Guernsey Press

Nessie on holiday scoops top honours

A CHANCE news clip about a possible sighting of the Loch Ness monster led to the inspiration for the design of this year's Senior Prix D'Honneur.

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Ian Lewis has been involved with making Battle of Flowers floats since 1976, and said despite being told it was 'time to hang up the glue pot', found himself drawn to it every year.

'It's August, it's summer, that's the Battle of Flowers. It gets more and more difficult to get it together every year, as there are hardly any growers left on the island. Luckily I have got some really good friends, or else this would not happen. There was something on the news about Nessie being on holiday and spotted in the Thames, I thought, that has not been done before.'

Tony Falla said he had to fib a little when asked how many flowers were on it.

'We said there were 10,151, but we really are not entirely sure. I think this is the eighth time we have won it, and I am happy to have won.'

Grace Shearer, 17, was behind the design.

'As no one really knows what the monster looks like, it ended up as being a mix of a dinosaur and a serpent. I did a few designs on a bit of hardwood before deciding. I am very happy we won.'

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