Graveyards of the Mind

Graveyards of the Mind

Samhain, when the borders are thin
And we remember our dearest kin
Shadows of the past, time alive
Those we mourn, those we shrive

Bonfires burning, flames in night
Awakenings and the second sight
And at the dolmen, here we pray
Votive offerings, a precious day

That sacred site, ancient stones
Our ancestors, bone of our bones
Remember: joy and sorrow both
To plight our troth, to make an oath

And then weep: loves labours lost
A wrench of parting, paying cost
Mourning: love turned to tears
Light a candle, no more fears

The Victorian 1983 - Part 1

Today's post comes from a 1983 edition of "The Victorian", a magazine published by Victoria College. I've only met two of the names here - Bob Le Sueur, who was just retiring as teacher, but whose time of retirement has been anything but retiring and low key, and Geoff Hamon.

Bob is a distant relative, whom I've tended to come across occasionally in the past at funerals. I remember him enlivening the tea and biscuits after the funeral of my Great Aunt Eunice Le Marquand many years ago, when the Minister got her name wrong as "Eunice Hannah". "I'm sure I heard a knock from the coffin at that point" he said jovially.

The other is Geoff Hamon, whom I remember we came across on a package holiday in the 1970s to Tunisia, where he asked my father not to make mention of Geoff's profession as Comptroller of Income Tax. That's very understandable: other guests may not be as easy to get to know at a holiday resort if they know you head a tax office!

I have heard of Sir Arthur De La Mare, of course, one of the most distinguished Old Victorians, of whom more can be read at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_de_la_Mare

The Victorian 1983

Association of Old Victorians: O.V.S Here, There and Everywhere

Complied by “Dixie” Landick

In our last edition I appealed for news of OVs. The response has been overwhelming and I wish to thank sincerely all those who have written to me. The volume of mail has, however, produced its own problem! Some letters are brief whilst others run to several pages of fascinating detail. Should I offer the Editor a limited selection on a first-come, first-served basis? This would mean holding back many letters until the next publication in July 1984 or even later. After troubled reflection, I have decided to acknowledge as many letters as possible in this issue by including a totally inadequate reference to each of nearly 50 replies. Writers and readers may rest assured, however, that future editions of 'The Victorian' will contain much of the interesting detail I am obliged to omit from this issue. At all events, this edition spans some OVs from 1908 to 1981, so I hope all readers will find news of someone from their generation at V C J. !

L. A. L.

Brigadier Laurence Owen Clarke was at V.C.J. from 1908-1916. After a distinguished military career he is now living in Devon. Has received The Victorian regularly since 1916. He has a photo of the 1914 O.T.C. camp at Tidworth Pennings on which he "recognises A. T. Pirouet, A. D. Ogilvy. C. E. Gilbert, A. P. Whitley and A. G. Rundle"

Carl T. Quinn-Young, O.B.E., M.A., F.R.G.S. (1912-1922). After a fine academic and sporting record at College, gained an Honours Degree in Physics at Oxford. Was appointed Superintendent of Education in Nigeria (1926) where he served for 30 years. Subsequently, manager and editor of overseas books of Evans' Brothers. Now an octogenarian "with itchy feet" living in retirement in West Sussex.

Major G. E. Field, M.B.E. (1912-1918). Refers to his splendid army career in India, Malaya and Singapore as "undistinguished"! POW for three and a half years. Subsequently worked with Max Factor & Co. Inc. until 1968, when he retired to Bournemouth.

Major-General D. J. Wilson-Haffenden, C.B.E. (1917-1918). Another outstanding military record. Was on the staff of Field Marshal Lord Alexander during the final B.E.F, evacuation from Dunkirk, where he was on the beaches for ten days Subsequently served in Burma and finally in India under Field-Marshal Lord Auchinleck. Now President of the Dunkirk Veterans' Association (Pool of London branch), receiving a warm welcome when he went with his wife on this year's Dunkirk Pilgrimage. Resident in Wimbledon.

W. I. A. Faed (1918-1924). Both this O V. and his brother F. C. Faed were outstanding members of College's cricket eleven in the early 'twenties. He recalls the Elizabeth match when his brother took nine wickets from 26 overs, catching the last man off his own bowling. In the 'away' match, his brother captured six Guernsey wickets for a total of 15 runs in two innings! From 1928 to 1961, managed a tobacco, maize, cattle and poultry farm in Southern Rhodesia. Subsequently moved to Western Australia where he and his wife are breeding Limousin cattle, "whose meat commands premium prices"

Graham M. Moore (1918-1923) has also been living in Western Australia for the last twenty years. In 1923 he joined the Eastern Telegraph Co., now known as Cable and Wireless P.L.C. Was appointed variously to Lisbon, Gibraltar and Alexandria. After spells at Salisbury (Rhodesia) and London, was sent in 1941 to Ascension Island. Was torpedoed en route and, after six days in an open boat, reached land on the Guinea coast, eventually reaching Ascension Island in July! Further

appointments took this much-travelled O.V. back to Rhodesia and then to Bermuda. Durban. Buenos Aires. Rio de Janeiro, Trinidad, Cyprus, Vancouver, Aden and Hong Kong.

