In Praise of Eric Liddell

In Praise of Eric Liddell

The race and the glory, great things he has done

So loved he that excellence, he gave all each run

But never on Sunday, as was seen as a sin

Rather off to the chapel, where good folk go in

The race was his joy, with the fire in his blood

In sunshine and storm, on grassland and mud

This was God’s gift, so he truly believed

The swiftness of feet, the victory received

Great was the Olympics, and great things he has done,

In Paris that year, in the heat and the sun

But after his calling, that greater would be

To China, his task, his vocation to see

Fort Regent in the 1970s - Part 8

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 8

Sports enthusiasts are well looked after at Fort Regent. Squash players particularly. It's a game that has rocketed in popularity during recent years and we've kept pace with the increased demand. Four courts are available and should you fancy the idea of a game or two then we suggest you should book a court in advance. We've even laid on a special telephone number for you to ring for squash court enquiries, it's 33552. Naturally we don't expect you to have packed a squash racquet for your summer stay in Jersey, so at Fort Regent we've made sure that all the equipment you might need is available for hire.

If you've played before you'll know that it's an excellent way to keep fit and it's also a sure-fire way of working up a thirst. Just by coincidence the Bistro Carronade is close at hand, so when you've finished your game the Bistro is the place to enjoy a rest and a thirst quenching pint.

One of the most popular of Fort Regent's attractions is the mini-golf. Here dad will find his low handicap no use against the devious tricks employed by his youngsters.

No, of course it isn't meant to be serious. How could it be, when what you're trying to do is to hole a ball over humps and bumps, through tunnels, and around corners? Not serious - but a lot of fun. Give it a try. You might find yourself going home with a new skill.

You're almost certain to have played table-tennis before; or even ping-pong. But how long ago was it? Get yourself in trim again on our tables up here at the Fort. Once again all the equipment you'll need for a game or a series of games is available to be hired.

And that's by no means the end of it. We could also tell you about the rifle-shooting, archery and weightlifting clubs which are all based at the Fort and all of which welcome visitors. Just ask at the information desk for details.

As you can see, we're already well equipped for sport But that's just the start. Under the gigantic roof we are constructing what will be one of Europe's most important indoor sports halls catering for both Island and tourist sports enthusiasts.

While meandering around the Fort, why not find out the answers to our prize quiz. All the answers are readily available to keen observers.

When you have answered the questions, write down in not more than 25 words why Fort Regent appealed to you, and complete the address panel at the bottom of the page.

Then tear off this page and either drop it off at main reception or post it to Fort Regent Quiz, Fort Regent, St. Helier, Jersey.

All entries must be received by October 31st, 1977. In the event of more than one correct entry being received a panel of judges will select the winner on the basis of the slogans provided. The judges' decision will be final and no correspondence can be entered into. The result will be published in the Jersey Evening Post of November 14th.

The first prize will be £10.

1 What mode of transport does No. 21 in the Postal Museum use?

2. There are five of them and they have been there since 1785. The answer to this question 'lies' at the Mini Golf.

3. What's under the chair in Oberon's dressing room in Titania's Palace?

4. Henry VIII had many wives, but what was the name of his fifth one?

5. Who is mentioned under the clock?

6. What date is on the Commemoration Stone at the Swimming Pool?

I like Fort Regent because.......

Technology Lessons

"Qui Verbum Dei contempserunt, eis auferetur etiam verbum hominis" -- C.S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength

The Daily Mail reports:

"Boris Johnson only came round to mine for technology lessons, says ex-model who received thousands in public money."

Evidently, reading his bizarre speech at the UN, he didn't take much in! Here are a few extracts from someone who is apparently a British Prime Minister:

"You may keep secrets from your friends, from your parents, your children, your doctor – even your personal trainer – but it takes real effort to conceal your thoughts from Google."

"In the future, voice connectivity will be in every room and almost every object: your mattress will monitor your nightmares; your fridge will beep for more cheese, your front door will sweep wide the moment you approach, like some silent butler."

"Are we doomed to a cold and heartless future in which computer says yes — or computer says no with the grim finality of an emperor in the arena?"

"AI, what will it mean? Helpful robots washing and caring for an ageing population, or pink-eyed terminators sent back from the future to cull the human race?"

"A future Alexa will pretend to take orders. But this Alexa will be watching you, clucking her tongue and stamping her foot."

"What will synthetic biology stand for - restoring our livers and our eyes with miracle regeneration of the tissues, like some fantastic hangover cure? Or will it bring terrifying limbless chickens to our tables."

The Washington Post also had this to say:

UNITED NATIONS — Things the beleaguered British prime minister said in his astonishing speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday night: “Pink-eyed Terminators from the future.” ‘’Terrifying limbless chickens.” ‘’Your fridge will beep for more cheese.”

Limbless chickens there may not be, but a Prime Minister clearly off his trolley there is in the present day.

Reviewing The Care Inquiry Document: The Children’s Plan

Reviewing The Care Inquiry Document: The Children’s Plan

The recent report by the Care Inquiry highlights various deficiencies with the Children’s Plan:

"We recommended that a Children’s Plan should be published which included SMART objectives. We note that a Children’s Plan has been published covering the period up until 2023. This is a brightly presented document which makes a number of important high-level commitments to the island’s children and young people. It is not however a truly SMART document which delivers objectives which are Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and Time–related. "

"It is not clear from the published document how the laudable objectives are to be delivered and within what timescale nor what resources are to be applied. We are unsure that any member of the public reading the Plan would know whether and when it had been implemented and what difference it had made. In reality, children and young people do not need a document as much as they need the outcome of the plan in terms of the improved resources, services and life experiences it delivers. "

"Members, managers and frontline staff need to be sure of how they will know that the plan’s objectives have been achieved. We commend the amount of planning and policy work to date but recommend that more specific objectives, outcomes and timescales should be published, alongside clarity as to where responsibility for delivery lies "

This is sadly true. Reviewing the plan, which I had not done before, there are a lot of aspirational goals, but no fine details, no timetable. It looks more like a wish list than a plan. For example, under how we want to make a difference:

• Reduce the number of children being bullied
• Reduce the number of pupils who are recorded as persistently absent from school
• Increase the number of Year 6 pupils who are a healthy weight
• Increase the number of children who believe their community would act on their ideas

Alongside each of these are various statistics, for instance “30% of children in Years 8, 10 and 12 agree that their school would act on their ideas”. There is no indication of how this has been measured, which is a key factor in determining if there has been any improvement.

There is no indication of how this is to be achieved, although the “key insights” does mention “Not all schools have a school council”, “No existing standards to inform school council”, “Schools already under curriculum pressure”, “Youth Service key source of expertise”. 

