No visitors, but no stopping Alderney Week
AFTER a frantic three weeks of preparation since the organising committee was given the go-ahead, Alderney Week is in full swing.
Earlier in the year it had been touch-and-go whether the popular event would be able to take place because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The team had to make the difficult decision to announce the cancellation of plans, but kept their fingers crossed that the Bailiwick would find its way through the pandemic quickly enough for it to be put back in some form.
This year, the theme is the roaring twenties and those in Alderney can get into the spirit of everything from the roaring 1920s to the high tech 2020s, and everything inbetween.
Although the only ones who can enjoy it this year are those not self-isolating in the Bailiwick bubble, and friends and family from the mainland or further afar who usually join the fun are not able to make it, an impressive 500 people turned up to the first day of events on Monday.
Even Guernsey’s Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink, was there and was invited to join the Miss Alderney float in the cavalcade as Miss Alderney 2020 to show appreciation for her stand-out leadership through the pandemic.
Ilona Soane-Sands, a member of the organising team, said that because the Miss Alderney competition could not take place, they decided to invite all the former Miss Alderney winners to board the float which ran through the high street, down Victoria Street and up to the Butes. The ages on board ranged from 19 to 75.
‘It was so much fun. There has been such a fantastic atmosphere so far,’ she said.
‘We’ve had live music from Alderney musicians and bands, and yesterday was the big competitive day with touch rugby, a car-based treasure hunt, the iconic sand castle competition and finishing off with a family quiz night.’
Mrs Soane-Sands said the organising committee was very disappointed when it thought Alderney Week was not going to be able to go ahead.
‘As soon as we went into Phase 5 we were straight on the phone to the authorities asking if we would be able to hold it if we followed certain guidelines.
‘It makes being able to hold it at the end of a very difficult few months even more special.’
Later in the week, there will be the great wombling clean-up, the bell ringing at St Anne’s Church, a Disney dance-along, the strongman and strongwoman competitions and wildlife tours before the spectacular fireworks finale.
. For more information visit www.alderneyweek.com.
