The Story of the Golden Chair

The Story of the Golden Chair
By Philip Ahier
(1955)


The reign of Queen Elizabeth I saw the beginning of the publication of numerous tracts, pamphlets and broadsides, many of these containing a moral to be drawn from them. The story below appeared in a "broadside" published by William Creed, of London on March 22nd, 1595. In1786 the little booklet was in the possession of one William Herbert, who edited "Ames' Typographical Antiquities", and in 1936 it was purchased from a native of Guernsey by the Societe Jersiaise. (Vol. xiii. p. 33).

"The story of the Golden Chair" which was written in Elizabethan English, has been turned into modern prose for the reader of this curiosity.

The names of Doughton and Dansie referred therein were probably anglicised when the original publication was made.

A fishing boat jointly owned by a Jerseyman named Doughton and a Norman named Dansie, with two Jersey-born sailors, was fishing in Grouville Bay when all saw "at about midnight", what was known as St. Anthony's Fire. (An error for "St. Elmo's Fire," an electrical disturbance in the heavens). The sailors, noticing the phenomenon proceeding landwards, and resting, as they thought, upon a cliff near Mont Orgueil, imagined that it foretold foul and tempestuous weather and ill-luck.

The Norman Dansie had great doubts concerning the success of their fishing operations and suggested to his companions that they should draw in their nets, which had been thrown overboard near the scene of a wreck.

The fishermen then proceeded to haul them in, but one got stuck fast. Not wishing to leave it behind they hauled it up with such a force that they "found it torn above a yard in length."

The party wondered why their net had become torn and flung two anchors into the sea, hoping, by so doing, that something would get hauled up when they were eventually lifted.

Their hopes were realised, for, on hauling up one of them, up came a massive chair made of "clean beaten gold-the form of which was small about the middle, wearing bigger upwards towards the middle, and both ends, the back full of holes in the inner sides and the outmost side full of bosses; the seat very low and round at the bottom, and wrought with embossed works very curious, with divers sorts of branches."

Imagine the surprise of the four men on seeing the extraordinary nature of their catch; they found it to be gold and very fine gold at that. Never before had such booty fallen into their hands, not even to their forbears. How to share it was then the problem?

Dansie and Doughton, joint owners of the fishing boat, thought the best plan would be to cut up the chair "into small pieces," and sell the bits for ready money. To which Dansie, the Norman, added "seeing that our two men are acquainted with the treasure, in order to keep their mouths shut, let them have £100 apiece. They should consider themselves well recompensed, even though they are our hired servants."

Doughton, hearing that his partner was so rash as to give away £200 in this way, replied "No, no! It’s a good deal of money, a less amount should be sufficient for them."

But the Jersey sailors, overhearing the conversation which had taken place between their employers, who were prepared to take the whole chair and let them have but a small share of the booty, were most indignant. One of them, a tall lusty fellow, said that as God had sent it, they should have equal shares, adding that "such greedy churls should not so deprive them of their share of the treasure."

This latter even went so far as to say that he was the first man who had found the net fast, further, that they, the two sailors, had, by their united strength, hauled up the chair, "without whom, they never had enjoyed it." He then swore a great oath that if his companion would be advised by him, "they would have it to themselves, and their masters should have none"!

The other Jerseyman, being "as wilful as his fellow was stubborn," without saying a word, took a boathook and gave Dansie such a blow that he felled him, and then did the same to Doughton, after which they heaved the two old men overboard.

The two Jersey sailors, imagining that they were now fully possessed of the booty, embraced each other, being considerably overjoyed at what they thought their great fortune.

What was to be done next? They could not go back to Jersey, for the question would be asked, "Where are your masters?" Moreover, they realised that "they could not get money for a thing of such worth, in so poor a place as Jersey."

They next thought of sailing with the booty to England, but they felt sure that their small boat could not stand such a perilous and long journey, "and the weather subject to storms". So they decided to sail to Normandy seeing "that the way was short".