The links between these and improvements is suggested implicitly, but there is no clear timetable to implement any changes, and there is in fact no real data on how many schools have a school council, and how well (for example) this correlates mathematically with Increase the number of children who believe their community would act on their ideas.

There is a supplement giving “Work produced by children and young people in Jersey for the Children's Plan” which gives some insight into what various children think, but there is no data to show that this is somehow representative of specific schools, island wide, or merely a self-selecting series of suggestions from children.

The “Proposed Government Plan 2020-23” does a bit better.

It says that “Longstanding systemic challenges to progress in partnership working are being addressed in a revised Children’s Plan, which sets out shared priorities and outcomes with key agencies, including better joint planning and joint working across Government departments and with the voluntary and community sector.”

And then it goes on to say:

“We will develop and publish a performance framework by January 2020. We will use it to monitor and maintain progress against the outcomes and service improvements set out in this plan, making our performance transparent to all. “

And lists these measures:

% of children reaching developmental milestones at age two
% of reception children achieving / exceeding expected level of development
% of pupils assessed as ‘secure’ in reading, writing and maths at end of KS1
% of pupils assessed as ‘secure’ in reading, writing and maths at end of KS2
% of pupils achieving five or more standard GCSEs
% of pupils who progress to take a Level 3 qualification
% of children aged 7 to 11 who are aware of their rights under the UNCRC
Number of children aged 10-17 who enter the youth justice system for the first time
Children under 18 who are victims of crime
% of children reporting being bullied at or near school in past 12 months
% of Year 10 and 12 children who have been involved in bullying others using mobile phones, tablets, online games, social media etc
Number of children excluded from school
% of children who have a repeat child protection plan within 2 years

This at any rate is a start, as long as the means by which measures are counted are also transparent. Some are pretty basic such as “% of pupils achieving five or more standard GCSEs” but some may be harder to measure in any objective manner, e.g. “% of children aged 7 to 11 who are aware of their rights under the UNCRC” or “% of children reporting being bullied at or near school in past 12 months”

I look forward with interest to some detailed measures and plans that are more than merely aspirations and have some measurable outcomes, and hopefully a proposed timetable as well.

The Edge of Destruction

"I think this is one of the great moral challenges of the 21st Century, perhaps the greatest moral challenge", he says. "If we are not acting, we are endangering everyone who is alive now and also future generations." (Prof Peter Singer of Princeton University, on Climate Change)

The Edge of Destruction

Time is running out. A word is spoken.
The tipping point, the end of days.
The young girl tells of a world broken
And soon too late: humanity pays

The cloud was bursting over Spain
Flash floods, buildings torn apart
The sky weeps with torrential rain
This planet has a broken heart

In Amazon forests, a blazing fire
Dante’s Inferno: a glimpse of hell
Unchecked, consequences dire
Listen to warnings: this we tell

The Edge of Destruction: like a broken spring
A warning cloister bell begins to ring

Fort Regent in the 1970s - Part 7

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 7

Fort Regent boasts Jersey's most luxurious and sophisticated restaurant and discotheque.

It's called Bonaparte's, and the Island's leading show-biz columnist has described it as being "elegantly comfortable, plushly intimate, a gourmet's delight, a disco fan's paradise". That particular writer also went on to compare Bonaparte's with a film set!

Bonaparte's, with its Napoleonic atmosphere totally pervading the dim and lushly furnished interior, is a five room complex dedicated to your pleasure. It has been fitted out at a cost of more than £150,000. The a la carte restaurant is separated from the area set aside for dancing and has a deliberately limited menu - (the proprietors refuse to have anything to do with frozen food and insist on serving only fresh) - and a comprehensive and carefully selected wine list.

Diners, of course, have access to the disco or they can use the relatively quieter reception bar.

The discotheque itself contains some of the world's most advanced audio equipment and that means you'll be listening to some of the best sound you'll hear anywhere.

By the way, the disco is also open to non-diners, when an entrance charge is made but, and this is the important part, it is essential if dining that you book beforehand and if dancing only that you get there early to avoid the disappointment of finding the premises full. Such is the popularity of Bonaparte's among local people that reservations have become the order of the day.

How are you on a pair of skis? Pretty good, even if you say so yourself? A beginner, nursery-slopes-style? Never tried it? Whatever your answer you can, during your sunny, summer, stay in Jersey, take your first, unsteady, winter-sports steps, or even brush up on your more advanced ski technique. The slopes of Fort Regent include the Mogulslope Skiing Trainer.

It's an entirely new concept in instruction and training for both beginners and experienced skiers and it works, quite simply, on the principle of the endless belt. The moving slope gives you a realistic simulation of snow conditions - perfect if you want to learn the basic swing and equally perfect for experienced skiers who want to loosen up and improve their "wedeln".

Its pretty good, too, for anyone who just wants a bit of fun! Can you fall? Too right you can. Can you hurt yourself? No! Apart, that is from the odd bump or bruise. You see, in the event of a fall the belt stops immediately.

So now you know what to do. Catch the cable cars to the peaks of Fort Regent.

The transformation of Fort Regent was planned with the underlying thought that there must always be enough places for refreshment. So whether you want a leisurely lunch, a quick snack, just a coffee, or a pub lunch complete with a foaming pint of beer, then we have a wide choice of venues to cater for your requirements. Places where you will meet and make friends.

For instance, right next door to the Go-Skate rink you'll find the Piazza - that's a restaurant with something for everyone – with waitresses attending to the slowly-sipping solitary coffee drinker and also to the full-scale meal eater. The meal eater will probably try one of those American-style, big beefy burgers, full of choice, juicy, meat, and then move on to one of the Piazza's renowned ice-cream delights accompanied, perhaps, by a glass of wine.

Close at hand is our very own fully licensed public house, with its Victoriana bar and separate lounge for parents with children. It's where you'll find award-winning Jersey beer, at Jersey's special prices.

Mind your head! The beer here is strong.

Nearer the swimming pool you'll find the newly decorated and luxuriously furnished Springboard Coffee House and the Hi-Dive Bar, both at the bikini-crowded pool. Have a drink in the elegant Hi-Dive lounge, or try the food at the Coffee House. Your host and hostess, Alfredo and Margaret, produce a varying dish of the day of unvarying high quality.

And, of course, there's the Carronade, built especially for anyone who wants a simple meal served swiftly and courteously plus, possibly, a glass or two of nourishment, and with some occasional music to keep you company and help stimulate your taste buds.

By the way, those stubby little cannons apparently guarding the restaurant are what the Carronade is actually named after. Once upon a time the Fort's main armaments(quite accurate and deadly) they were built by the still existing Carron Company of Falkirk in Scotland.

