A Generous Soul - Part 12

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

"Beside The Bonnie Brier Bush"

Almost immediately the nom-de- plume which he selected, Ian Maclaren, was widely recognised. He took the Gaelic form of his own Christian name John, and the surname of his mother. There was very little mystification about the authorship. His own friends knew the tales they had heard from him. Dr. George Adam Smith sent him a post-card on the appearance of the first sketch, " Bravo, Ian Maclaren ! " and was answered by another post-card containing the words, " Bravo, Higher Criticism ! "

“Each one was turned over in my mind for months before I put pen to paper. It took a prodigious amount of labour before I even had a story formed in my head. Then I blocked it out at one sitting. Then the thing was put aside while I went over and over in my mind each detail, each line of dialogue, each touch of description, determining on the proper place, attitude, share, colour, and quality of each bit, so that the whole might in the end be a unit, and not a bundle of parts. By and by came the actual writing with the revision and the correction which accompanies and follows. The actual composition of the Brier Bush occupied fifteen months. They were the more difficult because in every case the character is revealed in dialogue exclusively. It is different when the writer has a plot, because then there is something definite to hold the attention, and one can dash ahead, but I was compelled to make slow progress.”

The popularity of Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush and The Days of Auld Lang Syne made a great difference in Watson's position. He became well known to the British and the American public. His services as a speaker were demanded from all quarters. In 1896 he arranged with the well-known American lecture-manager, the late Major J. B. Pond, to make a tour in America. Mrs. Watson accompanied him, and the three months that followed were perhaps the busiest and most exciting of all his life.

Immediately before leaving America Watson was presented with an address from the Brotherhood of Christian Unity in which he was thanked for doing " a work of unspeakable value in awakening and uniting the deepest sympathies of our common human nature. To this great blessing you have added another by formulating a Creed of Christian life which embodies the spirit and essence of Christ's teachings. The change of emphasis from doctrine to life expresses a demand of the age and will give a new spirit and form to Christian civilisation. We accept your Life Creed not as a substitute for the historic creeds, but as an interpretation of them." The Creed referred to in the address was as follows :

A Life Creed

I believe in the Fatherhood of God.
I believe in the words of Jesus.
I believe in a clean heart.
I believe in the service of love.
I believe in the unworldly life.
I believe in the beatitudes.
I promise to trust God and follow Christ; 

to forgive my enemies, 

and to seek after the righteousness of God.

Spring Arising

Imbolc, the Pagan feast and the Christian Candlemas are both the subject of this poem, although perhaps the Pagan more than the Christian.

Spring Arising

The sap is rising in the trees
Fields ploughed, seed is sown
Yet still comes a frosty breeze
Fires burn in the hearthstone

Mary’s lamb comes out to play
Straw dolls hung over the door
Ewe gives birth on Imbolc day
And goddess Brigid, we adore

On eventide, shines candle’s light
Home and hearth warmed by fire
Stars are bright this sacred night
They shine in glory to inspire

Now rising the green blade of spring
And let us chant, and let us sing

The Coronation Year 70 Years Ago - January 1953 Part 1

By a curious coincidence of dates, the coronation year 2023 will be 70 years after the coronation date in 1953. I thought it would be of interest to look back during this year of some of the events taking place before, during and after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

JANUARY

1.-—-French colony’s New Year's Day reception held at the French Consulate, M. Leon Dubras being invested as a Chevalier de la Legion d‘Honneur.-The annual road races took place - records being shattered. At Springfield Jersey Island XI drew 1—1 with the visiting Delphian League team.

2.—Drainage scheme debated and approved at special topical sitting of the States. the Public Health Committee receiving a unanimous vote.

3.—A 24-ft. long fishing boat, the 222, with crew of three, goes aground off Ronez; efforts were made later to salvage the boat.

5.—Criminal Assizes: There was only one case on the calendar, that in which Derek Charles Durell was charged with the embezzlement of various sums received by him on behalf of his employer, Mr. R. H. Lawrence. Burglars break into the New Era Cinema. an unsuccessful attempt being made to open a safe.

6.—Unanimous verdict of not guilty returned in the Assize case in which Derek Durell was charged with embezzlement, and accused was. formally discharged. RMIJ. Association hold annual Peirson Day dinner, His Excellency proposing the principal toast.

7.—Presentation of cheque for £200 made by parishioners of Grouville to the Rector. the Rev. J. H. Valpy, who retired on January lst.

9.—Jersey Blind Society annual charity ball held at. West Park Pavilion.

10.—At the Royal Court today a Remonstrance was brought against Advocate P. H. Giffard by Messrs. G. A. Ameghino and R. P. A. Nelson alleging highly scandalous and defamatory charges. Inquest verdict of natural causes recorded in the inquiry into the death of Mr. A. G. Bisson, of 31 Hue Street. Amateur boxing championships held at Springfield.

