Victoria College at Bedford: Island News in the Second World War - Part 3

Victoria College at Bedford: Island News in the Second World War

A number of boys had left Jersey in 1940 with the families in the evacuation to the UK. In September 1940, about 40 boys with Mr. Grummitt, Mr. Hopewell and Miss Aubrey were accommodated at Bedford School. Shortly afterwards Mr. Grummitt left on his appointment as Principal of Belfast Royal Academical Institution, and Mr. S. M. Toyne consented to act as Headmaster of 'Victoria College at Bedford. Mr. Toyne had been for 20 years Headmaster of S. Peter's School, York, before coming to Bedford to give part-time help. Victoria College owes a great deal to him for the tremendous work which he did during the next five years.

The Victorians at Bedford took a full part in the activities of their foster-parent school and brought honour to themselves and to Bedford in both work and games, but they never lost their identity as Victorians. As an expression of their gratitude they and other friends of Victoria College presented an Oak Panel, and an oak seat which now stands in the Bedford School playing-fields

As part of their distinct identity as Victorians at Bedford, a newsletter was produced, containing both news gleaned of Victoria College in Jersey, and also of the plight of the Islanders in general.

In the next few weeks, I am posting some extracts from those newsletters:

THE ROLL OF HONOUR

Arthur George Candlin

Arthur Candlin entered College in 1929. A good all-round man, he " kept " for the XI and the island, and with more experience would have become a class wicket-keeper. Leaving in 1933 he trained for a time at the Westminster Bank in Jersey and then went to the Eastern Bank, at Karachi. They tried hard to retain him, but nothing could keep him out of the army, and he was soon a Captain in a Baluchi Battalion. On June 17th of this year he wrote : " I'm setting off on a very strange journey this evening. I am commanding a very large convoy of about 200 horses and mules, and have to take them on a 140-mile journey over jungle and mountain, I reckon it will take me ten days. I'm turning into a sort of cowboy. I've been given three very incompetent junior Indian subalterns to help me, so have a pretty busy time ahead."

The convoy was to travel by night, by an unfenced road zigzagging perilously on sheer hill sides. On the second night out the mules stampeded, and while riding along the outer edge endeavouring to restore order Candlin went over the precipice. As the horse stepped over the edge, perhaps at a sudden turn in the road, his rider must have gone clean over his head, breaking his neck immediately, while the animal rolled down and was found unhurt, 200 feet below, standing over his master's body. Next morning the horse's neighing brought to the spot a tribesman, who guided the search party to the body.

Arthur Candlin was just the type that can so ill be spared—vital, with the keenest joy in life and action, always cheery and good-tempered. Laughing at the heat and discomforts of the Assam-Burma frontier, but full of sympathy for the miserable hordes of refugees. As Quartermaster of his Battalion he had, a brother officer writes, " made an excellent job of it, and was cheerily inquisitive about the health and happiness of the meanest Sepoy he came across." One company kept up a cry of mourning for a great part of the night.

V. A. Hamon

Victor Hamon was at School about 1931–36 . A promising voting cricketer, he might have reached the XI if he had stayed at school a little longer. He was a charming boy, of the modest and retiring sort. He had become a Sergeant Pilot in the R.A.F. and was serving in the Middle East. His last message home said lie was " just off on a trip, and the target was one he fancied.'' He was reported missing from a raid on August 29th of this year. Later the International Red Cross reported from a Berlin source that he and all the crew had been killed.

Flight Lieutenant Richard James Jouault, D.F.C.

Killed on active service. Richard Jouault was a definite and lively personality, who will long be remembered by his contemporaries. After passing through a period when he hated school and everything to do with it, lie became a most popular and effective member of the community. His acting in Youth at the Helm, and his performance as a hockey goalkeeper, at which he bade fair to become really first-class, are two of the many pictures of him that spring to the memory. He was the first Jerseyman to win the D.F.C. in this war—he obtained a Short Service Commission in 1938—and his marriage in April, 1940, was one of the last such happy scenes before tragedy overtook the island.

John Forbes Laurie-Dickson

Laurie-Dickson was at School from 1928 to 1933. As a Pilot Officer in the R.A.F. he was reported missing in the early summer of 1941 after an operation over France. In September he was officially reported " believed killed in action.

Patrick Windsor Lynch-Blosse, D.F.C.

Missing, presumed killed. Lynch-Blosse was in College House for something over two years, 1914-16. We quote from The' Times:

"He had been engaged in flying all his life. having served in the R.N.A..S. in the last war, in which service he enlisted straight from school at the age of 17. After the war he went to Australia and flew for the mines in New Guinea, and then joined Kingsford Smith's wonderful band of pilots. He later joined British Airways, and then Imperial Airways, returning to R.A.F. duties when the Singa-pore run was closed. The R.A.F. thought he was beyond flying, but nevertheless he was posted to a bombing squadron, and did his first batch of operational flights-34 raids, during which he was awarded the D.F.C:.

He was eventually given command of a squadron of Halifaxes, went out on a raid the night he took command, and never returned. He died as he would have wished, at the age of 42. flying one of his beloved machines in his country's service. He was a fearless and much loved leader of younger pilots.'' Familiar to House boys is the low flat-topped granite wall, with the sheer 10 feet drop into the lane. Lynch-Blosse was the boy who rode a bicycle along the top of it. "Fearless” seems the appropriate word.