They hoisted sail and bent their course thither. Had the wind been more favourable they might have got there the following-day, but the seas had become tempestuous, "they were in great peril, neither would their boat work, but lay tossing on the waves in pitiful manner, the men expecting nothing but death".

While in this unfortunate plight, a pinnace with a crew of sixteen men hovered in the offing. Seeing this boat in danger, "whether of courtesy to save the men, or for covetousness to have what they had," the crew of the pinnace came within hailing distance of each other. But the two Jerseymen "were loath to speak with them". The crew of the pinnace boarded the small craft of the Jerseymen with four men. A fight ensued; two of the sailors from the pinnace were killed, and one of the Jerseymen was slain.

When the remaining Jerseyman saw what was happening, he ran to the golden chair which had been covered with a sail, flung it overboard, and, "leaping after it himself", swam with all possible speed to the shores of Normandy.

In doing so he swallowed a great deal of sea water, while his body got dreadfully scarred from the rocks he encountered on the way.

" He by good fortune, reached the shore by his painful swimming, yet so faint with the bleeding of his wounds, as he had much to do to continue life in him for that time, but through the water in his belly, the soaking of his wounds, and tossing in the waves, grievous sickness assailed him."

The folks on the Normandy shore "did their best to save his life, which was all in vain." Finding that there was no hope of recovering, he confessed to the murder of his two masters and earnestly craved forgiveness of God.

Three days later he died, and during those three days before his death, he told all and sundry what had happened, and hoped that they might find the chair.

The author of this broadside finished his narrative thus:"Let this, and many others, admonish all Christians how a covetous desire of wealth (may) cause them to seek their neighbour's harm. Instead, let them relieve the needy, that God may reward them for it."

How did this remarkable story find its way to London in the first Elizabethan days?

One can only surmise that, the narrative as given by the survivor in either Norman French, or in colloquial French, eventually got to the ears of some Englishman living in Normandy in the days of Queen Elizabeth I.

It will be seen that the covetousness recorded in the above account, together with the subsequent murders provided material for the tract compiler to expatiate upon the folly of greed.

Farewell Socrates

Farewell Socrates

"The time has come to take the cup"
And so saying, Socrates did sup
Of the hemlock, once Plato’s friend,
But now farewells at appointed end;
A sense of ending, of a life cut short:
What can we do, and what we ought;
A debate of a life, questions, dialogue,
As Socrates tried to peer through fog,
And make plain the follies of mankind,
Opening the eyes of those so blind;
They did not think, but merely act:
Would he cease, desist or retract?
Not him, and so time came for death:
The hemlock brings a chill breath
Of mortality; easier by far this way
Than judicial alternatives hold sway:
Sword, dagger, hangman’s noose,
A vote for death, no parlay, truce,
So the cup, slipped slowly down;
Was that a last smile, or a frown
“Crito, I owe to Asclepius, my praise”
As breath grew shallow, eyes glaze;
No more the debates to so delight,
As he goes forth into that dark night.

Jersey Zoo 25 Years: Profile: Jeremy Mallinson

Profile: Jeremy Mallinson

Running a zoo and fighting animal smugglers and politicians

The man in day to day charge I of Jersey Zoo has responsibilities which stretch much further, thanks to the growing influence of a small island on conservation efforts throughout the world.

Jeremy Mallinson has been on the staff of the zoo since two months after it opened and has been its director for the past 14 years. But not only does he have overall responsibility for one of the most admired animal collections in the world, but he is also very much involved in co-ordinating captive breeding programmes at a large number of widely separated establishments.

In between time he has to find time to write books, scientific papers, fulfil television and radio engagements and fight a continuing battle against animal smugglers, such as the Dutch dealer who illegally holds a tenth of the entire world population of golden-headed lion tamarins.

After spending some two and a half years in the regular army of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Jeremy Mallinson returned to his Jersey home just before the opening of Gerald Durrell’s new zoo in 1959.

It was his intention to return to Africa but he had been given a copy of Gerald Durre|l’s book ‘My family and other animals’ as a Christmas present and been told that he was just the sort of person he should work for.

