Waiting for the bus

It's getting darker in the morning! Soon need the hi-vis jacket!

Waiting for the bus

A September morning, at the road side
The bus will be here any minute, I hope
I came walking fast, quickening stride
Listening to birdsong on a gentle slope

The air is cool, an Easterly breeze blows
Round the corner, the bus comes along
Passing hedgerows, scattering crows
They fly away, singing their raucous song

Passing the coastline, looking out to sea
A distant mist hides the far off islands
Beautiful archipelago I cannot see
The cliffs of Sark, the yellow sands

The days drawing in, and a later dawn
And early mornings bring forth a yawn

The Robin Hood Hotel

THE ROBIN HOOD HOTEL—Rouge Bouillion, St. Helier

By Philip Ahier

This hostelry at the corner of Val Plaisant and Trinity Hill was a sort of prison during the Bread Riots on May 17th, 1847.

These riots arose as the result of the workers making La Haule Road complaining at the high price of provisions, especially that of bread, compared with the terribly low wages they were receiving at the time, namely 2s. 0d. per day!

These workpeople gathered others from the Ship-building Yards at La Collette and those from the stores on Commercial Buildings and those working on the Pier; they arrived in the Royal Square shouting for cheap bread. The Riot Act was read outside the Royal Court House but this did not prevent the rioters from proceeding to the Town Mill in Grand Vaux which they attacked, grabbing bags of flour and loading two waggons with the commodity.

At this stage, the Constable of St. Helier (Peter Le Sueur) once again read the Riot Act outside the Robin Hood Tavern, 'as it was then known. One of the ringleaders of the rioters was arrested and lodged in the inn, but in the confusion that ensued he escaped by the back door, while the mob was trying to force open the front!

The Military was summoned from Fort Regent and closed the road leading to the Robin Hood Tavern. The carts laden with wheat and flour were 'captured', re-harnessed by horses and taken back to the Mill under military escort.

The Police arrested more rioters and lodged them in the Tavern taking precautions they did not escape!

The prisoners were later transferred to the prison in Gloucester Street and presented before the Royal Court.

A military guard was left outside the Town Mill, the Robin Hood Inn and the general vicinity for a fortnight after the riots.

On Thursday, June 3rd, 1847 fire broke out at the tavern, and before the first engine could reach it, the entire building was ablaze. It was eventually demolished, and replaced by the present building.

The accompanying crayon sketch of the Town Mill Bread Riots was made on the spot by an eye-witness, Mr. Mellish de la Taste then a young man of 24, the brother of Colonel John James de la Taste.

The sketch has an interesting history. After the death of Mr. M. de la Taste, some of his effects found their way into a second-hand shop in the early eighties of the last century.

Colonel de la Taste saw it lying between the window and some `junk' and suspected that it was his brother's drawing. He called in and asked "how much?", he was told and said he would think about it. The shop-keeper replied "better be quick about it as the Societe Jersiaise is after it". Whereupon, the Colonel put a golden sovereign and six shillings upon the counter and thus secured his brother's sketch!

While visiting Mr. M. de la Taste, Jnr., one evening some years ago, the writer noticed the drawing hanging on a wall and asked whether he could get a photographic reproduction thereof, to which Mr. de la Taste readily assented.

During the 1870's, The Robin Hood was the penny omnibus terminus. These were horse-drawn buses which travelled the town area.

The Inn has had a series of owners since it was rebuilt, until 1969, when it was purchased by the Ann Street Brewery Co. Ltd., in whose ownership it has since remained.

Mabon

A celebration of Autumn, of the Autumn equinox, of the ancient Celtic festival of Mabon, and harvest time.

Mabon

Sweet harvest, rejoice in time of year
Feasting and gratitude at nature’s gift
Time to be merry and of good cheer
Before the weather comes adrift

Sweet harvest, all is safely gathered in
Threshing machines separate the grain
And stalks and husks are thrown in bin
Before the winter storms and rain

Sweet harvest, Pomona’s apply bounty
Time for gathering for the cider making
Prepare apple and blackberry pie for me
Before the gales are trees a-shaking

Celebrate Mabon: leaves, acorns, pine cone
The waning moon, the wise old crone

The Jersey Exhibition

 From the 1970s (around 1972?) in "Jersey Illustrated" magazine.

