Weather Lore

Weather Lore

March in like a lion, out like a lamb, they say:
But I am not so sure, looking out across the bay;
I remember the winds, the rain, the howling gale,
At start of March, only a brave skipper set sail;
And now at the end, the fierce breakers rolling in:
A stormy coast reminding me of Jamaica Inn;
Between the tides, the smugglers ply their trade,
But in this weather, by the warm fireside stayed,
Quaffing their pints of ale, singing songs of the sea,
While boats remain safe moored at the quay;
March is ending with the same incessant rain,
And Easter Saturday is empty grief and pain;
The sun dimmed, and the light has gone out:
The tidal currents foaming with self-doubt;
Darkness visible, the lamps going out again:
War threatens once more the world of men;
March’s own god, Mars, the bringer of war,
Echoes in the rain, the gales, the tidal roar;
The shadows grow long, and longer still:
In a war torn world, where to find goodwill?
Amidst refugees, a world turned on its head:
Only destruction, fear, hate are not dead;
And yet, the empty altar, bare, and alone,
Crosses carved into hard, uncaring stone,
The cold damp earth, the sodden grave,
Are not the final word. Be brave, be brave!
Hope lies in patience, waits in darkness now,
And as sun dawns, makes her rainbow vow.

1974 - 50 Years Ago - March Part 2

MARCH 1974 - Part 2

16.—More flights to and from Jersey were delayed this morning because of hill fog at the Airport, but a Met. Office spokesman said that things might improve later on. Jurat Sir Daniel Alfred Edmund Cabot, MROVS, a former Lieut.-Bailiff or the Island, died at a local nursing home. He was in his 86th year.

18.—-The Deputy Bailiff, Mr. Frank Ereaut, is to attend—as an observer—the 23rd Parliamentary seminar organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. It takes place at Westminster from Wednesday until April 9.

19.--The commanding officer of the Jersey Sea Cadet Corps has been selected by headquarters in London to .be the sole British officer in charge of ten cadets on an exchange visit to Canada this summer. Because the local unit won the highest number of points for the Canada Trophy for the best unit in the British Isles, two of the ten places have been offered to Jersey Cadets.

20.-——The two men convicted a fortnight ago of having criminally conspired to set fire to the home of Detective Constable Graham Nimmo last September were both sent to prison for four years by the Full Court this morning.

21.—Reports that foot-and-mouth disease had struck again at St. Ouen were quickly squashed. A Department of Agriculture official confirmed that a suspected case was investigated. but examination showed it was not the same disease.

22.—-—An emergency meeting of the Jersey Farmers Union labour committee has been called for this evening. It is understood that, in the light of the newly expressed fears about the spread of foot—and-mouth disease, the whole question of the recruitment of French labour is to be discussed.

23.—-The Island’s main spring cattle show, due to be held at Springfield on May 8, has been cancelled, and it is likely that all six parochial shows will not now take place.

25.—-In the face of growing concern within the Island's dairy industry the Jersey Farmers Union are going ahead with their plans to, recruit 700 French farmworkers, many from areas where foot-and-mouth disease is widespread. The decision, made at an emergency meeting of the union’s labour committee on Friday evening, was announced this morning.

26.— A £1 million plan for runway improvements at Jersey Airport, which will include extending the undershoot/overrun safety area at the St. Ouen's Bay end by building a stone retaining wall on- the steep slope there and infilling to form a new 450 ft embankment. was lodged an Greffe by the Harbours and Airport Committee in the States today.

27.-—Mr. Henry Perrée, the son of a former Constable of St. Mary, was this morning sworn in as a. Jurat of the Royal Court.

28.-—An approximate 50 per cent increase in the price of electricity was announced by the JEC—just three months after the last increase, itself more than 20 per cent. The off-peak tariff, used for night storage heating goes up by nearly 100 per cent.

