The History and Origins of Alderney Week – in a nutshell
In 2008 Alderney Week will celebrate its 60th anniversary since the end of World War II. 60 years is a long time to maintain the memento of an annual event, but the roots to this week-long carnival of family fun and frolics can be traced back several centuries. And with the help of Alderney historian Brian Bonnard who has published an extensive report about the origin of Alderney Week, and former Alderney Week impresario Ray Parkin, we hope to give you a historic introduction to this fantastic annual event.
Many of you who are relative newcomers to the spectacle of Alderney Week, may well have wondered how it came to be that once a year a normally sedate and unassuming Island becomes a cross between the longest village fete in history and Blackpool!
Like many things in life, if you care to ‘delve’, many interesting and strange facts come to light. Alderney Week as we know it, retains many aspects of its earliest known roots and quite rightly so. What we have here is tradition in its finest form. Communities have, since the beginning of time, held festivals to celebrate many things, but the most universally celebrated rite was of course fertility. Here we have the roots of Alderney Week.
In ancient times the remnant of a pagan fertility rite were celebrated on what later became the first Sunday in Lent, when the young people of Alderney, as in most other communities elsewhere, assembled to feast and dance at the time of the spring plantings, in order to ensure the fertility of the crops.
In Alderney, these festivities were held on the tidal islet of Clonque (now Fort Clonque), but not then connected by a causeway, where they all repaired in their best clothes, with musical instruments, to picnic and dance, play kissing games and make other entertainments. In the evening a huge bonfire was lit, after which they all danced back to the town bearing torches of rush, or made from twisted straw. They ran through the streets waving these to the great danger of the thatched roofs of the houses. This custom was known as “Les Brandons”, and in the early 1700s the Governor of Alderney tried to have it banned because of the danger to the house. Despite this it continued well into Victorian times, in the late 19th century.
At an unknown date, a similar festivity appears to have come into being, in September at the end of harvest, in celebration of the crop, and this has also been referred to, probably incorrectly, as Les Brandons, or otherwise as “Le Jour des Vitres”, a name suggesting that masks (and perhaps other fancy dress” were worn by the participants.
Although it does not now start from Clonque or take place at the same time of the year, the traditional torchlight procession and bonfire, always on the last Saturday of Alderney Week, may at least have its origin in an almost unconscious attempt to revive the old customs of Les Brandons and Le Jour des Vitres and has become a firmly established part of Alderney life today.
The highlight of the week, on the last Saturday of Alderney Week, is the traditional Torchlight Procession, preceded by the band, starting from the Island Hall at 9.0pm and winding its way through the town to The Butes. There, a huge bonfire as big as a house has been constructed, the Fire Brigade is in attendance for safety, and the torches are thrown onto the bonfire to light it. First to light it is Miss Alderney, followed by her Maids of Honour and the Alderney Week organising team, followed by the torch-carrying members of the public. When the fire dies down, another beautiful firework display takes over, as a climax to the whole week, followed by music on the Butes. And, for many years, the stunning fireworks have been organised by Ray Parkin and Friends.
As you carry the torch down Victoria Stre et and throw it onto the huge bonfire burning on the Butes, you are taking part in a ritual that has been in existence for thousands of years. So now you can tell all your friends that you went to Alderney and took part in a Pagan Fertility Rite!
Unlike the rest of the Channel Islands and Britain, Alderney has not adopted the end of August holiday, but has retained the traditional August Bank Holiday, on the first Monday in August, which is now Cavalcade Day.
The competitive aspect of Alderney Week is another very important part of ‘keeping in touch with our roots’. Alderney Week today is based on an idea from the mid 1800’s when it is recorded that rowing races were held in the Harbour between local men and soldiers from the garrison. We can assume that competitive events took place throughout the year, but it was not until the start of this century week of events was held.
In 1951 Louise Lane Clarke, a niece of the last Hereditary Governor of Alderney, John Le Mesurier, records competition in horse racing on Braye sands and boast races in the bay between the Governor’s and the Garrison teams in the early years of the 19th Century. These events had been revived in 1851 with the horse races on Longy Common, various athletic events on the common, including a wheel barrow race, throwing the hammer and putting the stone, long-jumping, running, and a sack race. Rowing boat races between groups of 6 and 4-ored boats were held in Braye Bay. The competitions were between the inhabitants and the garrison and a ball was held in the evening in the Reading Rooms at Braye (built 1848 for the benefit of the men building the Breakwater).