John William James Taylor

Jack Taylor was the eldest of Colonel W. J. Taylor's three sons. He was at College from 1920 to 1924. Lacking academic ability, he was trained in the use of tools at St. Peter and then went out to South Africa, where he had a variety of jobs, but always with flying as his chief interest. He lost no time in joining up at the outbreak of war, and was shot down and killed while flying a bomber in Eritrea in February, 1941. He leaves a young widow and four children.

OBITUARY

James Bertram

James Bertram, who died in April of this Year, was the oldest living O.V. He entered in 1865 and was probably 87 when he died. He lived at Pontac House, and was a familiar figure at St. Helier. For many years he was Manager of the Jersey Savings Bank. But he took a special and well justified pride in the great enterprise, foresight, and engineering skill shown by the Jersey Water Company, in the inception and management of which he had been largely concerned, continuing to sit on the board (probably) up to the time of his death.

Mr. T. B. Davis

In Mr. T. B. Davis, who died in Durban at the age of 75 early in October, Victoria College loses a good friend and benefactor, and the O.V.A. its only Honorary Member. Coming of seafaring stock in Jersey, he went through many years of training before the mast until he became a sea-captain. In the course of a rough world-wide experience he developed a business acumen and capacity which eventually made him an entrepreneur on the big scale.

Taxing Statistics: An error of less than 1%

A ‘human error’ led to the government accidentally sending tax forms to ‘fewer than 100’ children – including a nine-year-old.

Now the last census in 2011 said that there were 16,213 children under the age of 16.. There are probably more now.

But that means that in putting all the island children on the tax system, there was an error of 0.62%. That's less than 1%.

With any new system, there are bound to be the odd glitches, either in the program or in the input, but an error of less than 1% seems pretty good to me, especially given the time pressures.

It's perhaps not the headline screaming from the media - "nearly one hundred children" - and one might add, no point of comparison with the number entered on the system.

Now the obvious thing is to make the program idiot proof so that date of birth is checked against age before the checkbox resulting in the error can be ticked (or not ticked). But that's easy to see in hindsight. Talk to anyone who programs and they will tell you that no program can easily be made - what we in the trade call - "idiot proof", because what you think is obvious turns out to be not the case.

Once you know that this kind of mistake can occur, you can program extra checks to make sure it cannot happen or flag up warnings. Making sure it can't happen is best, but on occasion when a complex judgement is needed, a warning is the only way. That works fine as long as someone reads the warning - which is alas not always the case. There's a click culture which doesn't read stuff properly - just think how many terms and conditions you have spent carefully reading before clicking "yes, I have read them".

So the next time you read a headline which gives a statistic, think about how that figure fits in the context of correct entries, and ask if the media have decided to use this wonderful opportunity to make a whipping boy of the tax department.

I don't think the tax department are doing everything right, and I think they underestimated the amount of work to transition to the new system, but if Kristina Moore is going to ask questions, whether they are adequately resourced in terms of staff should be at the top of her agenda, rather than asking where the buck stops. 

Plague

Currently a coronavirus is spreading across the globe. Where will it end? This is a reflection on death by virus, past and present and future.

Plague

It comes slowly at first, then fast
Like a terror from distant past
And taking hold, and more die
Breathing stops, and final sigh
By trade and traveller, spreads
Fickle fate cutting the threads
Of life. There is not panic yet
But victims feverish, sweat
Through the very air we breath
Drinking waters of the Lethe
Always the fear, that this time
The virus will be in its prime
Spread like plague of yesteryear
Bringing panic stricken fear
Survivors: who will remain behind
To rebuild, face a daily grind
As our civilisation falls apart
Losing that steady, beating heart
A Darwinian trap: ending all
As mankind takes a nasty fall
But perhaps not now, this day
But it will happen, this I say
The dice will be thrown at last
And Death ride in from the past

Victoria College at Bedford: Island News in the Second World War - Part 2

Victoria College at Bedford: Island News in the Second World War

A number of boys had left Jersey in 1940 with the families in the evacuation to the UK. In September 1940, about 40 boys with Mr. Grummitt, Mr. Hopewell and Miss Aubrey were accommodated at Bedford School. Shortly afterwards Mr. Grummitt left on his appointment as Principal of Belfast Royal Academical Institution, and Mr. S. M. Toyne consented to act as Headmaster of 'Victoria College at Bedford. Mr. Toyne had been for 20 years Headmaster of S. Peter's School, York, before coming to Bedford to give part-time help. Victoria College owes a great deal to him for the tremendous work which he did during the next five years.

The Victorians at Bedford took a full part in the activities of their foster-parent school and brought honour to themselves and to Bedford in both work and games, but they never lost their identity as Victorians. As an expression of their gratitude they and other friends of Victoria College presented an Oak Panel, and an oak seat which now stands in the Bedford School playing-fields

As part of their distinct identity as Victorians at Bedford, a newsletter was produced, containing both news gleaned of Victoria College in Jersey, and also of the plight of the Islanders in general.

In the next few weeks, I am posting some extracts from those newsletters:

Extracts from the Newsletter
Life Now in Jersey

We should all like to be able to form a complete picture of Jersey as it is under German occupation. That, of course, is impossible, but I believe we have enough information to enable us to approximate to it.

In Jersey: Let me say at once that my information concerns Jersey alone ; I do not venture to express any opinion about Guernsey. 

What we read in the newspapers is usually sensational and alarming. It seems to be the business of some newspapers at least to provide sensation only, regardless of facts, and always to make the picture as gloomy as possible.

The story of the Sark raid early in October, however, was official, and showed that some people were being deported from the islands. The first account said for labour in Germany; later accounts said to internment camps. It was emphasised that no genuine islanders were being taken, nor people permanently domiciled there.