11.—Annual Peirson Day memorial service held at St. Helier's Parish Church.

12.—Meeting held on the subject of civil defence at the Town Hall, few people attending.

13.—First sitting of States debates compensation for cattle destroyed under the foot-and-mouth regulations; the affairs of the Jersey Electricity Company were also discussed, a resolution presented by Senator Richardson on the matter being eventually withdrawn; the Public Instruction Committee presented an Act asking for a credit vote of £61,195 for a selective school for girls in part of the Town Arsenal, but a. decision on this was postponed until after the Financial Report. Meeting of farmers, merchants and other interested parties at the Town Hall decide to set up a co-operative scheme for the marketing of potatoes.

14.—Annual dinner of Trinity municipality.

15.—States: Senator Richardson re-presents his Resolution concerning the affairs of the Jersey Electricity Company, which was adopted unanimously ; the expiring Fiscal Laws were renewed, income tax again being fixed at 4/- ; the Report on St. Ouen’s Bay development was rejected by 31 votes to 14. Annual dinner and dance of Jersey Green Room Club. Annual prize-giving and speech day of De La Salle College. 

A Generous Soul - Part 11

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

Boy and Pepper Pot

He wrote to my husband offering to preach for him, and gave us a memorable day both at Church and at home. During dinner on Sunday, our six-year-old boy, who was sitting next to Dr. Watson, upset his glass of water, and overcome with shame, took refuge under the table weeping and saying " I can't come out, I'm far too ashamed."

Watson, seizing the pepper-pot and a broken piece of bread for purposes of illustration said, " Athol, here's a shipwreck! Look how the waves are creeping over the vessel. Ah ! it's going to be wrecked. See, there's a lighthouse, come and see if we can't save this poor ship," and by degrees the sobs ceased, and a tearful but deeply interested face appeared from under the table. 

Not a glance was cast in the boy's direction, and the rescue of the vessel proceeded, till all was peace and joy. He understood the boy's nature so well even during that short visit, and urged us not to let him work too hard when he went to school.

At home he was the soul of good humour and kindliness. He possessed the habits of a business man, and nothing fretted him like casualness. Morning prayers over, he read the paper and his letters either before or during breakfast. At nine he was ready for his study. He typed answers to his correspondence, and then worked on till lunch. The afternoon was spent in visiting the congregation, or in fulfilling some business engagement. His evenings latterly were almost always occupied, but in the earlier part of his ministry many were free. He loved to see his young men, and he was especially successful in winning their confidence. He used to say : " If you get young men into your study, let them smoke. It is as a man lights his pipe that he gives you his confidence." 

In his library he was perfectly happy. He loved books, and he bought them. He had some dozen or so valuable first editions, and a fine collection of beautiful art books, though he was never extravagant in his hobby. He had the book-collector's reverence for books. He never marked a book all his life, and could not bear to see one ill-used, ill-cut, or in danger of getting soiled. He could not read a dirty library book; in fact he was altogether aesthetic as a reader or collector. He never tired of imploring young men to read, and regarded systematic reading as a great factor of success.

Soundings

This poem is a reflection on losing one's hearing, sign languages, with a nod to Walter De La Mare's poem.

Soundings

The knock on the door was unheard
And the traveller left on lonely road
Inside noises were muffled, blurred
As if the sounds found no abode

Silence: lips move but nothing said
Gestures, faces, but never a sound
An inner ear, the destroyed thread
Voices speak but they are drowned

Gestures flow, and gestures speak
No spoken words, but silence voice
Another language, and it’s all Greek
Another culture, and another choice

I take soundings, as I lose my hearing
A different landscape now appearing

A Day in the Life of An Ambulance Driver

[Note - if a copy appears on Jerripedia, it was my transcription stolen from here without credit]

A Day in the Life of An Ambulance Driver
By Lou Chalkley
Jersey Topic, 1966

In 1965 the States of Jersey Ambulance Service conveyed 9,275 patients. The nature of the cases included special treatments, X-ray, maternity and accident patients. August was the month with the highest accident figures. Car crashes, accidents involving motor cycles or motor scooters, pedal cycles totalled 306. Other  topical classifications included treatment for injuries in the home or at work, in the street or on the beaches. In addition 1,043 journeys were made by members of the Voluntary Hospital Car Service in transporting patients to the General Hospital and returning them home after treatments. Transport was arranged with Ambulance Services in England on 23 occasions, and 35 escorts were provided from the St. John Ambulance Brigade's Male and Nursing Divisions.