Robin Le G. Mauger (1921-1927) has written a most charming letter in which he recalls that, in his school days, he was generally nicknamed 'Fatty' or 'Tubby' because he was 10 stone 10 lbs on entering College and 19 stone 5 lbs. when he left. Robin writes: "Unfortunately, apart from one occasion when I was tug-of-war anchor man for Dunlop. it was considered that other sporting activities were beyond my capabilities " But Robin certainly had other capabilities and, on leaving College, joined the local firm of J. W. Huelin, the timber merchants from which he retired as director in 1971.

Sir Arthur de la Mare, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O. (1926-1932). It is almost an impertinence to write of the career of such a distinguished O.V. and it would certainly be simpler to refer the reader to "Who's Who". As Sir Arthur has, however, written to me. I am permitted to recall that he entered College in 1926 from Trinity School on a States Scholarship, became the first Dan's Scholar and went on to Cambridge in 1932 on a Major Open Scholarship After his retirement from the Diplomatic Service in 1971 (his last post was H.M. Ambassador to Thailand) he spent some years as Adviser to Massey-Ferguson. the world-wide organisation manufacturing and marketing agricultural machinery. He has been chairman of the Anglo-'Thai Society, the Royal Society for Asian Affairs and is still the dynamic chairman of the Jersey Society in London. Sir Arthur writes that his only criticism of the latter society is that "it has long since forsaken the admonition of its principal founding father that all its transactions should he in Jersey-French!"

William O. Johnson (1923-1927) resides in Chiswick and states briefly that he was in the Metropolitan Police for 25 years. Thereafter, he worked as an investigator for an insurance company and is "now pottering about in an insurance broker's office".

Cecil G. Crill, Commander R.N, Retd. (1926-1933), now resident in Cheshire, writes ". I attended the

O.V. dinner last November after an interval of 45 years - the last one at the Palace Hotel. I might be there for my 50th anniversary of leaving V.C.J. this December I left College at the same time as R G. Scrisen, who died last year, and A. G. Candlin w ho was killed in Burma in 1942 (and whose sister. Marguerite. I married in October 1942). We all had tea with the Headmaster. Mr. J. H. Grummitt. the day we left V C.J.. being the first leavers of his time. I see P. R. d'A. Aplin. who left in 1925 regularly as he lives nearby. He is a descendant of Admiral Philip D’Auvergne. who became temporarily Due de Bouillon and after whom Prince's Tower was named, I understand."

Donald P. Vardon, D.F.C. (1930-1937) writes: "We recently had the pleasure of a visit from Wing Cdr. Alan Nessitt and his wife. We were also visited recently by Denis Clift and his wife who came up from Wiltshire for the day. Denis and I had an enjoyable game of golf at my club at Chipping Norton."

R. W. ('Bob') Le Sueur (1932-1931;) Haying retired in 1981 after 24 scars of teaching at Hautlieu. Bob. who still lives in St. Clement. has written a most amusing and informative letter about a "five-month jaunt to Asia". Look out for a full account in it future edition of The Victorian.' Suffice it to say that Bob's exploits involved hiking. trekking and camping through deserts and over mountain peaks to say nothing of visiting ancient temples and "sensitive- areas in Turkey. Iran and the Middle East (Golan height)s

Geoffrey H. Hamon (1934-1941) Widely known as Jersey's Comptroller of Income Tax. Geoff goes into retirement at the end of this year after 29 years of service in that awesome post. He writes "If I say I have enjoyed the duties. the reaction will be that I am a sadist, but nevertheless it is true that I have found the job quite fascinating as this Island of ours flourished economically under the leadership of the late Cyril Le Marquand to become a leading international finance centre. Geoff was an outstanding games player and gymnast  in his days at VCJ, has always been a prominent OV and sporting enthusiast and I am not at all surprised to hear that he intends to spend an active retirement, continuing his travels abroad with his wife. Pat.

