Interview: Enid Isaac Discusses History, Mission of BLC Car Boot Sale

Chronicle.lu recently had the opportunity to speak with Enid Isaac of the British Ladies Club (BLC) of Luxembourg ahead of the latter's 28th annual car boot sale, which is taking place in Parking Adenauer in Luxembourg-Kirchberg on Saturday 14 May 2022 from 09:00 to 16:00.

Enid Isaac is currently responsible for the organisation of this annual fundraising event, which has proven popular among expatriates and locals alike over the years.

Chronicle.lu: When did the first BLC car boot sale take place? Was it an original idea or did it evolve out of a smaller BLC event which grew? Has it always been held in Kirchberg?

Enid Isaac: It was started in 1992 by Ros Egerton and was held on the Park and Ride at Howald on a scorching hot Sunday with 30 participants. Ros got permission to hold the next one in June 1993 on the small Glacis car park. We were then granted space on the large car park where we stayed until road and tram works moved us to Parking Adenauer three years ago.

Chronicle.lu: When did you start to become involved in the BLC car boot sale? And has your role changed over the years?

Enid Isaac: I became involved in 2000 directing traffic coming onto the Glacis. Susan Sanderson has been organising or involved since 2001. I became more involved in 2013 and took over as organiser, from Susan Sanderson a few years ago. 

Chronicle.lu: How many people are involved in the organisation of the event each year? Please give us an idea of the roles they fill. Are they all BLC members?

Enid Isaac: They are usually BLC members, while husbands or friends make up the parking team. This has been led by Herman Vereecken and Ian Sanderson for many years. These people are indispensable to the smooth running of the day. We have Sue Hartley, our webmaster, who records the registrations, Janet Macey, our treasurer who looks after the fees paid so we know how many spots have been reserved, and who later prepares the donation payments. Wendy Casey, our PR manager, who contacts the press with details to be published. Victoria Hodgson, our Chair, who is responsible for running the BLC stall and any official documents that need to be signed. Chris Kettle, along with the Oasis Church, has been involved since 2002. Their stand provide food and refreshments throughout the day and give their profits to a school and church in Romania. Prior to this, the proceeds from their stand went to a soup kitchen in Ukraine. 

Chronicle.lu: Do you need authorisation to hold the event? Who gives this to you? Is there much paperwork/bureaucracy involved?

Enid Isaac: We needed authorisation from the Ville de Luxembourg for the Glacis who kindly gave us the site for free along with the official help, first Fêtes et Marches, then police, circulation, hygiene. Now we are on the Parking Adenauer, we need authorisation from the Fonds de Kirchberg who look after property in that area. We need transport to the site and add a little Britishness by renting the iconic double decker Routemaster Bus. As facilities are limited, we also have to rent toilets for the day. We have to look for a new site for next year as Parking Adenauer will become a construction site for the new tram line. 

Chronicle.lu: Looking at numbers; how many people have "car boot stalls" at the event? Approximately how many visitors do you have coming to the event?

Enid Isaac: On average, we have more than 78 stalls, but one year on the Glacis we had 176 participants. It is difficult to know how many visitors come as we do not have any way to count them, either coming on the bus or from parking in the area, but it would be in the hundreds. 

Chronicle.lu: On publicity, do you focus on reaching members, particularly in the anglophone community in Luxembourg? Or do you try to reach other communities too?

Enid Isaac: On the publicity front, we have flyers printed and distributed to many larger companies, plus use intranets when offered. The Tourist Office is a great source of advertising, as well as schools and other organisations such as the scouts. Finally, each member receives a flyer in our monthly magazine. We advertise this event in the Luxembourg press in English, French, Portuguese and German and have two radio interviews in English planned to help promote the event. We now use social media for publicity which makes it easier for us.

Chronicle.lu: How much money is raised by this event, is it just from registration fees, and where does it go towards?

Enid Isaac: Each "booter" pays for their stall, many collecting for different charities of their own choice or for themselves. The fee paid is donated to the BLC for its charities. This year, it will be RYSE in Luxembourg and Nurture the Borders in the UK. The BLC stall collects money from selling scarves, jewellery, handbags, puzzles and games for children. What is not sold is then donated to homes for needy women. During the 25 years on the Glacis, our donations went to help Social Services from the Ville de Luxembourg. Over the years, we have donated nearly €60,000.