In 1908, the 2nd Batallion, the Middlesex Regiment, three companies of which, together with the regimental band, bandmaster R.C. Cooke, formed the garrison of the island under their C.O. Major B.E. Ward, who organised a whole week of events and sports competitions, from 12-18 July, which was referred to in the newspapers at the time as The Alderney Week, probably the first use of this term.
The programme was quite comprehensive and started with a moonlight picnic at Clonque on the first Saturday , perhaps with vague memories of Les Brandons in the minds of the organisers. On Sunday morning there was a garrison church parade on a the cricket pitch at the Arsenal which was also attended by the Boy’s Brigade, and a large number of inhabitants. The Vicar took part as well as the army chaplain, and the regimental band played the hymns. Afterwards prizes were presented to the Garrison School children by Mrs. Ward, wife of the C.O.
On Monday afternoon the C.O. and his wife were ‘at home’ to some 60 guests in their quarters in Essex House (which became the Devereux House Hotel). The Band again played for the event and in the evening did duty for a dinner dance for 40 guests at Scott’s Hall, given by the Middlesex Regiment officers.
Tuesday morning saw the arrival of SS Courier from Guernsey with more visitors, and in the afternoon a picnic at Rose Farm. The evening was crowned by a Camp Fire Concert and Supper on the Golf links at the back of Fort Albert attended by about 400 islanders.
Two French Tornedo Boats, No. 228 and 229, made a two-day visit on Wednesday and Thursday. Their crews competed with the garrison, and the naval personnel of the Alderney Coastguard station, in a number of sports events.
Wednesday also saw an open “Guest Day” at Fort Tourgis. This was followed in the evening by a fancy dress dance given by the R.A. officers in which many decorated carriages, including the three-horse Ambulance from Fort Albert, were used to convey the guests to the Fort. Other events followed, and the “Week” finished on the Saturday with a Torchlight Tatoo and Fireworks on the Butes.
In 1922 the custom for garrison sports, shooting competitions and horse races held in the 1820’s was revived by Lt. Col. F.H. Dorling, C.O. of the 1st Batallion the Manchester Regiment. When in Alderney as a Captain in the early 1900’s, he had married Judge Barbenson’s daughter and was now stationed in Guernsey . Two Rifle companies and the Regimental Band were stationed in Alderney under Major W.K. Evans, and it was customary for the Guernsey companies to join the rest in Alderney for a couple of months in the summer , for joint training and exercises in which the Alderney Militia also took part. To foster a spirit of competition, and to prevent boredom, Col. Dorling instituted a week of sports in which the various units competed in athletics, boxing, football, cricket, shooting ,water sports and races between farm horses. On the final day there was a carnival with a prize for the best decorated bicycle, and in the evening a fireworks display , followed by a dance for all ranks.
By the 1920’s Alderney Week had joined with the Annual Cattle Show and became a major event on the Alderney Social Calendar. The man we have to thank for this is Colonel Dorlings, the commander of the local garrison. I wonder if he would approve of the way Alderney Week looks today, and also wonder if he knew what he had started?
This custom was revived after the war in 1948, when the first post-war cattle show was held, and visitors came from the other islands to buy. Various other attractions were scheduled. The show rapidly developed into a carnival with a beauty queen, and the first elected “Miss Alderney” was Eileen Sykes, who many years later became a States Member and the island’s Vice President.
This soon became more than a one-day event and included sports and competitions as in pre-war days. From about 1953, it always included a cavalcade of decorated floats. The decline of Alderney agriculture in the 1960’s led to the last Cattle Show being held, but an attempt was made to continue the entertainment. Lack of fund prevented it from being held every year, but in 1971 the former custom of having these festivities was revived again, and Alderney Week as it now exists, was born, organised each year since 1970 by Ray Parkin, ably assisted over the years, by a number of different Alderney Week secretaries.
