THE Jersey Eisteddfod has launched a new bursary scheme with a bequest from one of the Island’s best-loved dance teachers, responsible for the achievements of generations of Island children.
Valerie Guy – who died in 2022 at the age of 101 – left a substantial proportion of her estate to the Jersey Eisteddfod, which has announced a new award scheme bearing her name.
Up to £5,000 will be available annually in awards ranging from £100 to £1,000 to support entrants in any section of the Eisteddfod to further their progress in their discipline.
Jersey Eisteddfod chair Michael Blackie said: “We believe that this bursary will play a crucial role in helping nurture and promote the talents of creative artists and performers of all ages.
“The Jersey Eisteddfod has always been a platform for individuals to showcase their skills, and this new initiative will provide them with additional support to continue developing their talents both locally and internationally.”
Mr Blackie explained that the bursary could be used for purposes including tuition fees, travel, books and equipment. Applicants of any age, resident in Jersey at the time of the application who have taken part in an Eisteddfod class during the year, are eligible to apply. Applications for 2024 are now open and must be received by 31 December.
He added that the gift to the Eisteddfod from the late Mrs Valerie Todd – known to everyone simply as “Miss Guy” – had been entirely unexpected.
“It was an enormous surprise to me – there had been no inkling of it coming. I almost had to look and think twice, and it wasn’t just as if it was a legacy. This was a significant part of her estate. I think she was a remarkable lady, and I think she was very well-loved despite being strict in the classes but her pupils passed their exams and to do that you needed to be well taught,” Mr Blackie said.
Born in 1921, Miss Guy began dancing as a pupil at the Jersey College for Girls, taking lessons with Josie Lillicrap who, together with her sisters Nora and Ruth, ran the Jersey School of Dancing at 52 David Place. By coincidence, it was only yards from the premises she would later purchase for the dance school that she was to run herself for some 74 years. Only in 2015, when she had reached the age of almost 94, did she pass on that responsibility to Laura Reynolds, who had worked as a teacher alongside her for 20 years.
Mr Blackie said they were delighted to launch the Jersey Eisteddfod Valerie Guy Bursary. “Her legacy will have a lasting impact on our creative community, providing opportunities for individuals to grow and thrive in their chosen fields,” he said.
