Sue Daly - May 18th - Talk and Film Show

Gavin Ashenden and the Broad Historical Context

Gavin Ashenden writes: “The local newspaper have refused my column on Islamophobia claiming it is too controversial. Cranmer -the blogger - who likes it very much , will run it instead.”

His blog is about the threat posed by a Labour government making “Islamaphobia” a crime, forbidding criticism of Islam. As there is already legislation against religious hatred in the UK, he is suggesting that any criticism of Islam will be treated as Islamaphobia.

In fact, I believe it is his own kind of fear mongering that is more damaging to the cause of peace. I;ve heard him on BBC Radio Jersey say in all seriousness that violence in Islam would be prevented if Muslims converted to Christianity, because Christianity is a religion of peace. For someone who looks to the historical record to criticism Islam, this is surely a case of a pot calling the kettle black, or to take a parable from Christianity, of someone with a log in his own eye looking at specs of dust in another.

Here is something of what he says about Islam, in which he paints a picture that Islam’s roots are mired in violence, hence today’s practitioners even if they are kind, good Muslims, have beliefs tainted by that past:

“Is ISIS extreme or radical ? Between 622 and 632 Mohammed led 74 violent expeditions against people who refused accept or follow him. After the Battle of the Trench, he executed – by cutting off their heads – between 600 and 900 Jewish men women and children who had simply failed to overtly support him.”

“Any attribution of extremity needs to assessed in a broad historical context. What is that context? Islam’s record of violence over the last 1400 years amounts to something like 270 million non-Muslims killed – because they were non-Muslims. It set out to destroy the Christian civilisation in all the Middle East, Egypt, Turkey, North Africa (where St Augustine of Hippo was based), and succeeded. It didn’t kill only Christians (estimated at 60 million) but also 10 million Buddhists, and 80 million Hindus. Persian Zoroastrian culture and African animists were also wiped out.”

So why did Jews flee Christian Europe in the Middle Ages and seek refuge in Islamic countries like Spain if Islam was so nasty? In Spain under its Christian rulers, Jews were treated like dirt, persecuted, but when it was taken over by the forces of Islam, they could live without fear of persecution. Unfortunately Spain was retaken by the Christians, and Jews were persecuted once more.

Gavin asks use to look at “ broad historical context”. Well, let’s look at a broad historical context with respect to Christianity to see its own record of violence:

And note on the rejection of his article by the Jersey Evening Post, Gavin says: “It's only a list of facts... How can facts be controversial?”

Well, here are a few facts! In fact, a few key historical similarities between extreme Muslims and Christians in the past:

Destroying Pagan Heritage Sites and Killing Pagans

The Islamic state is engaged in this now; Christianity itself has a black mark in its own past.

As soon as Christianity was legal (315), more and more pagan temples were destroyed by Christian mob. Pagan priests were killed.

Between 315 and 6th century thousands of pagan believers were slain.

Examples of destroyed Temples: the Sanctuary of Aesculap in Aegaea, the Temple of Aphrodite in Golgatha, Aphaka in Lebanon, the Heliopolis.

Christian priests such as Mark of Arethusa or Cyril of Heliopolis were famous as "temple destroyers."

Pagan services became punishable by death in 356.

Christian Emperor Theodosius (408-450) even had children executed, because they had been playing with remains of pagan statues.

According to Christian chroniclers he "followed meticulously all Christian teachings...".

In the early fourth century the philosopher Sopatros was executed on demand of Christian authorities. 

In the 6th century pagans were declared void of all rights.

Taking Peoples Away from Families into Slavery

Boko Haram is doing this today; Christianity has done this in the past.

The Church enjoyed 1,500 years during which it had had the power to ban slavery but had failed to do so, or even to have expressed any desire to do so.

George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards both kept slaves, and ‘The Anglican Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts’ owned many slaves in the Caribbean

While important early figures saw slavery as troubling, over time the Society accommodated its message to slaveholders, advocated for laws that tightened colonial slave codes, and embraced slavery as a missionary tool. The SPG owned hundreds of enslaved people on its Codrington plantation in Barbados, where it hoped to simultaneously make profits and save souls. In Africa, the Society cooperated with English slave traders in establishing a mission at Cape Coast Castle, at the heart of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts branded its slaves on the chest with the word SOCIETY to show who owned them.

Churchmen owned slaves and were not particularly notable as good masters. Indeed some of the worst masters were clergymen. In the court of St Ann's in Jamaica in 1829, the Rev. G. W. Bridges was charged with maltreating a female slave. For a trivial mistake he had stripped her, tied her by the hands to the ceiling so that her toes hardly touched the ground, then flogged her with a bamboo rod until she was a "mass of lacerated flesh and gore" from her shoulders to her calves. Cases like this rarely came to court, but when they did they generally ended in acquittal, as in this case, so the Reverend gentleman walked free.

Anglicans involved in slavery often poured their ill-gotten gain into Church coffers. It was a good investment with a high return for small outlay.

And in cities such as Bristol, the church bells pealed when Wilberforce's anti-slave trade Bills were defeated in Parliament.

The Crusades

Gavin Ashenden writes:

“I was taught at school that the Crusades were an overflow of Norman violence; younger sons restive for booty. I remember only too well writing in essays that it was the dispossessed younger sons who trekked off to smite a few Saracens. In fact, all the recent research tells us that this was nonsense. There was no such distinction amongst those who risked their lives and their lands in response to a plea for help. The facts are that as Islamic armies spread up through Palestine, and Syria, just as ISIS is spreading in Iraq today, Christians living there begged for help and protection. The crusades were a response to that plea for help in the face of violent Islamic military expansion”

Well, let’s have a few facts.

There can be little doubt that the Fourth Crusade, in particular was composed of people out to get booty. Historian Jonathan Philips notes in a recent edition of History Today:

“The capture of Constantinople by the armies of the Fourth Crusade was one of the most remarkable episodes in medieval history. One of their number wrote, ‘No history could ever relate marvels greater than those as far as the fortunes of war are concerned’. On April 12th, 1204, an army of perhaps 20,000 men and a fleet of about 200 ships crewed by Venetian sailors and warriors, broke in and began to loot the greatest metropolis in the Christian world. Constantinople’s mighty walls had resisted numerous onslaughts as the Avars, Persians and Arabs had tried to assail its defences over the centuries. Yet always ‘the queen of cities’, as the Byzantines described their capital, had survived. What had brought the crusaders to attack their fellow Christians and how did they manage to succeed? The crusaders understood their success as a manifestation of God’s will. One commented, ‘There can be no doubt that the hand of the Lord guided all of these events’.”

Now the Crusaders looted, terrorized, and vandalized Constantinople for three days, during which many ancient and medieval Roman and Greek works were either stolen or destroyed. The famous bronze horses from the Hippodrome were sent back to adorn the facade of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, wherein they still remain. As well as being stolen, works of immeasurable value were destroyed merely for their material value. One of the most precious works to suffer such a fate was a large bronze statue of Hercules, created by the legendary Lysippos, court sculptor of no lesser than Alexander the Great. Like so many other priceless artworks made of bronze, the statue was melted down for its content by the Crusaders.

Was this soldiers restive for booty? Or were they as one said “seeing the hand of the Lord” in their actions? It doesn’t really matter: either way, how they acted was reprehensible. These were not civilised armies to defend a holy right; they were armed thugs using Christianity as a justificiation for their atrocities, their greed, their grabbing booty.

And as the History site notes (and most other historians confirm this) on the difference between Crusaders and the greatest Islamic leader, Saladin:

“Saladin has been held up as a chivalrous historical figure who fought fairly - when the Crusaders took Jerusalem in 1099 they carried out mass murder, whereas when Saladin re-took it in 1187 following the defeat of the King of Jerusalem at the Battle of Hattin near the Lake of Galilee, he allowed inhabitants to leave the city safely. He called this a ‘just war’ and said that his actions were out of respect for Jerusalem’s status as a holy city. Despite his fierce opposition to the Christian powers, Saladin also had a respectful relationship, if one built on rivalry, with King Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart). When Richard was wounded in battle against Saladin, the latter offered his personal doctor to Richard.”