If this proviso is maintained, Jersey certainly could not be greatly affected. And indeed we know that all available labour in Jersey is being employed in the island. The enemy may at some future time cast the net more widely, but it would be hardly worth their while to adopt a complete reversal of policy for the sake of a few hundreds of unskilled workers.

The fullest and also the most sensational statement about the Islands is contained in a full-page article headed`` The Tragedy of the Channel Islands," contributed to the Sunday Despatch of September 6th, by Lord Portsea, an O.V. better known to the older generation as Bertram Falk.

A large part of the article consists of a bitter denunciation of the British Government for " its shameless betrayal of the oldest and most loyal subjects of the Crown." The sound and accepted view is that, since the Islands geographically are an integral part of the French coast line, when once the Germans held the one, the other was theirs. The British Government, acting in complete concert with the island authorities, did wisely to accept the inevitable. When Lord Portsea comes to deal with the question of food and fuel and appeals for food ships to be sent to the " starving islanders " he is in direct conflict with most of the known facts.

" In the Island," he says, " there is no tea, coffee, or cocoa ; no sugar, flour, salt (except sea-brine) ; no oats, coal, oils, fat, jams." And again, " Potatoes are rationed at one pound a week, milk at half a pint—and then it is not always to be had. There are some tame rabbits and inferior vegetables, but we know, both through the Red Cross and other sources, that the Islands are on the verge of starvation."

“Some inferior vegetables !” Ye gods Forty-five square miles of the most fertile soil in the world, most of it skilfully and intensively cultivated by people whose life is hound up with it. " Some inferior vegetables " What has the Jersey farmer done to deserve this ?

We have three sources of information (a) the 25-Word messages, censored, going to and fro through the Red Cross. Many thousands are sent and received, and though there are many things that they obviously would not be allowed to say, they contrive to say a. great deal, and to give a general impression of cheery confidence. (b) an occasional escape. In September, 1941, a young Jerseyman achieved a fine getaway, and brought with him a great quantity of authentic and valuable information. Much of it appeared in the Press; parts were reserved for the authorities. (c) a certain number of actual letters, full and uncensored, some of them enclosing photographs, have reached the United Kingdom by devious channels. I have one such before me now, from which I will quote later.

The States of Jersey continue to function normally, through the various Committees, being largely concerned with the supply and distribution of food and fuel. Electric current continues to be supplied by Diesel oil. The gas works are operating. Some coal is brought from France, but wood is the main domestic fuel. It is rationed, and private owners may not cut down trees without the authority of the States. Medical supplies appear to be sufficient. The existing supply of insulin lasted till the Spring of 1942 and then a further supply was obtained from England through the Red Cross.

For a good many years Jersey farmers had concentrated on potatoes and tomatoes for export to England. They have now reverted to mixed farming, under the direction of the States Agricultural Committee. Grain, fruit, roots and vegetables are being produced in abundance.

The cattle population, large at the time of the occupation, is believed to have increased. Dairy products are therefore abundant. Milk is rationed, but children undoubtedly get enough. Babies' weights are satisfactory. In three instances within my knowledge actual photographs have been received, and they show bright healthy children, full of fun. " Lawrence mimics everybody." Lawrence is two. This is the description of a family group—" They all look extraordinarily fit, and my two youngest sisters are now as tall as daddy." And again, the photo of a child born shortly after the occupation shows a strapping youngster, in blooming health,- Poultry farming: and rabbit keeping are general. A grower friend of mine in St. Saviour began rabbit breeding on a large scale in 1939.. Probably also pig breeding, already onl a fairly large scale, has increased. A farmer not far from us never had less than two hundred pigs.

There is a certain amount id' fishing, under restrictions. A recent message says : " Your father and brother have just got a fine catch of mackerel."

Sugar is brought from France : it is, of course, strictly rationed. A year ago there was still a weekly ration of one ounce of tea : that has probably come to an end now. But, after all, English folk did not lack something to drink before Queen Anne.

The Germans do not confiscate the produce of the island. They buy large quantities for their troops both in Jersey and Northern France. But it is quite clear that enough remains for the islanders. Some messages definitely say that food is sufficient, countless others imply that the people are sufficiently well nourished to enjoy good health and pursue their normal occupations with energy.

The currency is now practically all paper. The large stocks of British paper currency were, just before the Occupation, stamped by the Jersey Treasury, so that it is of no value outside Jersey. Side by side with it is the German paper, the ratio being about ten marks to the pound. Residents who drew their income from outside the island receive advances from the banks. We are assured that property is being well cared for.

The exception. is the dismantling of the Masonic Temple at the beginning of the occupation and the subsequent exhibition of the furniture and pictures in Berlin. That admits of a special explanation. Freemasonry on the Continent is something quite different from what it is with us, and to the German authorities, freemasonry in an occupied territory would be regarded as a subversive organisation.

The general purport of messages received indicates that life is normal and the islanders cheery. Education, including Victoria College and the Girls' College, proceeds as usual, under some sort of supervision by the occupying power. Games flourish. Victoria College in 1941 reported a good cricket team and a successful season. The Green Room Club has put on a good many plays and revues. The Bridge Clubs are going strong. Surprisingly, the local trade in cut flowers continues. But a caveat is necessary. What. was true a Year ago may not be trite now. If all is lovely in the garden in June, things may look different in November. Our information is always several months in arrears.

On the other hand it must be remembered that, at the time of the occupation, the German radio proclaimed that the islanders would soon learn how much better off they were wider the German Reich. The islands were the first bit of British territory to come into their hands, and this mild control appears to have been adopted as a deliberate policy. It could, of course, be changed.

