Alderney Week visitors will need ‘Wands at the Ready’

A theme of ‘Wands at the Ready’ has been conjured up by the organising team, with witches, wizards, spells, spooks, fairies and fantasy

expected in abundance during the week starting 4 August.

Alderney Week joint team leader Wayne Chandler, returning as chief organiser for a fourth time, alongside his wife Vicky, said their team had settled on the wand theme following much discussion about what to opt for.

‘It gets more difficult with every passing year as the completely new options narrow down,’ he said.

‘We were all sat round a table brainstorming ideas, and someone suggested wands. I think they are a fan of Harry Potter.

‘It’s quite an expansive theme and includes a lot of ideas, so we are hopeful it will be popular.’

He said reaction to the theme had so far been overwhelmingly positive.

‘It’s given people good ideas for float designs.’

Despite the week still being seven months away, Mr Chandler said preparations were well under way, with several bands already booked, apparatus ordered and events organised.

He confirmed classic events such as the cavalcade, man-powered flight and daft raft race would all be returning, while there were plans to introduce ‘one or two’ new activities.

‘I’m not going to reveal what they are at this stage but they will be things that people will be able to go and do.’

As for what was next, Mr Chandler said preparations would step up a notch around March and April, with this year’s Miss Alderney being chosen around Easter.

‘Everything will basically be there in April, then it’s just a question of getting it all set up in the summer.’