It was 19 years ago, in 1995, when I first helped to build the St Peter’s parish float. My wife Val was involved with the float so it was the only way I could get to see her! The float that year was Memphis Belle and it was the most successful float the parish has ever done as it won the Prix d’Excellence.
How have you been involved over the years since?
I carried on being involved with building the parish float every year for a number of years. I then took about three years off, but I got back involved four years ago and for the last four years I’ve been the leader of the parish’s Battle team. We start building the float in January and for three months there are three or four of us working on it four or five days a week. From April we have a two-month break, and then we carry on working on it again in the evenings. I do a bit of everything, except the flowering.
What are you doing this year?
I’m in charge of the parish Battle team again, which involves overseeing the junior float team, who have their own leader, and running the senior float-building team. This year we have a new designer and work on our senior Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed float, Chocolate Dream, is coming on well. In the parades I will be carrying the St Peter banner at the front of the float.
Who do you think has been the best Mr Battle to date?
I think, although I’m not a fan of him, Lionel Blair has been the best one to date – he was Mr Battle in 1995, the first year I was involved. He was great because he got involved with the spectators and the dancers on the floats. He didn’t just just stay on his float, he got off and mixed with everyone. I think that this year’s Mr Battle, Ray Quinn, is a good choice as he is popular with the youngsters. In Jersey we have quite a few of our own celebrities though, famous young sportsmen, so it would be good to choose one of those in the future.
What’s the best float you’ve ever seen in the Battle?
There’s been so many good ones over the years I wouldn’t like to pick one. My favourite one that I’ve done was last year’s St Peter float, Delightfully Deco-Dent. I think that’s the best one we’ve done so far and the whole float from front to back looked really, really good. It was just a fantastic float.
Why do you love being involved with the Battle?
I enjoy mixing with everybody. Our team all get on very well and have been together a long time so there’s a good atmosphere amongst all of us. The atmosphere in the shed is always fantastic.
