The New Listener: A Radio 4 Review

Enjoyed listening to the Fast Show reunion. I always suspected Jazz Club was a sent up of "The Old Grey Whistle Test", and it turns out I was right. I loved Sir Geoffrey Norman MP, so many politicians in the UK and here are like that - evasive with rambling speech that says nothing. My favourite is however Ted and Ralph. Closely followed by Johnny Nice Painter - "Black, BLACK, BLACK!". We all have come across Girl Men Can't Hear and Competitive Dad.

The Fast Show: The Reunion

The first episode of BBC TV's The Fast Show in 1994 had 27 sketches in just half an hour. Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse, former writers for Harry Enfield, created a concept which re-invigorated the sketch show format and crammed it with catch-phrases. Sue MacGregor brings the cast back together to reflect on the series which launched their careers. Higson and Whitehouse recruited young stand-up comedians whose worked they liked, such as Caroline Aherne , John Thomson , Simon Day and Felix Dexter, alongside actors such as Mark Williams and Paul Shearer. This process involved each 'auditioning' their proposed character in front of the ensemble.

Competitive Dad, the obscene Suits You tailors, Jazz Club, Does My Bum Look Big in This?, and the touching repressed romance of Ted and Ralph, scored a very high strike rate for introducing catchphrases and comedy characters to schools and work places around the country. We also hear from collaborators such as Kathy Burke, Harry Enfield, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, as well as TV critic Matthew Norman who wrote a famously fierce review of the first series.

Waterloo Station: Drama

Two strangers look back on an incident that happened a couple of years ago, just before the world turned upside down. As they do so, they take stock of what's happened over the last two years.

Ray ..... Ralph Ineson; Christa. ..... Christine Bottomley
Written by Katie Hims, Directed by Mary Peate

A very touching play for two voices, but they only meet at the start and end, and in the meantime, lives are changed by Covid, lockdowns, and tragedy.

The 5000: Three plays by Sebastian Baczkiewicz about the feeding of the five thousand and the personal and political fallout from this extraordinary event.

Bread, Fish and Dancing: DramaThe 5000 Episode 1 of 3

By Sebastian Baczkiewicz

Three plays about the feeding of the five thousand and the personal and political fallout from this extraordinary event. Is it a political act? A rebellion? A festival? Five thousand people are dancing on the hillside. What do they want? How can the state deal with those who seek to threaten it? Is Rome going to react to these events? Who can make sense of the impossible?

Episode One – Bread, Fish and Dancing

In Herod’s palace suspicion is rife, young people have gone missing and Salome is in meltdown following an extraordinary murder.

An Orange with a Worm in It: DramaThe 5000 Episode 2 of 3

Five thousand people have danced down the mountain and into Tiberius City. It didn’t appear to be a riot. But there’s tension in Herod’s Palace, good people have been imprisoned and Salome is still missing. And trouble is not far from the door of Centurion Gaius.

A Shining City on the Hill: DramaThe 5000 Episode 3 of 3

The arrival of an unexpected visitor is about to surprise everyone in Tiberius City and Dan and Gaius have been sent on a mission to the Sea of Galilee.

A fascinating sideways look at the feeding of the 5000, exploring ideas of transcendence, and breaking boundaries so that part is contemporary - a character drinks a coke, for example - and Jesus - always off screen, although briefly glimpsed - is a wizard. The feeding of the 5000 is seen as an act of magic. Mr Asher, the security chief for Herod, is probably about the nastiest character I've ever come across in a  play, as he virtually runs the Palace, and even bullies Herod around. When Caligula (Caesar and named heir to the Emperor) arrives, there's an interested clash of personalities.

The Great Election Victory Conspiracy

Our parish magazine recently ran a "review of the year", a precis of various stories which occurred during the year, which had that in it. I  wrote the precis, basically taking the text of various stories and whittling it down to fit the word count When the Parish Magazine came out (today), I then received the following message by Deputy Moz Scott:

"Dear Tony. Thank you for your work on La Baguette. The difference may have only been one vote but I think this might have been worded to reflect polling order of the Deputies! Kind Regards. Moz"

Now there is a real point to follow up, and I wondered why I had the Deputies in this order. So I looked back at the September edition of the magazine and found this written about the elections

I

I could see at once what happened. In cutting down the words to fit - and remember this is a review of the entire year to September, not just the elections, I had removed the vote count, and clearly left the order the same. My method of doing the precis was to cut and past articles, end up with far too many words, and then go through each section cutting it down.

I mentioned this to Moz, saying I was pleased a perfectly rational explanation existed for the order in the precis, rather pleased for having solved the conundrum.

Whereupon she replied "I am unconvinced of an absence of bias in reporting and editing."

There's really nothing one can say to a conspiracy theorist to get them to give up their beliefs, so I finished by saying:

"Well, behind the scenes we do confer with the Secret order of the Illuminati, you know!"

And that dear reader, is where we must leave "The Great Election Victory Conspiracy".

Personally in these days of rising costs of living, difficulties in finding housing, deciding where a new hospital should be built, etc etc, I find the whole matter rather extraordinary to make such a fuss about. 

Postscript

Moz has since written: "I can see that’s as much as you and the reporter understand about order. I’ll send you both over an abacus if you like."


I think it's time to award her the Fussbudget of the Year Award!