What kind of men operate this essential service on the island ? Calming the nervous. treating the injured, dealing with the mentally ill—these are but a few of the problems which face an ambulance man each day. Very often a life is at stake. Qualifications must therefore include a calm temperament, proficiency in first-aid and the capability of handling any situation from an air crash to the delivery of a baby. Jersey Ambulance Service Men must be first-class drivers and have a better knowledge of the highways and by-ways than a local taxi-driver. Above all they must be dedicated to their chosen profession.


Lou Chalkley and Philip Attenet are two such young men who work as a team. For them an early-shift day starts at 6.45 a.m. Upon arrival at the Midvale Road Ambulance Station their first duty is to complete an intensive check of their vehicle. The States now own four large Morris Ambulances and one hospital car. Lou and Phil are responsible for the maintenance of their general-purpose ambulance - code name A3. It is fibreglass (thus facilitating easy cleaning) and of the very latest design. The all-round vision windows provide an important safety factor.

The men carefully check the standard equipment which includes a Neal-Robertson stretcher, a conventional spare stretcher and collapsible carrying chair. There are ropes for cliff rescue work, wellington boots and safety helmets for other emergencies. Each vehicle is also required to carry an ample supply of blankets and pillows, with sterile sheets large enough to cover a person in the event of burns. The spinal fracture board is also on the regulation list. All States Ambulances now carry Redisplint—a quick, simple and efiective first-aid splint and pressure bandage. This Parke-Davis innovation promptly immobilises fractures. and helps to control swellings or venous bleeding in cut or crush injuries. This double-walled transparent plastic tube permits constant visual observation and X-ray examination while the limb remains protected. The first-aid box and British Oxygen ‘Minute Man' must be within easy reach of the driver or attendant.

The Station's Radio Room is the nucleus of the entire service. Direct 999 and hospital calls are received and transmitted by land-line. The contact between base and each vehicle is maintained by remote control via the States Telecommunications at St. Mary’s. There are four radio switches on the flashing blue beacon light and accelerates the vehicle along Victoria Avenue. Density of traffic drowns the warning bell and it is hoped that sirens will soon be installed.

There has been a collapse case at Quennevais School. Phil prepares a Brooks respirator—this is an easy-to-carry mouth-to-mouth device, which acts as a speedy substitute for the ‘Minute Man.‘ As it happened artificial respirators were not needed on this occasion. The patient was a young boy conscious upon arrival and was able to walk with Phil's aid. Next stop the casualty department of the General Hospital. From here further instructions to proceed first to Rouge Bouillon and then St. Peters.

At 1.30 p.m. the ambulance is driven back to the station. There is at last time for a welcome cup of tea. The shift technically ends at 1.45 p.m. but anything can happen—and the drivers are often required to work overtime at a moments notice. In major disasters standbys are called in. “Every single job is so different all require a sense of purpose. many a sense of humour" said Lou "It is always rewarding."

There is close co-operation between this service and those of the Fire Service and Police. The ambulance conveyance and possible first-aid service costs the patient nothing. Many people hesitate before dialling for the ambulance—often a life could be saved if only people were more expedient.

Prospects of promotion are reasonable—and, during the summer months the men can clock up overtime to their £14.00 weekly basic.

Lou and Phil are great friends both on and off the job and devote much of their spare time to voluntary ambulance work. Such friendships are vital in a job which is more than just a day of work.

Grand Vaux: Unprecedented Flooding - the Falsification from History

I see the investigation into the flooding is starting. The plan for Grand Vaux for 2018 was not updated. The last Island strategic flood risk plan of 2021 looked at the effect of climate change for coastal regions rather than inland, and stated that flooding at Grand Vaux was a once in a hundred years event - despite the fact there was flooding in 2015 impacting with flooding of homes.

See

http://tonymusings.blogspot.com/2023/01/grand-vaux-floods-still-1-in-100-year.html

for the last review which had it as once every 100 years!

The news last night had it as once in 30 years. 

Why don't people realise that one impact of climate change is AN INCREASE in severe weather events, be it high winds, or heavy rainfall. This government needs to revise mitigation to minimise flooding, the last one which ended in 2022 did nothing about it at all. Maybe former DOI Minister Kevin Lewis should answer a few questions? It really doesn't surprise me that the last government did little to deal with the issues involved.

Here are some stories which show clearly that "unprecedented" rainfall and flooding at Grand Vaux is actually far less unprecedented that is claimed! Doesn't anyone ever reseach the recent history of these events before coming out with what is palpable nonsense? If ever there was a falsification of the theory that these are once in a hundred years or even thirty years, the history gives clear evidence that it is false.

One more thing to add: flood contingency plans which involve how to evacuate are insufficient. It's like saying that we need more lifeboats after the Titanic. We do need more lifeboats. But we also need in place plans to stop them being needed in the first place. Flood plans should include measures to address and mitigate flooding, in the same way that shipping disasters don't get fixed purely by lifeboat evacuation plans but by better safety measures to ensure they are not needed. It is like saying of  the cruise liner which went aground in the Mediterranean - it doesn't matter if there is an inept captain at the helm as long as we have good lifeboat drills! Unfortunately, Jersey's government from 2018-2022 has had an inept captain at the helm.

