Mortality Visible

Mortality Visible

Foolishness reigns, no more the wise
In darkness, unseen, hid from our eyes
And hatred, and fear, rules all our days
Darkest charisma, a leader gains praise.

No resting, no calm, but noise in the night
As fire from heaven, a warfare of might
Drones, like the hornets, high soaring above
And lost is the hope, of goodness and love.

Praying for peace, the pathways of light
An opening of eyes, not veiling our sight;
Bring justice and mercy, O help us to see
Before ending of days, for you and for me

1974 - 50 years ago - February Part 2

1974 - 50 years ago - February Part 2

16—Travel firms could soon control nearly ten per cent of Jersey's tourist beds—either by direct ownership at hotels or by arrangements which give them exclusive use of establishments. In recent months at least half a dozen premises have been bought by tour operators and the trend is expected to accelerate as travel firms see their competitors acquiring more beds in the Island.

17.—-A 59-year-old Frenchman. M. Jean Robic, was found dead at the foot of a staircase at his home at Maufant this evening. He appeared to have fallen down the stairs and hit his head on a. windowsill. It is likely than an inquest will be held.

18.-—Miss Maud Ogier, BA (Loud). a former mistress at the Jersey College for Girls and now living at St. Martin was 100 today.

19 .—Jersey’s first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease for nearly 17 years was officially confirmed late this morning, and as a result the whole Island has been declared an infected area. The confirmation came after a further clinical examination of the ten animals—nine cows and a yearling bull—at Mr. Harold Vibert’s farm at Woodlands St.Ouen.

20.—No further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been reported since ten animals were slaughtered and buried at Mr. Harold Vibert’s farm, Woodlands, St. Ouen yesterday afternoon. But severe restrictions on the movement of all animals are being put into operation. Jersey Zoo at Augrés Manor, Trinity, has been closed for a week as a precaution.

21.—Poker games allegedly for high stakes at the premises known as The Millionaires on the Weighbridge led to the appearance in the dock at the Police Court this morning of Christopher Michael Georgiou (29), a native of Cyprus. He pleaded guilty to the offences against the Gambling Law and was remanded on £200 bail until next Thursday. The accused was brought back to Court this afternoon and the Magistrate was told that there was a warrant out in the UK under the Theft Act for his arrest. The Magistrate withdrew bail and ordered remand in custody.

22.—The publicity campaign to recruit youth leaders has successfully reached the target set by the Jersey Youth Movement in less than three weeks. Over 90 volunteers have contacted Youth Adviser Mr. Tom Keir Hardie as potential helpers to boost the Island’s “ Open ” clubs and uniformed organizations.

23.—Work is expected to start this autumn on new buildings to house two expanding educational departments at Victoria College. The more futuristic of the schemes is a two-storey octagonal music and drama centre which will be sited between the Howard Davis Hall and the recently completed science block. The other new department will be a six-form centre, which together with the new junior changing rooms, will involve the rebuilding of an existing part or the main college.

25.—No further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. have been reported, but Department of Agriculture officials stress that there must be no relaxation of controls for at least another two weeks.

26.——Jersey’s chief immigration officer Mr. Alan Le Brun and Mrs. Daphne Minihane were at Buckingham Palace today to receive from the Queen Mother the insignia of the Order of the British Empire awarded them in the New Year Honours. Mr. Le Brun was made OBE and Mrs. Minihane was made a Member of the Order in recognition of her services to the community.

27.—-The Jersey Unit of the Sea Cadet Corps is again the top unit in the whole of the British Isles. This morning, their Commanding Officer, Lt.-Cdr. DE Allo, RNR, was informed that the unit has been awarded the Canada Trophy which they last held in 1970.

28.-—-When fire broke out early this morning in a second-floor at the Grand Hotel on the Esplanade, the 66-year-old occupant, a company director, said to be a " sick man ”. was fortunate to escape with minor burns.

The War Zone

An acrostic for a change today.

The War Zone

Pray for the children, their torn lives
Ruined by the war. Who survives
And lives is a throw of the dice, chance:
Yet day by day more die, a macabre dance;
Fight the good fight, but this is not that:
Once a proper justification, lost in diktat;
Revenge is now the meal, eaten hot:
Careless leaders stir hatred in the pot;
Every day a child is wounded, or dies,
And a deaf world cannot hear the cries;
Such is political expediency, not to hear
Every mother weeping, every last tear;
Fear stalks the land, and peace is vain:
Incessant drones fall as deadly rain,
Reach into the towns, bringing pain;
Every time a ceasefire is asked, “No!”
Is the answer, fighting on, blow by blow;
Neither side are leaders prepared to talk:
Gaza battered, ruins, yet still they baulk,
And more die, the suffering innocent;
Zone of death, a straight path bent:
And now a call for peace in Lent.