A Generous Soul - Part 4

John Watson (3 November 1850 – 6 May 1907), was a minister of the Free Church of Scotland. He is remembered as an author of fiction, known by his pen name Ian Maclaren. I'm currently reading his short story collection "St Jude", but am also fascinated by his life. Here was a man who stood out against a narrowness in his creed, and who was indeed "a generous soul".

The Life of The Rev. John Watson, D.D. "Ian Maclaren"
A Generous Soul
By W. Robertson Nicoll


John Watson was anything but a trifler. He took hold of his work with strong resolutions to do his best. It is now known that during the early years of his ministry he adopted much of the Roman Catholic discipline. He observed the fasts; he aimed strenuously at self-conquest and self-knowledge as well as at knowledge of books and men. All this was done in the strictest privacy. He gave over these methods, but he always maintained that moderate asceticism as a discipline of character and as a means of training men to master themselves is of the highest value. Another conviction of a Catholic mind was that worship and adoration ought to be a far more substantial part of Christian life than is usual in Protestant Churches.

He began his preaching with an enthusiastic love for Christ, and this love kept running and gleaming through all his years like a thread of gold. He had little polemical ardour, and took small part on theological controversy, but he never at any time wavered on the central facts of Christianity.

I heard his first sermon there, from Rev. xiv. 6, " The Everlasting Gospel." There were touches in it which made me even then think that it had been preached at Logie-almond for example, he said if the Gospel ceased to be preached by its accredited representatives, the Spirit of the Lord might come upon some shepherd on the hills and send him forth to proclaim the glad tidings.

Once Mr. Watson happened to preach in the morning from Hebrews, and expressed a doubt whether Paul was the writer. In the afternoon Dr. Miller also preached from Hebrews, and gave an elaborate defence of its Pauline authorship, and closed by saying that they were but " babes and sucklings in Christ " who thought otherwise !

Watson had very little part in the Protestant controversy. With many of the Evangelical clergy, including Bishop Ryle and Bishop Chavasse, he was on terms of cordial friendship. There was in him a deep and passionate Evangelicalism, and to Evangelical teaching as shown in spiritual earnestness he always responded eagerly. His relations with the Roman Catholic priests, and to a lesser extent with the High Church clergy, were even more cordial. There was a side of his nature that turned their way. But he was also very much drawn by the literary culture, the piety, and the noble ethical teaching of the Unitarians. While he maintained the best relations with the Evangelical Nonconformists, he was for long less intimate with them than with others of the Liverpool ministers.

His strength lay in the many-sidedness of his sympathies. He could preach sermons which pleased the Evangelicals; sermons which pleased the Unitarians; sermons indicating great breadth, and sermons of such intensity and urgent appeal that they might have come from a flaming evangelist in the great revival. Thus he was able to draw round him a congregation of very various constituents. They might not be all equally well pleased on any Sunday, but very soon they heard a sermon to which they could listen with perfect satisfaction.

I need hardly say that there was not the faintest touch of insincerity or unreality in all this range of method. Watson was simply expressing his mood, and the largeness of his comprehension enabled him to understand the spiritual needs of men who in their training and in their dogmatic convictions were far apart. There were very few congregations in England made up of recruits from so many armies as Sefton Park Church. He said himself three years before his death :

" Not only have we members of every shade of Presbyterianism Scots, Irish, English, Canadian, Established Church, Free Church, and United Presbyterian, but we have had people of many nations French, Germans, Swiss, Danes, North Americans, South Americans, Russians, Greeks, Austrians, Belgians and as many creeds, high and low, narrow and broad, and no creed at all. I have taken a section of fourteen pews, and I find, so far as I know, that the following is its ecclesiastical ancestry: four Presbyterian families, six Episcopalian, four Congregationalist, three Baptist, two Welsh, two Unitarian, two German, one Swiss."

Liverpool is a large cosmopolitan world, and Watson's singular adaptability had a most congenial outlet there. Liverpool was always responsive. But there was never any doubt as to the real drift of the preaching. Watson was always a convinced Evangelical of broad sympathies which perhaps grew broader and broader. He understood them all the mystic, the Catholic, the Evangelical, the revivalist, the moralist, the sceptic, and for each as the time came round he had a living message. He said at the close of his first sermon in Sefton Park Church:

“Brethren, I feel sure that these words have made my aim as a preacher clear to you all. I shall not try to astonish you with any display of learning, nor attract you by the mere eloquence of words, but I promise by the grace of God and according to my ability to preach the Cross of Christ. The Cross as I understand it combines both the doctrine of forgiveness and the doctrine of holiness, and I trust to be able also to show that a Christ who is our sacrifice is also our ideal. Some of you may prefer one doctrine, some the other, I am sure you will all see both are necessary. If I seem unpractical, ask yourselves if the fault be altogether mine, if personal do not suppose this intentional, do not weary when I ask your faith, do not be angry when I point out duty, but always search the Scriptures and see whether these things are not so, and so we will be blessed.”