Remember those picnic spots we told you about on the page concerning walks through the gardens and the aviaries? Well, if you should fancy the idea of a picnic once you get to Fort Regent but you haven't brought with you any suitable snacks or food, we can help you. All you need to do is to find our special picnic kiosk - it's just by the top cable car station and, hey presto, it's picnic time, sit in the sun and munch time, alfresco lunch time.

Two Riots: 1769 and 1847

I give both sources below.

1769: From Alban E Ragg's "Popular History of Jersey":

On subject of wheat rents, a riot of September 28th, 1769, took place. From very early times up to this period these had always been paid "in kind," i.e., in actual wheat, a mode allowable and useful in a small community and when very little money was in circulation, but which had become oppressive and obsolete in its working ; the fact of the matter being that the quantity of wheat then grown upon the Island was not sufficient to pay one twentieth part of the rents that had been created.

Under these circumstances, as can very easily be conceived, a man might have to pay, for instance, 50 per cent. more for the purchase of the actual grain than would have sufficed for the payment of his rents in cash. This matter in the first instance was modified by paying in coin on an average value of wheat; though here again stepped in the difficulty that the holders of wheat rents, having an interest in the matter, naturally did their best to keep the average value at a high price ; those that had to pay as naturally trying to lower its average value.

The whole difficulty was, however, at last solved by an Act of the States, confirmed on April 26th, 1797, and to come into force the following Michaelmas, to the effect that such rents were to be estimated at a fixed rate, which law—the only effective measure that resulted from all the agitation of 1790 and that period —is still followed.

Towards the close of the century the excitement for reform gradually died out, or rather it seems to, have received its death blow at the hands of its greatest advocate, for an astonishing change came over the mind of its leader, J. Dumaresq, Esq., who was afterwards elevated to the office of Lieut.-Bailiff and was knighted. As a member of the States he seems to have tried his best to extend the powers of the people, as Lieut.-Bailiff to deprive the people of a portion of their powers; and as a member of the States, too, he seems to have been the popular leader of all friends of liberal views, whilst as Lieut.-Bailiff he turned into the strongest opponent.

One or two more items concerning the events of this period may here be added.

Until the year 1795, the Lieut.-Bailiffs have always been elected from the bench of Jurats—this being considered an absolute rule, though it was broken that year, an a precedent created for other procedure. The Court refused to swear in Thos. Pipon, Esq., as Lieut.-Bailiff' when appointed by Lord Carteret, because he was not a Jurat. His Majesty in Council nevertheless confirmed the appointment on the 17th of June, 1795.

But though the outcome of all this political disquietude so far as concerned the alteration of the law by any Act of States, was confined to the reform in connection with the wheat rents, the effects of it did not remain there, for the Imperial Government, without, as it would appear, either the co-operation or sanction of the States, and for the prevention in future of much useless work of the like kind stepped in and enacted sundry regulations on its own account.

For instance, it was at this period the Order was enacted that the meeting of the States was not to be adjourned without the consent of the President, and that when so adjourned it was to complete the matter under discussion before proceeding to other things; that the Bailiff was and should thereafter be bound to convene a meeting of the States when called on to do so by the Lieutenant-Governor and the Jurats.

On June 2nd, 1786, came a Order allowing the States to fine absent members, and on the same date came one declaring that the States could not pass Acts for raising money without the previous assent of the Crown.

1847: from Norman Le Brocq's Jersey Looks forward

"On Monday morning, very early, St. Helier, usually so calm and busy, was thrown into alarm by the news that all workers had downed tools and that everything pointed to a serious . uprising. This was borne out by the reports of the determination and violent character of those who seemed to be he workers' leaders. The news, which at first was hardly believed, although on Sunday a rumour had circulated that an uprising was planned for Monday, soon acquired a positive nature. The Constable was seen making for the Royal Square accompanied by his four Centeniers. This place was assumed to be the rallying point of the troublemakers.

" Soon all the police of St. Helier were gathered around their chiefs; but at half-past six the Square was still empty, although already a band of three or four hundred persons was abroad, compelling all workers to leave their work."

So opened the report of the activities of May 17, 1847, as summarised by one of the local newspapers. This uprising was the climax of, a series of riots by the town workers and the Gorey oyster fishers over a period of twenty-five years. The year 1822 had seen the first -popular rising in Jersey over the high price of foodstuffs. That year was notable for the fight made -and won-by the Island States Assembly, backed and urged on by the populace, against the imposition on the island of the British Government's Corn Laws.

In spite of the fact that this battle for the free importation of corn into the island was won, the price of corn rose sharply in the years that followed. In 1828, after another easily quelled riot, the States passed a law forbidding the export of any type of grain. This eased the position somewhat, but did not bring bread prices back to a reasonable figure as compared with the local workers' poor wage.

During the years 1821-1851, the population of the island almost exactly doubled. This large increase was partly due to an influx of English workers employed on the extension of St. Helier's harbours, the building of St. Catherine's pier and other large constructions.

This infiltration of English workers with their more militant outlook woke the Jersey worker to the fact of his extreme misery. They tended to settle here after the work that brought them was finished and they were well to the fore in fighting for better conditions.

The immediate cause of the May uprising is shown by the events of the five months preceding it. In January, 1847, the shipwrights and carpenters employed in the shipbuilding yards left their work, complaining of the high price of foodstuffs. They took possession of several loads of potatoes which were being shipped for export. The Jersey and Guernsey News complains that on this occasion "the police looked on, and allowed this to be done. Not one of the rioters was seized or punished. "

On the 1st of February the States decided to open a bakery to sell bread to the working poor at 2d. per Ib. The market price of bread at this time was 2 ½ d. per lb. By the beginning the market price of bread had gone up to 3 ½ d. per lb, while the States ;bread had advanced to 2 ½ d.

On May 15 the Constable of St. Helier made a statement to the press that " as the Committee of the States would shortly discontinue selling bread at a cheap rate, a meeting of the constituents of St. Helier would be held on Wednesday, May 19, to open subscriptions for the relief of the working class," and concluded by saying: "that it was a fact which should not be
concealed that a great number of workmen had been compelled to put their effects in pledge to supply the wants of their families, and that their resources were entirely exhausted."

The excuse made for stopping the supply of cheap bread was that work was now plentiful-at 12/6 per week-which fact was disputed by at least one of the local newspapers. This statement of the Constable's reported in L'Impartial de Jersey, Le Constitutionel and Le Chronique de Jersey, caused a feeling of unrest amongst the town workers on the Sunday. It would seem by the magnitude of the rising on the following day that plans were made then for the morrow.

The townsfolk went to bed that Sunday night wondering if there was anything in the many rumours circulating concerning approaching trouble.