From his most formative years Jeremy has been enthusiastic about the animal kingdom and the only reason for going to Africa in the first place was to see as much of its wildlife as possible.

Although he had not previously expressed much interest in the work of zoos, he had not at that time appreciated the tremendous work they could do for animal conservation.

However, after reading a number of articles about the reason for Gerald Durrell establishing his zoological collection in Jersey, he decided to write to the Zoo superintendent, Kenneth Smith, to see whether there was any possibility of having a summer job during the zoo’s first season in 1959. On May 1, 1959 he joined the bird staff and by October 1961 he had gained as much practical experience as possible working with both birds and mammals.

He then took unpaid leave to undertake an animal collection trip in Southern Rhodesia and the Bechuanaland protectorate. In May the following year he returned to Jersey with a sizeable collection of animals, some of which went to various zoological collections in the British Isles, as well as some remaining in Jersey.

In the summer of 1962 he was put in charge of the mammal section and during the following winter, anxious to study as many animals as possible in their natural habitat, he planned an 18-month trip which would have taken him back to Africa, where he planned to undertake a further animal collection, and then on to South America.

Although plans for this project were well advanced, Gerald Durrell offered him the appointment of deputy director from May 1963 and the trip was cancelled.

During the winter of 1965 he took four months leave of absence to investigate the legendary Mitla in the northern part of Bolivia and during this expedition he spent several weeks travelling on some of the lesser known tributaries of the upper Amazon basin.

He returned to Jersey from Guyana bringing back with him a number of animals from that country. Since that time he has had the opportunity to travel quite widely, carrying out study and animal collecting expeditions in Madagascar, Assam and Zaire.

As zoo director, his working day always starts with an hour walking round the entire collection, visiting all sections and talking to the staff. He is a great believer in leading by example and believes that fortnightly senior staff meetings, which help to keep everybody in touch with policy and overcome problems, have built up an excellent team spirit and a remarkably good atmosphere.

“I attach a great deal of importance to my first hour. lt is the only way I can keep my finger on the pulse of things.”

Not only that, it is his only contact with the animals with which he was so closely involved in the early days of the zoo, many of them close friends.

“N'Pongo still makes a lovely rumbling noise and I make a rumbling noise back to her. I can also go into the kitchen where the gorilla food is prepared and put my arms through the bars to touch the gorillas which were hand-reared.”

Jeremy believes that it was very important to have had a background of working in just about every part of the zoo and knowing what it was like to start at 7 o'clock with cleaning out the cages.

“I have had the practical side which I believe is very important and gives me a much greater understanding as to some of the problems which can arise.”

There are now 18 staff looking after the animals out of a total staff of 43, compared with six or seven, a maintenance man and one person in the paybox when he started.

In those early years he worked a 6 1/2 day week, taking one afternoon off to play hockey. Although by 1962 the staff were actually getting two afternoons off, it was not until the mid-60s that they were getting a full day off, aside from annual leave. Jeremy still works a 5‘/2 day week, using Saturday mornings to produce the trust's important publication the Dodo Journal with Kate Taynton.

He describes his job as ”diverse in every possible way” because there is not only the zoo work and the constant contact with people from all over the world on the telephone, but the responsibility of representing the trust on so many outside bodies.

“I do a lot of work to help them progress in the way we consider is important for the animal kingdom. Then there are the rescue missions, not directly connected with the work of the trust but just as important to the overall conservation effort.”

For several months this year he has been fighting to release the tamarins held illegally in Holland by a dealer who clearly does not share the Jersey Trust's views on conservation. It is battles like this which draw attention to the fight Jeremy and his colleagues have to wage not only with unscrupulous dealers but with disinterested governments and authorities.

“A few commando raids would help, but we cannot do that. We have to co-ordinate a whole lot of people who you would hope would think in the same way that we do, but all have a different way of reaching the same goal. We have to get people to get their act together. It is frustrating that some people are so swamped by bureaucracy that they cannot make decisions and if they do they come too late.”

“When an animal dealer has 20 per cent of the world population of a species illegally and they are steadily dying because nobody can do anything about it, to my mind that is catastrophic in every way.”