1974 - 50 years ago - February Part 1

1974 - 50 years ago - February Part 1

FEBRUARY

1.— People who don’t. bother to get back their deposits by returning soft drinks bottles are causing the local industry a. massive headache. Drink manufacturers, faced with a. severe bottle shortage. are trying to ease the problem and are launching a “ bring back the bottle” campaign aimed at getting the containers back to their source for re-use. It is also good for the environment.

2.——A total of 34,900 Vehicles of all types are now licensed for Jersey’s roads—about 1,000 more than at the end or January last year.

4.—-Thirty-four hours, 1,404 swimmers and 9,561 laps (just under 400 miles) all added up at the weekend to a record fundraising swimmathon for the Lions Club of Jersey. The total raised was £14,604 which appropriately is £1,974 more than was raised at the 1973 swimarathon.

5.—-The Establishment Committee, in conjunction with the Bailiff, Sir Robert Le Masurier, has appointed Mr. Graham Huelin to the post of Bailiff’s secretary. He will succeed Mr. George Cutland. who is retiring at the end of May.

6.—-—The Defence Committee are still not satisfied with the fuel saving efforts being made by Island motorists, although the overall cutback in consumption up to January 30 was approximately ten per cent for all fuels. The Committee reminded motorists that it was still essential to exercise restraint in the use of motor spirit, to avoid unnecessary journeys, and where possible, to share transport.

7.-——It will be some weeks yet before the public will have a chance to see what is proposed for the future of the Fort Regent pleasure complex. The report on its future, which was commissioned months, ago from Penin Associates, is still being studied by the Fort Regent Development Committee.

8.— Local‘ veterinary surgeons today warned dog owners to have their pets vaccinated against distemper. The warning was issued after between 20 and 25 cases of the disease had been reported during the last three weeks. Although these are the first cases for some 15 years it is stressed that the current outbreak is no way an epidemic.

9—Rough seas and winds gusting to gale force caused chaos on Jersey’s low-lying south coast this morning when they combined with a 39 ft high tide. For more than an hour parts of the coast roads, from La Grande Charriere through the Dicq and Havre des Pas and from Gloucester Street right along to St. Aubin. were flooded and closed to traffic. ‘

11.—This morning's high tide combined with gale-force winds from the south to cause some of the worst damage on exposed south coast areas in many years. Hardest hit was Gorey, where the harbour took the full force of the storm and a number at boats were wrecked. Tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused at Gorey in what was described by a veteran fisherman as “ the worst storm in living memory ”. The occupants of two sea-lashed cottages at Gorey say they were afraid to sleep in their homes tonight because of the possibility of more serious damage.

12.-—The price of a gallon of petrol in Jersey rose by 8p at midnight last night. This will mean that motorists will now have to pay between 36p and 39p per gallon depending on the grade. Fuel Supplies Ltd., who distribute Shell and HP, and Base Petroleum confirmed this morning that the up increases announced in the UK yesterday would automatically take effect in Jersey.

13.-—-The new spring flower stamp issue on sale today is selling well despite the fact that for the first time we are being restricted to buying only one sheet or each of the four stamps.

15.——The Education Committee have, decided that the eastern secondary school to be built on a site at St. Clement is to be named Le Rocquier. ‘

Oblivion

One from the back catalogue, from 31st October 2006. A meditation on death

Oblivion

We will all die, as water spilled
On the ground. Our end fulfilled
In the deepest sleep, in the dark:
No morning, no sound of the lark,
In that land of silence. In a grave
All are equal, the weak and brave,
Those poor and rich, together they
Go forth into darkness, and no day
Dawns there, the world of the dead;
Even the king will lie on a sickbed,
And die one day, and know nothing;
It is the land of silence, none to sing,
The land of dust, an empty sound,
Women without children, dry ground
That needs rain, and a fire that burns
Out of control: ashes placed in urns;
The eternal ruins of ancient times,
Those forgotten, as we hear chimes
At midnight, the company of dead,
Of all now spoken, now is unsaid,
Until the last word. A word goes
Out, healing the sick, all the woes
Of the world, all injustice taken,
And death destroyed, and then
All will be changed, made new:
Morning dawns again, fresh dew,
And the sun rising as never before,
Shows a new world, an open door;
Then the mists are melting away,
With birdsong breaks a new day.

Jersey Zoo 25th Anniversary – Senior Staff Part 2

Jersey Zoo is fortunate to have a dedicated staff. without whom its results would not be nearly so impressive as they have been.

