How does that happen? I don’t know entirely but we first need to find a new Chair who wants to help plot Battle’s future.”
Pictured: The Battle of Flowers has a long history, often associated with a time when tourists flocked to Jersey in August. (Jersey Heritage)
Paul said that two key challenges were a lack of people and sheds.
“St. Clement really struggled this year and could only move into their float into a shed [in St. Lawrence] three weeks before the parade.
“I know of one family which is really keen to build a float, but they’ve got nowhere to do it. St. Mary also wants to return but they need a shed and one person to lead the effort.”
Paul said he thought the Government could and should help in several ways.
“There is a lot of love for Battle, not only among islanders but also our elected officials. [Battle headquarters in St. Peter’s Valley] Meadowbank can only take seven floats. We need another shed, down at La Collette or somewhere like that.
“Also, there is a significant cost to set up the infrastructure, such as the stands, seating, fencing and rails. I’m not sure of the exact figure but it is extraordinarily expensive.
“Some of that goes on screening the arena but if we made the Battle free to watch, we would not need to do that.
“If the island – through the Government – was to buy the infrastructure, it would not only drastically reduce the costs of putting on the event but also the stands could be used for other events, such as the Festival of Motoring and the Gorey Fête.
“Some smaller stands were bought for the Island Games [in 2015] but we can’t use them because, as a public event, we can’t get insurance.
“The island needs to buy its own infrastructure. Battle could manage, maintain and store it, and it could be used for school sports days or other events. These days, you can buy stands that fit onto a 40-foot container and seat 150 people. 20 of these and you have the Battle covered.
“Instead, we are reliant on private UK-companies. Also, local marquee companies don’t want to supply Battle because we use all of their stock for three days, so it is a big risk to them.
“The island has to invest in its event infrastructure, which could be managed by a central event hub, which Battle could easily do.”
Paul added that more central investment would encourage more islanders to participate as it would alleviate the pressure to fund year-round.
“You have the Battle stalwarts like Steve Bouchard and Marcus Davies, who are committed all-year-round to produce a fantastic big float.
“Then you get others who do not want to commit as much. Teams do fade out because of the constant demands. It’s not just building the floats; it is the quiz nights, the bingos, the raffles and the tea parties.
“We used to do bag packs at supermarkets but people aren’t keen on that since the pandemic. Also, when lockdown and the restrictions arrived, some volunteers stepped back and then realised that they had time to do other things.
“To make it a free event, the island needs to buy its own event infrastructure, and then give enough each year to exhibitors to fund their floats, which can be reduced by flowering less areas and using other materials, as we piloted this year.
“Battle is no longer a tourism event. Yes, it does attract tourists but there are so few hotel beds that they would be full in the second week of August anyway.
“It therefore needs to be seen as a community event, and viewed through the lens of arts and culture rather than tourism.”
He added: “I don’t think all people fully understand the impact that Battle has had and continues to have on people’s lives.
“I have known children who have come into Battle shy and introverted and become confident and capable young people because they feel part of something special and are also given responsibility and new skills to learn. Being involved in such a strong community event has given them the confidence to push forward.
“One float is led by a special needs teacher and if you go to her shed, it is a hive of activity. Many of the kids there have their own challenges but they are all involved and having great fun.
“I learnt how to weld and carry out basic electrics and mechanics, and I try to pass on those skills to young people who want to learn. Jersey has a long history of producing generations of competent and practical people and many picked up those skills by being involved with Battle.
“It so much more than two parades in August.”
Susan Parker - St Lawrence
Susan Parker is Chair of the St. Lawrence Battle of Flowers Association, which entered both a senior and junior float this year, winning numerous awards, including the Most Humorous for its senior float, ‘Battle of Flours’ and the Junior Prix d’Honneur for its ‘Madhatter’s Tea Party’.
She said: “I can’t think of anything else that brings the community together like the Battle of Flowers. In that respect, and many others, it is unique in Jersey: our youngest participant in the parades was 4 years old and our oldest was 85.
