Fort Regent in the 1970s - Part 4

I managed to get hold of this brochure which was printed in 1977. It is both sad and amazing when you see everything the Fort had to offer. Over the next month, I shall be posting extracts from this brochure which shows the incredible diversity of Fort Regent, and an optimism that has been sadly lost along with most of the features described in this brochure.

Fort Regent in the 1970s - Part 4

At Fort Regent, too you will find Jersey's Museum of World Sea Shells. Believed to be unique in Europe, the Museum will open your eyes to the wonders of the thousands of beautiful and exotic shells in a fascinating display linking shells with our daily life.

Shells vary enormously in their size and shape, in their colouring and texture, and also in their rarity and value. Even those found lying lifeless on the beaches around these islands differ from each other.

But even those marvellous holiday mementoes from Jersey beaches can teach us something not merely about marine life as it is today but also about the mysterious world that existed long before the coming of man.

At Jersey's Shell Museum you'll find not only the unusual shells of the Channel Islands but, especially, more exotic examples from the world over.

You'll see the fossilised remains of shells millions upon millions of years old the remnants of molluscs which, as they died, sank into the primaeval mud eventually to be perpetuated in stone.

You'll see Sam, the Giant Clam, one of the biggest shells in the world, over three foot long. Guess his weight and you can win a prize.

You'll see the much sought-after Golden Cowrie from the Pacific Ocean, the prize of all shell collectors.

This and similar examples from all over the world are shown at the museum.

You'll see shells used as bridal accoutrements from places as far apart as Ethiopia and the Gold Coast; you'll see exquisite Chinese playmoney from the eighteenth century, beautifully and delicately carved on mother-of-pearl.

There is a small additional charge to see these and many more astounding exhibits at the Museum of World Sea Shells.

How about a game of giant chess, draughts, checkers or dominoes? You've never played giant anything before? Why not have a go. 

You'll find you'll have a new perspective on chess, that's for sure. After all, have you ever tried checkmating a three foot high king after wrestling a similarly sized queen across the black and white chequered surface.

And dominoes? That'll take on a physical aspect, too, when you find yourself rushing backwards and forwards to check if you really did have a double zero or not.

You can book your game on the giant board at Titania's Palace.

Holidays wouldn't really be holidays without the chance to indulge in something either novel or energetic. At Fort Regent, we've been able to combine the two and we're able, for the first time, to invite you to try our Go-Skate rink. It's in the Piazza - indoors under the giant roof.

Perhaps the British did invent the sport of ski-ing but now the clever Swiss have got their own back with the Go-Skate craze currently sweeping Europe.

You've not heard of it before? Well, the idea is that you can enjoy all the sensations, all the manoeuvrability and skills of ice-skating without any of the inconveniences. It's the new iceless, bladeless, easy, way to go figure, hockey or pleasure skating during summer or winter.

Why not give it a try? You don't have to be an expert because the £150,000 Fort Regent Go-Skate rink is primarily for fun. Boots and skates are for hire, so nothing need stop you joining in. How is it all done? The rink itself - that's the floor to the uninitiated - is made of unbelievably tough plastic tiles which actually slot into each other rather like a jigsaw puzzle. That means the total area is firmly and safely interlocked.

The actual skates are moulded in glass-wool strengthened plastic with five small, hardened-steel, wheels mounted on ball-bearings and set in a line along the base. You're beginning to think that it sounds a bit like old-fashioned roller-skating aren't you? Forget it? It's just not the case.

These skates are so designed that only one, or at the most two, of the five wheels are n contact with the surface at any one time.

And that, quite simply, means total mobility and versatility - even those spectacular sliding stops.

So go ahead and Go-Skate. Expect one or two bumps, and maybe a bruised bottom the first time, but we know that you're going to have a lot of fun.

And then afterwards you can adjourn to the adjoining continental piazza cafe and licensed bar and watch others demonstrating their skill (or lack of it) while you enjoy one of the specialities of the Piazza meals or just a quiet drink.