Lamplight

Lamplight 

The hospitals full of sick and dying
Fear stalks corridors, enters ward
Shortness of breath and sighing
Wounded cut down by this sword

In this valley of death, come nurses
Care and comfort to each bed
Bring succour where there are curses
To the last breath, the fallen dead

A raging epidemic in this great city
Tired, worn out, they hold the line
Plague knows no boundary, no pity
But still brightly do they shine

Lamplight: spirit of Florence Nightingale
Bowed but not broken, never fail

Victoria Alexandra Marianne Aubrey

An obituary from "The Victorian", 1993 by Brian Vibert

The above photo shows Frank Lewis, Miss Aubrey and Thelma Tilling at Government House

Victoria Alexandra Marianne Aubrey: An Obituary

Many of us considered Vic Aubrey to be indestructible. She had always been around and had graced every important College event with her presence for as long as we could remember. Sadly, though, her health declined in the last months and she died peacefully and suddenly) on 11th March 1993

Vic was born on 9th October 1904 in Staffordshire and moved to Jersey in 1926, three years after attaining her teacher’s Froebel Union Certificate. She joined the staff of Victoria College Preparatory School and served there with dedication and distinction as a full time teacher for 47 years.

She refused to retire and could not he kept away and for the last thirteen years her love for the boys and for the school and for the importance of religious education ensured that she came to Prep on an unpaid basis on two days each week. Her years of such close involvement with one school must set a record. Even the war years did not interrupt her commitment for, although she was evacuated to the mainland with many of the boys, it was she who cared for and taught the Victoria College evacuees placed in Bedford School.

She was well ahead of her time. She established her own pupil-teacher relationships long before associations were seen to promote closer liaison and co-operation. Her class buzzed with life and activity as she made learning real. Neatness and tidiness were not on her curriculum; she offered chickens, rabbits and guinea-pigs to be part of the curriculum, and she cunningly smuggled every member of her menagerie into the hallowed precincts.

Enthusiasm, efficiency and devotion were her hallmarks in whatever she undertook. She lived “over the shop” for fourteen years and assisted with the boarders. Later, in her own home at Bouley Bay, she provided boarding facilities and there are many who recall those days with a chuckle as they tell stories of the disciplined routine, the Spartan conditions and the culinary disasters. (Vic often laughed at her inability to cook!)

She was Cub Mistress for a long spell and one of the Cub Packs now proudly bears her name. She was Play Producer extraordinaire as year after year she put on performances to mark Christmas, Easter and Ascension Day. Boys, staff and parents all rallied to help and. even in the latter years when her eyesight failed, the show went on and audiences appreciated the work of the tireless and legendary Miss Aubrey who by then was 81 years of age.

We all loved her lively sense of humour, her oft repeated funny stories and her hearty laugh. She had a fantastic memory and could recall in detail events of her early teaching days. She was kind. She was generous. She was special and she enjoyed the friendship of many, including those she had taught, their parents and her colleagues. She had no family in Jersey but more than compensated for this with those whom she loved and who adored her.

Vic always recognised the privilege and responsibility which those who teach the young have. She built her own life on the foundation of the Christian faith and God's word was precious to her. At her Funeral Service, the Bailiff of Jersey Sir Peter Crill read the lesson from the Book of Proverbs. He was one of her many former pupils of whom she was rightly proud. He read the words "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it." Vic believed that to be true and her finest memorial must he in the lives of those whom she trained and who today reflect her sound teaching.

She had planned most of her funeral service. She had also requested that she be buried at sea. So, on the afternoon of 19th March, after a Service of Thanksgiving in Trinity Church with the Prep choir leading the singing, her coffin sank with quiet dignity into a calm sea near the Demi-des-Pas buoy in full view of Victoria College glistening in the Spring sunshine.

Vic Aubrey will be missed but we thank God for her full life and for the many memories of her which we can treasure.

Brian Vibert

Steam Fayre

As there was no Steam Faye at Pallot's this year, I thought I'd share this poem which I wrote on 19/09/2004.

Steam Fayre

The train is waiting on the platform
Steam building, waiting for perform
A chance for us to enjoy once more
Days of railways from long before

Once this train ran from the town
All day long, sunset to sundown
To the Eastern reaches of Gorey
Beneath the castle that we still see.

But carriages were pulled another way
By a train upon the Western railway
To Corbiere point, to see the coast
The lighthouse that was westernmost.

Those days are long since gone, the East
Taken by land owners when it ceased
The West remains in part as walking path
A legacy of the closure and its aftermath.

But now we sit in carriages once more
Just like my grandfather in days of yore
The ticket inspector punches tickets, then
With a whistle, the train is off again.

Just twice round this short track today
At the Steam Museum, time’s delay
To enjoy the rattle of train on track
A memory to enjoy, take back.

Extracts from The Jersey at Home, Summer 1965 – The Champion Retains Her Title

The Champion Retains Her Title 

Close Fight for the Top Award at Island Summer Show


There was an excited hush around the ringside at Springfield Showgrounds, St. Helier. on the brilliantly sunny day of Wednesday, August 18th. when the judging for the senior female championship of the Royal Jersey Agricultural Society's Island Show took place.