There appears to be no bullying or oppression. Orders have to be obeyed, but the behaviour of the troops is described as exemplary. One doesn't get off the pavement when a German officer comes along. In fact, it does not seem to be an overstatement to say that fraternising is general, and in all strata of society. I can't very well state here the evidence for this, but I believe it to be true. This may shock people at home, but it is inevitable under the peculiar circumstances, and it must not be taken to indicate any lack of patriotism. It simply means that the islanders and the occupying troops accept the existing state of things and make the best of it, the latter fully believing that it will be permanent, the former knowing that it will not.

From polite and correct behaviour to more friendly relations is a short step. Nature has a way of taking things into her own hands. There is such a thing as mutual attraction.

Here are two or three messages :

From the Dean of Jersey [Matthew Le Marinel] to Mr. Grummitt, dated 16th May, 1942 : " Delighted to hear from you. Glad to report all well here."

From Miss Barton, Headmistress of the Girls' College, 15th May, 1942: " Girls cheerful, adaptable, patient and helpful. Hoping for reunion friends." From Geoffrey Hamon, lately Senior Prefect, now teaching in a Primary School, 20th March, 1942 : " Guiton and I won Mossop Cup jointly. Still teaching. Love it. Every-thing O.K. Chin up."

From Graeme Bentlif : " All bored stiff but fairly well.' From the actual letter referred to above, dated flay, 1941: " We want you all to know we are well and confident. We have sufficient to eat and drink, although like you we are short of some things. We shall be all right. Meat, flour, sugar, coal, etc., have been purchased from France, and we are growing sufficient wheat, oats, barley, potatoes and vegetables to satisfy the needs of man and beast for next winter. Milk has been a bit short this winter, as so much is required to provide butter, our only form of fats. We are being treated with consideration and carry on our normal lives with few restrictions. Naturally there are such things as a curfew, but as this is at 11 p.m. it is no hardship. And as we are two hours ahead of the sun, it is daylight till after this hour in summer and never dark in winter before about 7 p.m. There are few signs of warfare to worry occupiers and occupied, and the isolation is the worst aspect. We have taken over another garden, and are growing quite a lot of fruit and vegetables, and as the business is practically at a standstill it gives me some-thing to do."

One cryptic message recently received presents something of a problem : " V. C. Joy and sister like Aggie." Aggie is Leslie Minty's well-known nickname. He is a prisoner of war. The interpretation therefore seems to be that Victoria College and the Girls' College are under German control.

The Bailiff, Lisle Bois, and Deputy Belford all speak of hard work, friends and colleagues well.

Two Rectors have died, the Rev. J. A. Balleine, St. Brelade, and the Rev. R. Le Sueur, St. Martin; also the Rev. Lawrence Lee, Curate of St. Clement, and Canon Baskerville. The Rev. G. R. Balleine, who was living in the island after retiring from his London parish, is in charge of St. Brelade and St. Aubin.

Peter Crill [who became Bailiff of Jersey], the last of the five Crills of this generation, was still at Victoria College, Jersey, working for a C.I. Scholarship, but expected to teach at some school in the island after Xmas.

Deportations. Since the above was written, official information has been received about the deportations from Jersey which took place in September last. Those deported are in an Officers' Camp in Germany, OFLAG 55 V.D. The War Office has received from the German War Office a list of 800 names. The list, which is to appear in a completed and corrected form this month, includes, I deeply regret to say, Mr. Kennett, Senior Mathematical Master, Mr. 'Williams, another master, with his wife and family, and the College Porter and his wife.

A. H. W.

Update on the attachment of the Channel Islands to the Diocese of Salisbury

DRAFT OF A MEASURE to make provision for enabling the attachment of the Channel Islands to the diocese of Salisbury; to make further provision for the application of Church Measures to the Channel Islands; and to make further provision for Church representation for the Channel Islands.

This will be coming up in next month’s meeting of the Church of England’s General Synod which meets from Monday 10 to Thursday 13 February in London.

If everything goes according to plan, the Order(s) in Council can be approved at the July 2020 Meeting of the Privy Council. 

Let's hope there are no problems or delays!

Here's some of the background notes with the measure.

Explanatory Notes

The Report of the Archbishop’s Commission on the relationship between the Channel Islands and the wider Church of England recommended that the Channel Islands (‘the Islands’) should be attached to the Diocese of Salisbury (instead of the Diocese of Winchester, as is currently the case) and that a Measure should be introduced to enable this change in oversight.

Further information about the background is contained in the Commission’s Report which is being circulated to members under the cover of GS Misc 1241.

The Draft Channel Islands Measure has been introduced in the Synod on the instructions of the Archbishops’ Council. It gives effect to the above recommendation of the Archbishop’s Commission by providing for the Islands to be attached to the Diocese of Salisbury by Order of Her Majesty in Council.

The Measure makes new provision to simplify the process for applying existing Measures to the Islands. It also makes minor and consequential amendments to other legislation.

At the request of the Archbishops’ Council, the Business Committee has made provision in the Agenda to enable all of the Synodical stages for the Measure to be taken at the February 2019 group of sessions.

Clauses

Clause 1(1) provides for Her Majesty by Order in Council to attach the Islands (referred to in the Measure for technical, legal reasons as ‘the Bailiwicks’) to the Diocese of Salisbury instead of to the Diocese of Winchester and to transfer the relevant episcopal jurisdiction from the Bishop of Winchester to the Bishop of Salisbury.

