ORGANISERS of the Gorey Fête have said the much-loved annual event could benefit from government support – after the weather put a dampener on turnout last Friday.
The event, which was moved from its traditional Thursday date in the hope that more people would be able to attend, took £21,500 at its gates.
However, Lester Richardson, chair of the Gorey Fête Committee, stressed that the figure did not account for running costs and was ‘definitely down’ on previous years. He explained that the poor weather may have dissuaded people from attending – even though the event ultimately ‘went very well’.
‘It seems to me that we should get a bit of support from the States because it is a big event for the Island.
‘It’s all going to charity, at the end of the day,’ he added.
Despite the lower numbers, St Martin Constable Karen Shenton-Stone said the change in date ‘seemed to go well’ and that although a formal decision was yet to be made, it was likely that organisers would hold the event on a Friday again next year.
This year, the St Martin’s Gorey Fête Committee selected Jersey Stroke Support as the key beneficiary.
Mrs Shenton-Stone said: ‘It was an amazing atmosphere – it wasn’t too badly affected by the rain and turnout was still fairly good. A huge thank-you to Lester Richardson and the Gorey Fête Committee, who are a small team and work incredibly hard.’
She continued: ‘I also want to thank those who put on the entertainment and concessions, or helped with the fete, as well as the honorary police and fete sponsors Jersey Mutual.
‘There was a really good community spirit.’
