As well as playing a key role at both the Battle of Flowers and Moonlight Parade, the Miss Parish winners will also be representing their parishes at a number of different events over the coming years.
Battle enthusiast takes the St Martin crown
A JERSEY College for Girls student has been chosen as this year’s Miss St Martin.
16-year-old Sylvie Wilson is the daughter of Heidi and David Wilson and is a member of the St Martin’s Juniors Battle of Flowers committee.
‘I’ve been involved with Battle for five or six years now,’ says Sylvie.
‘I’ll often help to decorate the St Martin float and then I dance in front of the float during the parade.’
A keen sports enthusiast, Sylvie plays hockey for the Island first team.
‘I also coach the under 17’s at prep,’ she says. ‘I really enjoy it and would like to teach full-time when I’m older. I also enjoy playing netball and tennis – I’m very sporty.’
Sylvie is the Ingles house captain at JCG and is currently taking her A-Levels.
‘I’m studying biology, chemistry, maths and history. I thought I’d go for the easy options,’ she laughs.
Sylvie – who works on Saturdays at the Hungry Man – was chosen as Miss St Martin at a ceremony in St Martin’s Public Hall.
The judges were St Martin Deputy Steve Luce, committee member Pauline Perchard and Helen Barette, mother of former Miss St Martin Megan Barette.
The runners-up were Ella Reynolds (17), Rebecca Cornelius (16) and Rebecca Clackett (18).
‘I’m very excited to be representing the parish,’ says Sylvie. ‘It was a real spur of the moment decision to put myself forward but I’m really pleased that I did.’
Continuing the family tradition in St Lawrence
A 17-year-old Beaulieu student has been chosen as this year’s Miss St Lawrence.
Grace Le Masurier is the daughter of Jacqui and Steve and the younger sister of Hannah and Josie Le Masurier.
‘Both of my sisters have been Miss St Lawrence in the past so it’s kind of a family tradition,’ said Grace.
‘I’ve taken part in the Battle of Flowers for years, usually helping to decorate the floats or dancing on a float during the parade.
‘Hopefully this year I’ll get to sit down on one for a change.’
Grace – who was crowned at St Lawrence Parish Hall by former BBC Radio Jersey DJ Kevin Pamplin – is currently studying her Sports Studies, Drama and English A-Levels.
‘I chose Drama because I’ve always been interested in acting and have taken part in quite a few school productions,’ said Grace. ‘And sports studies I chose because I like dancing and roller-skating.
‘It all comes in useful when Battle of Flowers begins.’
Grace said that she had no plans to go to university and was hoping to become a nurse.
‘Ideally the reflexology side of nursing,’ she added. ‘I like the idea of being able to help people for a living.’
Pleased to give something back to St Helier
MISS St Helier has been crowned after being selected by a panel of five judges to represent the parish in this year’s Battle of Flowers.
Ella Blampied, a 17-year-old Jersey College for Girls student, was selected by judges from four entries.
Conrad Duckworth, a 23-year-old aquatic instructor, has been named Mr St Helier, and 14-year-old Beaulieu student Natasha Jade O’Sullivan has been crowned as Junior Miss St Helier 2015. Three others entered this competition.
Ella, who is currently studying for A-levels in French, Chemistry, Psychology and Philosophy, is a founding member of the Jersey Green Party – a political party standing in the recently launched Jersey Youth Parliament.
As well as politics, the JCG student, whose parents are Alan and Stephanie, enjoys sewing and craft work.
She said: ‘I have always been excited about St Helier and want to represent it and give something back to the parish.
‘There were three other girls applying for it and I was quite shocked when I won because I thought they were strong contenders.’
Junior Miss St Helier Natasha, whose parents are Edmond and Natasha, enjoys Irish dancing, as well as textiles, roller-skating and horse riding.
She said: ‘I decided to do it because I thought it would be something different as I have been part of Battle of Flowers for a few years.
‘I definitely did not expect to win.’
Proud to represent parish of St Brelade
THIS year’s Miss St Brelade has said she is honoured to represent the parish.
Charlotte Eva, a 16-year-old pupil of Jersey College for Girls, is currently studying for her AS-levels in biology, chemistry, maths and geography.
She came first out of a field of four contestants to win the parish competition.