After the usual chatter and comment from the large number of spectators present, as the cream of the island's senior females paraded, there was undoubtedly a tense silence as the animals were lined up by the two iudges. Was the supreme champion of the Island Spring Show, Mr. F. T. Avrill’s young cow. " Coiffure’s Maid." going to be toppled from her ranking. ? It seemed so, for in the line up a beautifully smart heifer-in-mill was placed at the head. She was Senator L. E. Gaudin’s “Bright Child."— a champion since she first entered the show rings as a junior yearling.

There was so little in it between these two animals—both in excellent show trim and opinions differed widely among the ringside critics. It was not an easy task for the two judges and they could not agree. each having their own favourite. Eventually recourse had to be made to the referee judge and it was an uneasy moment for Mr. R. J. Labey whose trained eye had to quickly assess the various points of the two animals. 

Eventually after a careful scrutiny Mr. Labey decided in favour of “ Coiffure’s Maid,” and she thus retained the senior female championship and then almost as a matter of routine she went on to gain the Supreme Championship with “Bright Child” in reserve place.

Arguments will long range over the championship and which was the better animal on the day. The champion again looked really well and the first class udder was as good as in the spring. Many may argue that she has not got quite enough depth for a young cow and that there is a little weakness in the throat. She still looked a good champion. however, when she wore her sash in the grand parade. 

The Heifer in Milk, “ Bright Child,” has certainly calved down well and she looked in really fine trim. She has developed well since a yearling and now has a fine depth combined with all the beauty one associates with the Jersey.

The champion is by the highly successful sire Blanche Pierre Royal out of lingo’: Coiffure. and in addition to the two championships, also won 1st prize young cows, and the H. G. Shepard Cup for recorded stock.

The reserve champion is by that prolific sire of winners, Lesson's Dreamer out of Brilliant Child—this latter incidentally gaining a parish prize in the young cows class at this show. “ Bright Child" has been a winner all along the line—when first shown in the spring of 1964 she was 1st senior yearling and junior champion of St. Clement, and reserve sweepstakes and reserve junior champion Eastern Three Parish Show, and then placed 2nd senior yearling heifers and junior female and junior breeders’ champion at the Island Spring Show. In the summer show she was again 1st and junior champion and junior breeders’ champion over the island. and in the October swept the board in the Juniors at the Eastern Three Parishes Show, taking the sweepstakes and championships and then having a temporary setback over the island when she only gained a 2nd in her class.

This year, however, in the spring she was back again as a heifer in calfwinning 1st over St. Clement and the junior championship and then sweepstakes and junior and breeders championships Eastern Three Parishes show. culminating with a further triumph at the May Island Show, placing 1st prize heifer in calf, and open junior and junior breeders’ championships. A fine record. 

To keep the ball rolling as it were. Mr. Gaudin turned in another fine performance among the juniors where his heifer in calf, “ Dreaming Design," by Lynn’: Dream, Boy out of Dreamer’s Aiming Design, took 1st prize and then won the junior champion- ship and the junior breeders championship.

It is interesting to note that at the isiand summer show two years ago. her dam “ Dreamer's Aiming Design,” also won 1st prize heifer in calf and took the junior championships.

By winning the junior championships with “ Dreaming Design," Mr. Gaudin won both the Webb Challenge Cup and the Nicholson Challenge Cup outright, having gained these awards three years in succession.

Mr. Gaudin had a real field day at this show, also winning the Paul Spann Challenge Trophy for senior progeny and the Gallichan Trophy for junior progeny, both with “ Lesson’s Dreamer” as well as The Ernest Mathews Perpetual Memorial Prize for the best group of four head, while he also gained the 4th Blythwood Challenge Bowl for the senior breeders’ championship with “ Bright Child."

An unusual feature of the show was that all the championships were divided among three breeders, Mr. Avrill, Mr. Gaudin and Mr. A'Court, while they also took every challenge cup bar one~—the J.B. Challenge Trophy for Cow and Progeny which went to Mr. W. G. Perchard with “Keeper’s Itaska," and Mr. Gaudin in reserve with “ Brilliant Child.” 

A third cup to be won outright at the show was the Second John A. Perree Memorial Trophy for the Male Championship which went to Mr. J. F. A’Court of St. Ouen who won this award for the third year In succession at this show with his 1st prize aged bull “ The Mount’s Orange Winsome Lad,” by The Mount's Winsome Jester out of The Mount’s Orange Viola 3rd. This champion bull just goes on winning and winning at each successive show and on this occasion looked as good as ever. Mr. Avrill had. in addition to his supreme champion cow. a further success with his stylish aged bull. “ Noble Eagle's Reviver," by West Lynn Loyal Reviver out of Noble Eagle's Princess. He placed second in his class and later took reserve in the male championship. 