Don’t let us whitewash the Crusades in an effort to blacken Islam, as Gavin Ashenden appears to want to do. That’s the kind of rhetoric that got America to invade Iraq.

And in Conclusion

I personally don’t believe we should judge Christianity on how some (in some cases many) Christians have behaved in the past.

For instance, on slavery, with some notable exceptions like Tom Paine, the majority of the abolitionists were in fact Christian. That paragon of enlightenment thinking about freedom and tolerance, John Locke, invested in slavery.

Gavin Ashenden writes:

“I had recently left school and received an expensive education. But at no point do I remember anyone drawing my attention to the fact that one and a half million Armenian Christians had been systematically slaughtered by the Muslim Turkish Government in a programme that started in 1915, half a century ago then – and the centenary of which occurs now.”

Why should he have been? History at school is by its nature selective – it has to be. There is a vast amount of it, both British and global, and some things have to be left out. The intelligent schoolboy or girl may do some more general reading on their own, and should be encouraged to do so, because there are not enough hours in the day otherwise.

Did anyone draw his attention to the compensation scheme which paid recompense by the British government to the very large number of Anglican clergy who had invested in slave owning plantations? Probably not, and yet that was closer to home. Did anyone tell him about the 80,000 or so people burnt for witchcraft by deluded Christians in the height of the witch craze of the 16th and 17th centuries? Probably not.

I was not taught it in school, but neither was I taught the systematic purging and destruction of the vestiges of Paganism by Christianity. In fact, if he had been taught that it occurred, but was not a genocide, then I would be concerned about his education. Simply to be ignorant of events does not imply sinister forces at work in an Orwellian educational regime.

Christianity has just as dark a history as Islam, but a history of Christianity which just focused alone on the darker times would ignore the greater goods that it has also brought to humanity. Just because I have listed some of what might be termed crimes of Christianity does not mean that I do not also think that Christianity has also been capable of great good. And the same can be said of Islam.

It seems almost a rule that the potential for good and evil are like a seesaw, and the greater the power for good can come from a religion or ideology, the greater the power for evil can also emerge. This should not be altogether unexpected. A great leader can take a nation forward to make the world a better place. A great dictator can ruin millions of lives.

And I believe we should not focus wholly on the pathology of religion.

An analogy comes from the news. News reporting is invariable bad news rather than good news. But as Stephen Jay Gould noted:

“Every spectacular incident of evil will be balanced by 10,000 acts of kindness, too often unnoted and invisible as the ''ordinary'' efforts of a vast majority

“We have a duty, almost a holy responsibility, to record and honour the victorious weight of these innumerable little kindnesses, when an unprecedented act of evil so threatens to distort our perception of ordinary human behaviour.” 

Listen

The trees blowing out on a walk reminded me of the Pauline Baynes picture in Prince Caspian of Lucy in the trees, Aslan in the distance, hence this poem.

Listen
A warm wind, the branches blowing
Trees swaying in the winds, a dance
The dryads asleep, but life is flowing
They will soon wake from their trance

Come, sleepy Lucy, arise, walk, see
Hear the voices whisper, half awake
The lion is calling, beside that tree
Feel his breath, let fears forsake

The others sleep on, tired, so weary
You alone heard the lion’s soft tread
Danced along into this land of faery
Awake and followed where he led

Listen to winds whisper: awake, awake!
Aslan says, come follow for my sake.

Selling off the Family Silver

Selling off the Family Silver (or at lease the silver plated assets)

I’ve been looking at the figures regarding Property Services selling off States owned properties. While not massive amounts, it is still substantial overall. The information comes, by the way, from a Freedom of Information request.

The information given below is on aggregate sales and disposal receipts. The figures include the sale of freehold interests in all three years and the sale of a one third interest in a property bequeathed to the Public in 2014.

In 2012, 31 properties were sold for a total value of £413,250. As this equates to an average of £13,331, clearly some of that was small portions of land, of virtually no value at all. They included:

Railway Walk Marking Store, St Brelade

Chez Marguerite Day Care Centre,3 Elizabeth Place, St Helier

In 2013, the numbers began to increase. 40 properties sold, and a total value of £2,323,361, an average price of £58,084.

But 2014, saw much more substantial inroads into the States property portfolio, with just 16 properties sold at a value of £3,055,848, an average price of £190,991. These probably included:

Chez Marguerite, 3 Elizabeth Place, St. Helier: Sale

Cotil des Vaux, Carteret des Bas, Mont Matthieu, St. Ouen: Sale

24 St. Marks Road (former Adolescent Centre), St. Helier: Sale

9 Chevalier Road, St. Helier: Sale

Timaru, Devonshire Lane, St. Helier: Sale of Share

New Street, St. Helier: Pavement: Sale of part of

La Palloterie, Les Marais Avenue, St. Lawrence: Sale - Assisted House Purchase

Old Mill House, 52 Le Vier Mont, St. Helier: Sale

La Preference Children's Home, La Grande Route de St. Martin, St. Martin: Sale

31 Kensington Place, St. Helier: Sale

Harbour Lights, 4 Le Mont de Gouray, St Martin: Sale

But did not include - Former Jersey College for Girls School: Disposal of site to States of Jersey Development Company - a peppercorn transfer with as much hope of money coming back as from the Jersey International Finance Centre.

Le Catel Fort, La Chemin du Catel, St. Mary: Disposal by Gift to National Trust for Jersey

In total, in just 3 years, the States have sold off public property to the value of approximately £6m - and almost trebling in value each year regardless of the number.

Was this a case of Philip Ozouf desperately scrambling about for money to balance the books? It certainly appears that way. While individual sales appear under Ministerial Decisions (but not values of each individual sale), it is rare that any rationale is given for the decision to sell.

All we get are the bare bones

• The financial implications of this decision are detailed in the accompanying report.
• There are no manpower implications in respect of this decision.
• When the transaction is concluded the fixed asset register and States balance sheet will be amended to account for the transaction (F34L and F34B).

And the “accompanying report” is not in the public domain.

The nearest we get to any explanation is in the States accounts which state:

“The States has a policy of disposing of assets which are surplus to requirements, reducing the States’ property portfolio to a size which is more affordable and efficient, and releasing capital proceeds to fund the States capital investment programme within the MTFP. Larger sites will be transferred to the States of Jersey Development Company for development, subject to the necessary approvals, with Jersey Property Holdings disposing of surplus small sites and parcels of land directly to the market.”

This still tells us little about what makes the asset “surplus to requirements” and it is unclear how “efficiency” is measured!

Walter Benest, Constable of St Brelade 1937-1945

Thanks to James Maclaren for Census information and Daniel Benest for some family tree information. In particular, knowing Walter Benest's date of death enabled me to hone in on the JEP microfilm in the library and find two articles, one on his death, one on his funeral, and thereby fill in the gaps in our knowledge of a man who was very popular in the Parish and Island, but whom now has been all but forgotten. And thanks to the Library staff for kindly threading the microfilm in and showing me how the machine worked.

Walter Benest, Constable of St Brelade 1937-1945

Walter Benest was born in Trinity on November 17, 1883, son of George John Benest and Eliza (nee Amy). He had two brothers, an older one, Emile, and a younger Snowden, who became Constable of Trinity.

He married Emma Margaret Le Boutillier of St Brelade, and settled in the Parish, living at a house called “La Sergente”, at La Moye. They had two daughters.

He first entered the honorary service of St Brelade at the age of 35, when he was elected Inspector of Roads in 1918. He served as Vingtenier for La Moye from 1925 to 1931 and was then elected Constable in 1937, an office he held until 1945, when he declined re-election. He was at the head of the administration of the Parish all through the difficult time of the German Occupation of the Island.

Although the 1901 Census shows he was a solicitor’s clerk aged 17, he turned away from that profession and became a very successful grower at La Moye. He was also connected with the Free Churches of the Island all his life and was a trustee of Ebenezer Chapel, Trinity and also of Tabor Chapel, St Brelade, where he had first sung a solo in the choir, and later filled the position of organist for many years. He was, as was said by the Reverend Underwood, “a man who loved music.”

He was also very interested in the recording of rainfall, and was ever ready with the figures from his gauge at La Sergente.