Her parents Paul and Emma work in banking and retail respectively and recently moved to Mont Sohier in St Brelade.
‘My friend was talking about entering the competition at school and even though I have not lived in St Brelade long it is an honour to represent the parish,’ said Miss Eva.
Year of fun waiting for new Miss St John
A BEAULIEU student who was persuaded to enter her Miss Parish contest by a fellow contestant has been crowned Miss St John 2015.
After the initial shock of winning, Kira Mitchell (16), who has lived in the parish for eight years, said she was looking forward to a busy year representing the parish in Miss Battle of Flowers 2015 and attending events including Liberation Day celebrations.
‘I was in total shock, as I never thought I was going to win,’ she said.
‘I thought my year was going to be full of exams but it’s going to be full of fun now.’
She was encouraged to enter by a friend, Lauren Chalmers-Hunt, also 16, who was the runner-up, with the other contestants being Jacqueline O’Hara (21) and Kelly Dixon (16).
‘It was a friend who persuaded me to go into it, only a couple of minutes before, and she was very pleased for me when I won,’ she said.
‘I received a lovely bouquet of flowers and I got a cheque for £150 which I will spend on clothes for the events I have to attend.’
Miss Mitchell is currently studying for A-levels and the health and social care BTEC, as she hopes to take up a career in nursing.
She is a member of the Jersey Air Training Corps and regularly attends fundraising events. The competition was held in the parish hall on Saturday 28 March, when friends and family of the four contestants and parishioners enjoyed afternoon tea.
The judges were the Constable of Grouville, John Le Maistre, Janet Jacques and Kieran Brown.
Win is childs play for new Miss St Peter
A FORMER Les Quennevais student has been crowned this year’s Miss St Peter.
Rebecca Knight is the daughter of Dave and Jackie Knight and was selected at a ceremony at St Peter’s Parish Hall.
The judges were Richard Vibert, Julia Quénault and Cally Lewis.
There was one other contestant, 18-year-old Deborah Le Rendu.
Rebecca, also aged 18, works as a children’s entertainer.
‘I’ve always wanted to work with children,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a younger brother and lots of young cousins so I’ve had experience of looking after kids from a young age.’
She is a supervisor in the Kids Club at the Merton Hotel.
‘We have dancing and games – it’s great fun,’ she said. ‘My family have always worked in entertainment. My aunt was a dancer and my mum was a singer. She used to sing with my dad’s band in local pubs around the Island.’
The family have also been heavily involved with the Battle of Flowers over the years.
‘We all get involved every year,’ said Rebecca. ‘My grandpa has helped with building floats for the parade for years. He’s been working down at the shed every day.’
Rebecca also regularly joined St Peter in the parade when she was younger.
‘I’d be dancing on the floats,’ she said. ‘I’d always dreamed of being crowned Miss Battle.’
Rebecca is currently performing in the Jersey Green Room Club’s production of Hairspray at the Opera House and says of her future plans: ‘I’d love to work on cruise ships or in Butlins, anything that will allow me to continue performing and entertaining.’
Battle lover takes the St Clement parish title
A STUDENT who has been involved in the Battle of Flowers for as long as she can remember has been crowned this year’s Miss St Clement.
Ebony Troy (17), who was educated at Grouville Primary School and Jersey College for Girls, is the daughter of Diana and Marcus Troy, of the Shakespeare Hotel.
Ebony has a younger sister, Jessica, and says that the family have long been associated with the Battle of Flowers.
‘I’ve been involved with the Battle since I was a toddler,’ she said. ‘My parents provide the catering and take food down to the float shed.
Ebony added that she had thought she may have missed her chance because of the age requirement to be over 18.
‘I’ve been interested in Miss St Clement since I was young and always wanted to enter when I got older,’ she said.
‘I plan to go to university next year, which would mean being away, so I thought I’d have to miss it.
‘But they brought the age limit down to 17, which meant that I could enter this year.
‘I was really surprised to win, but really proud.
‘I’ll be attending parish functions like the parish fête and Christmas lunch, but I’m really looking forward to Battle Day – that’s the best part!’
Bank cashier crowned Miss Grouville
BANK cashier Alicia Videira has been crowned this year’s Miss Grouville.
The 20-year-old daughter of José Luis Videira was educated at Grainville before moving to Hautlieu to study for her GCSEs and A-levels.