Equinox Echoes

Equinox Echoes

I take up my staff, for now is the time:
The heavens movement so sublime;
Night and day, the balance comes,
I chant, while our tribe softly hums;
Day and night, the year now cleaves
The two in half, and the green leaves
On trees portent the changing season;
Our imagination entwined with reason,
As we know the earth is breaking free:
New buds and blossoms on each tree;
Our equinox, the balance of the scales:
The time for the tribe to hear old tales;
Now is nearly dawn, roll back the stone,
From the dolmen, the place of the bone:
Ancestors and grave goods, life and death,
And it happens within the space of a breath;
I enter the passage, and chant and await
Shards of sunlight come swift and straight
Along the passage, now filled with light:
An empty chamber now shining bright;
We rejoice in ancient song and dance,
That every year, order and not chance,
Will triumph in harmony, such a sign:
Surely an echo here of the divine.

Gerald Durrell: The visitor in his own zoo

Gerald Durrell: The visitor in his own zoo

The man who founded Jersey Zoo 25 years ago as a home for his collection of animals now feels almost a visitor to his own zoo, so little time does he have to walk around and enjoy it.

But although it is with more than a tinge of regret that Gerald Durrell recognises how removed his life and work is from the intimate contact with the animals which characterised the early days of his zoo, he accepts it as an inevitable result of his success.

That success has been not only in establishing a permanent home for what has become one of the most envied collections of animals in the world but in establishing a centre for captive breeding whose influence is being felt increasingly throughout that world.

The role of its founder has been in spreading the gospel of conservation and in raising the money without which the work could not continue. Whether that is done in person or through the books which have made him as famous an author as he is a conservationist, it leaves precious little time to enjoy his zoo.

“In the early days it was much more intimate, but then I lost day-to-day contact, which is the way it should be. Provided that the people who look after the animals do so properly, it does not matter to me. Even when I am here, I spend the whole week answering letters and trying to write a book. I am lucky if I get out for an hour in the week. I am almost a visitor to that extent. I regret it but it is part and parcel of the growth and if you want the thing to grow, you have to expect that.”

“In reality I am a fund-raiser. I hate all the things I do, except getting in touch with animals, I hate committees, but I cannot really make the break. I think the urge to say that I have had enough is always present in a lazy man, but I believe so much in what I am doing that I cannot let up, at least for the moment. I will stop when they have to push me round in a wheelchair.”

But did he really have ambitions of establishing a world-famous animal breeding centre those 25 years ago or was he simply looking for a home for his 50-plus collection of animals when he founded Jersey Zoo?

“The thoughts were in my mind, but first you have to establish a place which would inevitably get labelled as a zoo and make it financially viable. As far as I was concerned it was a grand scheme from the outset. Everybody I talked to thought I was mad.”

It is not recorded what the authorities in Bournemouth thought of Gerald Durrell's ambitions, but they put so many obstacles in the way of his plans to set up home for his animals there that he sought another holiday resort "where they make their own rules and regulations". ‘


So it was that he came to Jersey armed with an introduction from his publisher to Hugh Fraser, who showed him round Fort Regent (‘‘I said it would cost £25 million to turn into a zoo") and took him back to his Augrés Manor home for lunch.

With the co-operation both of Mr Fraser and the island authorities it was a matter of months before Augrés Manor became Jersey Zoo.

Bournemouth's loss was Jersey's gain and the island has had good cause in subsequent years to be pleased and proud of what has become a major tourist attraction and of the man who has become its best-known ambassador throughout the world.

How successful has the zoo been in fulfilling its founder's aim of establishing a conservation centre which would have a major impact on the declining populations of many of the world's wild animals?

“Enormously successful, but not successful enough in the sense that it is such a slow progress. You have to grope around for money and persuade governments and every year you read more horrible reports of what is being done to the world around us.”

“The world is being destroyed at the speed of an Exocet and we are riding on a bicycle. I feel despair 24 hours a day at the way we are treating the world and what we are piling up for ourselves. You have to keep fighting, or what are we on earth for?”

It is not only in the progress which has been made at Jersey Zoo that Gerald Durrell measures his success.

