‘It’s up to us to keep the family tradition going now’

An array of local food, crafts and activities across more than 50 stalls were available to those attending the National Trust-run event.

Trust vice-president Sara-Jane Lampitt said that the setting up of the stalls had begun at 9am on Monday morning, with many customers arriving in advance of the official 5pm start in order to get ahead in the queue for the ever-popular beanjar at Mint Brasserie’s ‘Mini Mint’ mobile catering van.

‘It’s got very busy very quickly,’ she said.

‘The beanjar is always popular but personally I’m really pleased with the range of craft stalls on show, many of them are new.’

Mini Mint owner Tomas Gudelis could only spare a quick word as he was kept busy by wave after wave of hungry customers.

‘It’s always this busy,’ he said.

Two of those customers were Mandy Ashwell and her granddaughter Isabelle Leale, 10.

‘We come every year to get the beanjar. I love it,’ Isabelle said.

One of several eye-catching craft stalls was that of a group of women who were showcasing their clothes-making skills using spinning wheels.

Group member Fiona Taylor said the group got together twice a month, and also incorporated other methods such as weaving, knitting and crocheting.

‘I’ve done Le Viaer Marchi three or four times now, but I’ve been part of the group a long time,’ she said.

‘Pat Tickner founded the group and she’s now 90, so it’s been going on a little while, but we all love having a sit and spin together.’

A little further along from the spinners was wicker crab pot maker Max Gaudion, a Viaer Marchi veteran of more than 50 years.

He said it took him about four hours to weave a pot together using lengths of willow.

‘It was my great-uncle who showed me what to do all those years ago as basically we needed crab pots,’ he said.

‘I still enjoy doing it now. I like how much people who have never seen me do it before get out of it.’

One of the highlights of the evening was the prize for outstanding contribution to preserving Guernsey’s heritage, which Lt-Governor Lt General Richard Cripwell presented to the family of Nigel Lewis, a willow craftsman and supporter of Le Viaer Marchi for more than 50 years, who died in May at the age of 69.

Mr Lewis’s son Jamie, who was running a stall with his nephew Harrison Menhenitt, 16, said the award was a fitting tribute to the ‘extraordinary’ life his father had led.

‘It’s up to us to keep the family tradition going now.

‘I’m now based in the UK but have come back especially for this and have had to practise my craft skills again as it’s been seven years since I did it.’

Among the family’s creations on the stall were gypsy pegs, which Harrison said he had enjoyed learning how to make from his grandfather over the years.

‘He taught me and my two sisters a lot. I’m just so proud to be here today to accept the award for him,’ he added.