Les Nouvelles / Summer 2026 / Issue 57

Pension Plus

You may be able to get help with health costs such as dental care, eye tests and foot treatment through Pension Plus.

Funding is available if:

You've reached pension age at the time of application

Are receiving a Jersey Old Age Pension or have ‘entitled’ status

You (and your partner, if applicable) don’t pay Jersey income tax, or you only pay up to £1,000* in total tax each year

Have no more than £64,000 in household assets (excluding the value of the family home)

*Extended to more pensioners – find out if you’re eligible Eligibility criteria expanded Pension Plus Scheme

Pension Plus can help you meet the cost of:

Dental Care

£55 a year for check-ups

Up to £1,900 every 4 years for treatment

Eye Care

£55 every 2 years for eye tests

£165 every 2 years for glasses or lenses

Foot Care

£165 a year for treatment

From the editor

Issue Welcome... In this

Thank you so much to all our regular and new contributors for the time spent writing articles and collating photographs to share with our readers.

You may well know by now that St Martin’s long-serving Constable, Karen Shenton Stone, was returned unopposed in the recent elections.

However, due to the timing of Election Day on Sunday 7th June, we do not have contributions from any of our Parish Deputies, but we look forward to hearing from them in the next edition. An Election Roundup can be found on page 22.

The Northern Parishes Battle of Flowers Association are busy getting ready for the parades in August and they would be very grateful for your help. If you have any time to spare and would like to get involved, more information and contact details can be found on page 7.

Our young Parishioners have been very busy as usual as you will see in updates from Girlguiding Jersey, St Martin’s School and Maufant Youth Project.

We welcome new contributions which might encourage readers to get involved, meet new people or try a new skill. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have a club, activity or news to share.

À la préchaine!

If you would like to contribute to future editions of Les Nouvelles de St Martin, please email Susan Parker at susiep99@ hotmail.com or call 07797 916991

The deadline for the next edition is Friday 14th August 2026. All contributions are greatly appreciated.

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Welcome from the Constable

Karen Shenton Stone

As the seasons change and we are heading into summer, farmers and Parishioners will be looking at managing the banks and hedgerows along our beautiful parish lanes, and our first branchage takes place on Thursday 9th July. The branchage (from the French branche meaning branch) or lé brancage in Jèrriais, is our ancient, twice yearly legal requirement in Jersey that mandates landowners and occupiers to trim back hedges, trees and shrubs that overhang public roads and footpaths. This tradition, which has existed for centuries, ensures safety for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and vehicles, particularly on our narrow country lanes.

Modern guidance now encourages leaving at least 10cm of growth rather than cutting to the bare earth or stone, reducing the intensity of the cut to protect the wildlife corridor benefits of hedgerows, and to protect biodiversity by leaving areas of vegetation towards the top of the bank during the first cut.

On Wednesday 29th July, the Parish of St Martin will be hosting our Visite Royale. We hosted our prvious Visite Royale on Wednesday 4th August 2021. A Visite Royale is a centuries old tradition where the Royal Court, including the Bailiff, inspects parish accounts and quizzes the the Connétable about the accounts, questions the Chef de Police about the Honorary Police and policing of the parish, and asks the Roads Inspectors about the condition and state of the roads. The Bailiff and the Royal Court inspect the roads to resolve encroachment disputes or maintenance issues which can occur with overhanging trees, dangerous walls or banks and hedgerows encroaching on roads. It is a formal, historic procedure rooted in the Duchy of Normandy tradition, which ensures that each parish is scrutinised by the Royal Court.

To celebrate the 81st anniversary of the Liberation, we hosted a Liberation Afternoon Tea on 7th May for those who had lived through or who had been born during the Occupation and WW2, and other senior citizens. Guests were entertained by singer Terry Arthur and later by Alan Mollet who played the piano and led the singing of old favourites. The afternoon tea was delicious. Grateful thanks to the Diamond Club who held a raffle in aid of The Red Cross. The raffle raised the generous sum of £270. A wonderful, memorable afternoon was enjoyed by all.