The workers employed in the building of St. Aubin's Road arrived at their place of work as usual at 5 o'clock that Monday morning; but instead of proceeding to their normal work they gathered together to the number of about 150 and discussed their plans. They sent a delegation to ask for an increase in pay. This was refused. It was then decided to march to First Tower and call on the carpenters and other workers at Deslande's building yard to come out and join them. This went off according to plan.

The next step was to march townwards about 200 strong. Along the Esplanade carne this ragged army calling upon all workers to join them. They turned up Hill Street, gathering force all the way, and here were joined by a group working at the laying of a main drain. Not attempting yet to force their way into the Square, they continued their march down Roseville Street to the shipbuilding and other yards at Havre des Pas. By this time there were over 400 in their ranks. They proceeded to call out all the workers in these yards. Some came willingly, others were reluctant. Threats and arguments were used to bring the Clarke, Valpy and Allix employees out.

Havre des Pas now being at a standstill, the recruiting march was continued, as far as the North Pier. Here extension to the harbour was in progress. At first the men remained loyal to the foremen in charge; but after a battle with stones the majority of these men, too, joined in the uprising.

Next carte the turn of the men repairing the ships " Peggy " and " Hebe," These men were persuaded by their -bosses to remain at work; but after one of the foremen had been. downed with a stone, these men went over to support the side of the uprising.

At Ennis' foundry, the marchers found everything locked and bolted against them. After a vain attempt to break in to release the workers cooped tip there and some window smashing, this place was left for a march to Henry and de Garis' sail-making factory. Here all the men refused to strike and the marchers drew off, leaving them to it.

By half past eleven the repair-men on the ships " Ringmahon Castle " and " Speedy 'Packet " had joined them, and the crowd was now well over 700 strong, apart from parties sent about to call out other workers.

About noon it was decided to march on the Royal Square. Well over 1,000 strong, they entered the Square, led by Jean Picot, journeyman-shoemaker. As he entered the Square, shouting " Rush in, my boys," he was seized by the police. He was immediately hauled before the Court, which was then in session, and in spite of several efforts to rush the Court building and rescue him, he was tried and sentenced to eight days' solitary confinement.

George Sargent, a seaman, was arrested for leading an attempt to rush the Court building steps and capture the Constable, while in a state of intoxication.

Then went up shouts of "To Le Quesne's mill! " "To the Town Mill". And a band of over a thousand streamed out towards the north of the town. Centenier Le Bailly made for the mill with part of the police force, while the Constable and the rest of the police stayed to hold the remaining crowd from the Court buildings.

Le Bailly entreated the crowd to go away and leave the mill intact;-but with shouts of " Break in' -a large band went round to the back entrance. Using hammers and pick-axes they attempted to break open the door, but it was not until they brought up an improvised battering-ram that they burst it open. Flocking into the mill, they opened the main door. Then in rushed as many as could. Bags of flour and grain were carried and thrown into the yard. One man, Elias Selous, was observed to fill his mouth with flour and shout: "That's how hungry I am. I haven't eaten for two days."

Two wagons were loaded with grain and flour and many men gathered as much as they could carry.

By this time the Governor had called out the island garrison and placed it at the disposal of the Constable. About one o'clock the Riot Act was read in the Square by the Procureur General, and the troops were ordered to co-operate with the police in clearing the Square. Another part of the garrison, the 81st Foot Regiment, :was ordered to proceed to the Town Mill. At Robin Hood Corner they met the outposts of the rebels and a short engagement followed, the workers using clubs and stones. The two flour-wagons were captured by the troops and the crowd was dispersed. By 2.30 p.m. the Square also was cleared and many arrests had been made. Sentries were left and the main body of the troops was sent round the town to clear the public houses and order them to be shut.

The crowd had swarmed back to the Square by four o'clock; but though they collected there and paraded the town all the evening, the initial impetus was over and there were no more clashes with the authorities. Police and special constables patrolled the town all night.

At five next morning it was found that a large number of the workers were going back to work. The remainder merely walked about and made no violent move.

At seven-thirty the Constable issued the following proclamation:

"To the Working Class,

All workers are commanded to return to their work immediately. Measures are, being taken to assure the distribution of bread to the working class at a reasonable price and to guard against all scarcity of essential foodstuffs.

"A public assembly. will be held in the near future to open a subscription for poor relief; but all aid will be refused to those who do not immediately return to work and severe measures will be taken against them.

"Imprisonment with hard labour or banishment for five years is the penalty ordered in our Riot Act for all those who take part in riotous gatherings and who do not disperse when ordered to do so by the police."

"If necessary, the military will be called out to reinforce the police.
"The deserving poor will receive help; but all those who take part in any uprising will he severely punished.

Pierre Le Sueur, Constable of St. Helier. May 18, 1847."

At three o'clock Tuesday afternoon it was reported that the Mont Mado quarrymen were marching on the town. The Constable hurriedly called out the troops and accompanied them up to Mont-a-l'Abbe. Here they met the quarrymen and demanded of them their business. The reply was a demand for bread to be made available at 2d. per pound (the existing market price being 3d. per pound). The Constable told them to go home and he would do something for them. After the Procureur General had read the Riot Act, the quarrymen were ordered to disperse; which, in face of superior force, they did.

During these two days an appeal had been made for citizens to enrol as special constables, and in all 114 rallied to the call. They were used as auxiliary police patrols and distinguished by white armbands. However, these " specials " saw little activity, for by Tuesday night calm had settled over the island once again.

Over the whole period no one had been killed, though there were a number of injuries on both sides.

What were the results of this uprising?

On Monday, in the midst of the turmoil, a meeting of the States Food Committee was convened and issued the following statement :

The year 1847, the 17th day of May.-The Committee having assembled in Order to deliberate on the distribution at a reduced price of. bread, baked for the States, which is now sold to the working class at 2 ½ d. per pound, conformably to the decision of the Committee on April the 27 last; considering the reduced rate of wages and salaries, as well as the increased price of provisions, as also the number of persons who suffer in consequence of the famine and the dearness of articles of food in general, has resolved to adopt immediate means, in order to reduce in a few days the price of bread to 2d. per pound, The Committee has at the same time decided, if necessary, to take measures insuring for the provisioning of the island. The Committee has also decided to instruct the Constables of the parishes who have not yet increased the allowance to out-door poor to come to an understanding with the churchwardens, in order to give an immediate increase, proportionate to the wants of the present time, and this extraordinary relief.
Charles de Ste. Croix, Greffier."

On the Wednesday, the Constable of St Helier held a public meeting to set up a fund for extra poor relief. It was suggested that soup, meat, sugar be distributed cheaply besides bread. Subscriptions were called for on the spot and £211 were collected as a start to the fund.