“Zoos in most parts of the world are realising that they have to face up to their responsibilities. We were pioneers in showing the way we thought things should be done, but now a number of bigger, powerful zoos are becoming more and more influential.”

“We are still pioneering. We have just signed this accord with Madagasgar and Mauritius. We are spreading our tentacles out to influence conservation in the world, which is what all zoos should do and .very few still do today.”

“We are getting to the stage where we can influence governments as to how to preserve habitat and you will ultimately get to the point where you do not need to have animals over here. More and more as we grow we are getting to have a voice that governments trust, because we take animals and breed them but say: ‘They belong to you and you can have them back tomorrow if you want’. , We can go and tell them how we can help them to breed them and raise money for them, and be a conservation organisation rather than a zoo. It is an awful word. I wish I could expunge it from the English language. ‘”

Although Jersey Zoo has indeed become the centre; of a worldwide conservation organisation, it cannot forget that it is still a major public attraction in a holiday island, and Mr Durrell regrets that the public of the island have not always shown as much interest in his activities as he would have liked.

“There are still people in the island after 25 years who say that they have never been to the zoo. If you have something on your doorstep and profess to have an interest in conservation, you should support it”, he says, while admitting that some of the fault lies with the zoo.

“We think that perhaps we were too international I think we also tended to be a little too smug and thought that everybody should come to us,’ but now I think we have turned the corner.”

The zoo, and the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, which has run it for 21 of its 25 years, relies enormously on voluntary help from islanders and on the money it receives from the public passing through its gates.

Yet it is in many ways far removed from the popular public image of zoos.

“Inevitably you are disappointing people who want elephants and giraffes. I think that if you put up the right sort of thing as to what your aims and objects are, people are fascinated. You have to explain to people.”

However important the public are to the zoo, they rate only third in Gerald Durrell's list of priorities.

“The first priority is the animals, second the people who look after them and third the public. But they are not incompatible. There is no reason why you should not create a world for animals which will be suitable for the people who want to see them.”

“One of the nicest things people say to us is that they have never been to a zoo where the animals look so happy. If everybody came and said the animals did not look happy I would close the place down.”

Sea Change

a

One from the back catalogue today, from 31 August 2005.

Sea Change

It is the ending of days, last of sun and sand
The wind changes direction, a colder hand
Denoting a sea change coming, unsettled time
Weather not easily forecast, changing clime
Turbulent waves of the spring tide breaking
In their thunder, the language of the making
If we can but interpret it, but subtle are ways
By which we come to learn the book of days
In the rocks, above the tide mark, I can see
A spider's web, spun with design, of an end
In intricate mystery, a pattern to apprehend
Perhaps at best, a woven web of guesses
This way, and this alone, truth expresses
Above, the gulls soar in the wind, a dance
In the air, display of harmony and chance
And their cries rend the air, seeming call
To whatever destiny our path may befall
This is the sea of faith, the shingled beach
Always at hand, and always out of reach.

1974 - 50 Years Ago - March Part 1

MARCH 1974 - Part 1

1.—Cypriot. Christos Mahaed Georgiou was fined £200 by the Police Court this morning for organizing illegal gambling at the The Millionaires Caledonia Place, from February 1 to 19.

4.—Although there have been no further cases of foot-and-mouth disease since the initial outbreak nearly two weeks ago, Department of Agriculture officials are warning farmers against complacency. The Department’s deputy chief executive officer, Mr. Walter Tardivel, said this morning that the danger of a further outbreak has not yet passed.

5.—-—It was announced that the price of milk is to go up by ½ p a pint on March 31. The increase is due to the dramatic rise in the cost of raw materials and fuel during the last four months.

6.——Extensive premises at La Motte Street and Colomberie Close. including the Cory’s cleaner’s shop have been sold and are to be used partly for offices. The properties, 30 La Motte Street, 10 Colomberie Close and Colomberie Close Flats, have been bought from Mr. L. P. Stevens, of Sea Garth, Bel Royal, by Tableau Investment Ltd, for an undisclosed sum. .