“Beloved brethren, the double responsibility of work and prayer lies on me, the responsibility of prayer lies also on you. Pray that I may be led into the truth myself, and so be able to lead you. Pray that I may be able to deal honestly with intellectual difficulties and wisely with cases of conscience. Pray that I may have grace to speak tenderly to mourners and simply to the children. Pray that I may ever be found offering a full and free Christ to sinners, and exhorting the saints to follow Him more closely. Pray I beseech you that the messenger may be lost in his message, that if any good results should come of his preaching the glory may be all given unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, one God now and for ever. Amen."

The Dying Day

On from the back catalogue today, from 1/12/2004 (that's UK style date!)

The Dying Day

The death inside, dying slowly by degree

Reaching out in darkness to once more see

The joy of times past, of happy days lost

Instead is weariness and despair; a cost

That is the price we pay, beset by doom

Within the icy cold and darkening gloom.

Now is truly the Winter of our discontent

Falling into the night, a relentless descent

Until once more there may come the Spring

And hope in wings comes to soar and sing.

The Victorian 1979: David Ogilvie Bennett

Victorians, here there and everywhere from “The Victorian, 1979”
Collated by “Dixie” Landick

When a team of present-day Victorians was packing the last edition of this magazine in readiness for posting to you, the Editor agreed to my request that a copy of a letter should be inserted in each “Victorian” being sent ‘to an address outside Jersey. The letter asked for news of overseas O.V.s and the response has been most encouraging.

The first selection of those replies is published in this issue and others are lined up for the Summer 1980 edition. Nevertheless, many more replies are eagerly awaited and although readers will note that we certainly have news of “O.V.s There and Every- where”, the request for news of O.V.s here in Jersey is equally important and made again herewith! Please write. This edition’s notes are not arranged in any particular order, except for the first letter. and I am sure no O.V. will dispute its pride of place. L.A.L.

Our first letter comes from Lt.-Colonel Ogilvie David Bennett (Indian Army, retd.), who is 94, repeat ninety- four, years of age. It was indeed a great thrill to receive Colonel Bennett’s letter, written in his own hand. This very senior and distinguished O.V. entered College in 1895. Whilst at V.C.J., he won the Medal for Modern Languages and left in 1902 to enter Sandhurst. For his last two years at College he had been Captain of Cricket. He went to India in 1903 and was soon posted to the 26th Punjabis. Colonel Bennett served for a total, of 21 years on the North West Frontier. He writes . . .

“In 1908 I joined the Khyber Rifles, my chief duty consisting of shepherding caravans and travellers safely through the 20-mile Khyber Pass. The men of the Khyber Rifles were all wild Transborder Pathans, enlisted from the very same frontier tribes who carried out the raids on caravans and travellers. We operated on the principle of ‘set a thief to catch a thief‘! Later I was given command of the Mohmand Militia, consisting 'of 1500 wild Transborder Mohmands. With my knowledge of their language (Pushtu), I never found any difficulty in controlling these wild men with the help of five British officers under me.”

“The tricky time was during the First World War. In those days, the Transborder value of a rifle was 1,000 Rupees, so the temptation for a man to skip off with his rifle across the Border. a mile away, was intense. Every night the Governor of the N.W.F. used to phone me: ‘Well, Bennett, how many deserters now?’ My invariable answer was ‘None, Sir’, until at long last three men went off with their rifles and effectively blotted my copybook!”

“In 1927 I was given command of the 15th Punjab Regiment and finally retired on pension in 1933 “

Colonel Bennett concludes his letter by apologising for his handwriting. I can assure him and all readers of these notes that his handwriting is still a model of neatness and legibility and that my colleagues on the teaching staff would be delighted if all present-day Victorians could produce a script of such quality! We all join in wishing him continued good health and many more years of happy retirement at his residence in Hastings.

Tony's Supplement

I've done some digging around, and found out more about this old soldier and his life.

Ogilvie David Bennett was born on 10 June 1885 in West Bengal, India, his father, John, was 45 and his mother, Sophia, was 30. He married Audrey Elizabeth Ferrier Grant and they had three children together. He then married Dorothy Elizabeth Mary Burder on 6 September 1945 in Taunton, Somerset.. He died on 14 June 1987 in Tilshead, Wiltshire, at the age of 102.

Born 10 Jun 1885, Rawal Pinder, Bengal, India
Died Jun 1987, Noads House, Tilshead, Wiltshire, England

College Register: 2526 Bennett, Ogilvie David is the son of Dr J Bennett, Beau Desert. Brother of 2604,2732. Gained Modern Language Medal. Left 1902. Entered Sandhurst and Indian Army (26th Punjabis). In the Great War he served in Mohmand Militia (Kyber Rifles) as Major. Indian Army 1918. Second in Command, 2nd Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment. Address: Lloyd’s Bank, King’s Branch, Bombay.

Brother of Alexander Dumaresq Bennett, John Edgar Bennett and Gwendolin Bennett

He married Audrey Elizabeth Ferrier Grant (born on 1 Nov 1897 in Abbottabad, Bengal, India), daughter of Sir Alfred Hamilton Grant of Dalvey, 12th Battalion on 1 November 1920.1 She died on 28 February 1938 at age 40.

A Generous Soul - Part 3

John Watson (3 November 1850 – 6 May 1907), was a minister of the Free Church of Scotland. He is remembered as an author of fiction, known by his pen name Ian Maclaren. I'm currently reading his short story collection "St Jude", but am also fascinated by his life. Here was a man who stood out against a narrowness in his creed, and who was indeed "a generous soul".