On Friday evening on 8th May, my husband Peregrine and I were invited to a Reception hosted by the Bailiff, attended by members of the British Red Cross. Amongst other members of the Red Cross, we met Sheryl Dooley, Senior Regional Fundraising

Manager, and I presented the Diamond Club’s generous cheque to her. On behalf of the Red Cross, she was very grateful and will be looking to include The Diamond Club as one of the ‘Supporters of the Month’ for the British Red Cross. This is a wonderful accolade for The Diamond Club.

In April, we attended the Honorary Police Annual Dinner. Our table of St Martin Honorary Police was extremely proud of our Chef de Police, Centenier Alan Phillips, as he was presented with his Eighteen Years Service Award from The Attorney General, Mr Matthew Jowitt. The Attorney General spoke in glowing terms about the Honorary Police and praised the long service and commitment of the officers who received their well-deserved awards. On behalf of the Parish, I extend our congratulations and thanks to Alan and his wife Teresa.

As I write, it is early May and we are in the election period. By the time the time this is published, my fate at the ballot box will have been decided. Whatever the outcome, it has been an absolute honour to serve the wonderful community of St Martin. Your support, encouragement and warmth of spirit have ensured my term of office has at times been challenging but it has also been enjoyable. I have worked tirelessly to deliver for the Parish, and in turn for the Island.

My grateful thanks to the wonderful team I work with, my family and to the Parishioners of St Martin.

À bétôt, Karen

Chef de Police, Centenier Alan Phillips, with his wife Teresa, holding his Eighteen Years Service Award

Battle of Flowers Northern Parishes Association

Work is progressing on the construction of the floats that the Northern Parishes - Trinity, St. John and St Martin, will be entering in this year's Battle of Flowers parades on August 14th and 15th.

Both parades will be along the seaside lane of Victoria Avenue travelling from near Rue de Galet to West Park for the day event and in the opposite direction for the night parade. Similarly to last year when there was a route through town, spectators will be able to get close-up to floats and performers and admission will be free.

The senior float, designed by Charlotte Buxton, has a 1920's Gatsby party theme while the junior float is based on the latest Lilo and Stitch film portraying a tropical beach and surf scene with the children in Hawaiian costumes.

Work takes place at the shed in the quarry near the top of Bouley Bay Hill. This will include papiermâché work, harestailing and painting, so keep a look out for information and shed open times on the Northern Parishes' and the Trinity parishioners Facebook pages.

Help will be needed most when the flowers arrive the week before Battle, as they will have to be put into buckets of water, and also during Battle week, taking the heads off the flowers and putting glue on them, ready to stick on to the floats. Everyone is welcome to come and help. There is a fun atmosphere, a chance to chat with friends and refreshments and cake will be available.

Anyone who would like to help and would like to be put on the mailing list is asked to contact Collette Bisson on 07797720615 or email collette@bisson.je

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Honorary Police

by Centenier Alan Phillips, Chef de Police

Congratulations to Mrs Anne Stone who was elected in early February and sworn in as Centenier at the Royal Court on 13th March.

Anne has had a meteoric rise since joining St Martin’s Honorary Police as the Island’s first Civilian Officer in 2023. She was able to join St Martin’s Honorary Police as a Constable’s Officer in 2024, and when the post of Centenier became vacant due to the retirement of Centenier Dave Burmingham, she was eager to rise to the task which brings the balance of male and female Centeniers in line, and, with a little nurturing from her fellow Centeniers and training, we feel that she is made of the right stuff to succeed.

On the 26th March, we welcomed two new recruits who answered the call for new officers, Alexander and Sheila, to the position of Constable’s Officers when they were elected at the Public Hall Assembly in March. Alexander Morton was sworn in at the Royal court on Friday 10th April and Sheila Crowsley was sworn in at the Royal Court on Friday 24th April. Alexander is

new to the idea of Honorary Policing and is looking forward to completing his Modules training before policing the Parish as part of his team. Sheila came to us after completing her first three years with St Peter’s Honorary Police and arrived ready for action after meeting her new team.

So far this season, we have been able to keep traffic flowing through the Parish with no reports of fallen trees. Although we seem to be plagued now with road works, these are necessary evils in our modern times, but an annoyance all the same when us creatures of habit are faced with a last-minute detour to get home. Potholes have also been manifesting themselves of late, probably the result of the wet spell in spring. One pothole that appeared outside the Royal St Martin’s Public House caused a cyclist to take a nasty fall - please keep an eye out and report any potholes you may see.