7.—The restrictions on putting cattle out to grass—imposed following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on February 19—are to be lifted from midnight tonight. But the Committee of Agriculture—who discussed the matter this morning—stress the. need for continued vigilance by the farming community.

8.—-The Committee of Agriculture has issued a lengthy statement on the outbreak. If there are no further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, all the restrictions will be removed from midnight next Tuesday, three weeks after the outbreak was confirmed at Woodlands, St. Ouen. ‘

9.—-The full extent of the damage to the early potato crop caused by the severe frost earlier this week has not yet been ascertained, but it is expected to be “quite serious ”.

11.--A well-organized “ streak ” took the Weighbridge by surprise as a lone runner, wearing only plimsolls and red and white woollen hat, appeared from a car and ran some 50 yards along Commercial Buildings, before disappearing into one of the warehouses.

12.-——Householders are to pay 17 1/2 per cent more for their water from March 25. This amounts to about £1.20 per quarter for a three-bedroomed house. The increased charge for commercial users goes up by considerably more.

13.—The most comprehensive promotional programme ever devised for Jersey’s agricultural industry will publicize Island produce in the UK this year. Devised by Interlink Development in conjunction with the Jersey Agricultural Marketing Federation. it has now been given the go-ahead by the Committee of Agriculture.

14.—Jersey boxer Tommy Cavanagh. of Leonis ABC. won the London South-West middleweight championship at Battersea Town Hall in London. In the semi-final he beat B. Harry, of Wandsworth, and in the final he boxed superbly to outpoint the favourite, K. Graham, of Battersea.

15.-—-“ Jersey Evening Post" vernacular columnist Mr. George F. Le Feuvre (“ George -d’La Forge ") has been awarded Le Prix Littéraire du Cotentin for his " Jerri Jadis ”, the first full-length book in Jersey Norman-French. Much of Mr. Le Feuvre’s book is based on the weekly articles that he writes for the “JEP”. Jersey’s voluntary Meals on Wheels Service delivered its 100,000th meal, a total reached after 11 years or operation.

Foreshore: An end to the saga.

Foreshore: An end to the saga.

“I believe totally this was conceived as a wonderful cash making scheme devised by a in post civil 
servant that could see a money generating method to prove that JPH was worthy of its being in existence.” (Alan Luce)

The JEP reported that “Both Mr Luce and Mr Mallinson spoke of their relief at receiving their payments yesterday morning and praised the past and present Infrastructure Ministers, Deputy Tom Binet and Constable Andy Jehan, for their help, as well as Deputies Labey and Philip Bailhache. ”

“However, the pair said they felt their experience still raised wider questions about the machinery of government and conduct of certain officials: ‘It is unacceptable that the directors of Property Holdings ignored the opinions and recommendations of the Jersey Law Society, the Complaints Board and the Scrutiny panel and acted in a wholly incompetent and unjust manner that has resulted in unnecessary expense to the taxpayer,’ Mr Mallinson added.”

“Upon assuming the role of Infrastructure Minister after the collapse of Deputy Moore’s government, Mr Jehan wrote a letter clearly instructing civil servants to make the payments without delay. After several weeks with no movement, despite follow-ups from Mr Luce and Mr Mallinson, Mr Jehan sent a second instruction towards the end of the month.”

It is clear that even at the 11th hour, the civil servants were still dragging their heels over compensation payments. But who were the civil servants involved in the original claims by Jersey Property Holdings?

The Jersey Complaints Board report which severely criticised JPH did name some surnames! I have however after some consideration to just put their initials here, although the linked report which can be read (bottom of blog) does name them. However, it is not subject to Google Indexing, so I have decided for their families sake to give them a consideration they didn't give Mr Luce or Mr Mallinson.

