Two Appreciations from 1990 - Ken Webb and Christine White

Two appreciations from the JEP. On a personal note, Ken was the P.E. teacher at my schools Mandalay and VCP. I remember seeing him doing sports on Channel TV News. He came to work at the same accountancy firm, and we chatted over coffee and became friends.

In 1984, as a member of Mensa, Ken developed the magazine from the photocopied and stapled pages he inherited into a neat little piece of journalism, with a glossy cover, bound and stapled into a small booklet, and produced monthly by means of a photcopier and an Amstrad PCW512 - remember them? He was editor, and I was assistant editor.

Because contributions were exceedingly thin on the ground from the membership, Ken wrote additional material under his own name and the pseudonymn Charles Cabeldu, and I contributed extra essays and reviews under my own name and also the unlikely names of Matthew Shepard, Dr Gideon Fell (picnhed from the books John Dickson Car),  Una Nancy Owen (pinched from Agatha Christie's "And then there were none") and Magnus Riddolf (from a science fiction short story collection by Jack Vance)!

JEP Tuesday, 26 June, 1990

Appreciations: Mr Ken Webb

ONE of Jersey’s illustrious sons passed away last weekend.

Ken Webb was extremely well know not only in Jersey but also all over the Commonwealth for his knowledge of many sports.

Seventy-year-old Ken was educated at De La Salle College, and on leaving school he joined the staff of Lloyds Bank. In 1939 he joined the Royal Air Force, but was in Jersey on the day the Island became occupied, so he carried on working for Lloyds Bank both in Jersey and Guernsey.

Ken became engaged to Joan in 1940 and they were married in 1945. In 1946 he went into the , hotel business and in 1951 he decided to train as a schoolteacher, He then went to St Mary’s College, Oxford, and then to Loughborough. At the end of his training he commenced teaching at La Motte Street School, then moved on to Victoria College Prep.

Ken was a founder member of many clubs and organisations, including the Jersey Life Guards, the Jersey Rifle Association Supporters Club, and the Jersey Dinner Boxing Club. He was a trustee of Pisces Boxing Club, an instructor at Southhill Gymnasium, and also a world-class weightlifter.

But his ambition as a young man was the forming of the Jersey Commonwealth Games Association, which he accomplished in 1957. He then took the Jersey team to the next five Commonwealth Games as general team manager.

Ken was the editor of the Mensa magazine for the Channel Islands, and to add to his interests, he was also president of the Rozel Boatowners Association. He was responsible -for planning the course to be followed by Denize Le Pennec when she made the historic first-ever swim around Jersey.

But I feel that Ken will be remembered by many not for what he did for sport and other societies, but for the unselfish way which he always cared for, and about, others — especially youngsters who were not quite up to the standard required to pass exams. He was always available for extra tuition or if anybody needed advice of any sort; he always had time to listen to their problems, and always made time to help out no matter for whom or when.

Ken was also an accomplished musician; and played the piano, clarinet and saxophone in his younger days, and his love for jazz and classical music never left him, nor did his preciseness, politeness and consideration for others.

Joan has lost her partner of many years, and those who knew him have lost a very good friend and a true gentleman.

SJP

Appreciations: Mrs Christine White

CHRISTINE WHITE was born in Devon, and first became interested in the St John Ambulance Brigade when her father donated an ambulance to the local division. As no member was competent to drive this vehicle, Christine agreed to act as ambulance driver for the division. This led to her taking a first-aid course and becoming involved with the work of the Brigade.

After her marriage to David and the birth of her two daughters, a move to Jersey was made by the family, where her son was born.

Christine continued her work for the St John Ambulance and joined No 2 , Nursing Division, now known as Mountbatten Division.

But not satisfied with carrying out the duties of a nursing member she became a lay lecturer, and many people in the island owe their knowledge of first-aid to her. She will be sadly missed by all.

CAE

Lord of the Storm

One from the archive, from 30/05/2007, but appropriate I think given the hurricanes and storms of  late. The ancients often saw storms as the creation of gods, and in this poem, I have imagined giants invisible, walking and tearing at the land and sea.

Lord of the Storm

I walk the earth in giant strides
Sweeping all before my hands
Along my back, a storm rides
As I step over seas and lands

I walk the earth in giant strides
None can escape upon my way
Yet unseen, my presence hides
As I make trees bow and sway

I walk the earth in giant strides
The thing invisible, mighty, vast
Tearing great houses on all sides
But then I am still, all has passed

I walk the earth in giant strides
One in which nemesis abides.

1974 - 50 Years Ago - October Part 2

1974 - 50 Years Ago - October Part 2

17.--From January 1 next year, air fares between Jersey and the UK and between the Channel Islands themselves, will be increased by 7 ½ percent.

18.——J. Richardson re-elected Constable of Trinity.

19 .—States Housing Committee' may launch home design contest. Evaine, the only 12 metre racing yacht, falls at her moorings in St Aubin’s Harbour. Major Christopher Davey flies the. Army’s first hot-air balloon.

20;--Twenty-one members of the JEP Junior Club left for a week’s holiday in Majorca. They were accompanied by two representatives of the paper and several parents.

21 .-—Colour television will not be available till 1976 unless the BBC reverse a decision to withdraw from a joint operation with Channel Television.

22.—Waste heat from Sewerage Board Plant may be used to make electricity. CTV says colour on target for 1976.

