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BBC News
20-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New smaller Jersey Battle of Flowers 'will return to its roots'
A breakaway committee set up to try and save the Battle of Flowers says a smaller, free version of the event is to go ahead with support from a government grant. Martyn Maguire, who leads the Battle Strategy Group, said: "We're going to take battle back to its roots, but we're not going to over-step ourselves... simply because we can't afford it."Economic Development Minister Deputy Kirsten Morel confirmed that up to £220,000 was available, contingent on a "good business plan".He said: "Having a battle which is constrained in terms of its funding will enable people to focus a lot harder, stick to their budgets a lot better, and create a battle which people will be really proud of and enjoy." Earlier this week, accounts for the Battle of Flowers were leaked, showing significant 2024, there was a deficit of more than £150,000 on top of a loss in 2023 of more than £80, week also saw the Battle Strategy Group meet with Morel and exhibitors to try and find a way forward for the event. Martyn Maguire confirmed there were plans to stage the event in August as normal, with a day parade on Friday 8 and a night parade on Saturday 9. 'Debts need settled' He said: "We are getting close to getting battle out of the woods."Obviously debts need to be settled. Battle does have some assets - we're going to use those to secure against the debt, and then hopefully we'll get that behind us, but it's going to take time."We're only going to spend what we've got. We know what we're doing. We've got a lot of very experienced exhibitors on the team."We're going to take battle back to its roots. We're going to put on a really good parade with lots of things in the parade, but we're not going to over-step ourselves... simply because we can't afford it". Speaking to the BBC, Morel said all parties were working together to find a way to hold a said: "It won't be the main type of parade down the avenue, but something through town on a smaller scale, using junior floats and the smaller floats."I'll only give that money on receipt of a good business plan. And so that's the next stage for the group involved is to create that business plan and bring that forward. "What we're talking about is a much smaller event, a free event, and one I think that could help to reinvigorate the battle and that feeling of bringing it closer to the community." In a statement, the current Board of the Jersey Battle of Flowers said it remained "committed to working with stakeholders to resolve outstanding financial obligations", and that it "fully supports the Battle Strategy Group as it takes the reins in planning future battle events".
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Battle of Flowers cancelled: What do people think?
Members of the public, people involved and politicians have been reacting to the cancellation of Jersey's 2025 Battle of Flowers. Organisers announced on Friday the event, which was first held in 1902, would not go ahead due to financial difficulties including a £150,000 overspend in 2024. The Battle Strategy Group, a breakaway committee from the organisation, has promised to hold a smaller version of the event for islanders this year. Jersey's chief minister and former battle chair, Lyndon Farnham, said the event "needs a complete recalibration, both logistically and financially, following the lessons learnt from 2024". Chris Bidan's family has been making floats for battle for generations said the cancellation was "devastating". "I'm a little bit disappointed this has happened and if things had been done slightly differently things might have been okay," he said. "Until we know the full extent or where the money has gone we won't know about battle moving forwards. "We want to keep it going." Martyn Maguire leads the Battle Strategy Group breakaway committee and said the financial situation of the event was "unclear". "We are in a difficult situation where we don't know what our bottom line is financially," he said. "The board aren't talking to us, we are waiting for an AGM (annual general meeting) to happen. "We cannot let this happen again." He added: "As a group of exhibitors we promise we will put something on for islanders. "We are desperate to keep it going, we want to keep it going, in fact we will keep it going." Russell Labey, the chairman of the Battle of Flowers, said the decision was "disappointing" but it was "sensible to take the time to secure a lasting future for the event". Sheena Ferrand said she has spent £400 on flights to bring her granddaughters to the island in August to see the Battle of Flowers. She lived in Jersey for 30 years before moving to Scotland in 2014 and said the trip was about nostalgia. "When we lived there we went all the time as my daughter was always involved in the parade," she said. She said her daughter, who was born in Jersey, was "absolutely devastated" by the event's cancellation as she was looking forward to showing it to her own children. Ms Ferrand added that they were still planning on visiting the island and hoped other events would be taking place. Connétable of Grouville, Mark Labey, said the cancellation of the event was a "tragedy". "It's part of our heritage, it's part of our history, it's part of a lot of people's lives," he said. "There are many individuals around the island that spend over 1000 hours a year making these floats. "I'm sure there will be a lot of people who have been heavily involved with battle for many years that will be very disappointed." Jersey resident Imogen Brooks was asked for her thoughts and said: "I think it's definitely a shame, a lot of families look forward to it, it's kind of a part of the Jersey calendar. "It's something that gets passed down from generation to generation. "People grow up doing it and then their kids end up doing it. I think it will be a loss for Jersey for sure." Cheif Minister Lyndon Farnham said he was disappointed but "not altogether surprised". "I'm confident battle will return in 2026 and they can be assured of the government's continued support moving forward," he said. Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, said the "right way forward" needed to be found. "We understand the battle's deep significance for many islanders, and we are working with the battle to secure its long-term future," he said. Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Battle of Flowers Battle of Flowers not happening - breakaway group Jersey Battle of Flowers in doubt for this summer Battle of Flowers will be supported, minister says Special meeting called over Battle finances
BBC News
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Battle of Flowers cancelled: What do people think?