Walter Benest died, aged 68, on 18th August 1951 after a short period of ill health spent in a nursing home, during which his condition gradually became worse, culminating in his death,  and leaving behind his wife and two daughters.

His funeral service was held at Ebenezer Chapel, with an internment following in St Brelade’s Cemetery. The service at Ebenezer Chapel Trinity was filled with Islanders from all walks of life. The service was conducted by the Reverend John Dodd, with the address given by Reverend G.W. Underwood. There was a strong legal contingent of advocates, solicitors and solicitor’s clerks from Hill Street. The Rev W.G. Tabb, Rector of St Brelade's Church was also present in his capacity as Vice-Dean as the Dean was out of the Island.

Mr P.P. Luce was at the organ and the singing was led by the united choirs of Tabor and Ebenezer Methodist Chapels and the former members of the Northern Male Voice Choir. The service opened with the singing of the hymn "The Lord is my Shepherd", followed by prayers led by the Rev Mr Dodd after which the Rev Mr Tabb read the lesson. Mrs Hilda Baudains sang a solo "How Lovely are Thy Dwellings"

In his address the Rev Mr Underwood said that they had met to pay their last respect to one who was very well known indeed to the people of the Island. He had been a great servant of the Island and of the Parish of St Brelade in particular. He was Constable during the difficult years of the Occupation when he had to make many difficult decisions, many of which were odious to him but necessary and he carried them according to his conscience unheeding of what people might think of him.

Rev Underwood also noted how important music and chapel were to Mr Benest. He said that Walter Benest was a man who had loved music all his life, and at Ebenezer and Tabor always strove that God's songs should be the best possible. He always wanted music in God's dwellings to be beautiful and wanted worship there to be beautiful as well. He had served Tabor for many years and served it well and faithfully. It was stated in the book of Revelation that all good Christian men on earth would be seen as pillars in the Temple of God. This transition was not difficult for Walter Benest because he had always been a pillar of God on earth. By his efforts and work at Tabor, he had wanted God's work to prosper. Now he was gone from his chapel congregation and was now in a larger congregation.

"We are not come here for a memorial service - Christian's don't hold memorial services, but we have come here to thank God for what has been and to say 'thank you' to God for one who is now with God and serves in a higher sphere. In our lives God expects us to set an example as did Walter Benest so in time God may say to us as he is now saying to Walter Benest, 'Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord'".

The service concluded with the singing of the hymn "Abide with Me", and a final prayer.

From the main road up to the St Brelade’s Church lych-gate were lined on each side 120 Boy Scouts paying tribute to the man who had always been a good friend to the Scouting movement. Every year many different troops from England had come over to enjoy their summer camps at La Sergente, and on the day of his funeral the visiting troops present under canvas there were also present to pay tribute at the funeral. The troops present were the 8th Jersey All Saints Troop, the 1st Chesham Boys Troop, the 1st Little Heath Troop, nine Sea Scouts and the 1st Sunbury Troop.

In addition, the municipality of St Brelade and many other friends met at the church for the committal service in the old cemetery, despite a heavy rain shower falling just prior to the arrival of the cortege. The pathway from lych-gate to graveside was lined by members of the municipality of St Brelade, headed by Mr H.E. Le Rossignol, the Constable. Also at the internment were over 150 mourners, including Lady Coutanche, Major General N.G. Hand, Island Commissioner of Boy Scouts, and Constables of St Ouen, Trinity, St Peter, St Saviour and St Lawrence, the Rev G.R. Balleine, Ralph Vibert, and Mr and Mrs Edmund Blampied. There were over 50 beautiful floral tributes, including one from the Bailiff of Jersey and Lady Coutanche, and on the coffin rested a full length floral cross from “his sorrowing wife and family”.

Scouts Tribute, Letter to JEP, 20.08.1951

Dear Sir,

I would like to express a few words of appreciation of Mr Benest whose sudden passing has lost to Scouting such a great friend. We have camped on Mr Benest's estate for four years, and because of his interest in us, they have been four grand years. His visit to us each evening to chat with the boys was eagerly awaited and so sadly missed this year that his passing has come as a greater shock. We are proud to have been numbered amongst his friends. 

Yours sincerely, 

George A.C. King, 

Group Scoutmaster, 

1st Chesham Boys Troop, Bucks.

Funeral List

Principal mourners were Mr and Mrs J.C. Hamon (son in law and daughter), Miss Colette Benest, daughter, Mrs Lilian Benest, (sister in law), Mrs Grace Benest (sister in law), Mr Lyndon Benest (nephew), Mr Laurie Benest (nephew), Mr Philip Benest (cousin), Messrs Raymond Benest, Fracnis Amy Winter de la Perrelle, J.C. Le Boutillier and Stanley Le Boutillier (cousins), Mr Wesley Le Boutillier and Stanley Le Boutillier (cousins), Mr Gordon Picot, Mr S.G. Crill, Mr Donald Labey (Island Commissioner for Visiting Scouts), Mr R Laurens (Scoutmaster 8th Jersey, All Saints Troop), Mr G.A.C. King, Scoutmaster and Mr R Fayres (1st Chesham Boys Troop), Mr F.F.R. Hills (Scoutmaster, 1st Sunbury Troop), Mr Leslie D Rolland (Scoutmaster 1st Little Heath Group), Sea Scouts, Mr E Toquer (foreman) and Messrs E Le Gasmeur, Ernest Le Feuvre and W. Alexandre (staff at La Sergente)

Among those present at Ebenezer Chapel to pay their last respects were Jurat E.P. Le Masurier OBE, Lieut-Bailiff (also representing the Bailiff of Jersey), Mr R Vibert (solicitor-general), Jurat P.N. Gallichan, Jurat S. Hocaquard and Miss Hicquard, Senator Edward Le Quesne, Mr F de L Bois, States Greffier and Mrs Bois, Mr G Cutland, Bailiff's Secretary.

Mr S. L'Enfant, Mr C Aubin, Mr and Mrs J.H. Du Feu, Me E.le G Siouville, Mr J Legge, Mrs and Mrs J.P. Le Brocq, Mr and Mrs G.H. Le Rossignol.

Mr J.P. Newman, Mr J.E. Colback, Mr W Douglas Kenshole, Mr P.M. Denize (also representing Messrs Dennis and Co Ltd), Mr John du Val, Constable of St Peter, Mr J.E. Cabot, Constable of Trinity, Mr T.P. Mourant, Constable of St Saviour, Centenier F.P. Coutanche of St Ouen.

Mr Clifford Orange, Mr G.M. Picot, Me E.D. Gibaut, Mr R.E. Drelaud, Mr and Mrs H.A. Hamon, Mr C Cox, Mr J.P. Vaudin, Depute Sergent de Justice, Mr S.P. Pepin, engineer-manager, Jersey Gas Co, Mr Arther Fiott, Mr C.P. Billot, snr, Major F.H. Blakeway, Mrs L.M. Hacquoil, Mrs C Le Feuvre, Mr D Picot, Mr A.F. Marett, Mr G de la P Hacquoil, Mr Cyril Le Vesconte, Mr Hedley Luce, Crown Solicitor, Mr A Le Brocq, Miss M Langlois, Mr C Hocquard, Mr E.J. Sarre, Mr H.G. Reed OBE, Miss A Haier, Mr N.P. Skelton, Mr J.A. Pallot, Mr D.E. Le Boutillier, Mrs H.C. le Messurier.

Mr T.J. Cabot (also representing Mr T.A. Cabot), Mrs E Rondel, Mr C Lucs, Mr C.W. Blampied, Mrs Queree, Mr E.J. Le Becque, Advocate J.C.K.H. Valpy, Mr F.R Poingdestre (headmaster, St Brelade's School) and Mrs Poingdestre, Mr Alan J Le Brun, Chief Alien's Officer, Mr F Le Feuvre, Mr E Cabot, Mr Cohn Marie, Mrs S.P. Le Ruez, Mr J.S. de Gruchy, Mr J.M. Queree, Capt B.G. de Gruchy, Deputy P Gallichan of St Saviour and Mrs Gallichan. Mr E.J. le Boutillier, Mr J Lucas, Mrs S.G. Crill, Advocate P Crill, Mr R.T. Cabot, Mr W.G. Robert (representing Miss M.R. Luce, les Hetres, St Peter), Advocate J.F. Le Cornu, Miss I Le Seeleur, Mrs F. Ahier, Mrs L. Syvretr, Deputy R.F. Le Brocq (St Clement), Mr T Le Q Blampied, Advocate M de la Haye.