When in Assam in 1976 trying to save the pigmy hog from extinction he found that 95 per cent of his time was spent coping with politics.

“One has to get people to believe that one is there to help. There are a lot of awfully suspicious people because of the way they have been treated in the past by others. But people throughout the world are more and more coming to recognise the integrity of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust.”

“We are small but we command a tremendous amount of international respect. We have got the best collection of animals in the world for our size and not only are we carrying out breeding programmes here, but we are doing so much field work in certain areas.”

“Our people in charge of sections have published papers about breeding programmes and done work with the same species in the wild state. We are increasingly keeping our finger on the pulse of things so that we can provide a well- balanced opinion of what should happen for long-term conservation strategies to conservation bodies and to the governments concerned.”

“It is far better for us to see a few jobs really well done than to do a little bit here and a little bit there. We concentrate our efforts in certain areas where we can visit, do field work and make our recommendations and become an integral part of the long-term effort. Jersey Zoo comes out of it as a model of what can be achieved.”

“We can lead by example and exert a lot of moral pressure on a lot of zoos and conservation organisations to follow our example. A lot of other zoo directors have got blinkers on but l think we are exerting a lot of influence on people.”

This is all port of what Jeremy Mallinson sees as a threefold purpose for Jersey Zoo.

The first is to collect and breed animals, and the second is to influence other people to do the same, but it is the third influence on the public at large which he considers to be vitally important.

“Gerald Durrell has given more people an awareness of the importance of the animal kingdom than any other person through his publications. It is so important to get over to people the significance of conservation. No matter how good films and articles are there is no substitute for seeing the living animal. When I see Jambo out I can only feel humble and it is very good for humans to feel humble.”

“I consider that zoos play a very important part in giving people an awareness of the importance of animals.”

“I recognise that the majority of people initially come for an experience and to enjoy themselves and quite rightly so, but we hope they take away a greater understanding of the importance of conservation.”

“In the final analysis, unless we can do that we are wasting our time.”

Talking Pictures

Talking Pictures

The old flickering movies, black and white
Long forgotten shows come back to life
Distant past coming once more into sight
The laughter and tears, love and strife

Dixon of Dock Green says “Good Evening All”
Those were the days, bobbies on the beat
The days when the Met stood proud and tall
And got the villains - never say defeat

It’s Worzel Gummidge at Scatterbrook Farm
Aunt Sally, the Crowman, farmer and his wife
He swaps his heads over. Such rural charm
Although with Aunt Sally, always strife

Maigret lights a match, puffs of pipe smoke
Pondering the crime, murders in France
Was it poison, a gun? How did they croak
The detective is there with knowing glance

Talking Pictures on Television: great to see
Glimpses of a golden age for you and me

Jersey Zoo: The Key to the Future

Jersey Zoo: The Key to the Future

It has always been obvious to the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust that one small breeding centre in the English Channel could only have minimal effect on the declining populations of our wild creatures, and in Gerald Durrell’s best selling and provocative book ‘The Stationary Ark’ he expressed his longstanding dream to create a mini university.

His aim was to teach zoo keepers and wildlife conservation workers how captive breeding could be used to help to preserve endangered animal species.

In 1979, while final plans were being considered for the construction of a fairly basic utility block within the Zoo grounds to provide a residence for trainees, the farm property next door to the Zoo, called Les Noyers (the Walnuts), which had belonged to the some family for about 500 years, came on to the market for the first time in its history.

Les Noyers not only provides a traditional country home with accommodation for up to 15, including a housekeepers flat, but also the most superb granite barn complex which immediately fulfilled a desperate need for workshops, bedding and food storage (including a fully operational cold store), garaging, technical stores and garden equipment. There was also room for development.

A technical research unit, incorporating rooms for graphic design, audio visual equipment, specimen store and museum was completed last year and a behavioural research unit now provides a sophisticated building for the close observation of animals living together above and below ground, blissfully unaware that their every move is being closely watched and recorded for science.