There is no prerogative power under English law to alter the extent of dioceses or to change episcopal jurisdiction. For the purposes of English law, the statutory power in clause 1 is therefore needed notwithstanding the prerogative powers Her Majesty has in respect of the Islands.

The changes provided for in the Measure will not take effect in the Islands until after the consents of their respective legislatures have been obtained.

The Measure does not set out the processes for obtaining the consent of the Islands’ legislatures to the making of Orders in Council. There are established processes for that purpose which involve the Islands’ legislatures approving the terms of a draft Order in Council prior to its being submitted to the Privy Council Office. Those processes will be followed in respect of Orders to be made for the purposes of the Measure.

Clause 1(2) to (5) makes provision for defining the term ‘the Bailiwicks’ that is used in the Measure to take account of the Islands’ particular territorial jurisdictions.

Clause 1(6) enables the attachment of the Islands to the Diocese of Salisbury, and the transfer of episcopal jurisdiction, to be achieved by a single Order in Council applying to both the Bailiwicks, or by two Orders, one for the Jersey Bailiwick and one for the Guernsey Bailiwick.

Clause 1(7) provides that an Order in Council may make consequential, supplementary, transitional or transitory provision.

Clause 1(8) makes it clear that if the attachment of the Islands to the diocese of Salisbury and the transfer of episcopal jurisdiction is carried out for both Bailiwicks under a single Order in Council, the Order may make different provision in relation to each Bailiwick so that any particular provision that may be required in relation to each Bailiwick may be made.

Synodical Procedure

At the request of the Archbishops’ Council, the Business Committee has allocated space in the Agenda so that all the Synodical stages for the Measure 4 can be taken at the February 2020 group of sessions. The Council made the request for the following reasons. 

First, the Measure is narrowly focussed in policy terms. The question is essentially whether the Islands should be attached to the Diocese of Salisbury. As the answer to that is either in the affirmative or the negative, there would be no detailed questions of policy to be considered by a revision committee. For the same reasons, there would not seem to be any need for several months to elapse between the Revision Stage in Full Synod and the Final Approval Stage to enable members to consider further whether they support the Measure. On that basis, it is unlikely that any advantage would be gained by spreading the various stages of the Measure over two or more groups of sessions. 

Secondly, the Archbishops’ Council, the Islands and the Diocese of Salisbury wish to progress matters as soon as reasonably possible. The recommendations in the report of the Archbishop’s Commission have been endorsed by the Deanery Synods of Jersey and Guernsey and by the Salisbury Diocesan Synod. No objection has been raised by the Diocese of Winchester. 

The Islands have been under temporary episcopal care for a number of years. Until the question of the transfer of the Islands to the Diocese of Salisbury is decided, the Islands are effectively in a state of suspension with only ad hoc arrangements for episcopal ministry and without the ability to plan for the future, in particular the future mission of the Church of England in the Islands. Important decisions concerning the Church in the Islands are unlikely to be taken until the question of transfer to Salisbury has been decided.

Timetable

If the Measure receives Final Approval at the February group of sessions it is intended to make arrangements so that the Parliamentary stages for the Measure are completed expeditiously so that Order(s) in Council can be approved at the July 2020 Meeting of the Privy Council. 

If the Measure does not receive Final Approval at the February group of sessions, it is unlikely – because of the Parliamentary recess – that it could complete its Parliamentary stages much earlier than Christmas 2020. 

Were that to be the case, the next meeting of the Privy Council at which Order(s) could be approved would not take place until February 2021 (as the Privy Council does not meet in January). 

Quicksilver

This was written on 5 January 2005, one from the "Back Catalogue". It partly refers to the idea of "Drawing Down the Moon" in Wicca, but also the descent of the Planetary Spirits in C.S. Lewis' "That Hideous Strength".

Quicksilver

Come down, O Messenger in the sky
Hermes, let words take wing and fly
Quicksilver tongue, and poetic form
Come, adorn with speech so warm
Thoughts, paradoxes, punning talk
Spirit of Mercury, come down, walk
Among us with your realm of words
White hot furnace of speech onwards
That we may know heart of language
Inspiration, so convey true message
Thoth descending, rhythm of speed
Viritrilbia, come speak to our need
Give us words to say when it is hard
Words of conform to those scarred
Words of wisdom bring sweet joy
The Herald comes to wounds alloy
Words caught, broken, inside out
Reborn as meaning, cast off doubt
Slayer of Argus, give us blessing
Where words fail, give expressing.

Victoria College at Bedford: Island News in the Second World War - Part 1

Victoria College at Bedford: Island News in the Second World War

A number of boys had left in 1940 with the families in the evacuation to the UK.

In September 1940, about 40 boys with Mr. Grummitt, Mr. Hopewell and Miss Aubrey were accommodated at Bedford School. Shortly afterwards Mr. Grummitt left on his appointment as Principal of Belfast Royal Academical Institution, and Mr. S. M. Toyne consented to act as Headmaster of 'Victoria College at Bedford

Mr. Toyne had been for 20 years Headmaster of S. Peter's School, York, before coming to Bedford to give part-time help. Victoria College owes a great deal to him for the tremendous work which he did during the next five years.

The Victorians at Bedford took a full part in the activities of their foster-parent school and brought honour to themselves and to Bedford in both work and games, but they never lost their identity as Victorians. As an expression of their gratitude they and other friends of Victoria College presented an Oak Panel, and an oak seat which now stands in the Bedford School playing-fields

As part of their distinct identity as Victorians at Bedford, a newsletter was produced, containing both news gleaned of Victoria College in Jersey, and also of the plight of the Islanders in general.