Mr S. Amy, Miss P Amy, Mr E.J. Worboys representing "The Evening Post", Mr E.G. Bisson, Mr M.J. de la Haye, Mr E.J. Gruchy (representing Messrs Normans Limited), Mr J.C. Norman, Mr R R Jeune, Mr W.H. Hibbs, Court Usher, Mr H.P. de Gruchy and Mr F.T. Le Marquand.

Scout Troops present on the main road to the lych-gate were the 8th Jersey All Saints Troop, the 1st Chesham Boys Troop, the 1st Little Heath Troup, nine Sea Scouts and the 1st Sunbury Troop

The pathway from the lych-gate to the graveside was lined by members of the municipality of St Brelade. Headed by Constable H.E. Le Rossignol, they included Centeniers J.H. Le Chevalier and A.C. Fiott, Vingteniers W du H Le Bas, T.M. Duffet, J.P. Allez, H.du H Le Bas, Constables Officers W du H Le Bas, G.T. Picquet, A.D. Le Montais, M.H. de La Haye, J.B. Rive, B.C. Lucas, J.F. Poingnand and J.C. Steel. Messres J.W. Fiott and H.G. Shepard, Churchwardens, Mr C Pullinger, Almoner, Mr C le B Pipon, Mr S.S. Le B Le Brocq, Mr A.J. Bisson and Miss Ahier, Constable's Secretary.

Among those present at the Internment at St Brelade were Lady Coutanche, Major-General N.G. Hand (Island Commissioner Boy Scouts), Mr F Le Boutillier (Constable of St Ouen), Mr J.W. Baudains (Constable of St Lawrence), Deputies E. Huelin and H Morrison of St Brelade, the Rev G.R. Balleine, Mr F Long, Income Tax Comptroller, Hurat F.V. le Feuvre, Brigadier S.D. Graham, Major H.A.W. Ceaghe, Miss Constance Brown, Mr J.G. Fiott, Mr G.G. Le Brocq, Mr H Dart, Mr H.W. Boniface, Mr A d'Aubert, Mr G.A. Bisson, Mr E Holley, Mr E.G. Bisson, Mr Winter Poignard and Mr A..A. Howlett.

Public Meeting called for St Brelade to discuss Esplanade Quarter

Another guest posting on the Esplanade and the proposed International Finance Centre. A meeting is being held for residents of St Brelade to have their say. Details below.

Public Meeting called for St Brelade to discuss Esplanade Quarter

A meeting has been called for residents of St Brelade to allow politicians to hear the views of constituents about the proposed Esplanade Development, which would see Government –  via the States of Jersey Development Company – build a new ‘financial quarter’ of 470,000 sq.ft office space.

However, the plan has been controversial, with some saying the States should not be acting as a speculator, when new offices are already being built by the private sector, and others questioning its financial viability in the longer term.

Deputy Tadier, who has called the meeting, says he wants to hear from parishioners of all persuasions. He says: ‘I am open-minded, but like many, at present I am unconvinced. The States do not have a good track record when it comes to development in this part of St Helier. We already have a vacant nightclub at the Waterfront, and a disused swimming pool at Fort Regent. I do not want to stand back and see another expensive white elephant built when we have an opportunity to reconsider if the current plans represent best use and public value for the site.’

At the end of the meeting, parishioners will be asked to vote for or against the plans, and this, along with comments during the meeting, will hopefully feed into the debate on the Esplanade Quarter which is scheduled for States debate on 16th June.

‘This is a significant decision and it is important that we get it right. I hope that other deputies or constables in other Parishes will hold own meetings and listen to their constituents to better inform the forthcoming debate.’

The meeting will take place at Communicare Centre, St Brelade at 7pm on Wednesday 20th May.

For more information please contact:

Deputy Montfort Tadier
m.tadier@gov.je

Guest Posting from Save Our Shoreline

A guest posting below from Save Our Shoreline. 

I would add the disquieting news reported in the JEP that the Council of Ministers has not wholly ruled out the States Offices all being relocated to one roof in an office block on the Waterfront, no doubt to "kick start" the project. It's about time the government realized that the "International Finance Centre" is not a magic bullet for the problems caused by 0/10.

SOSJERSEY COMMITTEE - LETTER TO ALL STATES MEMBERS:
'THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CENTRE AND YOU'

The SOS J committee held an Extraordinary General meeting on Liberation Day which was necessary as there were several urgent matters to attend to before our Chairman Michael du Pré returned to the UK..

The committee approved a proposal that ahead of tomorrow's States sitting, Michael write a letter to all States Members individually which he did late last evening and which we copy below:

Dear

The International Finance Centre and YOU.
Even if you are an avid supporter of the IFC, we ask you to read on because it is more than likely that you will not be informed about what follows.

This morning, in the light of recent developments, the Save Our Shoreline Jersey Committee held an extraordinary meeting at which it as decided to send you this letter.

You must, like us, be aware of the enormous dissatisfaction throughout the island about the construction of an International Financial Centre on what is a convenient, pleasant and well used car park. These people, representing the majority are people who elected you into the States and whose views you should be representing and it is important that, before letting this massive project proceed, you fully understand all of key issues in order that you can express your fact based views to them.

More importantly, if after reading this, you feel that there should be a pause for further consideration, we ask you to take any immediate appropriate action available to you to bring this about. Why?

We understand, from various sources, that SoJDC, under the growing pressure of public opinion, might well, feel the need to act unilaterally by entering into binding contracts with their clients and contractors so as to precipitate a 'fait accompli' which would be very costly for the States to reverse. What leads us to thinking this?

SoJDC has already shown a complete disregard for the authority of the States Planning Department in order to create a 'fait accompli':

By felling trees, undertaking clearance and building a temporary replacement car park it has since been officially confirmed that it has started the development. Most importantly, it has unilaterally done this without giving the plainly specified 28 days notice it had signed up to with the Planning department.

Furthermore, it deliberately failed to comply with regulatory restrictions covering working with heavy and noisy machinery at weekends. When challenged on this precipitous action by ourselves, SoJDC's CEO openly admitted that, had the company acted according to the rules, there would have been a lot of complaints!

A toothless Planning Department, by taking absolutely no action in either of these cases, have essentially provided SoJDC with encouragement to continue in this manner.

By starting development SoJDC has simply ignored its written obligations and firm commitments to you and your Assembly by your current Assistant Chief Minister (when Treasury Minister) that work would not commence until 180,000 to 200,000 sq.ft. of office space had been pre-let. Such pre-lets were not in place at this time. Furthermore, SoJDC's current negotiations with a bank are understood to be for only 20,000 sq.ft. (10% of the figure above).

We believe that unless you inform yourself properly and speak up urgently, not only will SoJDC continue to disregard you and your Assembly with potentially disastrous consequences for not just your constituents but the island as a whole and that the very credibility of the Chief Minister's vision of an open and honest government will be at stake and the people will lose even more faith in the governing process.

Part of the democratic process of government is based on Scrutiny. The Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel has been tasked with a review into the planned Jersey International Finance Centre. Inter alia, it is to assess the commercial viability of, and potential risks pertaining to, the implementation of the IFC development and, in the light of much changed market circumstances since its inception, to provide assurance to the Assembly and the public on these matters.

The fact that a Scrutiny Panel has been tasked with this in the first place is indicative that such scrutiny is necessary and it should be remembered that this is the only means by which the public are protected under the present form of government from highly unpopular precipitous acts being undertaken by Jersey's one party government. 

We understand that the panel will be ready with provisional recommendations in the very near future in advance of its first report in June. We believe that work delivered by the Scrutiny Panel should be reviewed by you prior to any contracts being signed and that not to wait, in view of the sheer size of the construction agreements to be entered into, would be irresponsible. But there are other reasons.