The Pimperne Challenge Bowl for the best bull out of a recorded dam went to Mr. A'Court's champion bull, with Mr. Gaudin placing reserve with "Victorious Dreaming Sparkler," by Browny's Louise Sparkler out of Lady Victoria 134th. He was 2nd prize two year old bulls.

Reverting to the senior females. The line up for the championship saw some really top quality animals on parade. In addition to “ Coiffure's Maid " and “ Bright Child," the next in the line up was the 2nd prize heifer in milk. Estate T. R. de Gruchy’s “ Louise's Dreaming Benedictine." By Lesson’s Dreamer out of Louise's Ruler’s Benedictine. Third in the line was Mr. E. C. Perredes former champion. “ Val Poucin Melody ” by Oxford of Le Ponterrin out of Ceres Star of Le Ponterrin. She was 2nd in the young cow class. “ Val Poucin Melody ” was the senior female champion and the supreme champion at the Island Summer Show in 1964. She was still in extremely fine condition but had come up against stiffer opposition than she did in 1964.

While the seniors were extremely good and of a high standard the junior females were generally rather disappointing apart from the champion and the reserve champion in each case. The Junior Champion. “ Dreaming Design," easily won the heifers in calf class and while 2nd and 3rd prize

winners were quite commendable, the remainder of the class cannot really be said to come up to the standard one expects at an island show. The same can be said of the senior yearling heifers in which class the reserve junior champion, “Serene Silver Star " by Cecilia’s ltaslka’s Fillpailer out of Serene Star placed 2nd to “Ceres Royal's Draconis " by Ceres Right Royal out of La Sente’s Fussy Draconis.

In the Junior Yearling heifers the entry was average without anything really outstanding to catch the eye. There was a good class of aged cows- generally better than at the spring show. There was a good attendance at the show and among interested spectators around the ringside were English and overseas breeders, including some from West Germany. 

Among ‘ locals ’ a welcome return was made to these events by veteran breeder Mr. P. Mourant. Nonagerian Mr. Mourant has been missing from the show scene for some time and on this occasion he was greeted by many well wishers. Those present from West Germany were Dr. R. Klockenbring, a director of the German Jersey Herd Book Society, together with Mr. Klaus Herbst. They had made the journey from Hamburg especially for the show and also with a view to purchasing island stock—in fact they eventually bought 14 heifers and two bulls.

Mr. Herbst said that Jersey cattle were very popular in Germany and these were normally imported from Denmark. A start in this direction was made three years ago and the strength of Jersey stock in West Germany was now around 8,000. 

An animal making one of its last appearances at an Island Show was the bull champion, “ The Mount’s Orange Winsome Lad," who gained his sixth successive island championship for his owner Mr. J. F. A’Court who has had outstanding successes with his bulls at these events. Mr. A’Court on this occasion won his 12th championship, achieved over eight years with four bulls. Towards the end of this year, “ The Mount's Orange Winsome Lad,” is being exported to America. Mr. A’Court has living stock at present in I7 countries to which he has exported.

There was some keen competition in the Junior Membership Section where for the first time. this was divided into two sections —junior and senior in an effort to encourage more entries. This should prove most effective at future shows.

The grand parade following the judging was watched by many local dignitaries. including His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor, the Bailiff of Jersey. and the French Consul together with their wives, and the Dean of Jersey, all of whom were welcomed to the show by Mr. E. C. Perredes, President of the Royal Jersey Agricultural Society and senior officials. The trophies were presented by Lady Villiers, wife of the Lleut.-Governor.

A certain slackness: coronavirus statistics and contact tracing.

BBC were very guarded about "a primary school", but the name came out on the ITV news, which made it very strange listening to the BBC announcer saying the school had not been identified! The ITV report noted that:

Some parents at St Michael's School in Jersey have told ITV News they had to collect their children after a student in their child's class tested positive for Covid-19. Track and Trace say those in the same class will have to self-isolate for two weeks or can undergo tests on Day 0, Day 5 and Day 8. It is not yet clear how the child contracted Covid-19.

We hear of the wonders of track and trace, but "It is not yet clear how the child contracted Covid-19" should strike alarm bells, because if it was working, we should have some idea where the child contracted it from.

What we still don't know:

Where the infection came from?

How did the testing come about?

Was it symptomatic?

Has anyone who might have been a carrier been abroad?

The last is significant, as the story also broke of a Jersey Reds player coming to Jersey and showing negative on the first test, but positive on the second. Given that by and large at least half the cases have been asymptomatic, how much coronavirus has invisibly made its way back into the community.

The recent statistics show that: Twenty-three of the thirty (twenty-two arrivals and one direct contact) tested positive on Day 0. Six tested positive on Day 5 and one on Day 8.From that we may conclude that those 7 tested negative on Day 0. While the numbers have been small, the months of just giving a single test to locations designated green also gives credence to the idea that some virus is still within the community.

