It was when I was six years old, on an entry by West Park Pavilion. My father was a waiter there and we always had children’s Christmas parties and one year there was a sailors theme and they made a boat, which they decided to use again in the Battle. I walked with it dressed as a sailor.
How have you been involved since?
When I was about ten, my dancing teacher, Miss De La Haye, entered a big Swan Lake float. I didn’t do the Battle again until I was in my late 20s and I had my children. I entered the fancy dress class with them for a few years and then we started putting in small floats. I entered three and we won the Prix de Merite three years in a row, and in those days that meant you got to keep the trophy. I still have it.
Later, I was involved with the Hotel and Guesthouse Association one year, but then I had a break of about 15 years – although I judged for a few years and one year I ran a toasted sandwich stand at the Battle, as prior to that you could only get hamburgers there.
I then became involved with the parish of St Saviour and designed their float for five years, the last of which, in 2008, won the Prix d’Honneur. A couple of years after that I took on the task of decorating Miss Battle’s float.
What are you doing this year?
This is my fourth year of leading a team who decorate Miss Battle’s float. This year we have a team of 15 and I put a number of flower displays and other things on the float, usually to match the colour scheme of Miss Battle’s dress. It’s far more pleasurable than working on a big float as you don’t have to work late into the night on Battle Eve! This year I’m also judging the large parochial floats.
Who do you think has been the best Mr Battle?
I thought Matthew Wolfenden (David from Emmerdale) was really good in 2012 because he was very down to earth and natural. Christopher Biggins was a good one too as he was good with the audience. I’m a big fan of Henry Cavill and I’d love to see him up there on my float! He’d look really good up there.
What’s the best float you’ve seen in the Battle?
The Prix d’Honneur-winning float I designed for St Saviour in 2009, Hanamachi, because you could take a good photograph of that from every angle – something you can’t do with a lot of floats. I had been working up with my designs because the previous two years St Saviour had come third and then second, and winning the top award was an amazing experience. When we’d finished the float we knew it was extra special and winning was the icing on the cake. I also loved the Optimists Club’s 1995 float Spooky Express, because of the way it was designed and made.
Why do you love being involved with the Battle?
Because I always have been involved and it’s in my blood. I love the sense of community and if I wasn’t involved with the Battle then something wouldn’t feel right!