SoJDC has to date shown a total disregard for both you and the authority of your Assembly. It has insulted your intelligence by feeding selected audiences with glossy architect produced brochures (paid for by the taxpayer) accompanied by the very minimum of equally ( if not more) important up to date financial and commercial information as well as that relating to timing, risk evaluation and comparisons with alternative Potentially more beneficial and viable States development projects. Furthermore the information that has been provided is constantly changing.

SoJDC's recently released financial statements for the year 2014 raise a direct question as to its ongoing viability:

• At its inception 6 years ago, SoJDC was was provided with cash from the States of £20m. 
• At the commencement of 2014, £7m remained. 
• During 2014 this sum had decreased to £4m. 

If you were to look at the accounts you might ascertain hat the operating profit of £2.7m reflected the reasonable performance reported in the Chairman's and CEO's report. A closer look reveals that £2.2m was 'achieved' by revaluing property. 

We can well imagine that Deputy Higgin's question in the States on Tuesday next on the subject of employee contracts might be wishing to confirm that bonus payments are not based on revaluations of property and which might also have been provided to the company at peppercorn prices. He is also to ask whether reported 'profit' includes the donation of TTS managed car parks receipts via the States Treasury. (These receipts were, according to the 2011 accounts, to be refunded to the States by way of dividend which amounted to £0.8m in 2013 and 2014)

Finance costs on loans ( in the region of £100m) will shortly be required once construction starts and if such loans are not to be provided out of the States Currency Fund, any third party lender will wish to ensure that it has some form of adequate security; this is no small project and each individual States member should ensure that they really understand the benefits and risks attached to this massive borrowing.

Another clarification is required regarding payments made to staff and external consultants.

Management and staff are paid £0.8m but despite this another £2.6m was paid during the year to outside consultants in order to obtain planning and building consents. Is this acceptable?

In short, the accounts are far from being transparent and clarification of such matters ( and others) are very relevant to you making a judgement as to the company's viability before it starts signing major contracts. They are of particular importance to you in understanding what is really going on because SoJDC is exempted from having to provide you with its budget and medium and long term equivalents of the historic accounts. You should therefore always bear in mind that you are only permitted to review what has happened in the preceding year and not (unlike departmental budgets) to have any say or questions on forward plans presented to you.

There is also current situation regarding the ownership of the land on which the offices are to be built. We had heard that there might still be some doubt about this but our Freedom of Information request on a yes / no basis was rejected. Any doubts about this should of course be put to rest before signing any contracts..

You may have heard or read about the repeated charges by SoJDC that questions on their actions, plans and progress are preventing them from obtaining clients by creating uncertainty. We would respond in stating that, had it dared to make an open and honest up to date proposal to the States members (especially the new members) such questions would have arisen at that point in time and would have helped to inform both the States and the public in arriving at their decision as to whether or not to proceed, rather than leaving uncertainty to later date. We are equally disappointed at the unnecessary situation which has been forced upon us.

For the reasons given above, our Committee have decided to write to all States members to ask them to urge those responsible for progressing this project to prevent SoJDC from 'jumping the gun' by prematurely signing any contracts so that, should it be deemed that should the promised safeguards relating to the project (i.e.the pre-let obligations) be arbitrarily swept aside, everyone is fully informed and in agreement with the potential risk involved and feels able to provide it with their full support .

Yours sincerely,

Michael du Pré
Chairman, Save Our Shoreline

Dave Cabeldu
Co-ordinator

SOS Jersey
SOSJersey.co.uk

Election Blues

It is strange having VE day after the General Election, and watching those faces of leaders at the Cenotaph, knowing that this is the last time they will be standing here in front of their party. What thoughts were going through their minds?

There’s a curious echo of VE day there, where Churchill was on the balcony with the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace, waving to the crowds. By July, he would have been voted out of office. Unlike now, of course, he had no idea of the sudden turnaround by the electorate.

The Attlee Government came in and brought in the National Health Service. There would have been a NHS anyway, even if the Conservatives had retained power. Plans were in place. It is forgotten that the Beveridge report was not a Labour policy document, but one produced by and commissioned by the Wartime Government.

The NHS may have been different in some respects. Some kind of health insurance scheme would probably have been on the cards, but that was firmly stamped on by Aneurin Bevan.

70 years on, and the NHS is again under threat. But let us not forget the incalculable damage done to it by the previous Labour Government. The PFI – Private Finance Initiative – was to provide extra funds cheaply for the NHS, without so much government funding, but instead saddled hospitals with massive debts. That’s not the say the Conservative’s can be trusted with the NHS either, but let us be honest – neither could Labour.

American journalist PJ O'Rourke probably got it right when he commented: “The NHS was an issue. Every party agreed that the NHS is brilliant, wonderful, a national treasure. But if the NHS is brilliant, wonderful and a national treasure, why was every party promising to fix it?”

I felt no pleasure in the Conservatives gaining a majority, because that will certainly be taken as legitimising a system of voting which simply is not fair if there are more than two parties. Why did the opinion polls do so badly? Translating voting percentages into seats only works well if you have a proportional representative system, but in a system in which votes are wasted, that was not nearly so likely.

I have heard a lot of nonsense about the SNP preventing Labour from getting into Government. emembering the way the numbers stacked up, even if ALL the SNP seats were Labour seats, they would still not have had enough for a majority.

It has been said that the fear factor of an SNP – Labour alliance was why Labour did so badly. But if that was the case in England, why did they do so badly in Scotland, and the SNP do so well. By that logic, the Conservatives should have regained the highlands and lowlands.

The real trouble was that Ed Milliband’s Labour never looked like a Government ready to take over. It failed to appeal to the centre, and Ed himself lacked the gravitas that Tony Blair had back in 1997. Blair – and for the moment forget the toxic legacy of Iraq – always sounded Prime Ministerial, he had confidence. Milliband always sounded like someone pretending to be confident, a schoolboy in a school debate.

Unless it regains the centre, Labour will never become a party of government. It should start by looking at those few MPs who improved their majorities - MPs like Simon Danczuk, who I was very glad to see re-elected. As he said: "We have to reach out much further...A party that doesn’t speak the language of millions of people’s hopes and ambitions will not earn a legitimate mandate to govern the country."

The Liberals famous ”red lines” only drew attention to their failure to draw a line on tuition fees. They got a referendum on alternative vote as a price for that, but it has cost them dearly. That particular quid quo pro sold the soul of the Liberal party. It will not return for generations. 

The Conservatives had several trump cards, not least David Cameron’s steering the TV debate towards a five or six party circus. Instead of a focus on just three would be leaders, in which he failed last time, this was more like Question Time – politicians of all hues shooting at each other, while he could, for the most part, just wait for his opponents to shoot each other, or shoot themselves in the foot. And the other consideration – his announcement that he would not stand for three terms of office.

In 1996 John Major had a larger majority although still small, than David Cameron. It was wiped out by 1996. David Cameron cannot afford to just play to the Conservative agenda; he has to lean to the centre on occasions, and appease the right at other times.

Anyone who has read Giles Brandreth’s “Breaking the Code” about being inside the Whips office during the dying years of the Major government will know that government with a small majority is a delicate balancing act, and four years into his term of office, there will be the added disruption of various MPs – surely Boris Johnson in their number – angling to be elected leader in place for the general election.

And there is also a promised Referendum, on Europe – an area that is notable for tearing the Conservative government apart. That will also create disruption.

The most interesting challenge comes from Scotland. Any disinterested observer in the Referendum will have seen that Scotland voted “No” by the narrowest of margins because the Scottish people who wavered were essentially bribed by further devolution of powers for Scotland. But not entirely convinced, the Scottish people seem to have played safe by also electing maining SNP MPs to represent them.

While the Conservatives have a majority, some tactical block voting by the SNP on matters which concern England, in support of the Conservatives will raise again the question of whether Scottish MPs should vote on English matters, the so-called “West Lothian question”. Equally if the Conservatives use their majority to force laws on the Scottish peoples, even if they apply across the UK, this may stir up resentment.

In some form or another, Scotland is moving closer to some kind of associate status within the UK. It was only an accident of history that led to the King of Scotland, James VI, also becoming King of England, James I.