Some of them have been with the zoo for many years and here some of the longest serving and senior staff members are featured

Simon Hicks — Trust Secretary

After a distinguished career in the army, Simon Hicks was, in his own words ”Struck by a bolt as a result of the most extra-ordinary process of luck and opportunity”. He was staying with George Adamson, under Mount Kenya, in what is now the Meru Reserve. His task was to help drill the new game wardens in the skills of ambush control for poachers. Finding himself on the same level as some of the most impressive forms of wildlife, he decided there and then that he would do something associated with wildlife.

On returning to England he studied for a Certificate in Field Biology while working in a variety of jobs, such as game keeping, forestry, and farming. After a number of years as an RSPB Warden and a warden on Exmoor, Simon became Director of The British Trust for Conservation. He led a group of Conservation Volunteers on a field task to the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust where he met Gerald Durrell. (He also proposed to the cook who happened to be his former secretary and they subsequently got married.)

Three and a half years later he was summoned to Jersey by Gerald Durrell who offered Simon the position of Zoological Co-ordinator. Arriving on the fortuitous date of April 1, 1976, one of his first tasks was to look at the Adoption Scheme which had been running for some time but was only 10 per cent effective. The end result was a scheme that was more than 90 per cent effective. This now brings in an annual sum in excess of £14,000 which helps to pay much of the Zoo’s food bills.

Another innovation introduced by Simon was the SAFE appeal (Save Animals From Extinction). With its emotive yet descriptive title it raises £12,000 to £14,000 a year. This money is used to pay for specific items in selected breeding programmes.

Now, as Trust Secretary, Simon is a great believer in setting up working groups (particularly with volunteers) which he can co-ordinate. This presents a wonderful opportunity for the trust as a captive breeding centre to become more effective in its conservation work.

David Jeggo - Associate Curator of Birds

David's ambition to work in a Zoo goes back to early childhood and shortly after leaving school in 1970, his lucky break came when he started work at Jersey Zoo. After an initial period as general relief keeper, he was able to follow his principal interests of working with birds.

Now the associate curator, David sees his role as a co-ordinator of the bird section and its staff of six.

Over the years, he has seen a reduction in the number of species in the collection (There are now about 42) with more individuals of each (about 400). There has been an increased specialisation, particularly with the main breeding programmes for species such as the pink pigeon, Rodrigues fody, St. Lucia parrot and Rothschild’s mynah.

The Trust first became involved with the St. Lucia parrot in 1974 and a year later David conducted a field survey to assess the needs for conservation measures. With the co-operation of the St. Lucia Government he secured enough fledgling birds to establish a captive breeding programme.

In August 1980, Hurricane Allen hit St. Lucia causing much damage to the forest and to the island in general. The Government immediately asked David to return to assess the effect of the damage on the parrots followed by a census in 1982.

With his experience of parrots, David represents the trust as secretary of the International Captive Breeding Consortium for the St. Vincent parrot, established in 1980.

David also played an integral part in the breeding programme for the pink pigeon, culminating in the release of birds into the wild in Mauritius.

For the future, David feels that genetic considerations will play on increasing part in the management of threatened species. Also it will be important to enlarge the breeding programmes by involving other zoological collections.

Talking Pictures TV - A crime to miss these shows

Talking Pictures are currently showing Dixon of Dock Green, from the early surviving episodes in the 1950s. The quality of picture is sometimes a bit grainy, but watchable, and it has subtitles. I grew up with Dixon as a staple of Saturday nights, so it is really good to see it again. 

Subtitles are great if your hearing is none too good, and Talking Pictures has more and more shows with subtitles, including those below.

I've always enjoyed John Dickson Carr's detective fiction, so it is wonderful to see this series of half hour stories, which I'd never seen before. Some plots are better than others, but Boris Karloff, in a heroic mode for once as the exceptionally clever Colonel March of the Department of Queer Complaints (when that word just meant "odd") is always good in the role. And some plots are very good. Wiki notesL

Colonel March of Scotland Yard is a British television series consisting of a single season of 26 episodes first broadcast in the United States from December 1954 to Spring of 1955. The series premiered on British television on 24 September 1955 on the newly opened ITV London station for the weekends Associated Television. It is based on author John Dickson Carr's (aka Carter Dickson) fictional detective Colonel March from his book The Department of Queer Complaints (1940).

The producer Hannah Weinstein had worked as a publicist, journalist and campaigner for radical causes throughout the 1930s and 1940s. She left America in 1950 when the McCarthyite antiCommunist persecution was at its height. She bought the rights to the book and character. Weinstein was involved in every facet of production. She was also notable for her use of blacklisted writers. 

Historian Dave Mann notes:

"Her chief writers on Colonel March, both blacklisted, were Walter Bernstein and Abraham Polonsky who operated from New York, as Hollywood was too exposed to scrutiny. Together with another blacklisted writer, Arnold Manoff, they allotted work on the basis of need and availability. Furthermore, Karloff, a noted Hollywood liberal and founding member of and negotiator for the Screen Actors Guild, was a lynchpin in the series' development."