As the trust increases its role as an international venue for politicians and conservationists to discuss environmental issues, the superbly fitted out lecture theatre will provide more than just a training centre lecture room.

A new wing with bathrooms, cloakrooms and adjoining lobby completes the world's first international training centre for breeding endangered species in captivity.

Trainees come from every corner of the globe, from as far afield as Nagaland and St Vincent, Brazil and Manipur, New Zealand and Canada. It could often be said that they only have two things in common — they are of the same species and they put another species first. A third common, and sometimes perilous interest soon develops on the croquet lawn, where cultural differences sometimes lead to exotic rules.

Their off duty needs are catered for by Pat Gilson, the housekeeper, whose varied family grows every month. Her Christmas card address list must be one of the most interesting in Jersey. Some of her guests have never been out of their home locality before, let alone travelled to another hemisphere. Pat gently helps them to settle, and as an ex-nurse and an imaginative and skilled cook she is ably fitted to do so.

This training centre, which is being completed in this anniversary year for an official opening by the trust's patron, Princess Anne, on October 5, has already accommodated 106 trainees from 24 countries, and so there is no doubt about the need for such a mini-university.

Naturally the cost of establishing such a facility is very considerable and although the Jersey trust purchased the property the development of the project could not have taken place without Wildlife Preservation Trust International, who believed in the role of captive breeding in conservation.

The trust is grateful to the Leverhulme Foundation for under-writing the salary of the centre's first training officer, together with 30 training scholarships over a period of six years, and to the Pew Foundation in Philadelphia for the development of the technical research unit, bathroom block and lobby and for part funding of the behavioural research unit.

They also provided the necessary funds to furnish the Sir William Collins Memorial Library, and Collins have donated every natural history book published by them in memory of their late founder.

Two private benefactors greatly assisted the conversion of the residence and the fitting out of the observational research unit but the trust is still seeking a benefactor for the lecture hall, which is to cost in the region of £30,000.

The training programme offered at the centre is intended for individuals who have shown a commitment to conservation and there are three training categories.

Special trainees are mainly government sponsored personnel who are directly involved with the management of endangered species, particularly from the country of origin of the species and especially of those represented at the trust. Previous practical experience with animals is usually, although not invariably, a requirement.

Staff trainees are zoological staff selected for further training in conservation work.

Career trainees are individuals who have a significant chance, of pursuing a career in captive breeding or closely related disciplines. University graduates in relevant subjects with good practical experience or non-graduates with outstanding practical experience are eligible.

There are three separate courses.

The first is a 16-week course in practical work experience with theory assuming a strong supporting role.

Trainees usually work for two weeks in each of the different animal sections alongside the permanent zoo staff, learning all aspects of husbandry and propagation of endangered species. There are regular lectures, seminars and other discussion sessions and the trainee may undertake a short research project.

The second course is a shortened version of the sixteen-week course, lasting only ten weeks and omitting two animal sections.

The third course is a six-week theory course in conservation and captive breeding aimed at those candidates for whom practical work is not appropriate. The major component of the course is an extended research project.

They are not formal training courses with examinations and assessment is related to the practical work experience. Trainees are expected to participate in all animal work, including the dirty as well as the prestige jobs and are assessed on how much effort they put into a day's work and their approach to the work.

The trust asks for a willingness to share in all aspects of work and to exercise commonsense, initiative and enthusiasm. The real value of trainees to the trust will be measured in their future inspiration of others with the ideas that the courses have generated, and for them to implement and adapt their experience to enhance captive breeding success elsewhere.

Since the summer of 1980 the Trust has also been running a highly successful three-week summer school, varying the major theme from year to year. Each course is co-ordinated and directed by internationally recognised scientists and many zoo staff participate in specialised instruction. The function of the summer school is primarily education, in contrast to the more closely defined aim of the normal training programmes.

There are also opportunities for carrying out valuable research at the zoo and independent research workers of proven capability may be accommodated by the trust for varying periods.

The establishment of the training centre, fulfilling the dreams of zoo founder Gerald Durrell, has already proved of inestimable value to the world of conservation, and as our natural world comes under even greater pressure and casualties from the animal kingdom increase, so its value will grow.