The Life of The Rev. John Watson, D.D. "Ian Maclaren"
A Generous Soul
By W. Robertson Nicoll

WHEN a Scotch divinity student concludes his course, he is examined by his Presbytery and licensed to preach. If he is popular he is soon called by a vacant congregation, and after that he is ordained and settled in a charge. The intervening period is trying enough to many. Men have been " probationers," licensed to preach, but not called to a particular parish for as many as twenty years. Some have never been called, and these are described as " stickit ministers."

The three months which Watson spent as assistant at the Barclay Church were the most miserable period of his whole life. The pulpit nearly lost him for the Bar. As assistant he said :

“I was reserved for the work of visiting elderly ladies and trying to bring young men into Church who did not attend. On rare occasions I was allowed to enter the pulpit. The crisis in my life came when on a Friday I was told my chief was suffering from a sore throat, and that I should have to prepare to preach the following Sunday. What should I do? I had usually consumed two weeks in pre- paring a sermon from Hodge. As I had recently lost my mother the miracle of Nain appealed to me, and I preached about a man's relation to his mother. I know it was real, for I felt what I said. But my chief told me he had had a bad report of me for I did not preach conversion.”

The Promenade in November

A cold winter's day in November, strolling along the promenade in St Brelade's Bay - that's the theme of today's poem.

The Promenade in November

Come, winds, rain, gales, come
And branches beating like a drum
Deckchairs all gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin.
Now is the rising of the tide
November cannot be denied
Come, winds, rain, gales, come
And branches beating like a drum

My large umbrella is no shield
As to the gusty gales yield
Seasonal birds have long flown
As the salty spray is thrown
Breaking on the sands so near
Beneath November moon appear
Where rising tides and raging sea
Tourists long ago did flee

Come, winds, rain, gales, come
And branches beating like a drum
I walk the promenade in day
But I am nearly blown away
Find shelter, respite, now at last
No fishermen their lines to cast
Spray and waters high do soar
Waves engulf the sandy shore

Darkening skies: my fingers numb
With lashing rain, a beat, a thrum
As winter weather does begin
And lunar currents long may win
Rising of the moonlit tide
Summer surely now has died
Come, winds, rain, gales, come
And branches beating like a drum

The Victorian, 1979: Francis Edward Lewis, BEM retires/

Here's a piece from 1979. I too remember Frank Lewis, standing outside the main entrance to the Victoria College building, ringing his bell early morning as a call to go for registration. In those days, during summer holidays, parents with children at College, could take their children (and any siblings whether at College or elsewhere) and sometimes use the swimming pool at College. This was all kept under control beneath the eagle eye of Mr Lewis, and the cost was several large packets of cigarettes! One other fact: when the gargoyles, which had long worn out, on the top of the main College building were replaced, if I remember Frank was featured as the inspiration for one!

The Victorian, 1979: Francis Edward Lewis, BEM retires
By Brian Clarke

When Frank Lewis was awarded the British Empire ‘Medal in the New Year Honours List in 1975, he remarked in typical fashion, “I don’t know why they had to give me this; I’ve only done what was expected of me” However. many of us know that he wears his ribbon on his uniform with pride, for in his estimation, the award brought honour to Victoria College and not to him.

F. E. Lewis was appointed College Porter in December 1942, replacing F. R. Crumpton who had served since 1905. His early years were difficult ones. The effect of the war on the life and work of the College had made its mark, and the Porter had to be resourceful to meet the daily needs of the school with ever dwindling supplies. I have heard him referred to as a jackdaw, and I am convinced that those years taught him to store away anything remotely useful.

On May 9th, 1945, together with R. J. Nicolle, he hoisted the victory flags on the towers of the College. A new period in the history of Victoria College was about to begin. The Acting Headmaster, Pat Tatam, retired, and Frank Lewis was ready to serve two Headmasters and three decades of Victorians. During that time he has given unstintingly of himself, well beyond the normal call of duty, and his loyalty and devotion have made a lasting impression on staff and boys alike. The old boys may have difficulty in recalling the name of their French master in Year 3, but they all remember the little man who chased them up the stairs to Assembly.

I first recollect seeing him pacing the terrace and ringing the school bell. One glare from him was enough to produce a final spurt from me to be in prayers before the bell stopped ringing. How glad I was, when I did arrive late, to have the cast-iron excuse of having come by bus from the far west of the Island. Yet, beneath the stern exterior, he concealed a care and concern for each one of us, knowing us all by name, fully aware of our special abilities in the classroom or on the sports field, and always the first to know of our misdemeanours.

How convincingly he conveyed his sense of disappointment when we were in “Book”; how shamed we were to have let down our parents, the Headmaster, the College — and him!

As a boy, I remember that Frank Lewis was always everywhere. He found time to do everything and never missed a conceit or a football match, a prefects’ dance or a terminal service. And he invariably arrived first when there was a riot in a classroom. There are many members of staff who have reason to be grateful to him for restoring law and order while they drank their second cup of coffee after the break-time bell had rung.

However, it is during the latter years that I have discovered how much there is to Frank Lewis. He welcomed me warmly when I returned to the Island and joined the staff, but soon made me feel guilty if I did something he did not approve of. In fact, he has frightened most of my colleagues at some time or other, and has never failed to be critical of attitudes or methods which ran counter to the good traditions of Victoria College.

