There appears to be no other event that so vividly represents the old Anguilla and the cultural and social way of life than the just-ended Welches Village Fest. The event, now in its tenth year, has not only caught the attention and support of various significant sponsors, and rallying crowds from across the island, but a growing number of tourists as well.
The Frederick O. Harrigan Playing Field, recently extended mainly for vehicle parking, and the surrounding areas could hardly accommodate the throngs of people and the mass of vehicles on the Whit Monday holiday, May 21.
Mr. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism and Culture, was highly complimentary in his opening remarks. “You have to give a lot of credit to Susan Smith and the Committee for keeping this cultural event going. I think it is so important for us to reflect on what was good back then; and also for the youngsters today to have a greater appreciation for how far we have come. I think the Welches Festival means so much not just to the village, but throughout Anguilla. I think it is extra special.
“I think it is an event that can be easily sold because tourists who come to Anguilla want to sample a bit of what Anguilla’s history was about; and there is nothing better at this point in time than the Welches Festival where you can actually see life as back then. With the qualities that it brings to the modern day Anguilla there are so many things you can take forward.”
Mrs. Susan Smith, whose Vanterpool family members were the early creators of the festival, commented: “It is an event that many tourists patronise. As a matter of fact, someone who just came to Anguilla a few hours ago, from The Bahamas, told me he is very impressed so much so that he wants a shirt to take back to The Bahamas. So tourists are really being attracted to the event.”
Her brother, Joseph Vanterpool, who chaired the event, commented: “There are many tourists in our midst and for that we are very thankful. Over the past nine years we have endeavoured, as a community, to do what is necessary in ensuring a fruitful and prosperous fest. However, on this, our tenth year, we found it necessary to make some changes and to invite some of the people who worked with us over the years to operate booths. In that way, it relieves some of the work that our committee had to do. It is a one-day event, but the work that goes into it was tremendous.”
Traditional Johnny cakes baked outdoors, string band music, children’s toys of yesteryear, and various household artifacts, formed part of the event; but the re-enactment of the old time wedding, with all its attendant trappings, was the main thriller. It depicted the wedding of “George Zephiniah Henry (performed by Hulio Carty – Ponto) and “Helena Margaret Eliza” (performed by Taijah Hodge). Among the side events, giving colour and expression to the wedding, were three sets of the “hookey pokey” dancers, in paper skirts, depicting a long ago cultural performance.
The sponsors of the Welches Village Fest were: the Anguilla Tourist Board, FLOW Anguilla, Malliouhana-Anica Insurance Company, the Department of Youth and Culture, Lake’s World, CuisinArt Resort and Spa and dck International, the Global Construction Leaders rebuilding and refurbishing Belmond Cap Juluca Resort.
