- Busy weekend at the RJAHS Country Show
- Celebrations for Jersey’s Soroptomists
- Parish Notes: St Lawrence
- Learn more about a St Clement stalwart
ANYONE looking for a true slice of Island life last weekend needed to look no farther than the Royal Jersey Showground, set in the Island’s rural heartland in Trinity.
The home of the Royal Jersey Horticultural and Agricultural Society, with the conveniently located Jersey Dairy next door when fresh ice cream supplies needed topping up, the 16-vergée site hosts a
variety of events throughout the year, including Jersey Live, corporate and business awards banquets, wedding receptions and dog shows.
Last weekend the society only had about 4,000 (of the 100,000 people who use the facilities every year) to entertain when it held the Summer Country Show.
The vast open site and huge vaulted show hall seemed to shrink in proportions as they took on the intimate atmosphere of a traditional village fete, with the parish church spire visible through the surrounding trees.
And in the spirit of such events, it wouldn’t have happened without the involvement of many Island organisations such as the Scouts, directing traffic and making sure drivers parked properly, St John Ambulance, on hand to provide first aid, stalwarts from just about every parish and hard-working country folk giving up their weekends to carry out countless chores – and all with a smile and a cheery word for tourists popping in.
RJAHS president Ian Mitchell was delighted, if somewhat tired by Sunday’s end, but he was encouraged that so many families had turned out.
‘Overall it was a great success, especially with the weather,’ he said.
‘It’s a brilliant opportunity for us to communicate with Islanders what the countryside and country life is all about.
‘And for the young children it helps them to connect to their Island culture.’
In addition to the traditional fairground with swing-boats, a merry-go-round and coconut shy, there were market stalls, expert advice on bat-spotting, bee-keeping and falconry, and a marquee packed with small animals and caged birds that was, said organiser Collette Bisson, mobbed with families over the two days.
It attracted the agricultural industry’s leading players, expert cattle breeders and horticulturalists, as well as gardeners and flower arrangers, cake makers, and a jam and preserve-maker extraordinaire who ventured north from St Clement to sell her wares in aid of the parish church fund.
And it inspired one imaginative primary school pupil to create the caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland with plums, blueberries and a tiny runner beans all held together with cocktail sticks.
The only drawback was that the show lasted only two days, but by Sunday afternoon the flowers and children, having run themselves ragged in the open air and sunshine, were wilting and farmers had more pressing matters to attend to back on their farms.
Twinned with: Barneville-Carteret
Address: Parish Hall, Grande Route de St Laurent, St Lawrence
Telephone: 861672
Email: stlawrence@posl.gov.je
Opening hours: 9 am to 12.15 pm and 1.30 pm to 4 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 9.15 am to 12.15 pm Wednesday.
Parish secretary: Angela Goguelin
Constable: Deidre Mezbourian. Telephone: 861672. Email: d.mezbourian@gov.je
Deputies:
John Le Fondré. Telephone: 738379. Email: j.lef@gov.je
Eddie Noel. Telephone: 758976. Email: e.noel@gov.je
Rector: Rev Phil Warren. Telephone: 869013
Procureurs du Bien Public: Michael Ethelston and Bruce Harrison
Centeniers: Nicola Parker-Hood, Norman Laverack, David Price and Stephen Coleman
Vingtaines: Bas de la Vallée, Coin Hatain, Coin Tourgis Nord, Coin Tourgis Sud, Coin Motier and Haut de la Vallée
Kerbside recycling: Monthly collections of glass, paper and cardboard, tins and plastic bottles
Recycling centres: Community Centre car park
Parish magazine: Les Laurentins
Community facilities: St Lawrence Community Centre. Telephone 626167
Clubs and associations:
St Lawrence Football Club
St Lawrence FC Youth Academy
St Lawrence Parish Church Sunday School
St Lawrence Youth Project
St Lawrence Battle of Flowers Association
St. Lawrence Friendship Club
St. Lawrence Ladies Action Group
St. Lawrence Miniature Rifle Club
St. Lawrence Women’s Institute
Jersey celebrates 65 years on the Soroptimist International stage
SOROPTIMIST International, the worldwide women’s voluntary movement dedicated to transforming the lives of women and girls at a local, national and international level, in particular in the third world, is celebrating its 65th anniversary in Jersey.