And by the way, the clear up photo above comes from the 2015 flooding!

2015 - "Unprecedented Rainfall"

https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2015/08/14/we-were-given-these-daft-flood-barriers-which-just-do-not-work/

Five years ago, following repeated flooding, the most at-risk properties at Grands Vaux were given defence barriers to place at their front doors in the event of severe weather.

But one resident has claimed that water poured into his hall after water seeped in around a faulty rubber seal on the barrier, another claimed that although her barrier stopped the water entering the front of her house, the unprotected rear was left flooded. And several others said that drainage in the area needed to be improved.

Ten homes in Nicholson Close were flooded with water up to a foot deep during Wednesday night as almost a month’s worth of rain fell in less than 12 hours.

Nicholson Close resident, Rickey Lawrence (57), claimed that it was the fifth time that the area had flooded in eight years and that yesterday’s flood was the worst he had ever seen.

‘We were given these daft flood barriers which just do not work. They are poor quality and the water just comes in around the seal.’

Mr Porter [of Andium Homes] said: ‘Met office figures indicate that in just a few hours more than 40mm of rainfall fell, this is almost the entire average rainfall for August and is unprecedented.

‘At Nicholson Close residents report that the drainage coped well with the downpour until, it seems, the sheer volume of rain appears to have washed ground from neighbouring fields which entered the main drainage network resulting in water levels rising.

30 December 2021 - Flooded Roads

https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2021/12/30/call-for-action-to-end-frequent-flooding-of-valle-des-vaux-road

RESIDENTS are calling for the parish of St Helier to take urgent action to tackle flooding in Vallée des Vaux – claiming it has blighted the area for almost three decades.

Heavy rainfall can see parts of the road completely submerged, with water overflowing from an adjacent stream, creating a hazard for drivers and pedestrians.

Tony Allchurch, a member of the Vallée des Vaux community group, said one mother had had to be given a wooden board so that she could walk across her driveway with a pram.

‘They [the parish] were trying to direct the water down the side of the road until there was a place it could fall back into the stream, but a lot of the bollards have just moved out of position and the few sandbags that were trying to hold it in place just could not cope,’ he said.

St Helier officials are considering creating gulleys in the area to stop water overflowing from an adjacent stream and becoming a hazard to road users.

Silvio Alves, the parish’s head of infrastructure, said his team had been trying to direct the water back into the stream and had used sandbags to help mitigate the flooding.

He said: ‘Vallée des Vaux does occasionally flood when there is very wet weather due to the stream overflowing. There are a couple of bridges that are potentially causing the issue and the parish will be investigating this further in the new year. We have got a possible solution. We may add some gulleys down there, but we will work with the stream owner and the residents to find a workable solution.’

2010 Questions in the States - Flooding a Once in 40 year Occasion after 2010 floods!

https://statesassembly.gov.je/assemblyquestions/2010/13.09.10%20questions%20to%20minister%20without%20notice%20housing.pdf

3.4 Deputy J.A. Hilton of St. Helier: Can the Minister tell Members whether he is satisfied that the flood-prevention measures that have been put in place by the Housing Department are adequate for flooding which has occurred recently at Grand Vaux? 

Deputy S. Power:

I am happy to tell the Deputy and the Assembly that both myself, my Assistant Minister, and a number of officers from the Housing Department, visited Grand Vaux on the occasion and then visited Grand Vaux afterwards. We had, just the previous week, fitted specially-designed aluminium shuttering that runs to the front door. 

It is only one small part of Grand Vaux that is affected. There was flooding. The volume of water that came down during that extraordinary downpour is not typical; I believe it is a once-in-40-year occasion. 

We have also been in touch with T.T.S. (Transport and Technical Services), we have examined the dimensions and the diameter of the main drains up there and we are now looking, with T.T.S., as to what else we can do. I believe I am correct in saying it is a 9-inch main which simply cannot cope with conditions that occurred on that afternoon. 

Grand Vaux Floods: Still a 1 in 100 year event?

Having the largest water catchment in Jersey the Grands Vaux Reservoir is critical to the Jersey Water Supply Infrastructure. It is periodically used to capture and transfer water to Queen’s Valley Reservoir and to allow general supply schemes to operate. This means that there is limited capacity in the reservoir to attenuate flood flows generated from significant rainfall within the catchment. ,

The Grands Vaux Reservoir basin is small and can fill very rapidly during a storm. The flood volume, in severe weather, can be greater than the capacity of the basin and, in combination with the steep topography of the land around the reservoir, the reservoir frequently overflows as it is designed to do.