That brings me to my next gripe. Most travel cases enter the statistics which differentiate between hospital - 1 case, care homes - 0 cases, and community, 60 cases.

I want to know which of those 60 relate to travel, which are contacts of those travellers, and which are outside that. That they are "in the community" tells me precious little. I'd like a figure - which Guernsey consistently provided - on cases where no route of transmission can be identified. 

We know that of the 30 recent cases, 25 new cases have been identified in Jersey through inbound travel and 5 were identified through contact tracing. But how about past jumps, especially when they appear for workforce screening?

The recent figures obviously do not account for the pupil at the school, so how reliable are these figures? As far as the ITV report notes, they are not a know contact, but are "in the community".

It would also be useful to know more about the contact tracing. Were the 5 case family members, or were they people met when the travellers were out and about in the community? This all helps us assess risk far better and it's just not there.

And just a note that contact tracing in restaurants and cafes is still flawed - it is not mandatory for the customer to provide details. And there are still beach cafes not doing it, despite the fact that they may be close to hotels. The late introduction of mandatory isolation while waiting for a first test shows the same kind of slackness.

Lastly, I see the number of symptomatic cases has fallen. I do hope that the asymptomatic cases will be properly reclassified if they turn out to be presymptomatic, as that certainly wasn't the case back in the early days of reporting.

References
https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2020-10-12/jersey-primary-school-class-sent-home-after-child-tests-positive-for-covid-19

This Precious Life

Annie Parmeter died on 13 October 2009, so this week, as the anniversary of her death approaches, I've chosen to use one of her poems this Saturday. When I knew her, her health was never good, but for that reason, she valued life so much more. 

As one of her friends wrote after her death: "I remember very clearly her speaking to me (a few years ago) in tones of outrage, of her inability to understand how people could lack gratitude for the simple fact of being alive. "

This poem comes from the tribute book "Annethology" which I put together after her death, as part of my way of coping with grief, and I think it sums up that philosophy very well. I illustrated it with one of her childhood photos, one which I think captures that child's joy in living which we should never lose.

This Precious Life

Every day we shape our world with our words,
Over and over again reassuring ourselves how it is.
Let death be our guide and hear it whisper
‘Time is short, let go and see the world as it really is,
a place of true wonder and untold possibilities’.
So without judgement, without preconception,
All senses fully awake,
Let us step carefully and consciously
Into every new moment afresh
As if it were our first and last day
On this earth.

Extracts from The Jersey at Home, Summer 1965 – Pauline Challenge Cup Won Outright

Pauline Challenge Cup Won Outright

St. Lawrence Breeder Gains Hat Trick with his Champion Producer

The Pauline Challenge Cup and Scales for the Champion Producer have been won outright by Mr. F. A. Anthoine of Les Colombiers Farm, St. Lawrence whose aged cow. “ Supreme Vedas Design," was successful in 1964 for the third year in succession.

Following up her successes in 1962 and 1963, “Supreme Vedas Design,” totalled 1982.48 points in the 1964 competition and she topped the Butter Fat Production, Class 2 (Cows 4 years of age and over) with 1,063.46 lbs. fat at 5.79%, and also headed the Milk Production, Class 2, with 18,380.5 lbs. milk.

Now well over nine years of age, this phenomenal cow has always been a heavy producer and is descended from several gold and silver medal sires and ton of gold cows. Champion Producer in 1962 and 1963, she was 1st over Jersey Fat Production and Milk Production in 1962, and 2nd Milk Production and 3rd Fat Production in 1963. Her last five lactations read : 

Supreme Vedas Design.” is by Thankful Supreme Oxford, 8747,******“ a silver and gold medal sire whose 13 daughters with 37 records average 316 8787 5.77 507. This bull is by Samares Supreme Oxford, 8486*" (exported to England 22/7/53), a son of silver and gold medal sire, Sybil’s Oxfordia’s Lad. 7821 out of Samares Royal Interest,12th. 57130, a prolific winner at St. Clement Parish and Island shows. Sire of Sybil's Oxfordia’s Lad was Pioneer Cup winner and silver and gold medal bull, Oxfordia's Oxford Lad, 7579, exported to England 6/5/47. The dam was Sybil de llaut 6th, S4335. ton of gold cow and reserve champion producer in 1949. Sire of Samares Royal lnterest 12th was Samares Royal Interest Rush. 7585, silver medal sire exported to Canada 1/8/46, and dam was Samares Royal Interest 4th, Island champion in 1939, and daughter of Rush's Fern Oxford Jun.

