Guernsey gets together with big day out in Saumarez Park

Held at Saumarez Park, the event was the fruits of a collaboration between the Lions’ Club and the North Show and took place on the day that the Donkey Derby would normally have happened.

‘We’ve had the date in the diary since last year,’ said Lions’ Club youth chairman Paul Allaway.

‘The park has been booked and we wanted to put together a community event to raise money.’

The North Show’s Josh Gabriel, co-chair of the event with Chris McDonnell, said it had attracted just under 100 stalls ranging from crafts to charities.

‘We’ve had really good sponsorship, too and we’re really grateful for people’s support,’ he said.

As well as the stalls there was a stage where local bands played, plus a gazebo for smaller groups or soloists to perform, and the day ended with fireworks.

Focal point of the event was an arena where the entertainment got off to a traditional start courtesy of Les Danceurs De L’Assemblaie D’Guernesiaise.

The group celebrated its 60th anniversary this year, but chair Doreen Laine said it might not be going for much longer unless it could find new members, ideally younger ones.

‘The youngsters love it but getting people involved is difficult,’ she said.

‘There are so many things that children are doing these days.’

Children were certainly doing other things across the park, with members of the Phoenix Tumbling and Gymnastics Group putting on a display for event-goers, while also offering people the chance to have a go.

The group was set up two years’ ago by Bobby Montague, 20, who said the idea was to offer gymnastics that was accessible to everyone and this year it moved into new premises at Barras Lane.

Summer Turberville, 11, a member of the group’s Elite Squad, said she joined last September but had been doing gymnastics since she was five and was looking forward to taking part in national competitions, hopefully later this year.

A special guest dropped by to try out the group’s trampoline – Spider-Man (Dave Hyett) was one of several Hollywood and comic-book characters who were part of the Sprinkle of Magic party group. Co-owner Callum Penney said that Batman was due to arrive later, to join Spidey and Disney princesses Anna (Ivy Botzenhardt) and Belle (Anya Mancini).

As well as being wowed by the chance to meet their heroes, youngsters were able to enter a raffle to win a personal visit by one of the characters.

Few would have wanted a visit from the denizens of another nearby stall, though – The Accidental Zoo had brought along some of its many snakes to give those brave enough the chance to handle one.

Owner Ryan Le Guilcher said the group often visited schools to talk about reptiles and it was hoping to build a lesson plan that aligned with the Key Stage Learning scheme. Among the other creatures they took on Saturday were giant stick insects and tortoises.

Taking a break from all the sights was the Green family and their friends, having had a successful visit to the tombola and winning several bottles of fruit drinks and mum Sophie walking away with a couple of bottles of wine.

Alby, 8, had already met Spider-Man but seemed more excited to have come across a Pokemon: ‘I’ve seen Pikachu,’ he said, and was planning to visit the Accidental Zoo stall: ‘I don’t like snakes but I like stick insects.

‘I held one once when I was at school.’

Mrs Green said they were enjoying the event: ‘It’s lovely,’ she said. ‘There’s lots to do for the kids.’