Jersey record collector finally makes it across
AFTER years of trying but failing to get to the Vale Earth Fair record sale, Jersey collector John Dalton finally made it on Sunday.
Transport had been the problem, he said, and right up until the last minute the bad weather had made it seem as if he might not make it this year, either.
But a calm spell saw him able to get to the island, along with about 1,500 vinyl records to sell.
Mr Dalton is no stranger to record fairs and organises regular events in Jersey with his friend, Olly Michael, but this was his first time at the Guernsey event, which is held to raise funds for the VEF Collective.
A collector for more than 10 years, he said that first and foremost it was about the music.
‘But it’s also nice to have rarities in your collection.’
His prize possession was not on sale, however – a copy of Love and Poetry, an album by Northern Irish group Andwella’s Dream, which he had obtained in lieu of payment in his job as a carpenter and which he estimated could fetch up to £1,200 if sold.
This was the first time the event had taken place at the Styx Community Centre in St Peter’s, having been a regular at Blanchelande College for many years and, in recent years, taking place at the Peninsula Hotel.
Vale Earth Fair Collective member Sam Hearne said it was pleased with the space at Styx.
‘We’ve been able to spread out a bit,’ he said.
That meant a second room for vendors’ tables with the live musical entertainment taking place in the area between the two sections, with It’s Own Animal and Fly Casual among the local acts playing.
Organiser Rob Roussel was also pleased with the size of the venue and the number of stalls.
‘It’s brilliant. There’s more room here and because we’re not doing it on licensed premises we can sell our own teas and coffees and make a bit extra that way.’
Standing behind the largest set of tables in the hall, filled with vinyl and CDs, he said that the fair had received a lot of generous donations this year, with some special titles included in the selection.
One of these was a first pressing, from 1967, of The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper album which was being offered for £45.
Among the sellers was John Vokes, who had brought along a sizeable number of CDs.
If anyone was unable to make it to Styx or who fancied another chance to buy, Mr Vokes said he was organising another sale at the Gremlin Club on Sunday 11 December, starting at noon, which would raise funds for Autism Guernsey.
