Sausmarez Park was packed as usual for the Viaer Marchi. Simon Tostevin reports on the National Trust of Guernsey’s event. Adrian Miller took the pictures

RAIN flirted with Saumarez Park for 20 minutes last night before departing and leaving hundreds of people to enjoy the delights of the 37th Viaer Marchi.

As always seems to be the case, the weather was good, the cider was cold and the bean jar was tasty.

The event, the biggest fund-raiser of the year for the National Trust of Guernsey, offered visitors a host of things to do and see.

There were stalls with books, treasures and pictures, craft demonstrations, side shows and plenty of traditional Guernsey food to eat.

As always, the queue for the traditional bean jar never seemed to shorten.

‘I come for the bean jar. Queuing for it is the first thing I do when I arrive each year. I’ll probably have another one before I go and watch the entertainment,’ said Fred Duchemin, who has been going since 1970.

Peter Yates, managing director of Sueco Outside Catering, expected to go through 2,000 cups of the traditional fare.

‘We’ve got more than 200 gallons of it. It just goes well with the tradition of the Viaer Marchi. We just keep to the secret National Trust recipe of the late Peggy Carey and it seems to stay as popular as ever.’People love it. Year after year we get good comments and the queue speaks for itself. But by the end of the night I’m sick at the sight of it.’

Entertainment in the arena came from the Boys’ Brigade Band, the maypole dancers of La Mare de Carteret Primary School, L’Assemblaie Guernesiaise, La Guaine du Vouest, the costume parade and the presentation of the Peggy Carey MBE Memorial Trophy for the best Guernsey costume.

The evening culminated in a tribute to Mozart by the Forte Four String Quartet and a performance by the Bailiwick of Guernsey Scout Band.

John Dempster entertainment organiser for the Viaer Marchi committee, thought the evening had been fantastic.

‘It’s the first time we have had it in this area and it’s gone so well. It has meant everything is together and not behind the trees. To a certain extent it was forced upon us because it was getting a bit boggy, but it’s given us the chance to make it bigger and better.

We had loads of people here at the start. They know that if they want a bargain from one of the stalls then they have to get here early.’The Boys’ Brigade Band got the evening off to a great start.’

Deputy Peter Roffey donned a women’s bonnet while selling vegetarian bean Jar on a stall alongside Deputy Jean Pritchard, and Pink Ladies co-founder Gillian Tidd.

‘Well, everyone else is wearing one and I’m fed up standing out in the States, so I thought I would try and fit in for a change tonight,’ he said.

Deputy Pritchard started the stall six years ago and is more than pleased to help the National Trust.

‘The stall makes good money for them,’ she said. ‘It’s hard work but also enjoyable. I think people like it because like us they want to eat thick bean jar, which we make.’

The De Garis sisters were also in attendance for another year selling their butter.

‘We used to sell the butter at the show with our mum [Angela De Garis] just like our children are doing now with us,’ said Rachel Torode.’

‘There was a gap of a couple of years when we didn’t come, but a few years back we all decided to do it again because we always had such good fun doing it. It’s nice that we are all still involved and that the tradition carries on.

‘For me it always feels like the start of summer when the Viaer Marchi takes place. You know the shows aren’t far away.’

Like many others last night, Enid Ozanne had bagged herself a bargain on the stalls early on.

‘We come down every year and usually queue for the bean Jar straight away, but we wanted to go to the bric-a-brac stall to find some glasses, which luckily we got,’ she said.

‘Then we had some bean Jar, which was probably better than in other years, but then again it’s always good.’