In the next few weeks, I am posting some extracts from those newsletters:

No. 5: WINTER TERM, 1942
VICTORIA COLLEGE NEWS " Amat Victoria Curam "

Editorial

We must open with an apology and an explanation. This News-Letter was ready by November 20th, and ever since we have been battling with regulations and Ministries in an attempt to obtain the paper for its production. Even now we have only reached the eighth round, but our seconds are hopeful and we hope very shortly to deliver a knock-out blow.

The necessarily diminishing number of Victorians at Bedford means a diminishing amount of School news, but in this Letter we can record some really outstanding scholastic successes. We should like to call attention to the success of D. L. Benest, P. J. R. d'Authreau and D. Le Seelleur in the Higher School Certificate. 

Not only did Benest gain distinctions in History and French, but he was also successful in winning a State Scholarship—the first ever awarded to a Victorian. He followed this up by winning an Open Scholarship in History and Modern Languages at New College in December. The double event is a real achievement.

At School the State Scholarship was particularly popular, because a half holiday was given to Bedford School in honour of this distinction on November 2nd, after our acting Head Master, Mr. S. M. Toyne, had delivered a lecture on the " Problems of the Pacific.-

News has been received that it is hoped to hold an examination in Jersey next July on the lines of the School Certificate. The paper on European History will need tactful handling by examiner and candidate.

It is with grave anxiety that news of the deportations are read through. Complete lists are unobtainable, nor is it easy to understand their purpose. as some at any rate cannot be for labour. 

At the time of writing, there appear to be six deported who were connected with Victoria College in some capacity or other : W. H. Kennett, R. M. Williams, his wife and three children, David Fisk, Peter Hook, Crumpton the porter and his wife, and the war time carpenter Parsfield. We offer our sympathies to them and their next-of-kin in England or Jersey.

THE CRITICAL DAYS

Here is an historical fragment, a brief out-line of events in Jersey in the days immediately preceding the enemy occupation. It will be of interest to Jersey people who were not in the island, and it may be of use when the full record comes to be written.

The Germans marched into Paris on Friday, June 14th, 1940. To anyone who .cared to think, it was at once clear that within a few days, perhaps hours, Jersey would be at their mercy. Saturday saw long queues of people booking passages ; all accommodation was already booked up for weeks ahead. Nobody knew if any attempt was to be made to defend the islands.

During the week-end large forces of aircraft, A.A. guns and their crews arrived. Apparently, however, these were not intended for permanent defence, but to man the island as a temporary base to cover the second evacuation from France which was then in progress. A word of explanation is necessary here. The " Nine Days' Wonder " of Dunkirk was from May 26th to June 3rd.

It was then still thought, or perhaps hoped, by the British Government that the French with our help might be able to establish a line somewhere in France, the Somme perhaps, or the Aisne ; and a second B.E.F. was created and des-patched within a few days. But it was too late. The new B.E.F. was at once faced with the difficult task of getting away again. Most of it succeeded, but much of its equipment and stores had to be destroyed, as the enemy was sweeping through the country at night-mare speed. Some got away from Cherbourg, some from St. Malo, the last remnants from as far west as Brest.

Jersey was called upon to supply small craft to help in this “sayve qui peut”, and on Sunday, June 1 6th, there was not a motor-boat, or yacht, or potato boat to be seen in the harbour. Early in the week the re-embarkation of guns and troops from Jersey began. On the Wednesday the decision to demilitarise the islands, taken by the British Government in consultation with the island authorities, was announced in the States of Jersey. The military evacuation was completed by the Thursday evening, the Lieutenant-Governor reluctantly following, in obedience to orders.

In the meantime the civil authorities were dealing with the difficult problem of civilian evacuation. Satisfactory communication with the Home Government by cable being impossible, a special aeroplane was requisitioned and a member of the States was sent over. He succeeded in making the necessary arrangements with the Home Office and the Ministry of Shipping, and flew back to the island on the Wednesday afternoon (June 19th), where he found the States in session, awaiting his arrival. Later in the afternoon the Evening Post published this carefully worded announcement:

"Shipping facilities are being provided by His Majesty's Govern-ment for the immediate voluntary evacuation to the United Kingdom of women and children. Similar facilities will also be avail-able for men between the ages of 20 and 23 who wish to join His Majesty's Forces, and, so far as accommodation permits, for other men."

Those days were pretty grim. As I walked home, on a calm sunny evening, through the pleasant Hougue Bie lanes, the gunfire at Cherbourg sounded as close and menacing as if it was in the next parish. One knew that an enemy air squadron could be in occupation literally at any minute. Each head of a house-hold had to make a fateful decision. It speaks much for the people of Jersey that, out of 50,000, only some 6,600 elected to leave their homes. In Guernsey the problem was dealt with differently ; 17,000 out of 42,000 came away. From Alderney the total population of 1,000 was removed.

Evacuation began on June 20th. As the advent of the enemy became more imminent, there were signs of incipient panic. If the authorities had not been overwhelmed with work, in the urgent and imperative necessity of taking numerous vital decisions and making emergency arrangements of all kinds, and had had time to formulate clearly their evacuation. policy, they would probably have made it known throughout the island that all who had the means of supporting themselves in England should go, while all whose work and means of livelihood lay in Jersey should remain.

This was in fact the official policy, which was eventually proclaimed in no uncertain terms. As the queues for embarkation lengthened, members of the States / walked down the lines and admonished the-' people not to "behave like rats " but to return quietly to their homes.