Such was the scare that the uprising caused in the hearts of the authorities and the well-to-do. The workers had asked for a rise in pay or the resumption of bread sold at 2d per pound. The latter was granted by the States Food Committee in spite of their previous statement that the issue of cheap bread would be discontinued. And further, the rates of poor relief were increased throughout the island and a public fund was set up to relieve distress.

This was the first victory of the Jersey working class. By a united show of strength they gained their ends. At what cost? A few were injured in the fighting and 27 were brought up for trial. One, John Picot, the shoemaker, was tried on the spot and sentenced to eight days' solitary confinement, as we have seen. George Sargent was released with a caution.

Of the other 25, Thomas Cundy, William Holland, Thomas Connor, Thomas Anthony, Frederick Pyke, Stephen Wilkins, Jean Le Gresley, John Dunn, Elias Selous, George Minton, Joseph Baker, George Carter, Thomas Mouldoun, and Richard Tucker were charged with "forming part of an illegal assemblage of persons, and for having caused a tumult in divers parts of St. Helier, and having thus committed a breach of the peace; and also having wilfully and maliciously broken open a certain mill situated on the Trinity Road, belonging to Messrs. wheat P. Le Quesne; as also having taken by force a quantity and flour from the said mill, with any intention of robbery; or having aided or abetted in the same.

Denis Daly, John Gernan, Pierre Voisin, Charles Le Breton George Laing, Benjamin Brown, Thomas Gillam, Philip Gallichan, Richard Blacker and Henry Dell, were charged with having been participators in the tumult; for having insulted the police while in the execution of their duty; and for having attempted to rescue some prisoners when arrested by the police."

John Merrifield was charged "with having participated in the tumult and for having since his arrest threatened on his liberation to murder the person who took him up."

Sentences of varying terms of imprisonment or banishment up to five years' banishment were inflicted on these men. And so finishes this page in the history of the Jersey working class.

A sequel, however, can be seen to this day. In the Broad Street cab rank there is an obelisk erected to Pierre Le Sueur, the Constable of St. Helier, the man who put down the disturbances, erected by his grateful parishioners in memory of his exertions!

Falling

An Autumnal mood poem for the season, using a rondelle as the form.

Falling

It was a dying back, those Autumn days
Leaves falling softly, dry and brown
The Green Knight wears a golden crown
Sunsetting earlier, with pink hued rays

Now cider drinking, and harvest praise
Sing, drink, dance: a puritan’s frown
It was a dying back, those Autumn days
Leaves falling softly, dry and brown

Walking the forest track, olden ways
The dryad wearing her golden gown
Time to let go, with one final gaze
On the cusp of Winter, counting down
It was a dying back, those Autumn days

Fort Regent in the 1970s - Part 6

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 6

Feel like taking it easier? Then why not try the astroglide? Only be sure you don't take it too fast the first time round ... you might suddenly find yourself emulating an astronaut.

Don't forget that we keep going right through the evening so if you want to relish the fun of a funfair after dark then were ready and waiting for you.

Of course, we've got lots of things just for the youngsters. You see, the whole concept of Fort Regent had children very much in mind. And so one complete section of the Fort's facilities has been set aside for them.

Ask your Mum if she minds you having a go on the helter skelter. When she says "yes" just climb to the top, sit on the slide and down you go. And not only down but round and round, as well.

While we're on the subject of sliding - how about the giant snake chute? Now, that really is a giant slide. That spotted superserpent stands perpetually poised in a pouncing pose but don't be scared of him - he's very tame and very friendly. He actually likes the younger ones to climb the stairs up along his back, enter the slide high above the ground, and then swoosh down through his throat to emerge from between his gaping jaws into the sunshine. Now, that's just got to be the greatest thrill-slide you'll ever experience.

Sounds just like a wonderland, doesn't it?

Did we say wonderland? We mean Wonderland - the Alice variety. Have you ever considered capering with the ever-scurrying White Rabbit or contemplated dancing alongside that awful Queen of Hearts? Have you ever thought of bouncing the light fantastic with the tea-partying Mad Hatter or the Portly Tweedledum or even the sad little, sleepy little, timid little dormouse?

If you've ever thought of doing any of these things, you can here at Fort Regent. It's Wonderland, alright, a gigantic 40 feet diameter, inflated, leap-around, fall-down-on, bounce- right-up-again, playground.

All your favourite characters from Alice are here on this dreamworld airbed just waiting for youngsters to bounce along with them. No need to climb through any looking-glasses, nor yet to fall slowly down rabbit holes. This is going to be the very important date you won't be late for. All you have to do is to catch the cable car from Snow Hill and ask for a return trip to Alice in Fort Regentland.

Time for a sort of rest. Get behind the wheel of one of our veteran cars for a soothing drive. Demonstrate to all those watching grown- ups how good your driving ability would be if only you were ever given the chance. By the way, these aren't fantasy machines, these are scaled-down vehicles from way back when.

Before you begin to burn up more of your holiday-extra energy have fun on the roundabouts. When you get off, don't forget to ask your Dad all about centrifugal force.

Close at hand is an absolutely real-life log cabin. Yes sir. It's the genuine article, direct from the faraway forests of the Rocky Mountains. It's your own hideaway home that your imagination can set in Indian Territory or in the snows of the Yukon during gold rush time or in the frightening Florida Everglades. Maybe you'll want it to be the home of the Three Bears or even the house of a nasty, chisel-chinned, wart-nosed old witch. Whatever or wherever you decide it is, the cabin is all yours to play with and to play in. Have fun.

Have fun swinging on a car tyre. Have fun clambering over and around the climbing frames. Wiggle through the tyre, hang from the topmost hold of the frame.

And remember when you're doing all these things the chances are that your father wouldn't be able to do any of them.

But after all, it is your adventure playground. Your very own. So don't let him try.

Perhaps you could let your father join you in the Amusement Arcade then you could persuade him to part with a few coins.

You'll find that this is one of the most up-to-date you'll have seen for a long time. No tired woe-begone, pinball machines here. If there is a pinball machine you can be sure it's fit only for pinball wizards. You'll find machines to shoot on, to play football on, to pit your skill against, to demonstrate your delicate touch with. Automatic excitement. Mechanical magic. Chromium-plated compulsive entertainers. You'll have a marvellous time at the Fort Regent funfair.

The Digital Future is bright

The Digital Future is bright

Back in April 2016, I wrote on my blog:

The new CEO of Digital Jersey spoke to the Chamber of Commerce at their monthly lunch yesterday, and, having listed to him, I’m more optimistic about Jersey and the digital economy that I was a few months ago.

Tony Moretta was speaking on “Why we need a digital Jersey?” at the Radisson hotel. He found that there is no shortage of ideas, good innovative, creative thinking about IT, but the challenge was in the “follow through”. The ideas were there, but Jersey was slow to embrace change, and often the implementation just did not happen.

