Getting under way at noon, the event was split into two parts, with the afternoon aimed predominantly at families and the evening set aside for more traditional music followed by the screening of the jubilee concert live from Buckingham Palace.
The fete was staged by Education, Sport & Culture, with head of marketing and events Nikki Symons saying there had been an anxious few days leading up to it with the threat of heavy rain looming.
‘I said 24 hours before that we’d make a call on whether it was going ahead,’ she said. ‘Luckily the weather forecast swung in our favour.’
Mrs Symons thanked the Lt-Governor, Lt-General Richard Cripwell, for allowing the event to take place.
He had to give it the go-ahead before he had even moved in to the house, she said.
‘He’s come straight into this with three to four thousand people in his garden. He’s been wonderful.’
The afternoon audience were able to enjoy several performances on the stage, including dancing from Gate, the Guernsey Academy of Theatrical Entertainment, and songs from The Wright Singers.
While adults could view some classic cars, and handle a selection of items from the 1950s and 60s provided by the Guernsey Museum Service, there were bouncy castles and Punch and Judy for the children, cupcake and biscuit decorating and making a crown, plus the chance for them – and anyone else – to sit on a throne and have their photo taken.
One of the afternoon’s longest queues was at the face painting stall and Lisa Tempest said she managed to get her girls in early on.
‘We went straight for the face painting because the girls wanted to watch the dancing,’ she said.
She thought the event was ‘brilliant’, and added: ‘It’s quite an occasion to come to Government House.’
Government House’s new resident was also enjoying the afternoon, walking around the grounds with his wife Louise, soaking up the atmosphere and chatting to people.
‘We were absolutely delighted we were able to put the garden to such good use on what is a very special occasion,’ said Lt-General Cripwell.
‘All of the acts have been excellent. It’s wonderful to see people having such a good time.’
Many fete-goers had dressed in suitably patriotic attire, among them Carol Goodwin, who was sporting a matching Union Flag hat and shirt combo. ‘It’s wonderful,’ she said. ‘We’ve walked around and met people and now we’re listening to the music.
‘I think this is a lovely, lovely thing to do.’
As 5.30 drew near, the picnic rugs gave way to portable seats brought in by those arriving for the evening show.
The last of the afternoon’s acts had danced their way off the stage to be replaced by the rather more sedate strains of the Guernsey Concert Band, whose music helped to create the feeling of a big village fete.
While the afternoon had been soft drinks only, the bar opened at 6pm for more grown-up drinks, with cocktails such as the Purple Reign on offer alongside more usual bar fare.
Elaine and Christopher Fothergill had found a good spot from which to enjoy the entertainment – although Mr Fothergill said he had not realised this was on the other side of the grounds from the bar.
‘It’s the wrong side for me to walk to,’ he said.
The couple said they had been to the local open air Proms events in the past, and this was similar.
Mr Fothergill thought the idea of hosting the event in the grounds of Government House was ‘fantastic’.
‘It lends itself to it,’ said Mrs Fothergill. ‘So long as the Lt-Governor doesn’t mind.’
The live music climaxed with songs from Poppy Neame, granddaughter of Sir Philip Neame, who was the island’s Lt-Governor immediately after the Second World War, and, like Lt-General Cripwell, a Royal Engineer.
London came on the big screen at about 7.30 – and the skies opened a couple of hours later.
But even in the downpour, there were those who were determined to enjoy the show, with umbrellas and wet weather gear produced to make sure they could see it through to the end.
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