Nevertheless, to us all, he has proved to be an ever willing helper, and there can be no job in the College that he has not undertaken himself. He is equally happy stoking a boiler or arranging flowers, clearing out drains or building stage scenery, judging a diving competition or welcoming guests to the school.

He recalls many of the distinguished visitors to whom he has been presented, and amongst them are Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness the Prince Philip, Her Royal Highness the Princess Anne and the late Lord Mountbatten of Burma. The College has provided him with a store of memories, but it is the many friends which he has made which he values most.

As one accompanies him in St. Helier, one soon discovers that he knows and is respected by people from every walk in life.

We shall miss him when he retires as Head Porter this term. I believe he will miss us. The main consolation is that he will continue in part-time employment as night porter, and retain a very real contact with boys, staff, parents and OVs. In days to come, I like to think that I may be able to creep into College on my way back from C.C.F. Camp at 6.15 am. without being discovered and told “What do you think you’re doing here at this hour of the day?” Perhaps I may be able to work in my study rather later than usual without being pointedly asked, “Haven’t you got a wife and children to go home to?”

However, I doubt if I shall be allowed to do even this, for Frank will certainly continue to keep a fatherly eye on the College and its inhabitants, and little will take place without his knowledge.

His contribution to the history of Victoria College in the past 37 years is unique. He has given his life to the College, and it is gratifying to know that the Education Committee, the Governors and the Headmaster have recognised this and given him the opportunity to stay on indefinitely in Cricket Field Cottage. I hope that he will enjoy many more happy years with us. ‘

B.H.V.

Postscript:

After this went out, I had a number of comments on Facebook, and here are a few.


Kurt Ludwigs

I met Frank Lewis in my year as a German Assistant from September 1977 to July 1978. I remember him as a very polite person who always welcomed me with the words: "Guten Tag, mein Herr." In that year I had the privilege of accompanying Dixie Landick with some Evening Classes in Victoria College, and Frank Lewis always turned up before and after the classes - to have a quiet smoke with Dixie and me and to share one of Dixie's numerous stories. Dixie and Frank Lewis got on very well, in a way they seemed to represent the spirit of the college. When I left in July 1978 I was fully aware of the fact that I had met a truly well-respected man in Frank Lewis.

Clive:  remember the conundrum what is the difference between a weasel and a stoat? Answer a weasel is weaselly recognized while a stoat is stoatly different! Frank was a lovely man and so proud to be part of College history

Alistair: He was also a very good high board diver. An excellent coach to me when I dived and swam for the college team 69/70

Anthony: He caught us running round the back during the school photo , to see if we could get on it twice One step ahead of us !

David: Sometime in 1965, he came into one of the classrooms in the new De Carteret building with a message for Colonel Fearon. Three boys made fun of his new cap as he left the room. A couple of hours later, two of them,plus me, were summoned to Ronnie Postill’s office and received four strokes of the cane each from a furious headmaster. The next day, Frank Lewis spoke to me and apologised for the case of mistaken identity, caused by the master confusing me with another pupil. He was a very honest man.

Matt: Was terrifying being told to get your hands out of your pockets by him. He was probably in his 80s then. Used to open the school pool for my gran so she and my mum and I could go swimming on hot summer days.

George: He was at The Home for Boys as Haut de la Garrene was known at the time. He used to keep his motor scooter under the arch when it was raining.

Russell: He was very good to me. Rarely had to do any studying in "book" he would always find something for me to do and then let me off an hour early. Top man.

Bill: Frank got a bit bored after he retired and would often stop for a chat and a cup of tea at our shop at 43 Halkett Place. We had a busy racket stringing business operating from a dusty ghetto at the back of the premises and Frank quickly showed an interest in helping out. We formalised an arrangement whereby he would turn up at 10a.m. every morning and do racket repairs.
Oh how we roasted him when he was late and how he chuckled when we did. He complained that it took him 5 minutes to come down from Weasel Cottage as far as Grosvenor Street but another hour to complete the journey to Halkett Place, stopping every ten yards to converse with a spectrum of old boys .....from Bailiff to bottle washer, he had time for all.
I stood on the corner of Queen Street to witness his journey home one afternoon and, sure enough, his familiar blue suited frame zig zagged and stopped every few yards to respond to someone hailing him from amongst a crowd of shoppers.
His time with us in the shop was peppered with stories of past pupils doing stuff they should not have done. Eventually ill health overcame him and we saw him less and less. A great servant to the school and a kind man.
I miss you, good friend.

The New Hospital Q&A online

The question and answer session was very good last night, and the strongest answers surely came from Ian Gorst and Tom Binet. 

Lyndon Farnham attempted to criticise the Scrutiny process for the delays which meant the old Overdale project lost out on low interest rates. However, he has since lodged a proposition asking for comparison costings between new and old which itself will act as a delay. Somehow he doesn't seem to see the inconsistency in this.

Ian Gorst was very clear - firstly, the Scrutiny process is a necessary part of Government and was conducted professionally, and it is wrong for Lyndon to attack it for unnecessary delays impugning those members as purely playing political football with the hospital. Secondly, a major delay (which I don't recall being mentioned in Lyndon's attack) was the pandemic which probably did more to delay matters than anything else.