Visiting Hamptonne - Cider Days

Visiting Hamptonne yesterday reminded me of this poem from October 2004, which was runner up in the poetry competition (adult class) held that year for poems about cider and apples. It's a bit risqué but rather fun.

It is lovely that the young Jersey calves are there, pigs, sheep and goodness knows how many hens and cockerels. The more modern house has also been revamped to around war and just post-war which is a delight, and there is a new exhibition area which currently has stunning photos of wildlife.  A great place for a picnic, and sunny weather, but not as busy as the cider festival, which I still remember very fondly.

Cider Days

Sing we a song of the harvest home
Of maidens fair, and lads who roam
Sing of dalliance, should they meet.
Quaff of our cider, the finest, sweet.

This is the time of our cider making
Cabbage loaf, Wonders, all for baking
Sing in the farmyard, take the apple
While lad and maiden in lusty grapple.

The farm horse turns the cider crusher
Apples crunched, no fair smell sweeter
Sing now of the old farm days of clover
While lad and maiden, now rollover.

More apples to fetch from orchard now
Heave carts and barrows past the cow
Pick the apples, some to eat and savour
This year, the maiden is now in labour.

With some for bake, and some for crumble
This is our Jersey apple, so very humble
But best of all, drink upon cider days
While nearby mother with baby plays.

1974 - 50 Years Ago - May Part 2

1974 - 50 Years Ago - May Part 2

May 216—A three-year examination of the Val de La Mare dam has shown expansion and disturbance of the concrete caused by chemical action, but today the Jersey New Waterworks Company issued a. Statement to assure the public that the stability of the dam is entirely satisfactory.

17.-—The proprietor of the former Millionaires Club, Cypriot Mr. Christopher Georgiou, will stay -in the debtors’ prison for a least another six weeks while investigations as to whether he has any assets outside Jersey are made.

18..—Since May 2 when 2,600 letters were sent to states tenants by the Housing Department informing them of a new “ licensing " system for keeping pets, some 210 applications have been received asking for licences.

20.—Thieves who broke into the Colomberie premises of Peter Gould (Chemists) Ltd. last night cleared the dangerous drugs cupboard of its entire stock of more than 11,000 tablets and capsules. This is Jersey’s biggest drugs haul to date. ”

21 . Taxi driver Centenier Robert Eaton has resigned from the St. Helier Honorary Police because he can no longer afford the time off from his job since the new open-rank taxi system came into operation in town.

22.—Miss Jersey Battle of Filowers 1974, is Jersey-born 20 year-old Miss Susan de Gruchy. Her maids of honour are Miss Maria Brookes, and Mrs. Margaret Barnes, the “ Spring Festival Princess”

23.—States Greffier Mr. Edward Potter is to be the secretary of a delegation of the UK branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association which will visit Canada from Sunday at the invitation of the Canadian branch of the association.

24.—Although this year’s potato exports are so far almost 17 per cent up on last year’s, farmers are crying out for rain to swell the crop. Mr. Stan Morel, the chairman of the JFU potato committee, forecast that between one and two inches of rain was required fairly soon in order to give a heavier crop.

25. The top floor of the General Hospital’s private wing is to be opened up to take private patients due to pressure for beds not until 1976. The Public Health Committee hope to do this on January 1. 1976, but the move is dependent upon the completion of new staffing accommodation in Savile Street.

28—The Fort Regent Development Committee's plans for the Fort were given full approval by the States late today after the amendment put forward by the Finance and Economics Committee—to do no work on the rotunda for the time being—had been defeated by 32 votes to nine.

29.—Jersey’s two major tourist attractions—Mont Orgueil Castle and Elizabeth Castle—have once again reported record attendances for the first six weeks of the season.

30.—Hotel charges in Jersey could go up by at least 25 per cent next year. And there could be two increases, one to cover the period from January 1 to June 30 and the second: to come from July 1 onwards.