The topography of the area immediately downstream of the dam consists of a steep sided, narrow valley which channels any overtopped water down the valley into St Helier. As a control measure, the downstream (school) bypass culvert is continuously monitored for level and blockages by Jersey Water’s 24 hour control room. The existing drainage network in St Helier can accommodate low return period events like the 1 in 1 year (100% AEP) but would be unable to handle events of greater magnitude (lower AEP)

Modelling of the Grands Vaux Reservoir indicates that a 1 in 100 year (0.1% AEP) return period rainfall event, with more than 53mm of rain within a 6 hour duration, could have significant effects on the area downstream. The latest States of Jersey Grands Vaux Flood Plan was updated in July 2018 and contains details of the multiagency response to flooding due to an extreme storm event resulting in an increase of water in the catchment and subsequent reservoir overflow. The flood plan details the triggers and activation process of the plan if a forecasted or un-forecasted flood event was to occur.

The flood plan also shows the area at risk of flooding if the reservoir was to overflow during an extreme storm event. It should be noted that a review of the treatment of reservoirs within a planning policy context has been undertaken to understand how the risks associated with the overflow of the Grands Vaux Reservoir during more extreme storm events might be considered within the Island Plan Review. This is of particular interest for Government of Jersey as St Helier is the primary urban centre in the island and may be the focus for growth within the Plan Review period.

https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Planning%20and%20building/R%20Jersey%20Strategic%20Flood%20Risk%20Assessment%202021%20AECOM.pdf

Wolf Moon

I wanted something dark and even creepy for this January mood poem, so we have a variety of spooky comings and goings. There's a nod to the Wolf Man, Count Magnus, and Dracula (the 1930s version).

Wolf Moon

The dark cold sky, the bright wolf moon
Howling begins, children of the night
The wolf-bane blooms so very soon
And the time of the wolf is in sight

Shapes move in trees on a lonely hill
Screams, and mocking laughter heard
A dark pilgrimage casts shadows still
The beating of wings, the death bird

In the castle, the awakening starts
Deep in the crypt, where coffins lay
Movement in coffins, beating hearts
As those undead come out to play

The Grey King rises on mountain peak
His breath is ice, and he will speak

Le Moulin de Lecq: Jersey Topic Feature 1966

Le Moulin de Lecq: Jersey Topic Feature 1966

[Note - if a copy appears on Jerripedia, it was my transcription stolen from here without credit]

Le Moulin de Lecq was one of the many ancient water mills of the Island. It retains the topical name it bore over 600 years ago.

It was a working Flour Mill as late as 1929, commandeered by the Germans during the Occupation of Jersey, and used to generate power for their searchlight batteries in this part of the Island throughout the war years until the Liberation.

In April 1955 the ‘Mill’ was granted a licence, and it was decided to convert it into an ‘Inn’, restoring the original Outside Water Wheel, which weighs 18 tons and has a diameter of 21 feet and works entirely by the weight of water as it did hundreds of years ago.

  

Around the inside working Mill machinery a most delightful ‘Mill Room Cocktail Bar and Lounge’ has been designed. The 'Granary Cocktail Bar’ upstairs, where all the grinding took place, has an atmosphere of its own and contains many of the instruments of the old mill, with its parafin lamps and corn sack style cushions.

The ‘Inn' has become one of the show places of Jersey with its very attractive young ladies dressed in Breton costume to serve you. Standing in several acres of its own meadow and woodland, at night it presents a wonderful picture as it is beautifully floodlit.

The Inn is open all day during the season, from 11 am. To 11 p.m., except Sundays 12.00 to 1 p.m., and 3.30 pm. to 10 pm.

A very delightful and warm welcome always awaits you at Le Moulin de Lecq.

A Generous Soul - Part 10

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

Watson considered that it was the duty of a minister, unless in exceptional circumstances, to maintain neutrality in politics in so far as his public actions were concerned. He also disliked the habit of discussing political questions in ecclesiastical courts.

But no one had more of the civic conscience, and few equalled him in the energy of patriotism. One of his great ambitions and it was largely realised was to train young men in his church to care for the life of the community, and to take, when the opportunity came, an active part in municipal affairs. He never ceased to glorify municipal work. It was his deliberate conviction that the worth of such work was seriously and dangerously underrated in our country.

He sometimes incurred censure for the vehemence with which he expressed himself on this subject. He held that among the various influences which make for the good of the common life, none ought to be more carefully fostered than the pride in the city local patriotism as distinguished from the Imperial patriotism into which the other flows as a river into the ocean. He held that no honour was too generous to be paid to men who with every qualification of intelligence and integrity, with every private reason to safeguard their leisure and to gratify their honourable tastes, have entered the City Council and worked to make the city more like the City of God.

