Latest news with #RussellLabey
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.
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jersey's Battle of Flowers lost money in 2024, meeting hears
The annual Battle of Flowers lost money last year despite an increase in funding, a special meeting of the event's committee has Government of Jersey gave organisers of the summer parade £270,000 - an increase of 80% on the funding awarded for a meeting at St Ouen's Parish Hall on Monday night, which was called following concerns about the event's finances, some of those involved last year said they had still not been paid their Russell Labey said anyone still owed money would receive it in February. Mr Labey said: "We're constantly having financial issues. We put on one of the best events we've ever done in 2024, but we lost money."We went up by 4,000 [spectators], but we can't put prices up as there aren't many events on this island and so we have a responsibility. "We tried to keep some tickets really low, so that everybody can come." Describing the job of chairman, Mr Labey said it was "tiring" and he would be happy for someone to take said: "They've asked me to do the job and I'll do it to the best of my ability."If there's somebody amongst the membership who'd like to have a go, I'll step aside and support them, no problem."I'd quite like a little bit of a break, but I'm not going to leave this lot [the exhibitors] in the lurch."
