1986 - 40 years ago - September - Part 2

 

1986 - 40 years ago - September - Part 2

September 15-21

TWO hundred people living in the Bagot area are evacuated from their homes when nearby commercial premises are engulfed by fire. The blaze destroys the building used by a recently-established business, Smoked Starters, but no one is injured.

Vandals cause serious damage at d'Hautree School. They cut electrical and telephone cables, slash seats and curtains, break school trophies and daub graffiti on walls and blackboards.

The results of the census taken in March are made public and the revelation that the Island's population has already passed the 80,000 mark, a level which the States have said should not be reached before 1997, causes an outcry.

The Arts Centre faces severe financial pressures but its director, Mr George Ritchie, says that the struggle to provide the service that the public wants will continue. He also calls for greater States spending on the arts.

Labour MP Mr Alf Dubs visits the Island, of whose status as a tax-haven he is critical, and addresses a public meeting at the Town Hall. He tells his audience that Jersey has a "noncritical political system" and that its housing laws turn some people into "second-class citizens".

Statistics show that the number of front-seat passengers seriously injured in traffic accidents has fallen by 70 per cent since the introduction of last year's seat-belt legislation. Defence Committee president Senator John Ellis says that the news is "marvellous". Thousands watch the annual Battle of Britain air display from vantage points all over the Island. Concorde, the Red Arrows and a Tornado fighter are among the stars of the show.

September 22-28

A RECORD "high" is on the cards when a further 13 arrests for suspected drunken driving bring the figure for the year to date to over 400.

Jersey's £5 million gift to the Falkland Islands is still in 'British Government hands. Four years after the gift was made, the Falkland Islands representative at a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting being held in Jersey confirms that this is so.

Ten per cent fewer airline charter seats to Jersey are sought for the 1987 tourist season. Just under 73,000 such seats are approved by the Civil Aviation authority.

Island toastmaster Robert Michieli (24), is convicted of drunken driving and failing to report an accident. He may also face a perjury prosecution because the Assistant Magistrate, Mr R. J. Short, says that he finds Michieli's evidence about a girl who he says was driving his car "palpably false".

 

Ian Botham's 25-mile walk around the 12 parish churches is hailed as a great success. The walk, on which Botham was accompanied by his wife, Kathryn, an elephant called Lola and 400 Islanders, raises money for the Leukaemia Research Fund.

Roz Forrester, whose voice for three years invited the Island to wake up on the BBC Radio Jersey early morning programme, decides to call it a day. She will, however, continue to work for the station on a freelance basis.

Islander Mr Stuart Weaving is awarded the Springbok Foundation Friendship Personality of the Year Award in South Africa.

September 29—October 5

SEALINK British Ferries suspend their operations in Jersey without warning and it is revealed that a new company — headed by Channel Island Ferries' managing director, Mr Colin Carter — will be handling all the Island's ferry links with the UK.

Highlands College is entered by vandals and thousands of pounds worth of damage is caused. A safe is forced, cash is stolen and doors and pictures are smashed.

A man is arrested shortly after an alleged assault which leaves well-known local boxer Mr Lyndon Marquer critically ill with head injuries. Mr Marquer (22), is taken to the General Hospital's intensive care unit.

 A landlord who had 11 illegal lodgers in his house at Victoria Terrace, Georgetown, is fined £3,500 by the Royal Court. George Albert Thomas tells the Court that he took in the lodgers because he was short of cash. A man who was acting as curator of his mother's affairs but allegedly forged her signature to sell Treasury stock worth £22,950 is remanded for trial by the Royal Court. Peter Gerald Marriott reserves his plea at a Police Court hearing.

A St Clement Parish Assembly votes £3,000 from the rates to improve the appearance of the St Clement Garden of Remembrance. The funds are made available because of poor public response to improve the garden.

More sheltered homes for the elderly are needed outside St Helier, according to Housing President Deputy Hendric Vandervliet. The Deputy says that elderly people from country districts should not be expected to move to town.