Pictured: St Lawrence's performers get ready for the Moonlight Parade last Friday.
“We were a community of more than 70 people this year, including 25-30 children and young people. They were all getting stuck in, lifting heavy buckets of flowers, clearing up, helping others, practising their dancing, meeting new friends, having fun and making memories.
“It is an amazing community event, and it would be tragic to lose it. I’ve had some lovely feedback from parents saying they’ve seen their children grow in confidence through their involvement in Battle.
“But physically, it is very demanding, it is difficult to get enough volunteers and the cost of building a float is high.
“The flowers cost us £13,000 this year and the total cost of both floats was around £20,000. A lot of that sum we have to fundraise, which is a considerable effort in itself. Because we’re not a charity, we’re not eligible for gift aid.
“Corporates don’t seem to be keen to support Battle, perhaps because it doesn’t enable them to tick the required boxes. Not only aren’t we charities but also their priority is ESG [Environmental, Social and Governance] standards, and Battle doesn’t fulfil that.
“But if they understood the amazing community spirit, they might change their minds.”
“It is the format right? Is it outdated? We definitely need to have that discussion. I don’t think the timing is necessarily an issue but moving the Thursday parade to dusk, as [Events’ Director] Jackie Donald has suggested, seems like a good idea so more local people can attend the Day Parade without having to take time off work.
“There were only 18 floats this year, which made the parade quite short, and that includes us and others putting in two floats. We were asked to travel along the arena for a third time. It was not very long parade, so the Battle Association is limited as to how much it can charge spectators to watch.
Pictured: More than 70 people helped to build and flower St Lawrence's two floats this year. (St Lawrence BoFA)
“That said, I don’t think ticket sales are the main issue but the nature of volunteering is definitely changing. Although the final few nights before the parade are busy – and the help is amazing, necessary and very-much appreciated – it is all built upon the considerable effort of a small number of people.
“In my years involved with Battle, I’ve seen that fewer parents are available during the day; we used to see lots of mums come with their children but most of those mums are working now.”
Susan said that the St. Lawrence committee was losing three members this year and there is a question mark over whether anyone will step up to fill those positions.
Looking ahead, she said: “I think the parades would benefit from more dance groups and bands in between the floats, or small floats by other community groups like there used to be, so that it is more of a carnival.
“In order for this unique local event to continue, I would appeal to those who value what makes this island special to consider getting involved as Battle will only continue if more people are willing to volunteer their time to help.”
Drew Livingston - Grouville
Drew Livingston is a former Chair of the Grouville Battle of Flowers Association, who was a helper on the parish’s ‘Ghost Train’ entry this year.
He said: “Battle of Flowers is a part of Jersey that can never be lost. The crowd last Friday was alive and involved and loving the show we put on.
“13,000 people show there is still life in this.
Pictured: Ghosts on top of the Grouville float. (Nick Partlett)
“Battle needs a huge overhaul, a huge modernisation, but it must be allowed to grow and evolve to its next stage.
“The value to the community is immense, this is where our children, young people and adults learn practical skills, they learn carpentry, electrics, welding, things they may never have experience of without battle, there’s opportunities for painting, design, music, dance.
“We teach inventory management, we teach project management, we teach leadership, you can learn to drive a tractor, use cherrypickers, learn about hydraulics, we can teach budgeting, committee skills, catering skills, we get people thinking about risk, about health and safety.
Pictured: Grouville's dancers during last Thursday's Day Parade. (Nick Partlett)
“We let eight-year olds sit and talk to 80-year-olds, we make the world more real and less virtual. We make people part of a team working towards a common goal, we make people part of our family.
“Without Battle of Flowers in my life, I would be a very different person; I wouldn’t be as sociable, I wouldn’t have as much variety in my life and I can’t see how I’d be as happy. I might even think office work was all there was.
“This is something that must stay because it simply does so much for so many people. Battle is vital to this island, it’s not a remnant of the past, but a link to a better way of living. Bring on 2023.”
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