Alicia, who has an older brother and two younger sisters, said she had wanted to take part in Battle of Flowers since she was a child, ‘but the opportunity just never arose’.
‘Recently my friends had been telling me that I should enter,’ she said.
‘Then my boyfriend said he was going to put my name forward, so I decided to go for it.’
Alicia was selected at a ceremony at the Royal Jersey Golf Club and said she was very excited to have been chosen.
Having previously worked at the Hospital, where she prepared medical notes for consultants, Alicia joined Barclays as a cashier last September.
‘I plan to work hard and hopefully work my way up the company,’ she said.
Battle obsessive takes the St Saviour crown
A WOMAN who says she is ‘obsessed’ with the Battle of Flowers has been crowned Miss St Saviour on her third attempt.
Kayleigh Larkin (26), who was chosen from three contestants, will be joined on the parish float by ten-year-old Lucy-Anne Richford, who has been crowned Miss Junior St Saviour.
Both were selected by a judging panel made up of Margaret Troy, a business manager with sponsors Derek Warwick Honda, and parish Deputies Terry McDonald and Louis Doublet.
Jersey-born Miss Larkin, who was educated at St Martin’s and Haute Vallée schools and Highlands College, works for the Jersey Ambulance Service as an ambulance care assistant, and wants to train to become a paramedic.
‘I’m 26 now, and I thought if I don’t do it now, I never will,’ she said.
‘I’ve been a huge fan of the Battle of Flowers since I was very young.
‘When I was two or three my mum would collect the flowers from the parade and I’d put them on my toy tractor at home and ride around the estate pretending I was at the Battle of Flowers.
‘I’m obsessed with it!’
She has helped with the preparations for the Battle since she was nine and has helped four different teams – St Martin, St Lawrence, Paul Whiteside Family and Friends, and St Saviour.
She has also been a dancer on the St Lawrence float.
This year she will be joined on the St Saviour float by Lucy-Anne Richford, who beat three other contestants to be crowned Miss Junior St Saviour.
She was born in Jersey and is a Year 5 pupil at Jersey College for Girls Prep.
Her hobbies include gymnastics, tap and modern dance, and swimming.
Her mother, Paula, said: ‘We’ve been to the Battle many times and have always helped out.
‘Lucy-Anne wrote in her application form that she thought it was a good opportunity to make new friends and represent the parish.
‘She is really looking forward to helping build the float and going on it.’
Parish Battle stalwart crowned Miss Trinity
FORMER Hautlieu student Ani Keogh has been crowned this year’s Miss Trinity.
Animal lover Ani (16)is the daughter of Mark and Alison Keogh and was chosen to represent the parish following an audience vote of 80 parishioners.
She decided to enter the competition on the recommendation of a friend, Dani, and says she has been involved with the Battle of Flowers since she was a toddler.
‘I have been working in the shed and helping to decorate the floats since I was two,’ she said.
‘All the family take part every year – me, mum, gran, my aunt, my brother – we all join in and help to decorate the floats and prepare for the big event. One year I even designed one of the junior floats.’
Having recently left school, Ani now spends her time babysitting and dog-walking.
‘I hope to open my own professional dog-walking business,’ she said.
Ani, who saw off competition from four other entrants – was crowned Miss Trinity by the Constable, Philip Le Sueur.
The runners-up in the competition were Bryony O’Hare, Nicolle Maltwood, Keeley Smyth and Jamie-Lee Morgan.
MEANWHILE, the younger members of the Trinity Battle of Flowers team brought some Mexican flavour to their preparations.
The Little Amigos competition, which was held at Trinity Parish Hall alongside the Miss Parish competition, involved children aged between five and 12 dressing up in colourful Mexican-themed fancy dress.
Seven-year-old Ocean Mesny and six-year-old Jonty O’Sullivan were then chosen from the eight who took part.
The young pair will appear on a special Mexico-themed float designed by Battle regular Richard Henwood during the Battle parade.
Ocean and Jonty also received toy vouchers, which were kindly donated as competition prizes by the Co-op.
The others who took part in Little Amigos were Lara Fremouillat (7), Alice Posner (6), Macy Woods (11), Poppy-Anne Elcock (7), Amilia Wright (9) and Jonty’s sisters Sophia (11) and Clara (9) O’Sullivan.