Membership used to be open only to business or professional women, but now it is open to any woman, including those who have never worked.
The chairman is Dr Margaret Bayes, and patrons are the wife of the Lieutenant-Governor, Lady McColl, and the Bailiff’s wife, Jenny Bailhache.
Members meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Monterey Hotel in St Saviour’s Road.
Dr Bayes said: ‘I really want to see a mix of people from different backgrounds and interests.
‘We are not all doctors and journalists, and it’s much better to have a broad network of members to help people.
‘We have 28 members at the moment and I would like far more.’
In addition to organising fundraising events, income is generated from letting Soroptimist House in Pomona Road, which was originally built as bedsits for impoverished retired women.
‘It is now leased to charities as offices, but it is only half-occupied, so we are looking for more occupants, and at a reduced rental rate,’ said Dr Bayes.
‘The income from rents after expenses have been deducted goes to local charities at our annual donations evenings.
‘In 2014 we gave £10,000 to local charities, and also during the year we made other donations from money raised from special events, like a fashion show, which brought the total raised to £15,000.
‘We also fund raise for projects abroad, but income from the house must stay in the Island.’
Charities which have been supported recently include Autism Jersey, Jersey Women’s Refuge – which the Soroptimists was instrumental in establishing – and the Grace Trust.
PARISH halls aren’t just venues for public meetings or parochial administration centres – they are a hub for a variety of events.
St Brelade Parish Hall has plenty going on this month, both inside and outside the building.
The 13th panel of the Occupation Tapestry in is the parish hall until 29 June, so you can go and add a stitch.
A team of stitchers, are taking it around parish halls for the next year.
Tomorrow, senior parishioners are invited to the monthly meeting of St Brelade Senior Citizens Club, which meets every third Wednesday of the month at 2 pm to enjoy games, raffle, good company and light refreshments.
And a whist drive takes place every Wednesday at 8 pm, and all are welcome.
There is a craft market outside the parish hall most Tuesdays and Thursdays through the summer and a farmers and crafts market once a month, selling many Genuine Jersey products.
And on 11 July, there will be a market inside the parish hall in aid of the Animals Shelter.
To see what’s happening in your parish hall, check out its website.
A stalwart of the parish he loves
Name: Chris Le Cornu.
Parish
Though born in St Helier, at Havre des Pas, in 1939, I was brought up and lived in St Clement until leaving the Island to join the Royal Air Force. I returned to live in St Clement in 1994, so effectively I have been associated with St Clement all my life, although the family originated in St Ouen, where my great-
grandfather was the Seigneur of Vinchelez de Haut.
Occupation
Retired following a 37-year career in the RAF and 12 years as office manager and
company secretary for a legal practice in St Helier.
Voluntary service for the Island
Member of the organising committee for the annual Airport departures lounge ball; fundraising for the RAF Benevolent Fund and Flying Scholarships for the Disabled in 2001 and 2003, the latter being notable for raising the most money ever for charity in Jersey at a single event; ten years delivering for Meals on Wheels; member of Rocco’s Golf Society committee
Parish roles
When I returned to the Island in 1994, I felt I had time and energy to devote to a good cause and was keen to become involved with parish affairs, so I joined the parish welfare board and served for five years. Following the demise of parish welfare, the Parish Community Support Team was established in 2009 and I was honoured to be invited to chair it. Since its inception, the team has grown from its original 20 members to 45, and between us we have been able to help 400 parishioners.
Greatest voluntary achievement
To have won the confidence and support of 45 exceptional team members and the parishioners we have been able to help.
Why do you give your time to others?
I have been blessed to have enjoyed good health, and with a happy and supportive family, I have time to spare and I like to try to improve the lives of those less fortunate than myself.