The union was not made formal until the time of Queen Anne, some time after the main branch of the Stuart dynasty fleeing from England. There was a lot of economic bribery involved in the deal. That it should unravel at some time in the near future now seems much more likely than even five years ago. Taking control of their own domestic taxation is one step nearer, but it may turn out that it is a poisoned chalice.

As for UKIP, it can now return to the talking shop at the village pub, back to its roots with disaffected middle England. The one UKIP MP with a seat, a former Conservative, has even said he will probably vote with the Conservatives on many issues. He is hedging his bets.

The Green Party only scored with one seat, but they held that seat, rather like a tree bending in the winds, but holding firm. Caroline Lucas is back. Of that, amidst all the election results, I am pleased. Some of the Green policies may not all be economically viable, but that Green conscience, that voice, is needed.

And finally, I was very pleased to see the Monster Raving Loony Party, while not getting elected, managed about three times as many votes as the British National Party. It is often asked: who would waste a vote by voting for the Loonies? But if you don't like the other parties on offer, there is as yet no "None of the above", so why not do so as a protest vote?

Images of Liberation

Images of Liberation
End of five long years of German rule
The flag flying high upon the breeze
The final bell at the end of school
Holidays and holy days to be at ease
A disabled rider, upon a horse
A girl in a wheelchair on St Catherine’s pier
Those who weep with much remorse
Free from the burden of guilt and fear
The chains broken, the slave now free
The outcast welcomed, in joy embrace
And the blind man who now can see
Illusions shatter, we see face to face
The diver in free fall, feels wind rush by
Jonathan Livingstone Seagull on a rock
Music brings an ecstasy of joy so high
The key in the door, the open lock
And light comes after the darkest night
Through the flames, and an end to pain
Compassion reaches out to tragic plight
The leafy, overgrown, country lane
Wreaths for the dead, memory is hope
The coldest winter gives way to spring
The gods give us the strength to cope
And a bird, free from cage, takes wing.

An Occupation Diary – Part 18

In 1972, the Pilot magazine began an exclusive serialisation of private letters from the late Mrs G Luce de Pre, which had taken the form of letters written to her absent children and grand-children, covering the period July 9 1940 to June 6 1945.

James Maclaren has dug out some records on Mrs Luce, and her family has also been in touch, so there will be a few further instalments about her, filling in some background next week. I may even have some photos of her.

Liberation day was a day to rejoice, but unlike every other diary I have read from people who were here, there is a bitterweet coda - Mrs Luce has relations still serving in the forces - in the Far East. The war against Japan was still to be won.

I suspect this diary has not been read much since then, 45 years ago, so here is a second chance in this special 70th Anniversary year to read some of it. This is the final instalment - including Liberation Day!

An Occupation Diary – Part 18

March 24,1945

The news is so good to-day that Father act so excited, and played and sang all the old "War Songs" with the window open too, and didn't care if the Germans heard or not!

There are all sorts of rumours going round today; one is that all cycles must be off the road by six o'clock, and that "Curfew" is at eight. The man at present in command is very unpleasant, and says he will soon take the smile off the Jersey people's faces, which makes the Jersey Man smile more than ever.

Some time ago I was sitting in the Sun Parlour by the window reading, when someone knocked on the window, and I saw it was a very unpleasant German, who beckoned to me to come out - but I just shook my head and said "No, go away", and he tried to open the door, but fortunately it was locked. He shook it and pushed, but it held. I was so afraid he would try the front or back doors, but he went off at last. I was simply petrified with fear, as I was quite alone and not a soul about, and I could not have moved to call anyone. I do not think he would have done any harm, and only wanted some bread or something to eat. Anyhow I do not like to be alone in the house, but have to be when Father goes to Church or Practice.

There has been so much excitement lately that I have neglected my diary, and the news was so promising.

May 8

We expected the end any day, and so it went on, our hopes rising and falling, till at long last the welcome news came that we were FREE! Father rushed outside and put up the Flag, while I stayed indoors and had a good cry, much to my disgust, and soon recovered, and would like to have gone out and shouted the news to passers-by!

However, I managed to contain myself, and in the evening several neighbours came in to hear the news, as we were the only ones to have a set round here. It was a very happy gathering, although we had nothing to celebrate with.

There was great excitement in town, but we did not see anything, as there were still no buses, and most people either walked or got lifts in vans, which suddenly appeared, and the excitement and noise seemed to go on all night.

Since then we have had the joy of receiving letters from all our dear ones, and have just had the second Air Mail from John, full of joy at our release.

I have been answering letters every day, but they appear to take such a long time to get there, and I have had several telegrams, asking for news and "why don't you write?" I have also had one from Daisy Coy to-day. She was deported to Germany with her husband nearly three years ago, and got back to England last September. She hopes to get back to Jersey as soon as permitted, and shall then hear all her experiences.

Father has just brought me a punnet of most lovely strawberries which he saw for sale, and so I had a fine treat, as those in the garden have done nothing.

We have heard on the wireless that the King and Queen are visiting the Channel Islands on June 6th. We have only just taken down the flags of Victory, and shall have to put them up again. What excitement there will be!

June 9

Well, the excitement is over, the King and Queen have come and gone, and i did not see anything but the planes. We were hoping they would pass here on their drive round the Island, but they went by the inner road. I was so disappointed, and was not well enough to go out in my chair.

Frank is using Auntie Emmie's car for his work, and they all came out to see us during the evening, and told us all about the Royal visit.

They had the pleasure of entertaining Howard Marshall to dinner the previous evening, and we listened to his broadcast at noon to-day.

Letters have been pouring in every day, and I had thirteen on Monday, and now have a great deal of writing to do. So now there is no need for me to continue this Journal, as you are getting regular letters from me and other relatives, It has given me comfort and pleasure to be talking to you on paper, and I hope you will enjoy reading it. Always your very loving Father and Mother.

Conclusion - May 9

Well, the Occupation is over at last! We had been hoping for Liberation for many months, but had made up our minds that we should have the Germans here till September - at least, Frank said September - I said June. However, all of a sudden it seemed that things were being speeded up - as we say in Jersey "The news were good"! In very truth the news were good - too good to be true. It all seems like a dream now - the King's speech, Mr Churchill's speech, the arrival of the British Troops, and the surrender of the Nazis . Oh! Happy Day! The crying and laughing, the bonfires and the fireworks! Then seeing some of our own boys back home.

Dear old Derek! Looking so well. I was very proud to be kissed in the Royal Square by a Captain of the Coldstream Guards! We shall never forget the thrill of seeing British troops march into our town, as they poured out of the 'Ducks". Did we shout and yell that day! It was almost too much to bear, and we felt the reaction for weeks.

After months of privation., our plight was soon relieved by stores unloaded from those wonderful Ducks and other landing craft. Then, after several days, we were allowed to send special postcards to England, and soon we were in touch again with most of our dear ones. We kept hard at it for many weeks, writing to our many friends and relatives, all of whom showered us with so many kindnesses. Then the 'phone services were renewed, and later, trunk calls, the telegraph service, bus services, laundries, electricity and GAS. What a boon to so many women! And all the time food and soap pouring in!

All our own special boys - nephews, brothers-in law and cousins, have survived the war, but we were sad to hear that dear old Bill - Hilda Walker - has been drowned last year. Now we are all longing to meet again - "to renew the fellowship of sight and hand" as the Rev Labey used to say in his prayer for absent friends, a prayer which included the beautiful words "and may no shadow come between them and us to divide our hearts".

Finally, we long for the end of the War in the Far East, where Eric Bennett, Michael Simon, and probably other relations are serving; and the end which we hope for, for the release of all Prisoners of-War and internees.

Margaret Major's son, Patrick, is a prisoner in Japanese hands.

I started the Occupation by putting up a white flag and singing "God Save the King"!

Let us hope that the Union Jack will soon be flying and everyone will be singing GOD SAVE THE KING!

An Occupation Diary – Part 17

In 1972, the Pilot magazine began an exclusive serialisation of private letters from the late Mrs G Luce de Pre, which had taken the form of letters written to her absent children and grand-children, covering the period July 9 1940 to June 6 1945.

I suspect it has not been read much since then, 45 years ago, so here is a second chance in this special 70th Anniversary year to read some of it.