Members of the public, people involved and politicians have been reacting to the cancellation of Jersey's 2025 Battle of Flowers. Organisers announced on Friday the event, known as battle, which has been held since 1902, would not go ahead due to financial difficulties including a £150,000 overspend in Battle Strategy Group, a breakaway committee from the organisation, has promised to hold a smaller version of the event for islanders this year. Jersey's chief minister and former battle chair, Lyndon Farnham, said the event "needs a complete recalibration, both logistically and financially, following the lessons learnt from 2024". Chris Bidan's family has been making floats for battle for generations said the cancellation was "devastating". "I'm a little bit disappointed this has happened and if things had been done slightly differently things might have been okay," he said. "Until we know the full extent or where the money has gone we won't know about battle moving forwards."We want to keep it going." Martyn Maguire leads the Battle Strategy Group breakaway committee and said the financial situation of the event was "unclear"."We are in a difficult situation where we don't know what our bottom line is financially," he said."The board aren't talking to us, we are waiting for an AGM (annual general meeting) to happen. "We cannot let this happen again." He added: "As a group of exhibitors we promise we will put something on for islanders. "We are desperate to keep it going, we want to keep it going, in fact we will keep it going."Russell Labey, the chairman of the Battle of Flowers, said the decision was "disappointing" but it was "sensible to take the time to secure a lasting future for the event". Connétable of Grouville, Mark Labey, said the cancellation of the event was a "tragedy"."It's part of our heritage, it's part of our history, it's part of a lot of people's lives," he said. "There are many individuals around the island that spend over 1000 hours a year making these floats."I'm sure there will be a lot of people who have been heavily involved with battle for many years that will be very disappointed." Jersey resident Imogen Brooks was asked for her thoughts and said: "I think it's definitely a shame, a lot of families look forward to it, it's kind of a part of the Jersey calendar."It's something that gets passed down from generation to generation."People grow up doing it and then their kids end up doing it. I think it will be a loss for Jersey for sure." 'Deep significance' Cheif Minister Lyndon Farnham said he was disappointed but "not altogether surprised"."I'm confident battle will return in 2026 and they can be assured of the government's continued support moving forward," he for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, said the "right way forward" needed to be found."We understand the battle's deep significance for many islanders, and we are working with the battle to secure its long-term future," he said.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jersey's Battle of Flowers not going ahead says breakaway group
The Battle of Flowers carnival in Jersey will not go ahead this year due to financial issues, a committee has said. There had been uncertainty as to whether the carnival would go ahead this summer after it was previously revealed the event overspent by about £150,000 last Maguire, from the Battle Strategy Group - a breakaway committee from the organisation, said in a letter to exhibitors and association members that it was due to "financial uncertainty" and "the short amount of time available". The BBC has approached the main organising committee and the Government of Jersey for comment. The letter said: "We have engaged in extensive discussions with government ministers and officials in an effort to secure the future of the event. "Unfortunately, despite these efforts, we have been unable to overcome the challenges posed by the current financial and corporate governance issues within the battle organisation."The Battle Strategy Group said it had ideas for other smaller parades and events throughout the suggestions for alternative floral-based projects are set to be discussed at Grouville Parish Hall on 18 March from 19:00 GMT.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jersey Battle of Flowers 2025 still in doubt
Organisers of Jersey's Battle of Flowers are still unsure whether the annual parade will go-ahead this and supporters met at Grouville Parish Hall on Monday to discuss whether it was feasible to hold the floral themed carnival this had been expected to make a decision at the meeting, but there was still uncertainty around was previously revealed the event overspent by around £150,000 last year. 'Debts to pay' Chairman Russell Labey says they hope to have a final decision in the coming weeks."We have debts to pay and that is an absolute priority, but we think we have a pathway to do that. "We have to decide very quickly, because flowers have to be ordered, whether it is feasible to do battle in 2025." The event's website still has this year's event advertised for 8-10 August.A number of exhibitors and supporters have formed the Battle Strategy Group, which hoped to ensure the summer carnival does go ahead. Alexis Marett, from St Helier Battle of Flowers, is among the exhibitors keen to see it happen."There's a lot of work needs to be done to get this year's Battle on and we will hopefully get one this summer, and if not, we'll have one at Christmas. "But there are other issues as well as well, it's not just funding."Another meeting is due to be held next month so organisers can make a final decision about the 2025 event.