One persistent red herring was the criticism that this Government was overturning the democratic decision by the previous government. The history of the hospital project shows this keeps happening, and in fact the last government - with Lyndon as the figurehead of the new project - was rejecting the previous administration's decisions!

Ian also made a strong case for the financial situation having changed considerably since the last iteration of the hospital project. The Overdale plan - as passed by the States - no longer exists in that the States passed it based on particular financing from debt which is no longer feasible. The figures do not add up. The level of borrowing agreed would have increased considerably and therefore the States would still have to ratify the situation again. 

Indeed in his manifesto, he flagged up warnings on this:

"I am very concerned at the proposed cost and borrowing for the hospital and will work for rigorous controls on spending to ensure the project is delivered as efficiently as possible and at no more than the £800 million projected spend."

No more than the £800 million projected spend for an agreed Overdale is no longer viable. Interestingly, Lyndon does not address the cost aspect in his manifesto.

The cavalier way in which the previous administration put finances at the bottom of their agenda is also dealt with in Ian's manifesto:

"I have been a minority, often singular, voice on the Council of Ministers. Spending has increased by £200 million in the past four years, excluding Covid. That is unprecedented and unsustainable. The Island has now committed itself to £1.7 billion of debt. I have brought two propositions to reduce debt, with only partial support from the Council of Ministers."

It is clear then that far from positively assenting to the previous administrations plans - in essence, a "Trussonomics" spend and borrow approach on Overdale - he has wanted for some time to introduce better financial controls. And with freight, materials, and associated building costs rising, now is surely the time to leave a failed spend and borrow on a massive scale. We saw the results of doing that recently in the UK, and the backlash and instability was not pretty. 

As the review noted:

"When the funding model for the Our Hospital (OH) project was first revealed, Jersey was hoping for an average return on its £1bn strategic reserve fund of 4.6% (2% above the Fiscal Policy Panel’s long-term RPI assumption) over a 40 year period, and borrowing costs to be fixed at 2.5% for the duration. The financial markets environment has changed considerably, and a return to stability may not be achieved any time soon. The strategic reserve will not reach its target this year and the cost of borrowing is considerably higher."

This has not been addressed by Lyndon Farnham, and it will be interesting to see where he gets his revised figures from.

Turning to Tom - Tom Binet set out a very good case for a multiple site approach, although as Overdale moving to Les Quennevais was already on the cards and signed and sealed, that would happen anyway. Essentially it is a two site solution, and as he pointed out, construction noise at the back of the existing hospital - the Kensington road sites - would happen if it had gone ahead for housing anyway. The phased approach also means workstreams can overlap, and more local construction can be used. 

As the review noted:

- phase 1, development at Overdale to be commenced within 24 months with a 36 month programme to completion
- phase 2A, development at Kensington Place or Overdale to be commenced within 36 months with a 36 month programme to completion
- phase 2B, development at the current hospital site at Gloucester Street to be commenced within 72 months, with a 24 month programme to completion

He didn't mention, but I do remember, several large scale projects where a major contractor has gone bust. The Queen's Valley site was a notable example - a large project, delayed and with considerable loss to the public purse - when the single contracting company went bust. 

There was also an honesty to his approach. While new builds like Samares Ward could be saved, he said that it did depend on the best plans for the two site option and until that was the case, he could not make firm commitments. The road superhighway plans, and the demolition of perfectly good new houses, the destruction of the bowls club - these he could guarantee cancelled with the new proposals.

He also said that part of the problem of repeating cycles was that previous governments had gone back to scratch with a site selection process, and they had deliberately avoided that, and the significant delays that would introduce.

Not mentioned was the slurs which have been made by Lyndon Farnham who has criticised Tom as "uninformed and inexperienced.". On the contrary, Tom brings considerable business expertise from many years as a successful businessman, capable of handling finances and projects and as his manifesto notes "developing businesses in agriculture, retail/services and property.". It is in fact Lyndon - elected and in the States since 2002 - who has been inside a States "bubble" for 20 years with only marginal experience of that kind.

There were a lot of consultants and clinicians present, most of whom did seem fairly unhappy with the two site option, but relatively few nurses. In fact the one question on Slido which came from a nurse was about reforming the administrative structure which is "top heavy" with "too many chiefs and not enough Indians". I don't think Karen Wilson really addressed this at all. There was some general waffle about reviewing and reforming the administrative structure but it was a rather feeble answer.

The clinicians questions about the viability of a two site system were mainly about staffing and staffing cover and the ease of moving staff in a single site when needed. While there would be a timing delay, I am sure that the communications issue with electronic communications for logistics can address this in a way that would not have been possible, say, ten years ago. Incidentally the review did note that "some adjacency of service are absolutely essential and these will provide a ‘critical mass’ of departments that should stay together."

What they didn't address interestingly was the inefficiencies of a paper system which is still in place, with files requested and brought out by staff from an antiquated storage system in the current hospital. When I see my GP, they can see my entire health record from other doctors in the practice, online, instantly - and at different locations. 

Perhaps a push towards the 21st century by clinicians would help matters and is surely now a vital part of a two site option.

The review did note that "revisiting the scheme requirement allows consideration of future digital healthcare services delivery (such as remote monitoring and online consultations) to be incorporated into any revised proposal and thus future space requirements."