An Occupation Diary – Part 17

February, 1945

I am obliged to stay in bed all day, as it is the only way of keeping warm. Father feels the cold very much, and is not at all well. He never goes out, except to play the organ at Church. There, are no buses now, and the roads are so quiet; and besides he has no boots but what let in the water, and his shirts are in rags.

The Commandant has issued an order that no-one must cut down any trees or branches, or pick up bits of wood anywhere, not even on their own property, on pain of imprisonment. The prisons are full of people, for one thing and another.

Arthur Harrison is the latest. The Germans were searching the houses for food at Samares, and found a bag of flour, and because he would not tell the name of the farmer from whom he had bought it, he is to have seven weeks imprisonment. They think nothing of stopping one on the road and taking anything from one's basket. We think they must be getting very short of food, as they are stealing right and left, and will soon be getting out of hand.

A woman living alone on the Portelet Road heard someone trying to get in and opened the window as it was dark, saw a German and tried to shut it again, but he shot her and went off. She was very badly wounded, and could not get help till someone found her next morning; she was taken to hospital where she died soon after.

The electricity is all finished now, and we have no oil or candles, and few matches, so we have to go to bed at seven o'clock. The telephone is also finished, and we feel very cut off, especially as there is no means of getting to town, and most people's cycles are finished, and no repairs to be done.

We are all delighted with our Red Cross parcels, and are to have one every fortnight. I only wish we could get letters from you - it is such a long time since we had any, and are longing for news of you all, and hope you are all safe and well. I hardly dare mention John and Eric, and feel so anxious about them and long for news of their safety.

February 14

All the laundries closed down three months ago, and as there is no soap, no-one will take any washing, and so we have to wash what we can at home without soap, and you can imagine the colour of the clothes, and the state everything is in, no cleaning materials of any sort. Most people's hands are ingrained with dirt and look awful, especially if they have chilblains. We hear the Red Cross ship came in yesterday with parcels, but no flour, which we had hoped for, the. Germans had taken all ours, and as our ration of bread was cut from four lbs. each per week to two lbs. and it will all be finished the end of this week, we certainly should starve if it were not for our parcels.

The Farmers are usually so busy at this time of the year, planting potatoes, but those who have any are afraid to, as .the Germans dig them up to boil and eat, as they are half-starved, look awful, dirty and ragged. We think they will be obliged to surrender soon, as their food must be almost finished, and they cannot steal any more from us.

February 20

Such a lovely day, quite like Spring, and the daffodils are coming out in the garden, and the shrubs are budding. I am sitting in the sun parlour with the door open.

I have not told you about all the young fellows who have tried to escape from the Island. It started last Autumn, and several got away in a boat intending to make for France, and eventually England, but we have never heard if they arrived safely. A great many were wrecked and drowned and their bodies washed up round the coast.

Some were rescued and brought back and put in prison for the duration. Young Killer managed to escape from prison and got away by boat. Another got away and is hiding somewhere in Jersey, and as the Germans cannot find him they have arrested his Mother and put her in prison, hoping by so doing he would give himself up.

March 15

It is our dear John's birthday to-day, and he is twenty-five. It does not seem possible that it is so long since his dear little Mother died, and I brought John. a baby of three weeks old, back to Jersey, and have brought him up and loved him as my own boy, and he has been so good and sweet tome always.

We had a Red Cross letter from him last week and were delighted to hear he was well, but it was sent off a year ago, and so does not relieve my present anxiety, for so much has happened in the last twelve months.

Oh, how we long for this terrible war to be cheerful. over. The news is good and we are trying to keep cheerful.

Our monthly parcels are a Godsend to us, and we are living quite well now we have them. The last ship brought flour, as we had been quite it. without bread for three weeks and how we missed We are enjoying the white bread after five years of brown.

Nothing very exciting has happened, except that the "Palace Hotel" was blown up the other day, by the sailors who are at enmity with the Army. A lot of Germans were killed, and many wounded are in Hospital. The Palace was burnt to the ground. We even felt the shock here, and many houses had windows and doors blown in.

We had to put our clocks on an hour two weeks ago, so are an hour ahead of you, but we are glad of the extra hour of daylight, and so do not have to go to bed quite so early.

I quite forgot to mention an interesting little episode which happened during the fuel shortage. Jennifer heard her Mother say how we were almost without fuel, and without saying anything about it, she went out into the fields and hedgerows, and picked up about a sack full of bits of kindling wood - in spite of the German order that it was a punishable offence to do so.

When she got it home she was told that there was no transport to get it here. However, the next day Jennifer appeared here and said, "Oh, I have just brought, you a sack of wood, Grannie". On enquiry how she had come, she calmly said "I walked". It appears that she started from here with the sack tied to her cycle and got as far as West Park, where she had a puncture, and then trudged along that long dreary St Aubin's road and up St Aubin's hill pushing bike and wood all the way:

I was simply horrified, and told her how I appreciated what she had done, but she must never attempt such a thing again, for apart from knocking herself up, she might have been stopped by the Germans, and got into trouble over it. She said on leaving that she would get the puncture mended when she got to town, but found the shops already closed, and actually had to walk all the way home from here.

I think Dulcie kept her in bed the next day, and she was none the worse for her long trail. But what an example of endurance and determination she showed!

An Occupation Diary – Part 16

In 1972, the Pilot magazine began an exclusive serialisation of private letters from the late Mrs G Luce de Pre, which had taken the form of letters written to her absent children and grand-children, covering the period July 9 1940 to June 6 1945.

I suspect it has not been read much since then, 45 years ago, so here is a second chance in this special 70th Anniversary year to read some of it.

An Occupation Diary – Part 16
July 21, 1944

We have heard this week through Mrs Beer of a letter she received from Harold, in which he says "Eric in the thick of it in Burma and is a Gunner". It has made us all very anxious for him, and I'm thinking how anxious Kathleen must be. I am glad she has gone to live with or near Peggy in Isle of Man, and the children will be so pleased to be near the sea again.

I was thankful to hear that our John and the other boys were well and happy, but all longing to come home.

The news is so good, and all feel that the end is in sight, and today comes the news of the attempt on Hitler's life, and unrest in Germany.

We have a nice lot of vegetables in the garden now, and just live on them, as we only get 4 oz. of meat once a fortnight; and we are making tea substitute from dried pea pods - it's very good too. Dulcie is making coffee from dried potato peelings, and says it is very good.

Father made jam last week, some gooseberry and some blackcurrant. He made a very good swap of fruit for sugar, and the jam is lovely.

July 25, 1944

We had such a thrill this morning between ten and eleven o'clock - about fifteen hundred RAF planes passed over the Island on their way to France. All the big guns opened fire, and there was a terrific noise going on. I don't think any were hit.

Dulcie and Mrs Struthers came to-day, brought their lunch and heard the news.

I went to Petit Port yesterday and saw Moorings. All the tiles have been taken off the roof and smashed to bits. Looking in the front door-way one saw the whole of the interior, as they have taken away all the divisions - it is a terrible wreck; they have also taken the two sheds.

Two birthdays have passed this month, Kathleen's and Peggy's. We spoke of you and wished you many happies.

September 6, 1944

Our dear Doreen's birthday to-day, and we all wish her many happy returns. Dulcie came to see us, and we spoke of Doreen and wished we could see her again.

This long separation is very hard to bear, and we hope when the war is over she will be able to come back.

We are having rather a bad time just now, as the gas is cut off altogether, and water is on for only a few hours a day, and there is only enough food to last till Nov. 30th. However, the news is so good that we hope the war will be over before that date, when we shall be able to get rid of the Germans - there are fourteen thousand of them here.

We have no means of cooking here, except on the lounge fireplace, and have very little fuel, and not much hope of getting more.

January 14, 1945

I have neglected my diary for a long time, and will start again for the New Year, hoping this is the last year of the war.

This last Christmas has been quite different from the four previous ones. Percy and Queenie very kindly invited us to Holmhurst for five days, and we were delighted to accept, as Flo and Dorothy were to be there, also Harold and Jim, and Wilfred and Gertrude.