He dreaded the passing of local politics into the hands of professional managers manipulating affairs for their own aggrandisement, and the shadow of the calamity which has fallen largely on American municipal life often oppressed and grieved him. While deprecating the idea that the Church as an organisation should take a direct part in politics or interfere directly in trade disputes, he pleaded that she should use her whole influence through her children in working for the happiness of the people.

He believed that the Church could help the Kingdom best in this way, and he hoped that long before the twentieth century ended, every man would have a home of some kind where he lived in peace and decency with his wife and his children, that the gross temptations of the city the public-houses at every corner, and the scenes in Piccadilly Circus at night would be brought to an end, and that every man would be willing to work, and work honestly, and receive a fair wage to keep himself and his family.

He longed to see an end of the alienation between the people and the Church, and he believed that the time was coming when the poor and miserable would know that Christ by His Body the Church was their best friend.

He also frankly expressed his desire for the day when every young man in the country in ordinary circumstances would be invited in an extremely pressing manner to become a member of one of the armed forces of the country, whether military or naval. When that day came, not only would the country be impregnable against foreign attack, but a very great benefit would be conferred on the young men. They would get bodies erect instead of slouching, and they would be taught obedience and subordination as well as courage and loyalty.

From his pulpit he constantly stimulated the civic conscience, and taught a large view of the State. He repudiated wholly the notion that the State was nothing but a night-watchman to protect the property and person of the lieges. The business of the State was so to regulate the corporate life that every member of the commonwealth should come to his full height, and have his full opportunity of living. That was a happy State which maintained a just balance between justice and benevolence.

Few things were more disheartening to him than to see the very different attitudes of obligation which the ordinary man had to his family and to the State. He would sink himself in the interests of the family, but he was indifferent or neutral to the State. Especially he was cold to the municipal State, and had never come within a thousand miles of believing that the government of the State was a divine ordinance, or that the local State was the nurse of character, ,and the sphere where citizens could rise to the stature of moral independence. Whatever might be the benefits of the party system, party should never be served at the expense of the community.

A Bay in January

I wanted a light, mood poem, for January, capturing the feel of place, of different times, and of a seaside in winter. There's also a nod to the John Carpenter film "The Fog".

A Bay in January

The mist is rising from the sea
And the Pirates come ashore
Time to hide, or time to flee
Ancient curses of folk lore

A smugglers moon, low tide
Small boats glide into bay
Lantern serves as their guide
Between rocks on inward way

Low tide, dogs walking on sand
Gentle waves that hardly form
On the cliffs, the sea gulls land
Preparing for the winter storm

Our bay in the winter, all delight
Whether in darkness or in light

Beautiful Homes of Jersey: Loge du Tisserand (1966)

Beautiful Homes of Jersey: Loge du Tisserand.
From Jersey Topic, 1966

[Note - if a copy appears on Jerripedia, it was my transcription stolen from here without credit]

In ancient bygone days Jersey must have been a wonderful place in which to live if you happened to be rich. The social whirl in and around manor houses must have been quite something. And not only were the manors splendid homes but entertaining was carried out on a large scale. Today the manor houses are still magnificent residences and still remain very much as they were, However their immediate surroundings have altered and many of the servants cottages and farmworkers houses have disappeared.

One or two farmworkers cottages of that era still remain and have been converted for topical modern living by their owners. Two such cottages go to make the home of Mr. and Mrs. P. Scragg of Loge du Tisserand, Trinity. The name means “house of the weaver" but it has no historic interest other than the fact that the man who did the first conversion of the two properties in 1957 was a Mr. Weaver.

Mr. and Mrs. Scragg bought the property last year. It suited them ideally. Mr. Scragg is a designer of textile machinery and was technical director of the whole of the Ernest Scragg and Son organisation. His type of creative work requires peace and quiet. “As I became more and more an inventor I wondered why I bothered about living in Britain" he said. “I reasoned that I could just as well be designing and living in nice surroundings with a decent climate” he said.

As you enter the hall of the house you are struck by the immediate feeling that you are in a home. Everything about it is warm and friendly, from the carpets to the. granite staircase with wrought iron railwork. There is in the hall a magnificent oak and mahogany Welsh dresser which is steeped in the history of Sutton Hall, a baronial house of the Macclesfield area. On the wall of the hall is a superb piece of craftsmanship—a printing block with which the Macclesfield mill workers used to hand-print silk. “I went into a factory one day and saw them piling these blocks up to burn them because they had no use for them. They are really quite wonderful pieces of craftsmanship and to see this no longer made me feel very sad” said Mr. Scragg-

The outstanding room in the whole house is undoubtedly the lounge. This is 45 feet long and was originally the two main rooms of the cottage.

