Parish float allowances tripled after feedback from officials

Initially parishes were offered just £500 to put on a float for the Liberation Day cavalcade – the same as 10 years ago.

Education, Sport & Culture Liberation Day representative Sue Aldwell said concerns were raised at a douzaine liaison meeting.

‘Things are a lot more expensive now,’ she said.

However, she noted that the revised £1,500 was an upper limit and receipts would need to be provided. She added that in her experience, when Torteval made a float on a borrowed flat bed truck, using a fishing boat and a model Hanois lighthouse, the cost had not been too high.

However, she also recognised that parish officials and volunteers were needed to make an event or float happen.

The £1,500 float allowance was separate from a £5,000 event allowance, which is again an upper limit for the largest events.

The Guernsey Press contacted all the parishes yesterday to get an idea of what is planned.

St Sampson’s has been largely absent from Liberation Day celebrations in recent years.

But junior constable Adrian Dilcock said the parish was discussing options for next year.

‘We are hoping to do a float for the cavalcade,’ he said.

‘There are other things that we are looking at, but these are still in the planning stages.’

He welcomed the £1,500 float allowance, but said that there were other challenges beyond money.

‘All the parishes are suffering with the same thing – we are all volunteers,’ he said.

St Martin’s junior constable Dave Beausire said the parish would be holding a hog roast and children’s activity day at the Queen’s Hotel on Saturday 10 May.

‘The douzaine decided that we would struggle to get people and volunteers on Liberation Day itself because everyone will be in town, so holding something the day after on Saturday made more sense,’ he said.

He added that no definitive decision had yet been made in relation to the parish’s participation in the cavalcade, but was hoping that he would have a better idea following a douzaine meeting next week.

In St Andrew’s, senior constable Martin Thwaite was optimistic that a family and live music event would take place on 10 May at the Last Post, but was more reserved on whether the parish would take part in the cavalcade.

‘It’s not really a money issue, it’s more of a logistics thing,’ he said.

‘We’ve got one or two volunteers interested in helping out with it, so let’s see.’

He said that a douzaine meeting later this month would likely result in a definitive decision being made.

Torteval douzaine confirmed it would not be putting on a separate event on the day, but might look to take part in the cavalcade if volunteers could be found to help.

A St Peter’s parish official confirmed it would be hosting an event at L’Eree again this year, similar to events held there for the past three years, but was unable to comment on other plans.

Castel parish looks set to do little for the celebrations.

Senior constable Kelvin Hudson said there seemed to be little appetite from parishioners for a parish event.

‘If we were doing something, I think it would detracts from the events in town,’ he said.

‘We are looking at whether to do a float, but there has been no firm decisions yet. We may go to the parishioners and see if they want to help build something.’

The matter will be discussed at the parish meeting at the start of November.

Forest also does not plan to do an event and dean of the douzaine Jonathan Le Moignan said it was also not looking at doing a float.

‘We were tempted by the money put towards it, but it never covers everything and it is difficult to get volunteers,’ he said.

‘But the most important issue is, I believe the celebrations should be in Town.’