Jersey Battle of Flowers

Battle of Flowers

'Beyond the Barricade' by The Optimists Club, winners in 2013 of the Prix d'Honneur, The Spectators' Award, Best Illuminated float over 25ft, Clubs & Associations and winner of Class 11
Location(s) Jersey
Years active 114
Inaugurated August 9, 1902 (1902-08-09)
Website
www.battleofflowers.com

The Jersey Battle of Flowers is an annual carnival held in the Channel Island of Jersey in the second Thursday of August. The festival consists of music, funfairs, dancers, majorettes and a parade of flower floats alongside various street entertainers. It was inaugurated in 1902 to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The largest attendance to date is thought to be that of 1969, when 60,000 people were present.[1] While current spectator numbers are around 20,000.

The major floats are usually produced by the parishes of Jersey.

The 'Battle' itself originally consisted of dismantling the floats to provide floral ammunition for a literal battle of flowers between participants and spectators, but this aspect has long been abandoned. Since 1989, a nighttime Moonlight Parade with the floats festooned in lights has been introduced. The Moonlight Parade ends with a large fireworks display. Recent years have seen higher turnout to the moonlight parade, which is particularly enjoyed by locals as well as tourists, as it has a great party atmosphere.

History

An advertisement for the 1913 Battle of Flowers details the various festivities

The first Battle of Flowers was held on 9 August 1902 on Victoria Avenue, Saint Helier. The event was inspired by the flower carnival of Nice, and was such a success that it became a regular event. The First World War interrupted the tradition and it was not until 1928 that the Battle was revived at Springfield where it was held until 1938. The threat of war meant the 1939 event was abandoned and it was not until 1951 that the event was revived back on Victoria Avenue, where it was held for many years on the last Thursday in July (since moved to its current date).[2]

In 1964 the event was attended by around 50,000 people.[3]

Prizes

Prizes are awarded in numerous categories, with their names in French, for floats of different sizes and types. Listed here are the main prizes.

2014

Winners at the 2014 Battle of Flowers included:[4]

2013

Winners at the 2013 Battle included:[6]

Optimists Club 2013 Prix d'Honneur Winning Entry 'Beyond the Barricade' at Moonlight Parade - Best Illuminated Float over 25ft

2012

Winners at the 2012 Battle included:[7]

2011

Winners at the 2011 Battle included:[9]

. Spectators Award : Parish of St.Clement - Wonderland

2010

Winners at the 2010 Battle included:[10]

2009

Battle of Flowers parade, December 13, 2009, Saint Helier, Jersey

Winners at the 2009 Battle included:[11]

2008

Winners at the 2008 Battle included:[12]

2007

Teddy's Toytime by St Martin, 2007

Winners at the 2007 Battle included:[13]

2006

A Gnome sits fishing from his toadstool on the Grouville Too Float, 2006

Winners at the 2006 Battle included:[1]

2005

Winners at the 2005 Battle included:

Miss Battle of Flowers and Mr Battle

A competition to select a Miss Battle is held, each year, in the months preceding the Battle. The competition involves a set of contests held in each of the parishes. A winner is selected in each parish, and these ladies are entered into the final competition to select the year's Miss Battle of Flowers.

Miss Battle of Flowers, the overall winner of the Miss Parish contests, rides on her own specially made float. There was also formerly a Maid of Honour who rode with the Miss Battle but this has now been dropped. The tradition of having a Mr Battle to escort Miss Battle was in abeyance for a number of years, but Kyran Bracken revived the rôle in 2007, and 2008 saw Christopher Biggins occupying the role. In 2009 Marco Pierre White took the role; in 2010 it was Danny Young, and in 2011 Gareth Gates.

The table below lists some years, but is not a complete list.