The Scraggs knocked down the dividing wall to give the room a pleasing but dramatic proportion and a section of a granite wall acts as a room divider. At the east end of the room is an original fireplace which dates back to the 1700’s and some of the original cross-beams have been tastefully refurbished. In this room you feel Mrs. Scraggs love of soft colours—lovely tones of green match with autumnal golds and browns and the whole effect is that of a charming cottage but on a grander scale.

At the west end of the room is another fireplace and a bar area with a television as part of the diversion. “We were genuinely a little worried at first by the sheer size of the room but as each area has a function we find we are less aware of the size than we first thought we might be” said Mrs. Scragg. French antique furniture and Regency-style chairs complete the general feeling of well-being which the room generates.

The kitchen is a dream. It has been designed so that everything is close at hand and there is no need for a wasted movement.

One end of the kitchen is wood panelled and makes an ideal eating area for the family. Typical of the planning that has gone into the kitchen is the ironing board. This folds away inside of a draw. When Mrs. Scragg has to iron she opens the drawer, the ironing board drops out and a leg goes into place . . . presto and ready for ironing!

A split-level cooker makes for ease of operation and everything else is built around this to be in the best position.

“I enjoy working in my kitchen" said Mrs. Scragg. “I buzz about and only get cross when I find that I haven’t put something back in its right position.”

Next to the lounge and just off from the kitchen is a small but charming dining room. This is furnished with pieces of furniture which the Scraggs have taken over 10 years to collect. There is a Sheraton sideboard from an old house in Cheshire. “We had to bring this to Jersey upside down because the legs were so weak. It is over 200 years old and has certainly seen some history. I think this will have been its last journey.“

The dining room table is of a later period and the Chippendale-style chairs complete the style which is again cottagy but full of flair.

Next to the dining room and still on the same level is the master bedroom. Here yellow and gold are the predominant colours in this bedroom with its Louis XVth-style furniture and the effect is one of a spring morning. Attached to this bedroom is a study and a bathroom en suite. “We decided to put a study there because Mr. Scragg is an inventor and You know what inventors are. In the middle of the night he will suddenly get up, stricken with an idea that he must put to paper.”

The Scraggs have two children, a boy aged 10 and a girl, aged 11. They each have their own bedroom upstairs, with lovely views over farmyards, fields and countryside. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. Both bedrooms are simply furnished but alive with summer colours, given extra charm by the large dormer windows.

Outside of the house as you enter the drive through a large archway is an outhouse. This has been converted by the Scraggs into two bedrooms, a bathroom and living room, either for staff or for visitors. There is also a swimming pool at the rear of the house.

Loge du Tisserand is a fine example of the conversion of old property into well-planned living accommodation in keeping with the 1960’s. The Scraggs have made it a comfortable and leisurely home as opposed to a show place and this comes through very forcibly when you go around the house. As Mrs. Scragg put it: “A house is meant to be lived in not looked at.”

Voting on reinstating the Senators

A vote will take place later this month to reinstate the Senators. But where are the seats going to come from? If it happened, the most likely option is from the ranks of the Deputies.

Potentially, if Deputies seats are reduced, this puts the following last placed at risk:

 
Lyndon Farnham
Montfort Tadier
Andy Howell
Stephen Ahier
Geoff Southern
David Warr
Philip Ozouf Jr
Karen Wilson
Rose Binet

Lyndon Farnham, bringing the proposition, probably doesn't care, and presumably thinks he will do better as a Senator than scraping in last place with 50 votes between him and the two candidates below him.

But I wonder how the others feel? Reform's 10 member party could be depleted by 2 members, and of the others, 3 are Ministers, one is an Assistant Minister.

I think there are two other weaknesses with reverting back to the Senators.

Firstly, the pool of States members for Chief Minister could be depleted. When there were Senators, it was assumed that the Chief Minister would, on an Islandwide mandate, be from their ranks. But that restricts the number of able people to a mere 8 members of the States, while there may be others who are equally if not more able, outside those ranks. But who wants to risk all and - as has happened - crash out of the States? Good men and women have been lost because of that system.

And also the ability of outsiders to jump into the ranks of Senators mean that potentially, those with no local political experience whatsoever, could leapfrog into the States, and in the past that has been a mixed blessing, as some have proven themselves adept as Ministers, others quite frankly would probably not have been Ministers if they had not come high as Senators. 

Do we really want to go back to the situation which has given us two Chief Ministers of no great distinction - Terry Le Sueur, who botched the situation with Bill Ogley, and effectively cost Jersey a huge golden handshake, who also tried to sabotage the setting up of a care inquiry. And yet it was him or Alan Breckon. And when John Le Fondre came to power, it was part of a behind the scenes deal with Reform, who with five votes, nonetheless held balance of power as kingmakers.