The dam of Thankful Supreme Oxford was K.R.D.’s Thankful Surprise. a treble ton of gold cow with a total lifetime production of 2857 I19,426 5.77 6,89l.27. She was by Keeper’s: Rush Designer, 8037, *"""* silver and gold medal sire and Island champion (who was by Rush's Designer 2nd out of Keeper's Dreaming Design) while her dam was July’: Thankful Surprise by La Pompe Thankful Noble out of November’s July. A Gold Medal cow.

The champion producer's dam was Vedas Designer's Beauty. 60224 who was by La Prairie Vedas Designer, 7947* out of Viking's Beauty, 56805. La Prairie Vedas Designer had 11 daughters with 22 records averaging 306 7830 5.38 42l. He was by Dainty Beau, 7588, silver and gold medal sire, exported to U.S.A. 20/3/48. He in turn was by |taska‘s Coronation Beau, (out of ltaska's

Beauty's Coronation) while his dam was Dainty Blossom. exported to England 14/3/46. The dam of La Prairie Vedas Designer was Golden Designing Vedas. 52726, supreme champion over Jersey in May. 1946 whose sire was Design’: Fern Oxford 4th-—son of Rush‘s Fern Oxford Jun.—and the dam was Golden Sultane Vedas, a daughter of Golden Blonde Sultan. Viking’s Beauty—the champion’s grandma - was by Roseland Viking out of Willonyx Marie's Beauty 3rd. Roseland Viking was by The Right Vintage, out of Dancing Along, both exported to the U.S.A. on 1/8/46. Willonyx Marie's Beauty 3rd was by Browny's Designer. 7434, a silver and gold medal sire exported to the U.S.A. on 1/8/46,  out of Willonyx Marie's Beauty.

The reserve charnpion producer was Mr. F. N. Le Breton's “Promising Maharajah’s Lady 5th," 68307, who totalled |723.82 points. She placed 2nd in Class 2 of the Butter Fat Production with 927.95 lbs., fat at 5.83% and third in the Milk Production was 15,91.5 lbs. milk.

The winner of the Lever Cup for the Junior Champion Producer of 1964 was Mr. A. J. BIampied's “Tenth Jess," 7l500. who totalled l503.29 points, and won Class I of the Butter Fat Production with 806.87 lbs. fat at 5.79%, and also the Milk Production, Class I. with 13,928.5 lbs. milk. The reserve junior champion was Mr. L. H. Le Ruez’s " Ruler’s Viola," 71659 with l319.-10 points. She also placed second in Class I, butter fat production, with 730.73 lbs. fat at 6.2l%. 

The winner of the Pioneer Perpetual Trophy. awarded to the hull with the five highest producing daughters, went to Ceres Royal. 8549 with 6552.79 aggregate points. His last owner in Jersey was Mr. H. P. Le Ruez. whose bull “Ceres Oxford Reviver,” also won the Pioneer last year. The reserve place went to Winsome Double Liberator, 8980 with 6523.98 points, and whose last owner in Jersey was also Mr. H. P. Le Ruez.

Odds and Ends

Travel Guidelines

"Shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted" is a very old cliché, but like all clichés, it bears the ring of truth. The number of travel cases testing positive for Covid-19 has increased considerably, especially when you consider the number of arrivals has been falling. Now - before the virus gets loose in the community again - is the time for tightening restrictions to isolate until after the first test result, even if a "green" travel designation applies.

Leave it until next week, and it could be too late, and the rapidity in which it spreads throughout the community will mean another lockdown looming. And Melbourne shows how complacency - and we have plenty of that - laxness - and there is no mandatory contact tracing in cafes / restaurants - makes an environment ripe for spread. They had it pretty well beaten, and then suddenly it took off like a rocket. Ever tighter lockdown measures, and curfews - do we really want that?

Herd immunity and students

Only yesterday I heard someone say that they should concentrate on shielding the vulnerable, and not worry about students getting the virus, because they didn't get it badly. Try telling that to the Jersey student in isolation in a campus at Liverpool University, testing positive, and saying she had never felt so ill in her life.

But apart from that - asymptomatic spreaders can carry the disease into even what appears the most hermetically sealed environment. Testing everyone who came into contact with the President worked as a strategy for 6 months - and then it failed dismally. When you can't tell who has it or not, and when symptoms don't always appear, it can get everywhere.

Incidentally, Dr Muscat's notion of locking down care homes only works if the care home staff don't leave the premises. Most care homes were already locking down in mid-March, and now there are stringent guidelines and limited times for visitors - so the obvious route of transmission - which has been the case in the UK and here - is via care home staff.

The case of the students shows something interesting. However much they tried to distance, it seemed campus halls of accommodation were ideal grounds for spreading the virus, whereas those students living off campus were much less likely to get it. There's a lesson there too for blocks of flats with communal staircases, lifts and common areas, especially where large numbers of people are involved.