Addendum 1

"Consultant gastroenterologist David Ng was among those to speak, warning of the unintended consequences of reopening some facilities at Overdale, which he said had taken physiotherapists out of the General Hospital, adversely affected patient discharge times, leading to bed-blocking and cancelled procedures." (Bailiwick Express)

I have a great deal of respect for Dr Ng, but the reopening he is referring to must be Samares Ward, which was a decision taken by the last assembly before the election, and against the Council of Ministers - in particular Richard Renouf - because Plemont Ward - the preferred option by Deputy Renouf was not fit for purpose. 

A video which can only be described as propaganda, sought to allay fears, by using staff to present the facilities as if some were patients, and no patients appeared in it giving their views. As Andy Jehan and Steve Pallett demonstrated, the decision to use Plemont as a stroke rehabilitation centre was misguided and led to poorer outcomes for rehabilitation. A question must be asked: why did Dr Ng not mention Samares ward was the facility re-opening by name? The only answer I can see is that it would severely weaken his argument.

A Generous Soul - Part 2

John Watson (3 November 1850 – 6 May 1907), was a minister of the Free Church of Scotland. He is remembered as an author of fiction, known by his pen name Ian Maclaren. I'm currently reading his short story collection "St Jude", but am also fascinated by his life. Here was a man who stood out against a narrowness in his creed, and who was indeed "a generous soul".

The Life of The Rev. John Watson, D.D. "Ian Maclaren"
A Generous Soul - Part 2
By W. Robertson Nicoll

One of Watson's chief recollections of early church-going was of the ordination of a minister. It seemed to the child as if the proceedings would never come to an end, and as one minister after another mounted the pulpit and each began a new sermon, despair seized his heart. His mother, ever weaker than his father, conducted him to the door of the church and set him in the direction of home.

The father contented himself next morning with expressing his assurance that, whatever John might be fit for in after life, he had no hope whatever that he would become a minister of the Church!

A more pleasing memory was that of the solemn administration of the Lord's Supper. In the procession of the elders the child was specially interested in an old man with very white hair and a meek, reverent face.

Sometime after he was walking on the road and passed a man breaking stones. The white hair caught his attention, and he looked back and recognised the elder who had carried the cup. Full of curiosity and wonder, he told his father the strange tale. His father explained to him that the reason why the old man held so high a place in the Church was that although he was one of the poorest men in all the town, he was one of the holiest.

"Remember," said his father, "the best man that ever lived upon this earth was the poorest, for our Lord had not where to lay His head ; " and he added, James breaks stones for his living, but he knows more about God than any person I have ever met." So he learned that evening, and never departed from the faith, that the greatest thing in all the world is character, and the crown of character is holiness.

Shorelines

Sometimes I just like to express how the sea and coastland has been always so much part of my life. Once when in Gloucester, I found myself so cut off from this source of strength and did not regain y equilibrium until I returned. I find that reading the Orkney writer George MacKay Brown, the same sense of feeling, and passion for the coastal landscape, the ever changing tides, and I suppose it must be something to do with growing up by the sea.

Shorelines

The waves upon the beach, such sounds
are joys unto my ear
It sooths my sorrows, and surrounds
and drives away my fear.

The sand, the sea, the sky, the whole
The Celtic three: and I am blessed
Along the seashore would I stroll
And afterwards will rest

Come walk with me, my dearest friend
And hear the seagulls sing
This is my path, from start to end
Like a bird upon the wing

Moonlight on sea, brings to my heart
And to my mind warm thought
Without this coast, hope would depart
And all my life be naught

To climb up the rocky crag, I came
And catching fleeting breath;
And here I found out my true name
My life from birth to death.

Cleveland Garages: 1965

Cleveland Garages
Jersey Topic, 1965

In Jersey there is one car firm whose name is synonymous with cars of high distinction backed by the best service possible. That firm is Cleveland Garages. For over 30 years they have been selling B.M.C. cars in Jersey and are the largest motor firm in the Channel Islands.

From their three branches in Jersey —Havre des Pas, David Place and Mont a I'abbe-Cleveland sell the full range of B.M.C. cars. The names roll off like a Who's Who in the Motor Industry—Morris. Wolseley, Riley, MG. and Vanden Plas. Few firms can match such an impressive array under one roof.

Chairman of Cleveland Garages, Mr. Dennis Ryan. told TOPIC “Team spirit is a prominent feature of our business life and we try to co-ordinate every facet of service and sales. By streamlining our own units we have been able to offer a much better service to our clients and to us this service is a most important thing."

To offer Jersey’s most comprehensive motoring service is indeed a proud boast but in the following pages Cleveland Garages are presenting their full range of cars, which are available to the car buyers of Jersey.

No matter what kind of person you are or what type of car you prefer the odds are heavily on Cleveland Garages having a car to suit you. And having bought from them you come under their servicing wing, with the full backing of one of the largest service and spares departments in the Channel islands.

Go, see Cleveland!

A Generous Soul – Part 1

John Watson (3 November 1850 – 6 May 1907), was a minister of the Free Church of Scotland. He is remembered as an author of fiction, known by his pen name Ian Maclaren. I'm currently reading his short story collection "St Jude", but am also fascinated by his life. Here was a man who stood out against a narrowness in his creed, and who was indeed "a generous soul".