Miss Battle winners by year
Winner Mr Battle Notes
2015 Chantelle Mundy[14] -
2014 Holly Perchard[15] Ray Quinn
2013 Taye Le Monnier[16] Mikey North
2012 Rebecca Houze[17] Matthew Wolfenden[18]
2011 Alice Cubbage[19] Gareth Gates[20]
2010 Sarah Watson[21] Danny Young[22]
2009 Lucy O'Sullivan[23] Marco Pierre White[24]
2008 Holly Fraser Christopher Biggins[25]
2007 Victoria Trèhorel[26] Kyran Bracken[27]
2006 Sinead Brennan[28] Andy Abraham and Jodie Marsh were hired as guests for the event.[29]
2005 Victoria Keen[30]
2004 Sophie Chaopradith[31]
2003 Hannah Tully[32]
2002 Unknown Jimmy Savile[33]
1990 Emma Clarke[34]
1988 Anna O'Shea Roy Castle[35]
1983 Collette Le Riche[36] Gareth Hunt[36]
1978 June Wilson[37] Sacha Distel
1960 Unknown Stirling Moss[38]
1951 Petula Clark[39] Battle's first lady of flowers, rather than Miss Battle.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battle of Flowers.
  1. 1 2 "Battle of Flowers". Battle of Flowers. 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2011-12-09.
  2. ↑ Lemprière, Raoul (1976). Customs, Ceremonies and Traditions of the Channel Islands. London: Robert Hale. ISBN 0709158424.
  3. ↑ "Jersey Evening Post: View Picture: 01219359.jpg". Jerseyeveningpost.newsprints.co.uk. 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  4. ↑ "Parade Winners 2014". battleofflowers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Battle of Flowers - The Optimists Club, Jersey, Channel Islands". Optimistsclubjersey.com. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  6. ↑ "Exhibitors". battleofflowers.com.
  7. ↑ "Battle winners announced - Jersey News from ITV Channel Television". channelonline.tv. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  8. ↑ "Flying high after one of the most successful Battles « This Is Jersey". Thisisjersey.com. 2012-08-10. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  9. ↑ "BBC News - St Clement wins top Battle of Flowers prize". Bbc.co.uk. 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  10. ↑ "News, Weather & Information for the Channel Islands - Battle of Flowers 2010". channelonline.tv. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  11. ↑ Battle of Flowers 2009 awards (2009-08-14). "Jersey - Entertainment - Battle of Flowers 2009 awards". BBC. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  12. ↑ "Optimists take top prize in 2008". BBC. 2008-08-18. Retrieved 2011-12-09.
  13. ↑ Jersey Evening Post 10 August 2007
  14. ↑ "Chantelle crowned Miss Battle". channelonline.tv. 2015-04-27.
  15. ↑ "Holly is crowned Miss Battle |". channelonline.tv. 2014-04-06.
  16. ↑ "Miss Junior Battle 2013". Battleofflowers.com. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  17. ↑ "Rebecca Houze is crowned Miss Jersey Battle of Flowers". BBC News. 2012-04-02.
  18. ↑ "Matthew Wolfenden is Mr Jersey Battle of Flowers 2012". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  19. ↑ "Grouville student crowned Miss Battle of Flowers 2011". BBC News. 2011-03-27.
  20. ↑ "Gareth Gates is Mr Battle at Jersey's Battle of Flowers". BBC News. 2011-07-11.
  21. ↑ "Getting ready for Battle 2010". BBC News. 2010-07-23.
  22. ↑ "Danny Young named Mr Battle 2010". BBC News. 2010-06-29.
  23. ↑ "Miss Battle of Flowers 2009 « This Is Jersey". Thisisjersey.com. 2009-05-26. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  24. ↑ "Marco Pierre White IS Mr Battle - Jersey News from ITV Channel Television". channelonline.tv. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  25. ↑ "Battle Features". Bbc.co.uk. 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  26. ↑ Ready for BattleBy Ryan Morrison (2007-08-08). "Day Parade". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  27. ↑ "Battle of Flowers party continues". BBC News. 2007-08-10. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  28. ↑ "Sinead takes the crown". Thisisjersey.com. 2006-06-12. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  29. ↑ "Jodie and Andy are our Battle celebrities". Thisisjersey.com. 2006-08-08. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  30. ↑ "Europe | Jersey | Lack of cash grounds Miss Battle". BBC News. 2005-08-06. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  31. ↑ "Jersey - In Pictures - Battle of Flowers 2004". BBC. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  32. ↑ "Jersey - About Jersey". BBC. 2003-08-14. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  33. ↑ "BBC News - Jimmy Savile named in Jersey children's home abuse inquiry". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  34. ↑ "Jersey Evening Post: View Picture: 00152129.jpg". Jerseyeveningpost.newsprints.co.uk. 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  35. ↑ "Jersey Evening Post: View Picture: 01672981.jpg". Jerseyeveningpost.newsprints.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  36. 1 2 "Jersey Evening Post: View Picture: 00004477.jpg". Jerseyeveningpost.newsprints.co.uk. 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  37. ↑ "Jersey Evening Post: View Picture: 00004478.jpg". Jerseyeveningpost.newsprints.co.uk. 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  38. ↑ "Jersey Evening Post: View Picture: 00004474.jpg". Jerseyeveningpost.newsprints.co.uk. 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  39. ↑ "Jersey Evening Post: View Picture: Sup01279364.jpg". Jerseyeveningpost.newsprints.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-04.


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