Another new series to me - previously only shown in America, is this series of half hour Sherlock Holmes stories, mostly original but loosely based on some of Conan Doyle's Stories. Ronald Howard is a very engaging Holmes, and there's humour, as well as clever twists. Watson (played by the excellent H.M. Craword) for once is not a buffoon unlike the Nigel Bruce version, and the banter between them is wonderful! A bit of extra information, courtesy of Wikipedia.

Sherlock Holmes was a detective television series syndicated in the autumn of 1954, based on the Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan Doyle. The 39 half-hour mostly original stories were produced by Sheldon Reynolds and filmed in France by Guild Films, starring Ronald Howard (son of Leslie Howard) as Holmes and H. Marion Crawford as Watson. Archie Duncan appeared in many episodes as Inspector Lestrade (and in a few as other characters). Richard Larke, billed as Kenneth Richards, played Sgt. Wilkins in about fifteen episodes. The series' associate producer, Nicole Milinaire, was one of the first women to attain a senior production role in a television series.

Also showing are the Edgar Wallace Mysteries which I remember on TV because of the distinctive opening melody, and the slow turning of the bust of Edgar, shrouded in fog (or smoke?). One from Merton Park studies, these are brilliant hour long crime stories, often with a twist, in which actors who became very well known later appear. Wiki notes:

The Edgar Wallace Mysteries is a British second-feature film series mainly produced at Merton Park Studios for Anglo-Amalgamated. There were 48 films in the series, which were released between 1960 and 1965.The series was screened as The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre on television in the United States

All these shows are black and white, and apart from Dixon, they were originally filmed, so the definition is very clear. The audio track on all is very good, and as I said above, they all have subtitles. It is also interesting to see two women producers, both of whom predated Verity Lambert at the BBC.

The Ancient Springtime

The Ancient Springtime

The stone circle rises far away
The sarsen stones so tall
We travel there this very day
From Saxon feasting hall

This is the day, that tale we tell
Of springtime growing near
Amidst the winter snow and ice
Snowdrops are a sign of cheer

The lambing season, signs of joy
Time’s wheel in slow spin
Brigid pregnant with the sun
The seeds of soil begin

Now pour the milk upon the soil
A charm for me and you
The Imbolc ritual once again
At time of morning dew

Jersey Zoo 25th Anniversary – Senior Staff Part 1

Jersey Zoo 25th Anniversary – Senior Staff Part 1

Jersey Zoo is fortunate to have a dedicated staff. without whom its results would not be nearly so impressive as they have been.

Some of them have been with the zoo for many years and here some of the longest serving and senior staff members are featured.

Nick Lindsay — Curator of Mammals

Nick Lindsay joined the Trust as a Science graduate in 1975 and became Curator of Mammals with overall responsibility for the mammal collection with a staff of eight in 1979.

Since then, Nick has seen an increase in the breeding successes with a number of mammal groups, including the marmosets and tamarins, the hutias, the bats, the lemurs and the apes.

Such has been the success with the Jamaican hutia there is a strong possibility that some of them may be released into the wild, since the Zoo’s captive population now stands high enough.

Nick has also had the opportunity to see some mammals in the wild. For three months in 1979 he took part in ”Operation Drake” visiting Panama to study the Geoffroy’s tamarin.

In an effort to forge closer links with the Primate Research Centre in Brazil Nick accompanied Zoological Director, Jeremy Mallinson on a visit. There he saw several of the rarest members of the primate family, including the golden lion and golden headed tamarins.

For the future Nick would like to see a continuation of the Trust’s policy of phasing out the commoner animals and concentrating on those threatened with extinction.

Consequently, there would be fewer species but an increased number of individuals. The experience gained with the commoner types could be put to good use with related but rarer species.

Brian Cummins — Quartermaster

Jerseyman Brian Cummins first visited the Zoo on the day it opened and applied for a iob as an animal keeper, but without success. Three years later he applied again and the then manager turned him down because of his mature age. Not to be deterred, Brian tried again and in 1965 was employed as an odd-job and maintenance handyman.

A year later he became van driver and collector of provisions, tasks that he does today. This involve purchasing fruit, buying provisions in town, taking and collecting animals to and from the airport and visiting the local farms.

The van that Brian drives is decorated with gorilla motifs leading to jibes such as ”I see you’ve got your mother-in-law with you” or "I wonder where he works”. The van acts as an advertisement as Brian drives around the island and people often ask him to direct them to the Zoo.

The acquisition of Les Noyers four years ago gave Brian much better facilities. There is a proper kitchen with a meat preparation area, a store room and a cool-room for fruit. The latter has enabled Brian to adopt a more rational and economical policy of buying fruit and concentrates in bulk, leading to better quality and greater variety.