31. Baroness Seear of Paddington, who before being made a life peeress in 1971, was known as Miss Beatrice Nancy Seear, and who is an economist and expert in personal management is in the Island looking at the job evaluation scheme which has been an integral part of the Jersey Civil Service for the past six years.

Beltane Blessings

Beltane Blessings

Time to plant, seed to scatter:
Furrows deep on fertile land;
Let the crops be well watered,
By the sky god’s blessed hand;
Where plantings in mid-winter,
From deepest sleep have lain;
Green blades rise in sunshine,
And soft refreshing rain.

Lambs upon the hillside:
Cold winter now so far;
Beltane blessings flower:
Come night the evening star;
The shepherds in the moonlight,
While children are in bed,
Bless the flocks, and bless the land,
That gives their daily bread.

Now light the Beltane fires,
Bless all things bright and good,
And dance around the cromlech,
That from times past has stood;
And Mother Earth we pray thee,
For all your love imparts,
To grace us with your bounty,
For our most thankful hearts!

1974 - 50 Years Ago - May Part 1

1974 - 50 Years Ago - May Part 1

1. —-The Department of Public Building and Works brought park benches and concrete flower tubs out of storage this morning as King Street became Jersey’s first permanent pedestrian precinct.

2.——The Education Committee are to carry out an investigation into the Island’s methods of dealing with young offenders, giving special consideration to the need for a separate remand home for delinquents. The move follows an extensive weekend conference involving those concerned with juvenile offenders.

3.—The Defence Committee have accepted the summer timetable and the fare increases proposed by the JMT. From May 20 the basic rate will be 6p instead of 5p. Fares of 10p and more will be increased by 2p). Fares for pensioners and schoolchildren will remain the same.

4.——Plans to convert the Jersey Fabrics Building in Rue de la Vallée, St. Mary, into a Mormon chapel have been rejected by the IDC because they would have involved an inappropriate architectural style and would: have detracted from the amenities of the area.

' 6.——Two of the larger units of the Fire Service were driven through the pedestrian precinct in King Street this morning to see if they could manoeuvre past the flower tubs and seats. The test proved successful.

’8.——After being found guilty on a majority verdict, Kenneth Sharp English was sentenced to death for the murder of Mrs Eva May Cullen.

.10.—A 19.year-old Scottish girl became the millionth person to ride on the Fort Regent cable cars.

11—Sheila Mitchell, a 23-year-old secretary from Newcastle, was crowned “ Jersey Holiday Queen, 1974 ”. Second and third places went to “ Miss Sheffield", 21-year-old June Pickering, and “Miss Harlow ", Susan Jarivs (20). The competition attracted 26 entrants frrom towns all over the UK. j '

13. John Mitchell, the 11 year-old sufferer from thrombasthenia, 'a rare “ bleeding disease ”, who was injured when he swung from a rope suspended from a. tree across the Rue des Friquettes, St. Saviour, last Wednesday evening. is making excellent progress at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, where he was rushed the same night, and should be back in Jersey soon.

14.—The Jersey branch of the Royal National Life-boat Institution have now raised the £100,000 needed to pay for the Island’s new lifeboat. The appeal fund has now been closed and a cheque for £100,000 will be handed over at the annual general meeting or the RNLI in London on May 21. The coxswain of the Jersey boat. Mike Berry, will receive his silver medal for gallantry at this meeting.

15.—The two male lowland gorillas successfully reared by the Zoo, Assumbo and Mamfe. were taken from their nursery for the first time today and moved to a cage in the mammal house. 

The Paralysis of the Parish

The Paralysis of the Parish

After more than an hour of questions, confusion, interruptions – and even an accusation that communism had taken root – parishioners of St Peter decided to put off a vote by several weeks in a meeting that at times carried shades of the Handforth Parish Council.

ST Brelade parishioners have postponed a vote on how to fund a £500,000 revamp of the Elephant Park over concerns about a lack of detailed information. The proposal, brought forward by Constable Mike Jackson at a parish assembly this week, involved allocating £250,000 from the property reserve fund and securing a commercial loan of up to the same value.