Education Minister Can't Add Up

On BBC Radio Jersey, both the presenter and Education Minister Tracy Valois kept referring to the long time taken - 7 years - for the new Les Quennevais School to be built. That's actually not correct. was after the election in October 2014 that Rod Bryans started the search for a suitable site, a consultaion followed in September 2015 on 3 sites, and despite setbacks on the first plans, they were passed by the end of 2017, and work started in 2018 before the elections in May that year. My maths may be poor, but I make that 6 years from getting the ball rolling (2014) to opening (2020).

Poor Maintenance

I see that the Head of Rouge Bouillon School is complaining about a serious lack of maintenance to the school over the last few years. This is a pattern I've seen before with Housing. Whenever an austerity programme of cuts is implemented, cutting maintenance is the easy option. Terry Le Main - as Housing President, and Housing Minister - presided over many years lack of maintenance which Andium had to make good after taking over the housing stock. Let's hope the Education Department are not making the same mistake, but it certainly looks that way.

Falling

A mood poem today, to capture the feel of weather and place, as the holidaymakers go home, the wind and rain arrive, and the spring tides beat at the sea walls.

Falling

Leaves falling, time of decay
Autumnal: gales and much rain
And cloudy skies, and colder day
And last threshing of the grain

Beaches, windswept and so bare
Dog walkers wear winter coats
Out of season: all empty, spare
And on the sea, few sailing boats

The tide is high, and hitting hard
The sea rolls in, the spray flies high
Waves breaking on promenade
A solitary gull, a mournful cry

Falling into winter, weaker sun
And shortening days have begun 

Extracts from The Jersey at Home, Summer 1965 – Misc. Stories

Add caption

Extracts from The Jersey at Home, Summer 1965 – Misc. Stories





Obituary

The death occurred suddenly at his residence, Le Vivier, St. Martin, Jersey, on September 6th, of Captain R. J. B. Bolitho. Capt. Bolitho who was 75, was a soldier, airman, sailor and pioneer of military wireless and also a keen breeder of Jersey cattle.

Capt. Bolitho married Miss Roselle Lemprière, a daughter of the late Jurat R. R. Lemprière, Seigneur of Rosel, and they subsequently made their home at Rozel Manor, St. Martin. It was here that Captain Bolitho built up a fine herd of Jersey’s at the Manor Farm, and for several years his animals featured strongly in the Island Milk Records and also at the parochial and island cattle shows. He was one of the founders and directors of “The Island Cow,” the magazine devoted to the island breed during the early 1930s, and which ceased publication around 1936. The magazine was in its day considered to be an excellent publication of which the Captain was justifiably proud.

Following the Second World War, Captain Bolitho was managing director of the now defunct "Jersey Morning News."

NEW SOUTH AFRICAN MILK RECORD

It was reported by the Jersey Cattle Breeders Society of South Africa on July 6th, that a three year old Jersey had completed a South African milk record. The cow, “Ludmilla June's Josephine,” 46652 PR, a registered Jersey cow bred and owned by E. F. Rorich, Mooihawe. P.O. Box 112, Vllioenskroon, O.F.S. had completed an outstanding production record.

In a lactation started at 3 years 5 months, she produced 12919 lbs. milk with a butter-fat test of 4.74% in 277 days on twice a day milking, the highest 300 days or less official milk production record of any 3 year old Jersey cow in the history of the breed in South Africa.

ERRATA

In the report of the Cattle Breeders Show and Sale which appeared in the spring issue of “The Jersey At Home.” J. F. A’Court’s cow in milk, " La Retraite Beline,” was sold to W. M. Staite of Warwick for 68 guineas and not to Tipper Air Transport as stated. Also W. M. Staite of Warwick purchased F. T. AvriI|'s heifer in calf, “ Willonyx Marie Beauty." for 90 guineas and not Tipper Air Transport as reported.



COVER PICTURE

The cover picture is a general view of the parade and judging ring at the Island Summer Show at the Springfield Showgrounds on August 19th. Other pictures of prize winners at the show were taken by Senett & Spears, Charing Cross. St. Helier.

In Memoriam

Annie would have been 59 today. And in memory of her, some photos and one of her poems.I still miss her. The hurt has faded from 2009, but now I see more of her smiling face, and recollect the good times, from that misty day when we met to our first kiss. I also remember how she was breathless, struggling to climb stairs, and yet this was another invisible illness, that other people could not often see. And how suddenly the end came, with a phone call, after I had spoken to her only the previous night. And also how much she changed me, hopefully for the better, although not with tidiness, where she despaired, even though now as then I do try! I remember a windy day on Beauport, around from the headland, with Mark and Heather and Millie the dog, as we scattered her ashes in the wind, over the rocks and out to the sea.