Alderney Week Organisers
Ray Parkin began a term as Chairman that was to last 3 decades! It would not be possible to summarise Ray’s dedication in a few words so I shall just say that it is a fact that Alderney Week would not exist today if it had not been for his boundless enthusiasm and his unique talent for motivating people. Many people who have helped with Alderney Week over the years will have fond memories of Ray stopping them in Victoria Street and saying ‘I’ve been landed with a bit of a problem and I wondered if you could help’. Ray Parkin ranks alongside Colonel Dorling as a true father of Alderney Week.
Ray Parkin had already been associated with Alderney Week since 1961, when a large committee ran the organisation with Peter Moss as Chairman. The principal events were the Cavalcade, and swimming sports in the Inner Harbour. Olympic Gold Medallist Duncan Goodhew regularly took part in these events as a child, and still is a frequent visitor to the island. The Alderney Theatre Group (then known as the Alderney Drama Club) always staged a performance during the week. Moving the Cavalcade to Marais Square on year, caused such traffic chaos that it returned to the Butes, and has been held there ever since.
Ray Parkin was Chairman of the States Tourism Committee in 1969 when Peter Moss resigned after staging that year’s festivities. No volunteers being forthcoming, Ray agreed to do it for one year only, provided he ran it just with an “Alderney Week Secretary. And no committee! He ended running it for the next thirty years!
Having decided on a more ambitious programme, Ray arranged event organisers for each, and let them find their own helpers, a system which has worked well over the years. 1965 Alderney Week had about a dozen separate events, by 1979 this had risen to some 65 events, in 1990 it had reached over 100. In recent years the programme has extended to over 120 events – quite a feast organised entirely by volunteers.
When Ray Parkin retired at the end of Alderney Week 1994, he was succeeded by a number of Alderney Week impresarios and teams, starting with 1995 with Brian Talbot and Gail Gregg and followed in 1996 by Johnny Fielder, Barbara Benfield and Sally Bohan. In 1997 Barbara Benfield and Sally Bohan carried on through 1997 and were joined by Bill Kennard in 1998. From 1999 to 2001 Ralph Burridge ran Alderney Week and in 2002 David “Magic” Stanley very ably assisted by his wife Angela, took Alderney Week through to 2004. Since 2005, Ronnie Cairnduff and his team have been at the helm of Alderney Week.
Alderney Week - Today
Alderney Week is now well established and is the principal week of the season for tourists, the population of the island being almost doubled in most years, and some people making it their regular holiday time in order to join in the fun.
The festivities start on the Saturday before “Bank Holiday Monday”, the first Monday in August. Sunday retains the Ecumenical Church Service first held on the Cricket Pitch in 1908, but now held at St. Anne’s Church, and various other events and exhibitions.
The Bank Holiday Monday, or “Cavalcade Day”, as it is called on the island, starts after lunch with the Cavalcade when decorated carts and floats line up on the Butes after their noisy and colourful parade through the town. And that entire afternoon the Butes sets the scene for numerous stalls, plenty of entertainment and competitions for everybody, whatever their age.
Many of the family favourites – such as the Daft Raft Race, the Manpowered Flight and the Wednesday Night Gala Spectacular and the dramatic Torchlight Procession, are firm fixtures on the calendar of events, as are many other regular happenings. New ideas are introduced every year. The vast programme of last year’s Alderney Week can be seen on this website.
In recent years, every Alderney Week has also been given a theme and some scenes from the island’s past have been re-enacted. The theme carries through town as shop assistants and many inhabitants will dress up for the chosen theme throughout the week. Shop windows reflecting the theme are entered for the best decorated shop window competition.
However, in order for Alderney Week to survive we must move with the times. Major corporate sponsorship is now essential to the continuity of Alderney Week and we hope that you will see this as a sign of the faith that these businesses have in Alderney as a viable Island community and not as an intrusion.
As the week progresses you have all an opportunity to play a part in the history of Alderney Week. If you have an idea or you spot something that you think could be done differently, or better, approach the Alderney Week Team and let us know what you think. Who knows - in 20 years’ time you may be able to look back and say “that was my idea!”