23.—“Fire raiser” Terence Roy Hutchings (25), of Gorey, sentenced to 6 years jail by Royal Court :for setting fire to garages and cars. George J. Singh, business man, sues lawyers Gruchy, Gibault and Voisin for breach of duty, and claims £42,500.

24. Full Court sentences four men up to 6 years for sodomy, etc.. Housing Committee to investigate illegal occupation of property. [ In 1990, Jersey legalized homosexual sex with The Sexual Offences Law (1990)]

25.—Deputy Philip Bailhache of Grouville, and Advocate or Royal Court, is appointed Solisitor-General, the first step on the path to Bailiff. States may set up “ Building Society " to finance house loans. Death of Jersey’s oldest resident, Mrs. L. E. Voisin, aged 103 of 15 Midvale Road .Royal Court grants injunction freezing one million dollar account to Belgium Ministry of Post and Telegraphs and Telephone.

26.-Another gorilla born at Jersey Zoo.

27.—-The‘ first of two JEP parties leave for South Africa. The members of. ” JEP ” Junior Club party returned from Mallorca.

28..Outdoor tomato growers face serious losses due: to poor weather.

29.:The general secretary of the TGWU, Mr. Jack Jones, currently visiting Jersey, said that he would like to see higher wages paid in the Island, for agricultural workers and better conditions for catering workers.

30.—-The Jersey Gas Company are making a survey of appliances in Island homes, with a view to the possible introduction of natural gas.

31.—A 26 year old former estate agent, who ran a pornographic mail order business from a St. Brelade flat in June, was fined £200 today for sending pornographic literature through the post.

The Dream

The poem today bases its structure, but not its content, on a well-known hymn. Can you guess which one?

The Dream

I heard the night in whisper say
The time has come for rest
Close eyes in weariness, lay down
And enter dream so blest
In a dark place there I was
So weary, worn, and sad
And much in need of resting place,
And night’s call made me glad.

I heard the moon in whisper say
A gentle light I give
Much softer than the raging sun
Where night creatures can live
Caressed by moonbeam, deep I drank
Of her life giving stream
My eyes were opened, soul revived
And so I sang this hymn

I heard the stars in whisper say
Come blessed be the night
In a canopy of black, we rise
The constellations bright
I looked above, and I found
That tapestry so spun
And in soft starlight, I will walk
Till dreaming nights are done

1974 - 50 Years Ago - October Part 1

1974 - 50 Years Ago - October Part 1

1.—-Jersey’s “Miss Battle of Flowers” 20-year-old Sue de "Gruchy, is to visit Northern Ireland later this month and become “ Miss Ropal Hussar ”. The Hussars (Prince of Wales Own) made the invitation because the Channel Islands fall within their recruiting area. and Miss de Gruchy was delighted to accept. She will visit the Regiment, which is stationed in Ulster, from October 17 to 20.

2.--Mr. Phillip Misson,‘ Acting Viscount for the vast three years, has been appointed Viscount. Mr. Misson is 59, married with one son and lives at Trinity. He was Deputy Viscount under Mr. H. V. Benest from 1966 until the latter’s retirement in 1971. Under a new law, passed this year, the appointment is made by the Bailiff- personally.

3.——-Jersey’s new Medical Officer of Health, Dr Anthony Essex-Cater, moved into his Pier Road office this week with an impressive Public Health pedigree behind. him. Dr Essex-Cater (51) is married with four children. He said this morning that he was still “feeling his way around ” and getting used to the local setup.

4.——-Emergency legislation is :being drafted which it is hoped will be put before the Committee of Agriculture next week to enable the felling and disposal of trees infected with Dutch elm disease to begin as soon as possible.

7.—-—A subsidiary of Property Investments Channel Islands Ltd, Mandarin Investment Ltd. has purchased the premises in Bath Street formerly occupied by “Boudims motor cycle and cycle business”. It is understood that the premises will be offered on a long-term lease and will join the portfolio of CI properties held by Property Investments Channel Islands Ltd, an associated company or Slater-Walker (Jersey) Ltd.

8.--The " Jersey Evening Post ” pro-am golf tournament got off to a splendid start in bright sunshine at La Moye promptly at 9 am

9 .-—-His Excellency the Norwegian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland is paying a courtesy can to Jersey, and this morning he met the Channel Islands Consul, Mr John Huelin.

10 .——The Jersey Bulb and Flower Growers Association’s new flower Shep at the Airport was officially opened by Harbours and Airport Committee president, Deputy Bill Morvan.

11 .-—The amendment to the Children ( Jersev) Law which will permit publication of names of youths appearing at the Island’s courts once they reach the age of 17 has now received the Royal Assent.

12.—Among the winners in the October Premium Bond prize draw were six Channel Islands residents. One won £1,000. and five won 100 each.

14.——The first interviews were held for the post of Director of Fort Regent. Eleven applications have been short-listed for the post, which carries a possible salary of £7,000 on a three- to five-year contract.

15.-—-The Jersey district of the Girls Brigade has received news that Lady Fitzpatrick has agreed to be the local president during her time in Jersey.

16.—-—For the first time since he was named' as Viscount-designate, Mr Misson promulgated and published several laws which have recently received the Royal Assent, by reading them from the base of the statue of King George II in the Royal Square in the traditional manner.

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.