On Saturday, June 22nd, the Bailiff, speaking from a window in the Royal Square, urged the anxious and undecided crowd not to give way to panic. "I and my wife," he said, " are staying. All the Jurats and officials are staying.. We shall do all we can to protect You." 

All honour is due to the Bailiff and the whole of the civil administration throughout the island for faithfully accepting this courageous and patriotic policy. In such an unprecedented crisis some confusion and indecision were inevitable, but there can be no cavilling about the fine lead that was given by government to people.

To complete the story. A week followed in which steamers continued to go to and fro, postal and telegraphic communication was maintained, and some people even began to think that the Germans would not come at all. 

Then suddenly, on Friday, June 28th, there was a bombing attack which caused damage and some loss of life. On the same day the last mail boat to leave the island was in-effectually bombed as she lay in the harbour at Guernsey. Subsequently German reconnaissance planes dropped instructions as to where white crosses were to be marked in token of surrender, and on July 1st the enemy occupied the island.

In the days that followed, and later, the British Government was bitterly denounced in Parliament and the Press, for abandoning the oldest possession of the Crown without a struggle. But this was unjustified. Any serious attempt at defence would have meant the destruction of St. Helier and would have served no useful purpose. 

A. H. W.

The Hidden History of Narnia

I've read and re-read the Narnia books countless times, but sometimes one comes across a passage which never really sunk in, that the reader skims over - and in my case forgets - and it wasn't until the other day that I came across this passage which I had never really noticed before. It's from "The Last Battle":

In between their visits there were hundreds and thousands of years when peaceful King followed peaceful King till you could hardly remember their names or count their numbers, and there was really hardly anything to put into the History Books. And because I glossed over it so many times (and I wonder how many other readers have), I've called it "The Hidden History of Narnia":

The Hidden History of Narnia

And he went on to talk of old Queens and heroes whom she had never heard of. 

He spoke of Swanwhite the Queen who had lived before the days of the White Witch and the Great Winter, who was so beautiful that when she looked into any forest pool the reflection of her face shone out of the water like a star by night for a year and a day afterwards. 

He spoke of Moonwood the Hare, who had such ears that he could sit by Caldron Pool under the thunder of the great waterfall and hear what men spoke in whispers at Cair Paravel. 

He told how King Gale, who was ninth in descent from Frank the first of all Kings, had sailed far away into the Eastern seas and delivered the Lone Islanders from a dragon and how, in return, they had given him the Lone Islands to be part of the royal lands of Narnia for ever. 

He talked of whole centuries in which all Narnia was so happy that notable dances and feasts, or at most tournaments, were the only things that could be remembered, and every day and week had been better than the last. 

And as he went on, the picture of all those happy years, all the thousands of them, piled up in Jill's mind till it was rather like looking down from a high hill onto a rich, lovely plain full of woods and waters and cornfields, which spread away and away till it got thin and misty from distance.

A Post-Script

http://vanhise.lss.wisc.edu/~aschmidt2/danish/hca/texts/swanwhite.hca.html

Swanwhite is the name of a princess who is beautiful in a story of the same name by Hans Christian Anderson, written in 1923. Lewis most probably found the name there.

The Burning Lands

This poem was prompted by the devastating fires in Australia, and the refusal of their Prime Minister to accept that climate change has taken a periodic occurrence (bushfires) and fanned the flames into a catastrophe.

The Burning Lands
Australia burns, Fire! Fire! Fire!
The world is now a hotter place
People fleeing, as fires race
A time of hazard, a time so dire

The Prime Minister receives ire
Spurned where he shows his face
Australia burns, Fire! Fire! Fire!
The world is now a hotter place

This burning bush does not inspire
Across the land, unceasing pace
Refugees fleeing in deadly race
Townships burn, animals expire
Australia burns, Fire! Fire! Fire!

Basket Making in Jersey - Part 2

From "The Countryman", Spring 1987, comes this fascinating article on basket making in Jersey telling the story of Alfred Laurent . I knew nothing about this lost skill, nor how it was done in Jersey. I always enjoy finding out something new and different, and I hope the readers will also enjoy this.

Basket Making in Jersey - Part 2

by Charles Tyler
I watched as Alfred Laurent's experienced fingers wove the materials into shape, and completed the lid for a prawn-basket, which he was making to commission. The working is physically very taxing, requiring consider- able strength in the hands, and Mr Laurent feels that it is only because he has never stopped making baskets that his fingers remain so supple and strong; certainly he has no plans for retiring in the forseeable future. 

Of particular interest to those who make baskets at the present time, is a special technique which he uses, called lance cordee. This was invented by a Mr Carre, who used to be in the basket-making trade in Jersey and who also originates from Normandy. It involves the handle of a basket being incorporated into the whole as a major structural feature, rather like a ship's keel. The handle itself is bent down and woven into the bottom of the basket, which adds considerable strength to the design.

Meeting this fine craftsman, I was left with the feeling that, strangely, his true purpose in life has been a social reformer rather than a basket- maker. Those skilled fingers are governed by a keen mind which is still as sharp as ever. During all his spare time in his youth, he would read - Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens and Chateaubriand being his favourite authors. They fired his thoughts about social conditions and class problems, which were very evident in Jersey 50 years ago. He fervently denies that he is a communist, preferring the term `social democrat' and strongly believes that all humans should be treated equally; money itself should not make some people more important than others.

He freely admits that his public speaking and `social reforming' have been his primary loves, with basket-making - the only trade he knew - as a source of income and means of maintaining the respect of those whom he was attacking in his speeches. He started his work in the island's debating club in 1920. He spoke his mind on a wide range of issues: religious as well as political. All too often his words fell on deaf ears – or rather, cars that heard but did not like to believe the truth in what he said.