Tony's Ramblings: Television

The Project

The highlight of my week has to be "The Project", last seen 20 years ago, and apparently (although no sources and solid evidence is available) a TV show which Alastair Campbell tried to block. Nowadays, with Rory Stewart, he is the statesmanlike voice of reason, but back during the Blair years of Labour's power, he came across as very much something of a spin doctor.

The first part, "Opposition", was first shown on 10 November 2002, with the second part "Government" shown the next night (divided into two parts), both on BBC One

The story is told through the eyes of two activists, played by then unknown actors Matthew Macfadyen and Naomie Harris and their friends. In "Opposition", Clips from TV news show the public drama being played out, but the focus is on the drama behind the scenes, looking firstly at Kinnock's failure in 1992, and the build up to the Labour victory in 1997.

"Government" shows how the idealistic hopes are lost, and how brutal the Whips can be in persuading recalcitrant MPs to vote - both physical violence, and bullying. Having read the diaries of Chris Mullen, you can see the pressures on individual MPs (although he never had physical violence threatened), and how a non-conforming MP will end their career if they don't vote for the party's measures, and how the government was constrained for two years by a promise to keep to the Tory spending limits. Here, Naomie Harris's MP Maggie (MP for Wroker) faces the threat of the Whips to keep in line.

Chief Whip: We're very pleased with you. You feel passionately about certain issues and we want to use that. So it comes down to a very simple choice. Take your name off the motion and vote with the government and you will be.....a Junior Minister in the Department of Transport after the next election. Or vote against us and your career is over. When a new hospital is awarded, it will not go to Wroker. When a bypass needs approval, it will not be given in Wroker. When Nissan want government grants to build a new factory, they will not be forthcoming for your constituency. We'll make you unelectable. It's what'll happen to you.

Given that Labour are now facing potential rebellions with a large majority but unpopular measures and keeping to spending limits - taking away the winter fuel allowance for pensioners being one - this is incredibly topical.

Sherwood Season 2

Bad blood and simmering tensions erupting into violence. Not perhaps as rooted in the past with flashbacks as the previous series, this is still compelling drama as past trauma and present conflicts bubble away beneath the surface.

Grace

Meanwhile on ITV, Grace continues with quality and murder, with twists and turns along the way. Shot mostly around Bristol and Hove, and headed by John Simm, this series shows why Peter James is a best selling crime writer. Last week had what for me was an unforseen twist at the end, very cleverly done. The friction between the political - go public with a serial killer and it may effect business and tourism - is also quite believable.

The Writing on the Wall

And finally, something completely different - Mike Read (one of the "Footage Detectives" from the wonderful Talking Pictures show of the same name) has for Talking pictures produced a fascinating documentary series on the Blue Plaques on buildings commemorating famous people, telling their story with interviews, photos, archive footage. A real gem.

Rozel in the Fall

A trip to Rozel where I haven't been for some years - parking is always difficult but easier when children are at school. I love the beach huts, the date stones, the boats in the harbour. The tea rooms have gone. The Navigator restaurant - where you could "pick your own fish course" from their tank - has gone, now apartments. But the "Hungry Man" beach cafe is still, there, still doing great food! The lady behind the counter recognised me as "Facebook friend" which was a nice surprise! 

