Miss Battle, Lucy O’Sullivan, and Miss Junior Battle, Sophie Young, lend a hand on the St Lawrence float. Picture by David Ferguson (00764454)

TODAY’S sell-out Battle of Flowers will finish with the most visually stunning finale to be seen at the parade for many years, the organisers promise.

As the event comes to a close, thousands of biodegradable flower petals will be blasted into the sky from five points along the Victoria Avenue arena.

The annual parade, which was first held in 1902, gets under way at 2.30 pm and is expected to be seen by 12,500 Islanders and tourists. All 7,500 seats had been sold by yesterday lunchtime, but up to 5,000 standing spectators will still be able to turn up today and pay £5 to watch the event.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s petals from Heaven, which involved flower petals being dropped from the air, was a regular finale at Battle parades. That kind of flourish has not been seen for more than a decade, so after a couple of what were deemed to be unsuccessful finales, Battle chairman Tony Perkins said the time was right to bring it in a different format.

‘Everyone always says that the Petals From Heaven finales were the best ones we have ever had because they were always so dramatic, so this year we have decided to reintroduce that idea,’ he said. ‘But instead of doing it from the air we are going to do it from the ground, which is something that is seen at lots of large events.’

Last night Miss Battle, Lucy O’Sullivan, joined parade officials to tour the float-building sheds and see the last-minute preparations being carried out. Miss Battle said: ‘All the floats looked superb, so I really cannot wait now. I can’t believe how many stands have gone up along the Avenue. Just being part of the parade will be amazing. When I get onto my float it is going to be surreal.’

The new finale will not be the only change to today’s event. For the first time in more than a decade, the floats will come in from both sides of the arena, so that there will be more for spectators to see at all times. ‘We have been able to do this thanks to the co-operation of the exhibitors,’ said Mr Perkins. ‘We think this will help to create a better parade because all the floats will be in the arena earlier.’

The only thing that cannot be controlled is today’s weather – but despite cloudy conditions this week and some drizzle this morning, the forecast was for sunny periods this afternoon with a maximum temperature of 21ºC.

However, Mr Perkins said that he remained confident that there would be no rain – as is traditional for this event. ‘Everything is now on track and everyone is saying that the weather is going to be fine,’ he said. ‘My only hopes for the day are that we have good weather, the crowds have good fun and that the exhibitors all have a good time.’

• Words: Anthony Dearie

• Pictures: David Ferguson

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