A cloud over the Battle

Friday 21st August 2009, 2:59PM BST.

From Margaret Hacquoil
I WOULD just like to make a few comments about the Battle of Flowers.

It’s a shame that they are making it smaller every year and, as far as I am concerned, it was the worst year ever.

They had trouble getting the St Saviour’s float over the central reservation and were taking the floats into the lay-by so they could turn. The floats are then behind the people who have paid for standing, which is not in order.

I didn’t think there was a lot of atmosphere in the afternoon parade. Maybe it was because the sun didn’t shine. I do feel we could do with more carnival bands.

1
wildchild

August 21, 2009 at 5:32 pm

This year’s Battle was great fun but I have to agree it seems to be shrinking, and the blame for that has to be laid at several doors: the Battle Committee, the States and Tourism. They should all be capitalising on this event, advertising it to the hilt, providing more seating, having Battle DVDs sales (actual event, not an amalgam, with the actual soundtracks not some unaffiliated track they happen to put on as background, and posted to the holiday maker’s home address a few days later, giving a chance to professionally edit it). More could be made of the day by having roving ice-cream/snack/drinks/fans/hats sellers and not packing up the chairs before the event has even finished (we were the only chairs left on a long stretch of pavement because the canons went off so everyone assumed it had ended and left whilst the long procession was still going back down the sea-side of the arena). Individual floats had their music on so loud we only discovered at the very end that there had been a commentary throughout! And there was still the perennial problem of bunching of floats in front of the VIP stand when everyone else had large gaps in front of them. It was a good effort, but it could have been SO much better!

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2
Jacqueline

August 21, 2009 at 6:27 pm

Have to say I agree with M. Hacquoil letter regarding the B.O.F. My mother who is 87 years old has gone to the B.O.F. every year firstly as a marshall untill her later years when that was no longer possible. Since that time I have taken her to see the B.O.F. in the daytime and also to the Moonlight Parade, we both agreed that there was no atmosphere. No gaiety, the only float with a spark of fun was as usual from the Young Farmers. Not enough bands with a bit of get up and go. In fact dreary. Also all those people who walk behind the floats with their children in prams carrying drinks in there carrier bags for those on the floats look terrible, they do not even trouble to dress up and look the part in the B.O.F.

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