Rozel in the Fall

The tidal water gently laps the shore
Today, last blaze of an autumn sun
Like walking through a magic door
Before the cold of winter soon begun

The Hungry Man: good food to so enjoy
Hot sausage and egg roll, tea to drink
Watch the boats afloat, ahoy, ahoy!
Time to slowly reflect, time to think

Seaside houses, with date stones old
Weathered many storms over years
And what tales might they have told
About love and hope, grief and tears

This harbour, small, but such a delight
A memory to dream about tonight

1974 - 50 Years Ago - September 2024 Part 2

 

1974 - 50 Years Ago - September 2024 Part 2

16.—Preliminiary discussions about the new extended St. Peter's Village development scheme were held at a committee meeting. and it has been agreed that priority for homes will go to natives not the parish. Burt parish secretary Mr.Frank Renault emphasized this morning that applications should not be made until a further statement is issued.

17.—The States agreed to take over the artificial insemination service for the Islands’ cattle industry at an estimated annual deficit of £7,750, despite a strong plea: by Senator Dick Shenton that they should not start rescuing lame ducks.

18.—Nurses and midwives in Jersey are to get massive. pay rises ranging from £1.65 a week for- newly recruited students to around £1,000 a year for chief nursing officers. The deal announced by the UK Government yesterday as the result of an emergency independent inquiry, will automatically be applied in Jersey.

19.—Security meeasures are being taken by the police to guard the Consul de France and his staff at the Consulate in Don Street. This follows the siege of the French Ambassador and his staff at the Embassy in The Hague from last Friday until yesterday, when they were released by the Japanese Red Army Terrorists by whom they had been held captive. Deputy John Riley said that the French Government had requested that special security arrangements be made for guarding the personnel at their embassies, legations, consular offices in countries throughout the World.

20.—-A 24 year-old woman was shot dead at a house in Miladi Farm Estate, St. Saviour. at about midnight last night and a 35-year-old man, believed to be her husband, was assisting inquiries at Police Headquarters this morning.

21.—A-top official of the Jersey Farmers Union has resigned because he says that he can no longer make any constructive contribution to the organization. The resignation. which has been accepted by the union's general council, is that of Mr. Leslie Minty full-time secretary for the past seven years. .

23.——An ex-Centenier’s son, 35-year-old Jersey-born Ian Stanley Le Brun, made a brief appearance in the dock at the Police Court this morning charged with the murder of his wife 24-year-old Mrs. Christine Chandler Le Brun (née Prosser), with a shotgun. Advocate Michael Clapham is defending, but reserved his defence. No plea was entered and the Assistant Magistrate, Sir Graeme Finlay, remanded the accused in custody for one week; .

24—Damage estimated at thousands of pounds was done when fire broke out at the premises of Auto Electric, the electrical engineers, in Byron Lane, during the night. Inside the building the stock included batteries and motors, charging and lighting equipment. The cause of the fire has yet to be established.

25.—One of Jersey’s most famous bulls Broadfields Vedas Star Lad has been sold by his owner, Mr. Alec Anthoine, for the all-time Island record price of £4,000.

26.—Hit by a lorry as she was crossing the Esplanade at about 3.15 yesterday afternoon, Miss Mabel C. Foot, a. 75 year-old visitor from Andover, Hants, died some hours later at the General Hospital, where she had been taken unconscious with a suspected skull fracture.

27.—Jersey is to send £5,000 to aid victims of the Honduras hurricane disaster.

28,—Town pilot Mike Berny, the coxswain of Jersey’s lifeboat, has been selected by the RNLI as the man who performed the bravest act of life-saving during 1973. The Institution has decided that he should receive a. special award in recognition of his courage during the rescue of the crew of six from the French yacht Bacchus on September 18 last year.

29.—An 80 year-old man was killed when a tree which he was helping to fell in his garden crashed down on top of him. He was Mr. Edmund John Huelin, of Lowland Cottage. St. Catherine's Hill. St. Martin.

30..—It was announced that stockbrokers D. Q. Henriques Seal and Co., who operate a Jersey office at Channel House in Green Street, will cease trading on ‘November 8. The Manchester-based firm confirmed weekend rumours when it informed the Council of the Stock Exchange that it would not be taking on any new business after the close on that date. But the company has promised to meet all its commitments and a. spokesman in Jersey said there would be no local redundancies.