Digital Jersey was not just about the organisation of that name, but also about improving matters across the whole island .

Last night I attended the official opening of the new Digital Hub and official launch of the Digital Academy, and it was amazing to see the progress made, and how the implementation was happening.

The hub itself has been extensively revamped from a rather old tired building that looked as if it had been converted from a 1960s office block into a modern, state of the art building.

Tony Moretta, CEO of Digital Jersey, began with a brief talk, accompanied by slides on a pull down screen, and these notes which follow are taken from that presentation.

Any mistakes in transcription from my notes are due solely to me 

There are now six meeting rooms named after “tech titans”, digital pioneers who’ve blazed a trail and shaped all our lives thanks to their genius.

These can be booked online via the Digital Jersey team or via the digital panels on the door, which tell you if the room is busy, and for how long, and at what days and times. The rooms have been named after important figures in the history of computing, so it comes as no great surprise to learn that one has been named after the great Alan Turing. Bill Gates, not surprisingly has a room named after him, as does Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web. 

Three of the other meeting rooms are named after women – Margaret Hamilton who worked at NASA in the Apollo programme, and can be considered to have been one of the first people to use the term “software engineer” to describe her work, and Hedy Lamarr, probably best known to the public as an actress, and yet who was also an innovative inventor who received the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award and was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. And there is also a room named after Professor Dame Wendy Hall, who is a leading figure in the UK today on the development of AI technologies, including on the discussions around AI and ethics.

From 12 desks, which increased to 26 desks, there are now 70 permanent desks (for start-ups), as well as more "hot desk space", so the hub is also well equipped as a place for local start-up business to begin as they start to develop ideas.

The Digital Skills Strategy encompasses a Digital Skills Partnership, linking schools with finance and with Highlands, and is developing skills from Jersey youngsters now and for the future.

Only 18 months ago this structure was being set up, but now it is ready to take off, thanks to funding from the government. This is important because it addresses skills shortages, and a developing digital industry for Jersey’s future. 

Rory Steel has taken on the mantle of Head of Digital Jersey Academy. He is a passionate advocator of tech in education, a Google Certified Trainer and Innovator, and an Apple Distinguished Educator that runs the only Channel Island Apple Regional Training Centre. With a background in maths teaching and IT curriculum, he is well placed to take the lead. 

Many companies have been supportive of the Digital Jersey Project, and also Tony Moretta thanked the politicians who gave stalwart support before and after the election, and secured the necessary funding for Digital Jersey’s future.

Lastly he gave thanks to the Chairman, Frank Walker, who regretted not being able to attend, but who had been extremely supportive of Digital Jersey. 

Senator Lyndon Farnham, who spoke next, said that Digital Jersey was so important to the future of the Island, and not just the economy but also improving the lives of ordinary people.

Funding had been obtained - a significant increase - so that the new Digital Academy could go ahead and there would be benefits in schools, business skills, AI, and all kinds of opportunities. In this respect, 5G was to be embraced, as it puts Jersey on the map, and Digital Jersey can harness that technology in its development of home grown talent on Island.

Brexit Fatigue

“We are totally exhausted listening to Brexit and I think in general the country is very worried about what is going to happen”

In the second series of the excellent 1980s sitcom “Colin’s Sandwich”, starring Mel Smith as Colin Watkins, Colin's dad is dying, in hospital, and takes a long time to die - whilst being unconscious throughout, just hanging on.

This frustration of this hopeless situation is perfectly illustrated by Colin walking up to the hospital bed and thinking to himself "Die Dad! Just die! Kick the bucket, skidaddle, clear off, before they get their hands on you!". He castigates himself for this, just before his mother exclaims "For God's sake, why doesn't he just die!".

That's a symptom of stress and fatigue, and that's what we have now with Brexit.

Sam Knight in “The New Yorker” sums up the situation with Brexit as “Brexit Fatigue”, and Boris Johnson as tapping into the zeitgeist on this:

“The British public, Johnson believes, is sick of the country’s agonizing departure from the European Union and want it over with, deal or no deal. Hang the consequences. Come what may. Do or die. Done. Kaput.”. Crashing out of the E.U.—or at least seeming crazy enough to do it—is a keystone of Johnson’s negotiating strategy with Brussels.”

And people I’ve spoken to – even those who said they didn’t want to leave without a deal, have been worn down by the incessant wrangling over three years. Brexit has become like watching a father hang on and take a long time to die. People just want it to be over. Brexit fatigue has worn down any other strategies.

But that is very dangerous indeed. We have no idea what will come. It could be like driving a car off a cliff. It will certainly be uncharted territory. And people don’t think there will be consequences, or if there are, they think they will be mild.

After all, who can forget “Project Fear”, the term used to denigrate “Remainers” in the Referendum? But if you are going to leave without a deal, you need to plan for that, to be prepared, to have contingency plans.

The Yellowhammer report was a leaked document outlining some of the consequences. It has been kept strictly under wraps because the government doesn’t want people to learn about the consequences until it is too late.

When a doctor who had worked on the medical fall-out of a no-deal Brexit spoke factually about it – and looking at the consequences was in fact a task he had been given by the Government – he was mocked and vilified by Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Leader of the House in the Government. Rees-Mogg has since apologised, but it should never have happened.if the Government had been up front about what they might expect.

They are caught in a trap of their own making. To get businesses and people to plan as best they can for Brexit, they need to show what the consequences will be if they do not, and what must be done to mitigate the problems which will arise. But to do that is to awaken fear of those consequences, and that they don’t want to do.

But unless you plan for what will happen until you renegotiate deals (and from a position of weakness), it would be foolish to go ahead. It is like getting onto a large ship without sufficient lifeboats. And we all know what happened to that one. You may not need the lifeboats after all. But there could be icebergs ahead, hidden just out of sight.

Because “No Deal” is not the end, it’s only the beginning, and instead of being able to get on with other matters, if you think time will be consumed with trying to get deals now is time consuming, costly and tiring, it will be nothing as to the time afterwards when we do actually have to get a deal to keep trading on better than WTO terms.

Maybe Boris should take a leaf out of the Gospel of Luke:

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’”

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.”

Or suppose someone wants a "No Deal" Brexit, wouldn't he estimate the cost of that decision before going ahead with it? Wouldn't he check how much harder it might be to secure deals with the EU after the event?