In the case of Mr Luce, a Mr F-t was involved:

“In September 2015, Mr. Luce placed Roche de la Mer for sale with Broadlands Estates. He was subsequently written to – as was Broadlands Estates – on 9th September 2015 by Mr. F-t, Estates Surveyor, JPH, to the effect that the construction of Roche de la Mer constituted a clear encroachment onto the seawall, which belonged to the Public of the Island. “

“Mr. Luce and Mr. F-t subsequently spoke on the telephone, and on 11th December 2015, the latter sent Mr. Luce an electronic mail message, which stated: “While one possible solution is to allow the encroachments to remain upon payment to the Public of a financial consideration and the passing of a contract before the Royal Court in which the terms upon which the encroachments could remain would be set out, the Public reserves the right in the alternative to seek the complete removal of all and any encroaching parts of your property. I cannot stress too strongly the seriousness of the encroachments and this should be brought to the attention of any prospective purchaser(s).”. This correspondence and others emanating from JPH were caveated “Subject to contract and Ministerial approval.”

In the case of Mr Mallinson, Mr F-r and Mr F- were involved:

“The advice of the prospective purchaser’s lawyers was forwarded by the former, without the advance knowledge of Mr. Mallinson, to the Minister for Infrastructure, asking if a deed of arrangement could be entered into. The Minister, in turn, redirected the enquiry to Mr. F-r Director of Estates, JPH, on the basis that it was not strictly a political matter”

“Mr. Mallinson subsequently met with Mr. F-t and Mr. F-r, who refused to entertain any suggestion that the seawall was not in the ownership of the Crown at that juncture, reiterated that Ksum Ltd. had encroached onto the sea defences, and sought compensation in order to ratify the boundary.”

Conclusion:

With presumably the tacit approval of the Minister, two civil servants were involved in engaging and putting a forceful case against the landowners. They may have been acting on legal advice, which subsequent events – namely the compensation paid - have shown to be mistaken. But their intransigence leaves much to be desired. Would it not be asking too much for an apology from JPH on behalf of all and any of its officials who pursued this aggressive policy? And can the public have assurance that lessons have been learnt?

https://statesassembly.gov.je/assemblyreports/2018/r.71-2018.pdf

The Bergerac File

Update 20.12.2024

Me Culpa! I have to admit I got this completely wrong! It will be showing next year and looks very good. It just goes to show that even looking at the past is not always the best guide to the present. I hope it is a success. Well done to the team responsible and for Brian Constantine for kick-starting the idea. Althiough it is Damien Molony as Jim Bergerac and not as suggested in news reports, Poldark’s Aidan Turner, which is probably a good thing, as he is not such a familiar face, just like John Nettles before him.

Comment

Some notes on the new proposed reboot. It has been "on the cards" with "big names" since 2021! That is with the same Brian Constantine who has two credits to his name on IMDB - Channel Report and Real Housewives of Jersey. True there are other production names - in 7 June 2022, we have Executive producers Phil Trethowan, Ben Bickerton and writer Toby Whithouse. That was just before the elections.

2022 just mentioned "an initial draft script" which suggests a pilot episode to see if it gets taken up. This has happened with BBC shows before - notably spin offs from Morse - Lewis and Endeavour, where viewing figures are perused and a decision is made with the distributor whether they want to make more series. Of course sometimes this does not happen. The 1996 "reboot" of Dr Who with Paul McGann did not perform well enough and the options were dropped. So any monies from Jersey may not be a series but just a one-off pilot. Clearly the mention in recent publicity of "having script" must before partly back to June 2022!

It also seems likely from the most recent publicity that it would now be limited to a streaming platform, not the BBC, so coverage might not be as widespread. Ironically if the States of Jersey stumped up the money, Islanders would have to pay to watch it!

Interestingly, the creator of the show, Robert Banks-Stewart, wanted John Nettles as the star precisely because he wasn't a "big name"!

