- With the Battle of Flowers just a day away, the JEP continues its countdown series to this years carnival
- Interview with the man responsible for bringing hundreds of thousands of flowers to Jersey
- Battle Bites: It never rains on Battle Day – or does it?
- My Battle – meet the leader of the St Clement float
WHEN it comes to flower logistics for the Battle of Flowers, there is only one man for the job.
For two decades, Islander Gerard Stein has been overseeing the importation of hundreds of thousands of blooms from the Netherlands – the country that 80 per cent of flowers used in the parade come from.
It takes detailed planning and months of preparation – and, simply put, the Battle would be barren without him.
But as the 78-year-old former grower has found this year, it isn’t always a straightforward affair.
‘We have had quite a few issues with the Channel Tunnel this year with all the the problems at Calais,’ he said.
‘Our lorries usually come from Alsmeer in Holland and then come through the tunnel, but we had a situation where one was stuck for 18 hours at the port and the flowers ended up being delivered 24 hours late.
‘I decided the only way we could guarantee getting the flowers into Jersey was by changing the route.
‘Instead, we sent the lorries to the Hook of Holland where there is a boat that sails into Harwich in Suffolk.
‘They could then drive down to Portsmouth to get the ferry to Jersey.
‘It was the first time that we’ve had to avoid the Channel Tunnel since I’ve been involved and thankfully the rest of the flowers got into Jersey on time.’
Mr Stein, who came to Jersey from Holland in the 1970s with his wife, former Senator Corrie Stein, explained that his job was about ‘making sure it all runs smoothly’.
‘My role really starts at the end of June when I know how many flowers have been ordered by the float makers,’ explained Mr Stein.
‘From then I have to make sure that there is enough space on the boats and that everything arrives on time.
‘When the flowers arrive in Jersey – and this year we had 4,000 boxes of flowers in three separate shipments – I am at the harbour making sure that the counts are correct.
‘If the floats have a shortage I try and get a shipment sorted to ensure that they arrive in the Island by Battle Day.’
Although he says he has a great deal of responsibility, Mr Stein says he loves the role so much that he has no plans to retire any time soon.
‘It’s quite a nerve-wracking job as if there’s something wrong with the transport of the flowers everyone will be looking at me,’ he said.
‘But it is obviously helpful that I am bilingual and that I know so many people in Jersey and growers in Holland.
‘I love the job, I love the contact with the Battle of Flowers people and I can’t imagine a time when I’m not doing this job.’
THERE is a popular saying that ‘it never rains on Battle Day’. However, this is not strictly true.
In the past there have been some damp – as well as a few very wet – parades.
Although the Battle of Flowers has never had to be cancelled because of the rain during its 113-year history, as early as 1906 there were reports of drizzle at the parade.
One of the wettest Battles to date was in 1980 and in that year rainstorms had become quite heavy by the end of the parade.
In more recent years, the 2006 Battle saw some light showers, and in 2009 rain fell on Battle morning, though not in the afternoon.
In recent years, the Battle of Flowers has often taken place in glorious sunshine.
However, the 2011 parade was one of the wettest and windiest in many people’s memories.
And in 2014 there was another Battle of Showers with spectators forced to get out their umbrellas during the parade.
St Clement chairman Jean Chapman
Retired nurse Jean Chapman first became involved with the St Clement float more than three decades ago. Now chairman of the parishs Battle of Flowers Association, the 73-year-old has been the driving force behind this years French circus train themed float.
When was your first Battle and how were you involved?
My first taste of Battle was in 1972 when a neighbour asked if I would like to see the St Clement float on which she was helping. I got involved initially because I loved going to see the Battle but quickly got hooked on the excitement and the friendships which developed.
How have you been involved since?
I have helped to build St Clement’s float every year since. I took part in a couple of parades, once as a cheerleader on an American-themed float, but my role has usually been preparing the float. For the last eight years I have been chairman.
What are you doing this year?
This year our theme is a French circus train. It features a lion and a tiger travelling with two giraffes, two zebras and an elephant on the circus train. There will be six people on the float. There will be two girls on the zebras, Miss St Clement is the trapeze artist, and there will be a train driver and a lion tamer. As there is so much to do and lots of different elements to the float we started planning it at Christmas.
What’s the best float or performance you’ve ever seen in the Battle?
There have been some incredible floats during those years and in its day our monorail on Beyond the Universe was quite innovative. In recent years I think my favourite would be Wonderland, our 2011 entry, but then again I always think my favourite float is the one I am working at the time.
Why do you love being involved with the Battle?
I love being involved with Battle because I have made so many friends and when we all meet up again each year it’s like family coming together. I think Jersey would lose something very special if the Battle was discontinued.