Last night, a discussion on voting funds to repair the roof discussion was quite involved with all sorts of suggestions, including selling the parish hall and moving. The Constable was asked to come back with more detailed figures. Meanwhile, the roof continues to deteriorate and the wood rots beneath it.

But where would the Parish Hall move? The only site large enough was the old Les Quennevais School, and that's gone. Communicare is already busy with organisations and anyway is too small. You need a good hall and a back office area large enough, and a space for the centeniers to reside and hold Parish hall enquiries. Where on earth is there which would do within the Parish? We always get the selling the Parish Hall, but now that the old school site has gone, there really is nowhere else viable.

However, what seems to be increasingly the case, is Parish meetings are actually attended by Deputies at least one of whom who has not been seen there for years, who are leading questioning, some justified, but some less so, which is paralysing the ability of the Parish to take any decisions.

One thing that is clearly needed is more engagement. The last big St Aubin project that I remember, which included the removal of the central aisle in the road and introduction of zebra crossings, had Parish drop in sessions, where what was proposed could be questioned, and scrutinised long before the Parish assembly. I think that is one way past the logjam. Figures and plans released at the 11th hour are not engagement but smack of fire fighting, in much the same way the last Council of Ministers suddenly started to engage more with the public when the Vote of No Confidence was pending.

Other potential projects outside of the direct scope of the Constable also require more details. While not the subject of a Parish assembly, the proposals of Beautiful Jersey have a business plan without figures. As Claude Littner of The Apprentice might say of the plans: “Are they realistic, are they achievable, are they sensible, do the numbers add up”. But there are no numbers!

The Parish magazine could also be a forum for explaining what is proposed, where plans can be seen and questions raised. But it does all require some forward planning. It is quarterly. We can put information like the branchage because we have dates in time. Requests for help with the Battle have come from the local organisation in a timely manner. But it does require knowing what is coming up in three to four months at Parish assemblies - not the smaller stuff, but the large costing projects.

Sometimes decisions may be pushed back, and quite rightly, but those who in the past criticised items going through on the nod of a few attending a Parish assembly should also be aware that the slightly larger numbers we are now seeing hardly constitute engagement. If 20 people hardly represent the whole Parish, neither would 40 - even in St Mary!

It may be that the Parish assembly and how voting takes place needs a rethink. The EGM for Durrell has proxy voting available, but that does require pre-planning and information put into the public domain. Nonetheless it engages with the entire Zoo membership, and not just those activists at the EGM. Should Parish Assembly decisions, where large capital sums are required, also go down that road? It is something worth considering. 

The matter was raised - but rejected - in 2001 by a working party:

Concern has been expressed in some quarters at the potential for a small minority of members of the Parish Assembly having an unrepresentative effect on the financial workings of the Parish. This concern has been centred on the view that, where the vast majority of parishioners might be happy with a proposal, or perhaps might not hold any strong views, they would not see the need to attend when that proposal was discussed at the Parish Assembly. Thus minorities could, for example, bring a Parish to financial ruin when setting an annual rate. 

It has been suggested that the Parish could be likened to a business with shareholders - these being the members of the Assembly. The question has been asked whether all entitled Parishioners, if made party to the full facts of a proposal, could in some way be able to indicate their acceptance or rejection of that proposal by means of a proxy or postal vote which would be counted at the Parish Assembly in question. The Law Officers have advised that proxy or postal voting is not catered for under existing procedures and would certainly require amendment to existing legislation.

An alternative compromise might be that proposed in 2019 but withdrawn before voting:

that a minimum of 10 parishioners may (by serving written notice to the Connétable at least one week before the scheduled date of the Parish Assembly) require additional time to be provided for voting on a proposition at a Parish Assembly, with votes cast at the Parish Assembly on that proposition supplemented by votes cast in the Parish Hall on the day after the Parish Assembly, in order to enable an increased number of parishioners to vote on the most significant propositions

I think something must be done, or the Parish will be paralysed from voting on substantive matters, and I am not sure we are not too far from the note that "minorities could, for example, bring a Parish to financial ruin when setting an annual rate."