Dog fouling is never pleasant to see, but we have taken several calls recently of dog fouling particularly in and around the Rue de la Clochette area this could be from loose dogs or complacency on the owners’ part. All responsible dog owners do clean up after their doggy family members, but if seen flouting the law and identified, we would like to know. Exercising your dog on the beach is a great way to exercise yourself - just a reminder that between 1st May 1st and 30th September, dogs must be kept on a lead on the beach between 10.30am and 6pm. Outside these hours and during winter (1st October to 30th April), dogs can be exercised on the beach off-lead.

Horses can also be exercised on beaches but with seasonal restrictions aimed at balancing access for beach users. Between 1st October and 30th April, horses are allowed on the beach at any time. From 1st May to 30th September, horse riding is prohibited on the beach between 10.30am and 6pm.

In the previous edition of Les Nouvelles, I mentioned the importance of basic vehicle checks to aid your safety on the road. As we approach summer and the road conditions have been dry for extended periods of time, broken by heavy showers and general downpours, roads can become exceptionally dangerous and creating some of the most hazardous driving conditions of the year. The first hour of rainfall after a dry spell is typically most dangerous, as the rain mixes with the accumulated oil, grease, tyre rubber and dirt forming a slick greasy road surface. Heavy rain will eventually wash contaminants away, but caution should be your watchword when taking that first trip into or back from work or town.

New Constable’s Officer Sheila Crowsley with Chef de Police, Centenier Alan Phillips

New Constable’s Officer Alexander Morton (centre) with Chef de Police, Centenier Alan Phillips, and Constable Karen Shenton Stone

We have had two nasty road traffic collisions (RTC) on Mont de la Mare St Catherine in recent weeks, in which no serious injuries were reported apart from minor grazing and shock. The most serious of the two occurred on Easter Sunday at the bottom of Mont de la Mare St Catherine at the junction with Rue du Moulin, when a larger vehicle crashed into a car at the junction and thus closing the road for quite a while whilst police investigations were carried out. Alas for the tourists on a day trip that were on

their coach to return to the ferry and not allowed to pass until the RTC was cleared. I do hope that they got to their ferry in time.

In the fine weather, the speeders are making their presence shown again, with speeding/racing vehicles on not just our Parish roads but island wide. The message does not seem to be getting to those that abuse the law by illegally racing their vehicles in the evenings and late at night, causing general disruption, annoyance and distress to people in their homes. Honorary Police patrols islandwide are taking steps to counter this activity by increasing speed detection patrols to try and identify the people responsible for this dangerous behaviour.

Unfortunately, we don’t have Automatic Number Plate Readers (ANPR) like our colleagues in the UK. We have had instances when, even when we have been in the right place at the right time, a speeding vehicle has driven by so fast that the patrol,

while recording a very high speed, could not identify the vehicle or registration plate. I do hope that our presence made them think about their actions. A licence to drive is not a right, it’s a privilege and a privilege that can be taken away and not necessarily easy to get back. If you are unfortunate enough to hear these vehicles racing and causing unnecessary noise late at night, could you make a note of how many vehicles and the time of night, we would be grateful of the information which can help us to pinpoint speed traps.

On our latest patrol, the duty team came across a driver who was in obvious distress due to intoxication and,, as we were just outside St Martin the suspect was held and breath tested, States of Jersey Police called to make the arrest and transfer to Police HQ in and duty Centenier of our neighbouring parish notified.

And finally, although recruitment of officers is looking more promising and we are just waiting for application forms to be returned from prospective applicants, we still need to hear from you.

If you are interested in what the Honorary Police do on your behalf in the Parish and you have a little time to spare, and have maybe thought about making a difference yourself, please get in touch with me for a chat.

Road Traffic Collision (RTC)

Recently retired Centenier David Burmingham (pictured with his wife Mary Le Hegarat) receiving a Certificate of Service and a gift acknowledging our appreciation for his invaluable help and commitment

Constable’s Officer Nathan Wright (pictured with his wife Angie) who was sworn in for his third term of office at the Royal Court on Friday 22nd May.

Pétanque UPDATE Jersey Girlguiding

by Barry Maindonald

Two of our St Martin Parish pétanque team members have been selected to play for Jersey this year in international competitions. This a great achievement; we are very proud of them and wish them well in the forthcoming tournaments.