Personally I have seen £200,0000 wasted on a film that never came to fruition. Sometimes money is sunk into a project and it never actually comes to the screen. The hype on this one makes me very sceptical indeed! That was a case where no due diligence was done or requested properly by the Minister, and it was sold with maximum hype. Forget "expressed an interest" - that's just more hype. Contracts have been signed would be realistic. And what contracts have been signed with distributors? Clearly none so far.

Ask yourself this: if it is such a wonderful project, why has nothing actually happened since October 2021? Bergerac used to visit "The Royal Barge" at St Aubin a lot. I wouldn't touch this project with a barge pole.

The Bergerac Files

Bergerac reboot has "big names" in the running for lead role

The titular Jersey-based detective is returning for a reboot – and it's possible that an A-lister could be Bergerac's new star.
Published: Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Brian Constantine, an executive producer on the Bergerac reboot, told BBC Breakfast this morning that some "very big names" have expressed interest in becoming the next Jim Bergerac – the Jersey-based detective originally played by John Nettles.

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/bergerac-reboot-big-names-lead-newsupdate/

Bergerac series reboot ‘due to start filming in summer 2023’
Published: 7 June 2022

Before the pandemic the project was reaching its final stages with Paramount Network, Westward Studios, Artists’ Studios and Endemol Shine UK.

At the end of 2020, French TV production firm Banijay sealed its $2.2 billion acquisition of Endemol Shine from Disney and Apollo Global Management, which meant that the previous Bergerac project team was split up. Westward Studios, Banijay – and its company BlackLight – eventually decided to buy back the script from the owners of Paramount and start again, with the rights to develop the series being renewed last year.

https://www.jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2022/06/07/bergerac-series-reboot-due-to-start-filming-in-summer-2023/

Producer says Bergerac could return by 2024
Published 7 June 2022

A reboot of a classic TV crime show set in Jersey could return to screens by 2024, an executive producer has said. The BBC detective series Bergerac ran for nine series from 1981 to 1991, with John Nettles as detective sergeant Jim Bergerac. Westward Studios executive producer Brian Constantine said the new production was in its final stages of development. He said they hoped to film in the island as much as possible.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-61720477

June 2022:

Executive producers Phil Trethowan, Ben Bickerton and writer Toby Whithouse were recently able to visit Jersey for a familiarisation and scouting exercise that resulted in numerous changes being made to the initial draft script.

Mr Whithouse – who has worked on major BBC shows including Being Human and Doctor Who – said: ‘I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity to explore and devise a new iteration of this iconic show. We know how important Bergerac is to the people of Jersey, and it’s an honour to have been loaned the keys.’

As well as seeing the different sites and locations first-hand, the team met senior members of government, the police and Visit Jersey.

Mr Trethowan said: ‘We’re incredibly excited to be involved in the reboot of one of TV’s most-loved detectives. We can’t wait to spend more time on the Island, which is the perfect backdrop for a show that can be as popular as its predecessor.’

https://www.jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2022/06/07/bergerac-series-reboot-due-to-start-filming-in-summer-2023/

Bergerac set to return to screens with Poldark’s Aidan Turner in frame to play troubled detective
3 March 2024

“The company are ready to go, there are scripts written, they could start filming in the spring for broadcast in November and December of this year,” she said.

Westward Studios and Banijay – and the latter’s company BlackLight – have bought back the script from the owners of Paramount and renewed rights to develop the series along with a partnership of other companies.

It is thought that another broadcaster, not the BBC, is lined up to bring the series back to screens.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/03/bergerac-return-aidan-turner-david-tennant-james-norton/

Bergerac set to return to screens with Poldark’s Aidan Turner in frame to play troubled detective
Reboot of popular Eighties drama based in Jersey set for green light with David Tennant and James Norton also in running to star

Bergerac Coming Back to British Telly With a New Look

Bergerac was a stunning success back in the day. From 1981 to 1991, the program pulled in 15 millions viewers on the BBC. It is now, apparently, going to make its comeback via a streaming platform.