Democracy Falls

Jonathan Sumption’s excellent Reith lecture this year just about summed it up:

"There is already plenty of gloomy speculation about how long democracy can last against an adverse economic background without my adding to it. Prophets are usually wrong, but one thing I will prophesy; we will not recognise the end of democracy when it comes, if it does. Advanced democracies are not overthrown, there are no tanks on the street, no sudden catastrophes, no brash dictators or braying mobs, instead, their institutions are imperceptibly drained of everything that once made them democratic. The labels will still be there, but they will no longer describe the contents, the facade will still stand, but there will be nothing behind it, the rhetoric of democracy will be unchanged, but it will be meaningless - and the fault will be ours."

This poem is about that.

Democracy Falls

The words are there, but emptied out
Of all substance, silently, with no shout,
But that of democracy, like dead wood
Inside a hollow trunk, the tree no good
Despite all appearances. Who can tell
How this came about, good intentions
Perverted, and power came at last?
And he could now expel, and outcast
The best, if they stood up to fight;
So easily comes arrogance, such blight!
Democracy: :a derelict building in decay,
The roof leaking, and no place to stay;
Free for all: but it is all an utter sham:
An idol, to worship, bow down, obey;
Stifle conscience lest it should have sway,
And cross the Rubicon, no going back now;
Dissolve the Senate, ignore the Tao:
But beware the Ides of March: on that day:
The Shades of Things to Come will slay

Being appallingly rude: Rees-Mogg and Disraeli

“Disraeli, as we know, was especially good at being rude and, although we have a persistent image of the Victorians as bound by rigid rules of decorum and politeness, their politicians could be appallingly rude in ways that would be ruled out of order today "

-- Jacob Rees-Mogg, in his book, before slouching in the House of Commons in an appallingly disrespectful manner.

And from Boris Johnson, "it's only satire."!!!

A Limerick on Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

“There was a young fellow from Ankara,
Who was a terrific wankerer.
“Till he sowed his wild oats,
With the help of a goat,
But he didn’t even stop to thankera.”

On the Burka

"If you say that it is weird and bullying to expect women to cover their faces, then I totally agree. "I would go further and say that it is absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letter boxes."

On Tony Blair's visit to the Congo

"It is said that the Queen has come to love the Commonwealth, partly because it supplies her with regular cheering crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies...the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles."

On gay men

"In the Ministry of Sound, the tank-topped bumboys blub into their pils”

“If gay marriage was OK – and I was uncertain on the issue – then I saw no reason in principle why a union should not be consecrated between three men, as well as two men, or indeed three men and a dog.”

Fort Regent in the 1970s - Part 5

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 5

At Fort Regent the Jersey Aquarium invites you to take part in a journey of mystery, marvel and beauty beneath the oceans, lakes and rivers of the world.

Imagine that the Jersey Aquarium is your submarine transport. We can show you what lies under the waves around the Channel Islands - the Kingdom of the Conger. Imagine that you're looking through the submarine's portholes as you peer into the thousands of gallons of brine - now the home of congers, rays and lobster.

Shoals of bream and mullet swim past us completely oblivious of our intrusion into their watery world. Grotesque fish like the rare gurnard and lumpsucker lurk evily amongst the rocks awaiting their morning meal of fresh squid. With a bit of luck you may arrive at feeding time when into the depths will descend one of the Aquarium's divers in an attempt to feed by hand the denizens of the deep.

Nearby can be seen examples of life on the edge of the shore. The enormous tides of the Channel Islands means that these creatures can be under 40 feet of water one moment and just six hours later will be fighting for survival in rock pools only two inches deep. What type of life can take these conditions?

Anemones can. And so can other creatures which look like plants. They have poisonous tentacles which trap and immobilise their unwary prey and then pop it into their so-called mouths at the centre of their heads. Other creatures of the shoreline include slow moving starfish, prawns perpetually primping and preening and crabs crawling along their cleaning and scavenging routes. The now rare and beautiful Jersey sea horse can also be seen feeding on shrimps so tiny they can barely be detected.

For the technically minded you may be interested to know that the Aquarium uses 25,000 gallons of sea water to display the many forms of marine life. The largest display tank is 25 feet long and 10 feet wide and the tank windows are one inch thick to withstand the very great water pressure.

Now on to the tropical fish, dazzling but never garish, brilliant but not discordant. Specially selected for this display, the fish are sometimes grotesquely shaped and even splendidly neon-lit. Rare fish from remote oceans.

Before you depart why not call at the Aquarium souvenir shop and take home a memento of your own fantastic journey.

There is a charge to enter the Jersey Aquarium which is open every day. Welcome aboard.

Surely everyone must know the phrase, "when a man is bored with a fairground he must be bored with life". Well, we certainly don't think you'll be bored with ours. Think back. Do you remember how much of a delight funfairs used to be when you were young - or, at least, younger than you are today? Whatever fairgrounds were - they were fun! And that's how we like to think of our own, our very own, Fort Regent fairground. Brash, noisy, friendly, but above all, fun.

And not only during the day. As night falls and the sky darkens, the fun goes on. Right into the star bespangled evening. And even throughout the evening, during the high season, those cable cars keep right on running.

What have we got to offer? Well, there's the big wheel, for instance. For years they've been the source of pleasurable terror and have come to symbolize funfairs to such an extent that no self-respecting fairground can be without one. Under their transatlantic name of Ferris Wheels they've been the scene stealers in countless movies. However, while we're not expecting film cameras to focus in on your fright we are expecting a few dramatic squeals and wails. However, we don't think you'll be really struck with terror - well , not for long, anyway.

Then there's the dodgem car arena. Have you noticed that they always tell you that the whole point of dodgem cars is the'actual dodging? But dodgem enthusiasts know better than that. At Fort Regent as many as twenty car loads of dodgem lovers can take to the floor at one time.

After the dodgems we hope and pray that you'll be supremely scared and that your spine will be pleasantly chilled on our ghost train. You'll love it. It's horrific. We are confident that you'll find it so frightening that you'll be back for more just as soon as you can. We dare you not to scream at those ghastly apparitions. We challenge you not to shudder at those unknown loathsome things that brush against you. We want your body to recoil in fear, your flesh to creep, your teeth to chatter and your blood to run cold. You'll have a marvellous time. Especially if you take a partner.

You'd better take a partner with you into the mirror maze, as well. It might help you to keep your bearings. But we doubt it. Every- time you look for an exit you'll see only yourself. Down every corridor there's only you. Around every corner is only your own reflection.

RIP Terrance Dicks

RIP Terrance Dicks

I remember being on holiday in England, in the early 1970s, when my eye was caught by two paperbacks, “Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion” by Terrance Dicks, and “Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters” by Malcolm Hulke.

Previous to this, the only Doctor Who novelisation of stories I had come across were those produced back in the 1960s – an Amada Paperback of “Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks”, price 2 shillings and 6 pence, and two hardbacks by Frederick Muller, “Dr Who and The Crusaders”, which I picked up cheap at a jumble sale, and “Doctor Who and the Zarbi” which was available in our local library. But these were old books, featuring William Hartnell as the Doctor.