And secondly, the Islandwide mandate always has shown a bias away from the more urban areas. Because of the low turnouts in St Helier, especially, the Senators have been weighted against St Helier, and in favour of smaller country Parishes, who can punch above their weight. By having districts with Deputies, although there is a low turnout, there is a more even distribution of seats among the population, so that although turnout may be lower, St Helier is not disadvantaged because of that, and the proportionality allows it to have a number of seats appropriate to its higher level of population.

Finally, let the current system time to bed in before more tampering with it. It was difficult enough getting these changes through - an independent commission was hijacked by Sir Philip Bailhache and proved an abject failure, a number of varied propositions, including one by Lyndon Farnham, have been proposed and failed. And despite being passed, a reargard action was fought after the States vote to block the final implementation. There are sufficient problems of more import than this navel gazing and it's time to put it to bed for a while.

A Generous Soul - Part 9

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


Much of his time and strength were given to consultation, and this he ever considered a primary department of his work. His Roman Catholic affinities partly fitted and prepared him for this.

It is the custom (he said) of Protestants to denounce the confessional, and not without reason for the claim of a priest to hear confessions and absolve is a profane interference between the soul and Christ but it would be wise to remember that there are times and moods and circumstances when every person desires to open his heart to some brother-man, when some persons cannot otherwise get relief. 

To whom are these persons to go? What they want is one who has a wide experience of life, who is versed in human nature, who is accustomed to keep secrets, who has faith in God and man, whose office invites and sanctions confidence. Who fulfils those conditions so perfectly as the minister of Christ? and is it not good that there is within reach one ordained to be a friend unto every one who is lonely and in distress of mind?

His rules for consultation were well thought out and strictly adhered to. He only received such confidences as were freely offered. He hated anything like prying into people's private affairs and pursuing a clue to the end. Curiosity and meddlesomeness were forbidden to a true pastor. Neither should he encourage the revelation of anything more than was necessary to enable him to give his advice. 

For example, if a woman states that she has a heavy sin on her conscience, and indicates that her husband has no idea of it, then the pastor should suggest that they should speak of the matter in general terms, and, if he knows the goodness of her husband, that she ought to confess the sin, whatever it may be, to him. Afterwards the pastor advises her how to meet and overcome this sin if it should rise again, and so this human soul has not been put to shame, but has gained help without losing self-respect. 

The pastor, though he has taken no oath of secrecy, must regard every confidence as absolutely sacred, and will on no account, except at the command of the law, reveal what has been told him in consultation.

This was a rule on which Watson specially insisted, and to which he most closely adhered. It may be safely said that he never broke a confidence. The very thought of such treason seemed to fill him with horror. 

He betrayed, I remember, considerable excitement when he heard that many of the letters addressed to Henry Drummond by those in straits had been preserved. Drummond, like Watson, was one to whom men laid bare their hearts and their lives, and he was. ready to give himself to their help without stint. Drummond, too, was never known to break a secret of the confessional.

Watson was careful to destroy at once any letter recording the sad secrets of humanity. He did not fear so much that pastors might be consciously dishonourable. What he dreaded was mere leakiness. " The pastor does not consider his own wife a privileged person in this matter, for though she might be the most prudent and reticent of women, yet it would embarrass his people to know that their secrets were shared with her. The high honour of doctors, who carry in their breasts so many social tragedies, is an example to be followed by the clerical profession."

The pastor should direct all those who consult him to accept Christ as Saviour and Friend, giving also such practical counsel as he can, especially urging restitution, reformation, watchfulness, as the case might be. I know that very many who were in trouble went to him. I know that as time passed scarcely any phase of suffering and anxiety and sin was unfamiliar to him. He found many precedents as he grew older, and was furnished with many aids for emergency. But sometimes he was overwhelmed by the misery of it all.

Watson had many who consulted him about the difficulties of faith. Here his quick insight served him well. He could distinguish between the earnest sceptic and the man who was playing with doubt. He had fought his own way and knew the conditions of the struggle. There was no trouble he would not take for those whose perplexities were real. His large and liberal conception of Christianity, his sharp discrimination between the essential and the non-essential, his vivid belief in Christ as the centre of his creed, all came out in such dealings.

But for those who were merely trying to puzzle him he had small tolerance, and on occasion, though rarely, he would use his wit and sarcasm on their vanity. The result of it all may be summed up in his favourite motto, " Be kind, for every one is fighting a hard battle."

He was never meddlesome, censorious, unsympathetic. Every year he saw more of the temptations of life and the goodness of human nature. For the innocent gaiety and lighter follies of youth he had a vast toleration, for the sudden disasters of manhood an unfailing charity, for the unredeemed tragedies of age a great sorrow. 

Life was a hard fight for every one, and it was not his to judge or condemn; his it was to understand, to help, to comfort, for these people were his children, his pupils, his patients ; they were the sheep Christ has given him, for whom Christ died.