There has been news about a Bergerac revival for some time. So while it will be difficult to picture a new DS Jim Bergerac, the news that the show could be returning soon will be exciting for fans in the UK. Expats and Americans who are fans of the original 1980s series may have to wait. Hopefully BritBox and/or Acorn TV, or whomever stream the show, will do so in other areas as well.

https://mikesfilmtalk.com/2024/03/04/bergerac-coming-back-to-british-telly-with-a-new-look/
04/03/2024

About Westward Studios

https://www.westwardstudios.co.uk/about

Westward Studios is a Jersey based production company. Set up in 2018 by Producer and Broadcaster Brian Constantine, it operates in the Channel Islands and the UK. The company already has several exciting projects in development – from high end drama to compelling documentaries. Westward has recently partnered with leading production house Blacklight on the exciting re-boot of Bergerac.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3508513/

Brian Constantine
Channel Report, Presenter 1976
The Real Housewives of Jersey, 2020-2021

March Tea Party

March Tea Party

Through yellow daffodils, walking
Alice wondered what was next
Hearing in the distance talking
Strange words, was perplexed

A Hatter at a table, looks quite mad
A dormouse, speaking in its sleep
A hare foaming at the mouth, so sad
A tea party, crockery all in a heap

Mad March Hare sitting at the table
Eating cake and drinking cups of tea
Wide eyed gaze, looks rather unstable
Oh dear, thought Alice, time to flee

Thought Alice not knowing what to expect
“Mad March Tea Party, or so I suspect!”

The Grounds of Jersey Zoo -25th Anniversary Brochure

The Grounds of Jersey Zoo -25th Anniversary Brochure

It seems the most natural thing in the world that the grounds of Jersey Zoo should be beautifully landscaped and that individual cages should be planted with attractive plants.

But by no means all zoos have this approach, many preferring bare cages, concrete and dusty paths. Jersey Zoo has led the way in landscape environmentalism.

But attractive landscaping has been an essential part of Jersey Zoo’s policy since the late 1960s and under the guidance of a landscape committee, major work was carried out during the 1970s.

A decision was taken to create a park-like environment, rather than more costly formal gardens, with groves of trees and lawns sweeping down to the lakes.

Wherever possible flora and fauna are married together, a prime example being the waIlaby enclosure, which features Australasian eucalyptus and birds from ’down under’.

The majority of the landscaping has now been done and it is a question of ensuring that the grounds are well maintained and all the plants are kept in good order, said Zoo director Jeremy Mallinson.

“The grounds are now looking magnificent and we are seeing the benefits of long term planning as they mature. I am very proud of the culmination of what was planned. Attention to detail is important in the planning, not only of an attractive landscape between major animal houses, but of attractive enclosures for the animals themselves.”

“No matter how well you look after the animals it is important to give them a good environment”, said Mr Mallinson.

Nowhere is this more obvious than in the reptile house and the bird aviaries, the mammals tending to be less appreciative of such efforts and liable to ruin any attempt at an attractive display.

 

Maintenance of the animal enclosures on a day-to-day basis is done by the individual staff, although there is a head gardener, Mark Williams, and three groundsmen with overall responsibility for the Zoo’s appearance.

This requires a high calibre of staff, who are interested not only in the birds and animals in their care but in the controlled environment being provided for them.

“It is very important that they are proud of what they are doing”, says Mr Mallinson. “A sterile environment is very depressing.”

Usually the public appreciate the efforts, too, and many remark on the attractive nature of the animal enclosures and the zoo as a whole, but sometimes it is possible to walk past a row of bird aviaries and think there is nothing in them.

But pause for five minutes to admire the attractive plant displays and it is almost certain that you will see every bird, perhaps partly hidden, but enjoying the pleasant surroundings.

A Saint of Lame ducks

My mother, as we used to say "collected lame ducks". I was reading John Major's biography and his mother did the same. Those in need of solace, of friendship, the lonely - she made them welcome. She also welcomes guests at the hotel where she worked in reception, and when off-duty some would walk down, pop in for cakes and tea and a chat, which she loved, of course. 

