Real nurses, staff from the PEH Critical Care Unit, dressed in the uniforms of their 1940s counterparts as they readied themselves to set off in a mock-up of the Guernsey emergency hospital from the Occupation era.
As well as nurses, the 18 people on the float included ‘patients’ ranging in age from 10 months to 82 years old.
Adding authenticity were several intravenous drip bottles but these contained something a bit out of the ordinary – wine for the adults to enjoy.
Children, meanwhile were going to be treated to soft drinks provided in catheter bags.
Sister Sue Tyne said the team was grateful to Craig’s Motors and CDT In-Car Solutions for their help.
Watch: The nearly 30 floats brought lots of spirit and energy to the seafront
Not all of the floats had made it to the site in one piece, with the Jackson family’s landing craft needing a bit of repair work after it was damaged getting it onto the road.
Featuring a model car all ready to come down the landing ramp, the float also had stuck-on wooden cut-outs of the classic cartoon of a donkey kicking a German soldier.
One of these lost an ear as the float was moved, but
Dave Jackson, who made the cut-outs, was able to repair it in time.
One of the oldest participants in the float display was born in August 1940.
Timmy the Tortoise was found to be a girl 25 years after her birth, but owner Maggie Green kept the name.
She was driving a Fiat 500 with Timmy secured in a cage on top, with Guernsey-born actor and singer Richard Loaring joining her, while on a visit from South Africa. He was evacuated aged three and left the island aged 21 to seek fame.
‘What a wonderful turnout,’ he said of the floats.
'And what a wonderful spirit.’
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