At first his friends and family thought him either insane or very brave. In retrospect, it was the latter; what he was saying was effectively 20 years ahead of his time.

He stood for election to the States – Jersey's parliament - six times in his younger days, but was never elected which, he admits, was always something of a relief, for such work is unpaid despite being extremely time-consuming. But, his influence on other local politicians has been considerable and he has never ceased to air his views, whether to a small group of listeners, to a packed hall, through the pages of the local paper, or on the radio. 

Alfred Laurent was born a Roman Catholic but has long made the established Church a target. Although many of his actions might be considered `Christian', he cannot accept all of the Bible, which he finds full of contradictions. Nor can he tolerate the `Sunday is for religion' attitude which prevailed in Jersey as much as elsewhere. However, he is no atheist; he has no doubt that there is some greater force beyond man: `Why go in for all the mumbo-jumbo? ... Just look at the sky and stars!'

Despite this rejection of the churches, his love of people has shone throughout his life, and he still makes regular visits to the old and sick in hospital. Piquantly he now has his basket-making workshop in an old chapel provided for him, when he moved from the shop in town, by the parish of St. Helier, as a token of thanks for all his work in serving the island over the previous 50 years.

Mr Laurent's work is now preserved in the Societe Jersiaise Museum, along with other dying trades such as those of the cooper or the blacksmith. The attractive display now shows a variety of different baskets, and materials used to make them. In addition, he has donated many of his tools, which have Norman-French names: poinfons for twisting willow canes and fondoires for splitting them and curved knives with pointed ends known as serpettes.

It is a proper tribute to an extraordinary man. 

The Arrival of the Vega to Jersey

The first arrival of SS Vega in Jersey on 30 December 1944 . This poem commemorates this as we look forward to Liberation day this year, and it marked a turning point in the war.

The Arrival of the Vega to Jersey

The Vega came from far away
To Island bound by wall
Where Jersey land was occupied
It came to save us all.

That winter last, so cold we tell
So little food to bear
And famine pains for all of us
No hope it seemed was there

Red Cross came with just enough
In famine all were thin
It docked, and at an open gate
The parcels coming in

And so, so dearly were we loved
And we must thank them too
For saving lives of Jersey folk
Remember them we do

Basket Making in Jersey - Part 1

From "The Countryman", Spring 1987, comes this fascinating article on basket making in Jersey telling the story of Alfred Laurent . I knew nothing about this lost skill, nor how it was done in Jersey. I always enjoy finding out something new and different, and I hope the readers will also enjoy this.

Basket Making in Jersey - Part 1

by Charles Tyler

BASKET-MAKING used to be a flourishing trade in Jersey; today there is just one practitioner left. At 85 years of age, Alfred Pierre Laurent carries on his family's traditional trade and has recently seen his own work displayed in a Jersey museum for future generations to admire.

Alfred Laurent grew up in Jersey with basket-making in his blood. His family, who came from Normandy, all started `weaving the willow' at an early age and he grew up with a strong sense that his family was the only one on the island to be all basket-makers. In the past there were at least eight master-craftsmen making baskets in Jersey, with up to 80 others employed in the trade. As in other places, though, the basket trade has largely disappeared in recent years as artificial and non-returnable materials have replaced the traditional wicker.

In the Middle Ages willows were grown on most manor lands, and the peasants would have made baskets in the winter; in towns basket-makers formed their own craft guilds. Baskets were essential for carrying and measuring produce. But the craft's greatest boom came in the Industrial Revolution, when hampers, trunks and baskets were used in textile mills, potteries, shoe factories and mines. Today, however, there are only a few craftsmen still making baskets by hand in the traditional way, although many are still produced around the world in factories.

A master basket-maker would have made a whole range of models, each for a particular job. In Jersey, which has been primarily an agricultural and fishing community, there were different baskets for carrying potatoes, market-produce, fish, prawns and, of course, laundry. In fact, the Laurent family used to make 26 different items for various uses. For example, potato-baskets need to be very tough, and are consequently constructed of split cane. In contrast, tomato-baskets need to be smooth inside, so that the skins are not damaged; these are constructed with the outside of the cane, which is smooth, facing inwards.

Until quite recently, Alfred Laurent had a shop in St. Helier, and together with the rest of his family would make about 40 baskets a week; now on his own, he reckons to make about one each day, but he still has many regular customers who prefer to have a basket made to order for their particular requirement. Not only are the finished products very durable and long-lasting, but they are also extremely attractive, many of them being purpose-designed by Mr Laurent. Prawn-baskets are a good example. Although the most expensive type of basket which he makes (about £45 each), they represent at least five hours extremely skilled work.

Other baskets sell within the £12-£20 bracket depending upon their size and the amount of work that has gone into their making. In the past when the whole family were making baskets, and the demand was greater, the craft provided a reasonable living; today, Mr Laurent continues mainly to keep himself occupied in the mornings, and to keep his fingers supple. Also, of course, he provides a valuable service to his long-established customers by repairing older or damaged baskets.

The raw materials which he uses include centre cane and split natural cane (Calamus species), both of which grow in swampy regions in the Far East. Willow (Salix species) is also an important material, having a darker colour than the cane. Most willows in Britain today grow in the rich alluvial Somerset `moors', and Mr Laurent gets his from there. Although a bundle is now about £20, he reckons that Somerset willow is the finest quality, having the greatest strength and elasticity - or, as basket-makers say, it has a `good nature'.

A basket made in the lance cordee style, the handle woven into the base.