PRIDE OF JERSEY: Award ‘a dream come true’ for Royal ambassadors

PRIDE OF JERSEY: Award ‘a dream come true’ for Royal ambassadors

The well-known farming couple have worked together in St Ouen for almost three decades and won the award in recognition of their work promoting Jersey and its most famous export: the Jersey Royal potato.

‘It was amazing. It really was,’ said Mrs Hellio, who is a spokesperson for the Jersey Royal brand. ‘We didn’t expect to win, we felt that everyone else was so deserving. We still feel such enormous gratitude for everyone who voted for us. It felt like such a privilege that people took the time to vote.’

The couple were nominated for the award by John Garton, who is chief executive of Genuine Jersey, and who described them as working tirelessly to promote the Royal, ‘and always with smiles on their faces’.

‘For us, it’s just a job that we do every day,’ said Mrs Hellio. ‘We love it, but it’s not about us, and it’s not about the farm – it’s about promoting Jersey Royals. It’s about representing our potatoes and our Island. I love Jersey – there is nowhere else I’d rather live than here.

‘I was in the field when I first heard we’d been nominated,’ she continued. ‘I think I was picking potatoes when I was told. I just couldn’t believe it.’

Asked for her memories of the award ceremony itself, Mrs Hellio laughed and said: ‘When they said our name, I said something that can’t be repeated in a family newspaper. I was so shocked. It was a real surprise. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so emotional. We’d never been to anything like it before, and it was just amazing: perfect night, perfect food, perfect company.’

In addition to growing and promoting Jersey Royals, Mrs Hellio often hosts and talks to visiting journalists in order to promote ‘Jersey’s number one export’, as well as travelling to London to further promote the brand.

‘Prior to the Pride of Jersey awards, I’d thought the pinnacle of achievement in our working life was having Countryfile coming over to film on our farm,’ said Mrs Hellio. ‘But winning a Pride of Jersey award topped it.’

The Ambassador of the Year award was last year sponsored by Albert Bartlett, and operations director Tim Ward said he was ‘delighted’ that the company would be sponsoring the award again in 2020.

‘We are so proud to be involved in such a wonderful event,’ said Mr Ward. ‘I hadn’t realised until I attended last year’s ceremony just how much effort goes into it. There were so many moving moments, especially those involving children, and we were very pleased to see Christine and Didier being awarded for their hard work. They truly are ambassadors for the Island.’

Nominate your community heroes online at prideofjersey.com. Nominations will close on 31 August.

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