Now, suddenly, there were two modestly priced Target paperbacks, which became my holiday reading for the rest of that holiday. Hulke had been Dicks’ mentor in script writing, and both were well written.

People have said that Dick’s prose was “workmanlike”, and perhaps compared to some writers styles it was, plain, unvarnished, but it was also clear, descriptive, and at its best, like Hulke, he added backstory elements which filled out the background in ways which was not present in the television version.

Sam Seeley moved through Oxley Woods like a rather tubby ghost. Sam was the most expert poacher for miles around, and proud of it. Many a time he’d slipped by within inches of a watching gamekeeper. Soundlessly he moved through the woods, stopping from time to time to check his rabbit traps. He mopped the sweat from his brow as he moved along. No business to be as hot as this, not in October. Worse than a midsummer night it was. Seeley blamed it on those atom bombs. Suddenly a fierce whizzing and hissing filled the air around him. Terrified, Seeley dropped to the ground, muffling his head in his poacher’s sack. The terrifying noise continued. He heard soft thumping sounds, as if heavy objects were burying themselves in the forest earth around him. At last there came silence.

Sam looked up cautiously. Within a few feet of his head the ground was smoking gently. Cautiously Sam reached for a stick and started to scrape away the earth. Within minutes he uncovered the top half of a buried sphere, roughly the size of a football. The sphere was smooth, almost transparent. It pulsed and glowed with an angry green light. It seemed somehow alive. Sam reached out to touch it, then pulled back his hand. The thing was red hot. Hurriedly, Sam replaced the earth over his find and moved away. He’d come back again when it had cooled down, in daylight. He set off for home.

And here’s the bit where Sam returns to the woods to collect the sphere:

With military precision the soldiers had divided the woods into sections, and were methodically combing them, one by one. The woods were thick and dark, the ground between the trees heavily overgrown with gorse and bracken. The search was taking a long time. So far they had found nothing. They certainly hadn’t found Sam Seeley, who slipped through the patrols at will, sometimes passing within a few feet of them.

The sounds of search came nearer. Sam peered through a gap in the bushes and saw a three-man patrol approaching. Two of the soldiers were carrying some kind of mine-detector, while the third, a corporal, was directing their search. Sam grinned to himself. He knew what they were looking for. what’s more, he knew where to find it.

This is full of description, and the character of Sam Seeley, the poacher is brought to life far better than the rather yokel like performance in the television show. It’s not just a plain transcription of what the script said. It draws the reader in.

Incidentally, I put this into a sentence tester. The sentence test shows no passive sentences, and a Flesch Reading Ease of 82.3. The higher the reading score, the easier a piece of text is to read. Scoring between 70 to 80 is equivalent to school grade level 8, meaning text should be fairly easy for the average adult to read. For example, a reading score of 60 to 70 is equivalent to a grade level of 8-9 so a text with this score should be understood by 13 to 15-year-olds.

Dick’s prose, then is easy for teenagers to engage with, and it is that simplicity which led to thousand of youngsters, mostly boys, learning to enjoy reading. I was already a fully fledged bookworm by the time I came across his books, but I have since learned of the many who learned to enjoy reading for the sake of it by reading his books. That’s some achievement.

His prose novelisations did become more tired as time went on, and Kinda, for example, is a very bland, rather non-descriptive writing, lacking depth, losing much of the atmosphere, the bare bones of script turned to prose. And then he had a second wind, and late novelisations like “Inferno”, “The Mind of Evil” and “The Ambassadors of Death” count among his best.

I also was lucky to get “The Making of Doctor Who”, penned by Dicks and his good friend Malcolm Hulke, this featured photos that I’d never seen before, a summary of all the stories to date, and background material on the three doctors and a brief biography of the actors playing them, as well as the current companions and the UNIT team.

It also has a wonderful extract which shows how a story goes from an overview, to a script, to a camera shooting script (explaining the terms) and then to the novelisation, as well as explaining what happens in a TV studio.

The later version had more details on stories, and also the famous quote about the Doctor used in the 50th Anniversary special, that he should always be ““never cruel or cowardly”.

Another series which was of considerable interest was “Moonbase 3”, which I’ve always regarded as an underrated gem. It doesn’t have any of the flashy science fiction elements, but dramatises, with very good scientific plausibility (James Burke was Science Advisor), what it would be like to live and work together in the confined space of a moonbase. It was created by Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks – Letts being the producer on Dr Who during Dick’s time as script editor.

By now I was following end credits – a very geeky thing to do – and noticed that the excellent Classic Serial slot late on Sunday afternoons also had Letts and Dicks after they left Dr Who. Again under his work as script editor, some wonderful serials were produced - The Pickwick Papers, Goodbye Mr. Chips (probably the definitive version, although shamefully never released to DVD), Jane Eyre (another definitive version), Stalky &; Co., Great Expectations.

The Classic Serial slot had suffered in the past from being seen as worthy but dull, but under Letts and Dicks it was a “must watch” television slot on Sundays.

When Barry Letts retired, Dicks took over as Producer for a while, and under his supervision, the Classic slot saw a wonderful production of the Diary of Ann Frank, a brilliant Vanity Fair, David Copperfield, The Franchise Affair, Bratt Farrar and Oliver Twist, taking some more traditional authors such as Dickens and Thackeray, and some modern ones.

For more on that serial at that time see my blog:
https://tonymusings.blogspot.com/2010/02/classics-that-time-forgot.html

As a script editor of Doctor Who, he was part of the team with his close friend Barry Letts which brought it high ratings in the 1970s, and back from the brink of cancellation, and later as a writer of episodes never turned out anything which was not watchable. “Robot”, “Horror of Fang Rock”, “the Five Doctors” and “State of Decay” were all well crafted stories which showed that even under Tom Baker, he could still provide good stories well told.

He also added immeasurably to the “extras” on DVDs with his reminiscences on stories, and lively anecdotes, as well as informative interviews in magazines. With his own modesty he said of his time as script editor:

“My plan was to get the bloody show out, on the air! When people asked me: "What were your aims and ambitions for the show?" I’d say: ‘That the BBC did not have to show the test card at 6pm on Saturday night.’”"

One of the last of the "greats" of Doctor Who has gone. Rest in peace, Terrance.

For further reading:
https://thedoctorwhocompanion.com/2016/04/18/reviewed-doctor-who-and-the-dalek-invasion-of-earth-by-terrance-dicks/
https://downthetubes.net/?p=110626
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/terrance-dicks-dead-age-cause-doctor-who-bbc-writer-death-a9088806.html