Autumnal

I had a lovely walk on Friday with some friends through country lanes in St Ouen, that very rural of Parishes, and this gave rise to this poem.

Autumnal

Season of the year, before it grows old
Milder sunshine, punctuated heavy rain
Sometimes Indian summer, others cold
With rain lashing at the window pane

Ambling leisurely along the country lane
Sheep grazing peacefully nearby fields
Gentle turning of rooftop weather vane
Before weather breaks, to winter yields

Old country farmhouses, chimney smoke
The apples ripe, with so much windfall
Earlier sunsets, a falling twilight cloak
Shadows lengthen over roadside wall

Autumn days, both joyful and sadness
Leaves golden brown bring gladness

1974 - 50 Years Ago - September 2024 Part 1

1974 - 50 Years Ago - September 2024 Part 1

2.—-—Mountainous seas and gale-force winds lashed Jersey’s east coast this morning leaving a trail of destruction from Gorey harbour to St. Catherine’s breakwater for the second time this year. At least three valuable boats were smashed against the rocks until they were nothing more than drift wood, and several other craft suffered minor damage after dragging their moorings and pounding against harbour walls. Jersey’s new Lieut.-Governor General Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick, GCB, D80. MBE. MC., was sworn in for his five-year term of office at the Royal Court this morning.

3.——Sir Desmond- Fitzpatrick was formally introduced to the States at a special sitting of. the House. He made it clear to States Members that he intends to take an active interest in Island affairs.

4-.—-A working party under Deputy Fred Le Brocq. has recently been appointed to look into the vexed question of treatment for young offenders in Jersey.

5.—-Food prices in Jersey rose 35 per cent in the quarter ended on August 9, and although this rise was not as high as in the previous quarter, the price differential between Jersey and the, UK rose to 12.7- per cent.

6.—A DC6 belonging to Delta Air Transport burst both tyres on the port side when landing at Jersey Admort shortly before 10 o’clock this morning. Bringing 42 passengers from Antwerp for a day trip -to the Island, the plane remained on the runway for 15 minutes before taxing into one of the runway exits. Both tires started to come off the rims and replacements will have to be flown into the: Island before the plane can depart. The passengers, though unharmed, were a little shaken, and were disembarked while the plane was still on the runway.

7.—After a nightmare 12-hour battle through hurricane-force winds and " horrific " seas, the one thousand Jersey-bound passengers on British Rail’s Sarnia got within sight of St. Helier Harbour early, this afternoon, only to find that the ship’s master had ordered “about turn and back to Guernsey." The decision was made, Canptain Paul Baker said later, “ because to go any further would have but the ship at risk. As we rounded Corbiére I could see we couldn’t make it—it would have been-impossible to get the ship into harbour.”

10.—The restrictions on the use of water imposed in June—using hoses to water gardens or wash cars. topping up swimming pools. etc.— are lifted from midnight tonight. M-r. Rodney Clarke, engineer-manager of the Jersey New Waterworks Company, said this morning that the decision had been taken at the company's board meeting yesterday. But he stressed that the Island still had a water problem, with 35 million gallons less in reserve that at the same time last year.

11.—Two States Members, 9 local union officials, a director of a shipping company and a chairman of the Jersey Agricultural Marketing Federation flew to Southampton this morning in a bid to solve the problems caused by the Portsmouth dock strike—a situation described by TGWU regional officer Mr. Ernie Allen as a “ tragedy ”

13.—The Jersey and Guernsey Savings Banks have announced that they will amalgamate from November next year. The banks will become the Channel Island Trustee Savings Bank, as part of a nation-wide reorganization of Trustee Savings Banks in which 1,550 branches will be arranged into 15 regional groups . , '

14.—A dockers strike at St. Malo means that over 60 cars bound for there from Jersey will be stuck in the Island over the weekends. The cars should have left last night on the Commodore Shipping services cargo vessel Norman Commodore, but they seem certain now to stay in Jersey until Monday morning at the earliest. It is believed that the next meeting to try to resolve the dispute will be held on Monday afternoon.