There was the young lad from the hotel up the road - his first job, and not many his own age, and she invited him down - we had a shared love of the old Universal Black and White movies, and that was nice. The other receptionist who pranged their car, and was in shock, and needed some comfort. The alcoholic doorman at the hotel across the road was also given tea and sympathy from time to time. The gardener was offered for his family for a week's holiday, and somehow we coped. 

And also she popped round to the neighbours, to make sure they were ok, to chat, and drink tea - or sometimes sherry. I don't think people know their neighbours all that well today. 

Not all those recipients of her kindness were lame ducks, but some certainly were, and kindness to others, and to the stranger too, was a lesson I have not forgotten. She now is in care, and alas her memory is fading fast, so it is up to others to remember how kind she was to others, and visit some portion of that kindness back to her.

A Saint of Lame ducks

Tea and sympathy, that’s what they say:
But she did so much more, in yesterday;
Lonely, without friends, welcomed in:
Didn’t matter they were not our kin;
Lame ducks, those in need of cheer,
And perhaps the odd wine or beer;
And hotel guests, came for cups of tea,
In her garden, chatting beneath a tree;
Our gardener from Lisbon, also friend:
His family invited to stay, never an end
To hospitality. Visited the neighbours
In addition to her own work and labours;
Kindness to the stranger, especially so:
A cool stream, never ceasing to flow;
Refresh the weary, the tired, the sad:
I remember those days, and I am glad;
Now she needs care, friendly chats,
Photos of her family, her beloved cats;
Sometimes afraid, and sometimes lost:
Time to return kindness, without cost;
Remember times past, the lame ducks,
As shadows lengthens, in time’s flux;
That glorious summer before the fall:
Welcome always, come one, come all!

Jersey Zoo 25th Anniversary – Senior Staff Part 3

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

Phillip Coffey — Education Officer

Phillip Coffey wanted to work outdoors when he graduated from Portsmouth College of Technology and although most zoos turned him down as ”over qualified” he became Jersey Zoo's first graduate keeper.

While he was waiting for his interview, Oscar, the mischievous male Bornean orang utan broke out from his cage and a year later he was to take over responsibilities for the great ape section and Oscar, with whom he developed a special relationship.

He held this position for nine years and then began to develop two new interests — the school groups visiting the zoo and photography.

He resigned to attend a one-year teacher training course in Exeter and during his absence the Jersey Education Department agreed to provide a grant for an education officer at the Zoo and he was offered and accepted the post.

He hopes that Jersey teachers now see a visit to the Zoo as more than a day out — more as an integral part of a course of study.

Phillip is concerned and actively involved with the design, presentation and variety of education aids around the zoo and with the successful volunteer guide service, for which he selects and trains the guides.

He is also editor of the trust’s newsletter for its junior members, the Dodo Dispatch.

Betty Renouf— Administrator

Betty Renouf, then 15, joined Jersey Zoo as office junior in 1962.

”It was everything but,” she says. ”I painted cages, collected calves and even had to man the aquarium paybox, entrance 6d a head, which was a table outside what is now the staff kitchen, piled high with Mars Bars and sweets.”

There was a hare living in the office ("I think we just called it Hare”) and Celebes Apes regularly jumped up and down on her typewriter.

On one- occasion Betty recalls arriving back from town with Cathy Weller, then administrator, to meet Cholmondley and Sheena, the two full-grown chimpanzees, walking out of the reptile house hand in hand.

Betty remembers making a run for it with Cholmondley’s nose pressed up against the opposite car window which had been hastily wound up.

She can also remember clearly when Pedro, the spectacled bear, escaped and headed straight for her window, through which he gazed at her adoringly until being rounded up. To this day she is very concerned that all windows remain securely fastened.

She does all the buying for the zoo shop and is greatly looking forward to the planned new visitor entrance and shop.

Most important of all to the staff, she does the wages, and is naturally careful with money having lived through the days when it was almost impossible to pay the bills.