We were twelve for meals every day, and what lovely ones they were, and how we did enjoy them after the poor food we had been having for so long. The rooms were so warm, too, and everything was perfect. We had been going through a bad time, as all our food was exhausted owing to the Germans taking so much. They have taken all our flour, most of the potatoes and com, and now we only get a weekly ration of 3 oz. of meal and a few potatoes; we used to get 3 oz. of butter, but they have taken that and half our milk.

We were just on the verge of starvation when the Red Cross ship arrived, loaded with food for us and Guernsey, done up in parcels like the prisoners of war get, and we get one each every month. What a joy it was opening them! We were just like a lot of children with their Christmas stockings! We have only had the first one, and are expecting the next in a week's time.

The fuel question is very serious as there is no coal or coke; we are allowed 1 cwt. of wood a month, but cannot get it, as there is no transport, the Germans having taken all the lorries and most of the horses, and all the petrol. Having so little wood, we are only able to have a little fire to cook our dinner and boil a kettle for tea, and it's only four points above freezing in the lounge.

An Occupation Diary – Part 15

In 1972, the Pilot magazine began an exclusive serialisation of private letters from the late Mrs G Luce de Pre, which had taken the form of letters written to her absent children and grand-children, covering the period July 9 1940 to June 6 1945.

I suspect it has not been read much since then, 45 years ago, so here is a second chance in this special 70th Anniversary year to read some of it.

An Occupation Diary – Part 15

June 9, 1944

There does not seem to have been much to write about the last three months, and we are getting very tired of the suspense of waiting for the " Invasion " to start. We were very thrilled with the good news about Rome, and the account of the entry of the Allies. The same night we were kept awake with the sound of thousands of RAF planes passing over the Island - the house rocked and shook and the noise was terrific, like an earthquake. I knew something extraordinary was happening, but it did not occur to me that it was the " Invasion " at last, and was quite surprised to hear in the morning that it really had come.

Were we thrilled and excited ! I must tell you that Father had hidden his wireless instead of giving it up, and so we were able to listen in, and heard all the thrilling accounts of the landing, and the correspondents' reports. In fact we were listening in nearly all day on Tuesday, Churchill's speech, the King's speech, and the service by the Archbishop of Canterbury in fact we have missed nothing since.

It is such a Joy to know we are doing well, though our thoughts and prayers are with our brave boys at the front, and the terrific ordeal they have to face, and the sacrifice. My constant thought is for my dear John, and all whom we love who are in danger. We, of course, are in a state of " siege "; although a lot of Germans have gone away, there are still a good many left, and we are wishing they would go, as then the British would come and set us free, and would also bring us food and medical supplies, which are so desperately needed.

The Hospital is full of wounded Germans who were rescued from the sea last week, when several boats were sunk. Unfortunately for us, the Germans are taking so much of our food away; they are taking 24 cows a week from the Island and our stock of butter and sugar, so now our rations are being reduced, and there is only enough gas to last till July, as there is no coal and nothing can come from France now. The Harbour is full of disabled ships, and I don't think the Germans could get away even if they wanted to - they say they would rather be taken prisoner than fight.

June 22

We went to Mrs Tennant's to tea one day last week, another day to Mrs du Guerin's, and on Monday to Miss Arm's- Harold and Jim were spending the week-end there, and they all came on here each evening to hear the news.

The Germans have cut off the telephone, so we are not able to ring up. Also there is only one bus a day, and only for people who work in town, and we are feeling very cut off.

Some American planes came over one day and dropped a bomb at La Rocque, hoping to hit a gun, but hit several houses instead; this makes the people living on the coast very nervous. We are hoping soon to hear Cherbourg has fallen.

June 24

June's birthday to-day, eleven years old too, and she must be getting a big girl. I do hope the flying bombs do not get as far as Hereford. I think so much of Kathleen all alone with her little family.

Dulcie came yesterday and told us about the affair at La Rocque. There were fourteen houses wrecked, and many people injured and homeless. Some have gone to a nursing home, others have been taken in and cared for by kind neighbours. Dulcie has been very busy helping, and has a family living in Miss Bowles's house next door. She actually saw the bombs drop, as she happened to be outside attending to the goats.

Last night planes were overhead for several hours. We think they were German, as they were not fired on, and must have been travelling back-wards and forwards to France, taking officers away, as that is their only way to escape now.

June 27

We hear that Cherbourg has really fallen, and we hope to hear all details later on.

It is very quiet here these last few days, no firing or explosions; the Germans are very nervous, expecting an attack any moment.

Fantasy Odds and Ends

Photo shows an architect's impression of man in Godzilla suit smashing the Waterfront.

Fantasy Films

Last weekend I was reading reviews of all those creaky Doug Mclure films I used to watch at the Cinema in the 1970s - the Land that Time Forgot, At the Earth’s Core, Warlords of Atlantis - I love the reviews description of how the monsters were rendered - "the wonders of suitamation".

That is such a lovely way of describing a man in a monster suit! It's particularly true of the Doug McClure films, which usually had a rip-off from Edgar Rice Burroughs for a storyline, a scientist, and a man with fists who got the girl - that was Doug.

For lighter reading I was also enjoying some blog reviews of old films. I particularly liked this line from one: "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave is not an especially accurate title, though it does score points for being evocative. Dracula Has Been Defrosted From A Moat would not look nearly so good on the poster. "

Fantasy Books
I mostly read some autobiographies last weekend though dipping into some history books as well, and started re-reading Martin Gardner's wonderful "Annotated Alice". My copy had just about fallen to bits so it was nice to get a Kindle edition.

I finished Harry Secombe's Strawberries and Cheam, and it's such a joyful and funny book that I completely forgot he had in fact died some years ago. Farewell, Neddie Seagoon!

Fantasy Island
I saw this excellent question on Facebook:

“Will the JDC come clean and tell us how many square feet have been actually signed and sealed for in the new Finance District? Obviously, they will not reveal who yet (confidentiality etc) but do the public not have a right to know how much, if any, space has been allocated. Probably find out that the only people to move in to this white elephant will be States Departments.”

And Willy Nieuwburg had some excellent points to make in his comments, well worth repeating:

“The States have agreed that the JDC can start building ONLY when 200.000 sq ft has been firmly contracted at market rates ( no Liberty Wharf like give always ) If they don't they cannot lay one brick unless they go back to the Sates. This puts them in a bit of predicament as they might have only one tenant who only wants £150.000 sq ft. What then ? Dandara still has 50% room in their grade A office building. They're working 7 days a week to finish it.”

“JDC ( The States ) has no business in being a developer and risking hard earned tax payer's money in competition with private developers who have planning permission, know what they're doing and risk their own money. I would love to know how much Liberty Wharf has collected in rent since opening especially how much Sandpiper has paid since then. I believe it has cost between £50 - £70 million to build. Government should not get involved in building commercial offices and risk money which isn't theirs. Leave this to communist countries....”

And he makes this point – also worth noting:

“Has anyone noticed that the only people who are trumpeting the benefits of the Finance centre are the Chiefs of the various States quangos - all paid indirectly by the tax payer. Jersey Finance, JFSC, JDC etc. They have all lined up to be interviewed by local media and state how much demand there is for grade A office space and how wonderful it's going to be. In fact they sound like clones However the silence of Jersey's finance houses' CEO's ( the potential customers who really matter ) on the subject is deafening. I wonder why”

That’s very true – where are the lawyers, banks, trust companies etc who are crying out for this development? They are probably waiting in the wings to see if the JDC will discount the office space so that it becomes a better deal than Dandara or the proposed Le Masurier one.

Thirty Pieces of Property
Has anyone noticed, by the way, Simon Crowcroft’s sudden about turn on the Waterfront? Suddenly he is an enthusiast, indeed fanatically pushing for it to happen. Could it have anything to do with the fact that the States have agreed to pay rates on States building in St Helier?.

I don’t know if there are thirty States properties in St Helier to pay rates, but it would be an appropriate coincidence if there were!

And finally
St Helier has been identified as one of four priorities for the States of Jersey over the next three years. The States aims to raise the profile of the island's capital.

How will they do this? Obviously by going with Steve Luce and building very tall office blocks on the Waterfront. That will certainly raise St Helier's profile against the skyline.