Viaer Marchi welcomes the new but stays traditional

The event, organised by the National Trust, is a celebration of all that is unique and beloved to the island.

One of the organisers, Jacquie Mancini, thought this year’s market may have attracted record numbers for recent years.

‘It’s a very good turnout, and probably as many as we have ever had,’ she said.

‘There is lots that’s new this year, but also lots that traditional. This year we have added more hand-made craft stalls and our hedge veg market, which we would love to grow.’

One of the new innovations was the presentation of awards. A new trophy for outstanding contribution to the preservation of Guernsey’s heritage went to crab pot maker Max Gaudion, who has been running classes on this traditional skill.

The Peggy Carey Memorial Trophy for the best dressed stall was won by the Guernsey Military History Company, who were selling bean jar made in their mobile field kitchen, whose design pre-dates the Second World War II.

The six members of the group were dressed in military costumes from 1860 to 1945, from a Victorian gunner right through to a cook from the allied forces.

The group had to turn away hungry islanders after only an hour and ten minutes, after selling 18 gallons of the traditional Guernsey dish. The bean jar was made to group founder Russell Doherty’s own recipe.

‘We have been doing this for 20 years, and never not sold out. We use pork hock and beef stock and definitely no carrots,’ he said.

Carrots, however were in the bean jar of rival maker, Tomas Gudelis, from Mint Brasserie, who had made an incredible 100 gallons.

‘We have been preparing for a week for tonight. We are using the traditional St Sampson’s recipe, which includes beef shin and ham hock and, of course, carrots.’