Guernseys and island pride on display in Town
There was an overwhelming feeling of island pride among those who donned their guernseys and took part in a documentary being put together by a Japanese film crew featuring the famous knitwear.
Some 200 people gathered on the Market Square steps in Town on Sunday afternoon in guernseys varying in size and colour, spontaneously breaking out into a rousing rendition of ‘Sarnia Cherie’ as the team from Japanese broadcaster NHK shot footage for the documentary about knitting, which is set to be broadcast later this year.
Paul Eldridge, owner of guernsey manufacturer Guernsey Woollens, attended the filming call with his son Felix, 10, and expressed his delight at seeing so many people together wearing the island’s iconic jumper.
‘It’s incredible, I’ve been on the lookout for people wearing our guernseys and sort of ticking them off, and there’s been a great showing.’
He said the crew had approached Guernsey Woollens last year, asking whether the business would appear in the documentary.
‘Unfortunately there was a bit of a communication breakdown so we ended up missing out on having our own feature.
‘But to be here and be part of this is still something to cherish. Japan is one of our biggest export markets.’
He encouraged islanders to put in just as much effort with their guernsey-wearing for ‘Wear a Guernsey Day’ on 13 November.
The generational love of the guernsey was demonstrated by many families present at the filming, including guernsey knitter Sarah Hall’s family.
She joined her daughter Jenny Jones and grandchildren Morgan, 5, and Sebastian, 16 months, in wearing the knitwear.
‘I knitted Sebastian’s myself, I’ve done it for years, I started when I was 19,’ she said.
She was interviewed by the crew about her knitting exploits.
‘I’ve made about 25 over the years, from doll-size all the way up to large.
‘How long they take depends on the size, but it does take a while.
'Most of the time it tends to be between 80 and 100 hours.
‘It’s lovely to see so many today, I wish more were around normally.’
Shane Le Page, who had brought his daughter Izabella, 5, along to the filming, was most impressed at the array of different-coloured guernseys on show.
‘It shows how proud we are of the island’s heritage, it’s just a really nice thing to do.’
An owner of eight guernseys, he said they had been passed down through his family, with the oldest one dating back to the 1950s.
‘Izabella is now wearing her first one, so our tradition is continuing.’
Perhaps the oldest guernsey at the event was one owned by Kevin England, who claimed that it dated back almost 100 years.
‘My great-grandmother knitted it for my great-grandfather in 1928, but he died before he could wear it, so it’s been unworn ever since,’ he said.
‘I think it’s probably the oldest guernsey in the island, maybe even in the world.’