The Life of The Rev. John Watson, D.D. "Ian Maclaren"
A Generous Soul
By W. Robertson Nicoll

John Watson's Roman Catholic ancestry made a factor not to be ignored in his life. He never, so far as I know, had any sympathy with the sacerdotal theory of the Latin Church ; indeed in almost the only public controversy he ever undertook he set himself to the demolition of that theory. All the same, as we shall see, the asceticism of the Roman Church had a strong fascination for him. He thoroughly believed in the sincere Christianity of Roman Catholic priests and people.

Sometimes in moments of doubt and perplexity his heart went back to the Churches where the faithful were peacefully singing the Hallelujah of the Resurrection as to a last inviolate sanctuary. He was once in a Roman Catholic church in Italy. Before the altar to the Virgin there was a woman, her lips moving devoutly in prayer. As she was making her way to' the door after ending her devotions, Watson asked her in Italian some question about the points of interest in the building. By and by the conversation turned upon the differences between the Roman Catholic and Protestant religions, especially in regard to the fact that Protestants do not address prayers to the Virgin.

" Don't you ever pray to the Mother of God? " " No," said Watson, " for it seems to me that all you find which is holy and helpful and adorable in the character of that most revered and beautiful of women, all that and infinitely more I find in her Divine Son." " Yes, sir," she said wistfully, " I understand that, but you are a man, and you do not know how a woman needs a woman to pray to." " My dear good soul," said Watson very gently, " yes, yes, I understand. I think I know something of a woman's heart, of a woman's needs. I take back all I said. Forgive it, forget it. Do not let any word of mine stand between you and your prayers to the Mother of our Lord."

On Sunday evenings in Liverpool when he had completed his hard and honourable labour he delighted in the company of Roman Catholic priests, and some of them, like Father Day and Father Castle, were among his warmest, most appreciative, and most beloved friends. Catholic mysticism always possessed for him a great and holding charm.

He could bear opposition; he could suffer to see himself despised or thrust aside if any good came of it. He used to buy things at a shop in Perth where the shopkeeper was not civil to him. He was asked why he continued to go where his custom was not wanted; and he answered that he was trying to soften that man by kindness.

When I’m 65

A well know tune, and a well known song, or not precisely that song by the Beatles, but something quite close to it, as I celebrated a recent birthday. Nice to write something light-hearted for a change too! Occasioned by receding hair, and having recently had a tooth extraction!

When I’m 65

Now that I’m older, lost most of my hair
Mostly grey hairs left
Will you be thinking that is a sign
Birthday greetings, age by design

If I’d been out to afternoon tea
Do you think I’d come alive
When my teeth leave me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-five

I could be handy, singing the blues
When my sight has gone
A cosy old armchair by the fireside
Sunday mornings, aching backside
Doing the garden, digging the weeds
Who says I just skive?
When my teeth leave me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-five

Send me an email, and drop me a text
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Growing older, wasting away
Memory fading, that’s the new norm
In bed I will snore
When my teeth leave me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-five

A Busy Month for Estate Agents

A Busy Month for Estate Agents
[From Jersey Topic 1965]

This has been a very busy month for estate agents and properties have been selling extremely quickly. There appears to be a big shortage of high priced properties and indeed one agent told me that he had never known so many people trying to find properties in the £20,000 upwards range. “We seem to have run out of them" he said. .

This month I have picked out three properties that are on estate agents books and which are well worth going to see.

Rumsey a Rumsey took me to see Tranquille at Les Ruisseax Estate, St. Brelade, which is a roomy three-bedroomed bungalow occupying the bottom corner plot in this exclusive estate where prices frequently nudge the £30,000 mark. This property is being sold for £16,950.

Social and delivery services are excellent in this area and the bungalow has the attraction of being on an end plot, which is very roomy. It also has direct access to Quaisne Common and the beach.

Langlois Estate Department took me to see Bel Air, St. Saviour. a very imposing Georgian house standing in two acres of land with a semi-circular carriage drive sweeping up to the main entrance.

This house is only two miles from St. Helier but it seems so much more remote by being surrounded by agricultural land and woods. The accommodation falls into three lots. The main house has five bedrooms, two bathrooms, three large reception rooms, kitchen, scullery and maid’s room and to the rear of this there is a guest cottage with four bedrooms, bathroom and two reception rooms. In addition there is a small staff cottage with two bedrooms, living room, kitchen and bathroom.

The asking price for this magnificent property is £30,000 but aliens are invited. Although some money would have to be spent inside the main house this is one of the most reasonably priced properties to come on the market for some time. It has some fine features and its nearness to St. Helier, air of gracious living and lovely matured gardens make it even more attractive.

William Bull & Co. have a very interesting property on their books at St. John. This is a granite house dating back to 1742 which is situated in three vergees of land with five bed- rooms, two reception rooms, kitchen and bathroom. The property also includes a four bedroomed cottage, a large lake in the grounds and an approved building site included in the price of £10,500.

A great deal could be done with this property.

On my way back from seeing this property Bulls took me to Highfield Vineries, St. Saviour. We have already featured these properties but the big news is that the price has dropped by £1,000 and they are now on the market for £11,750. At this price they are worth going to see.