Lorca, Spain

Nicky Maindonald has been selected to play in the Confédération Européenne de Pétanque singles and doubles competitions which are to be held in Lorca, Spain on 18th to 21st June. Four players from the Island will go to the competition to play men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Nicky will be playing the ladies singles, and the women’s doubles with Lorna Limbrick. The men’s team are Toby Northern and Andrew Bellamy-Burt.

Stirling, Scotland

Brian Harris has been selected to play in the Jersey team at the 2026 Home Nations competition, contested between the Pétanque Associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Jersey. The hosts this year are Scotland, and it will be held at the Stirling Pétanque Club on 8th and 9th August. Last year, the competition was held in Wales, and Jersey finished runners up to England.

Loutraki, Greece

Nicky Maindonald has been selected to play in the Confédération Européenne de Pétanque triples competition, which will be held in Loutraki, Greece from 8th to 11th October.

If you are a St Martin resident and think you may be interested in playing pétanque, for more information please contact Judy Eden on 721601 or judyedenjersey@yahoo.co.uk

by Megan Barette

3rd East Rainbows enjoyed making Easter cards for the residents of Cheval Roc and completing some giant pictures using only dots.

Meanwhile, St Saviour’s Brownies had a lovely time adopting new soft toy pets and creating personalised room for them in a shoebox. They had the added challenge of including all the things that animals might need.

Rainbows and Brownies are getting out and about around the Parish during the summer term. You may see us in St Catherine's Woods, at the Village Green or on La Rocque Beach (we know this is in Grouville)!

If you would like to add your daughter to our waiting lists or join us as a volunteer, please register your interest at www.girlguiding.org.uk

The Jersey team (left to right) Jean Stewart (sub), Nicky Maindonald (shooter), Wendy Ritzema (pointer) and Katrina Holden (middle).

Lorna Limbrick (left) and Nicky Maindonald (right) will be playing in Lorca, Spain

Brian Harris

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Diamond

by Karen White

UPCOMING

EVENTS

St Martin’s Diamond Club is an over 60s club (hence the name) and was set up by a small group of lady Parishioners who felt that whilst ladies had WI, Mother’s Union, Young Wives and Flower Club within the parish there was nothing for the menfolk, the retired gentlemen of the Parish or activities which couples could enjoy together.

The club was an immediate success. We currently have over 35 members with a good mix of couples and single people. One of the great benefits is the feeling of community and connection. When a member unfortunately is ill or loses a partner, the support network is ready made and it is so much easier to get back into mixing with other people, especially as many of our members understand what they are going through.

We organise speakers, bingo, afternoon tea out each summer and a heavily subsidised lunch out twice per year, plus Christmas and New Year parties with entertainment. Whilst speakers and activities are always well received at the monthly meetings, we all know what they have really come for - the chat, tea and homemade cakes. New members are always welcome, please do come along.

The association with the Red Cross runs deep in the psyche of Jersey people and, not least, at the Diamond Club. We still have members who remember what the five years of Occupation by the Nazi regime was like. Further, most members had parents here during the Occupation and have heard first-hand accounts. They especially recall the last year of the war when, following D-Day, the supply lines to the continent were blocked and what meagre supplies had previously got through were no longer available.

Thursday 2nd July

Speaker – Matthew Price Stories from the BBC

Thursday 6th August

Lunch outing to Maison des Landes - sign up required Meet at the Public Hall at 11.30am for 11.45am departure

Thursday 3rd September

Members’ Day Cake and Tabletop Sale

For further information or to get involved, please contact Barbara Le Troquer on 851936

chocolate. Soap had not been seen in years. The boxes also contained tinned meat, dried milk, Klim (milk spelt backwards) and many more delights which we take for granted today. There was even a song written about them (hear it on TikTok) and sung to the tune of the Quartermaster’s Store.

Every year, Channel Islanders celebrate Liberation Day on 9th May (Sark on 10th May as they were liberated a day later). Amid the fun and jollity, we at the Diamond Club always spare a thought for the Red Cross, and this year it was a privilege to organise a raffle in aid of the British Red Cross at the special Tea Party organised by the Parish Municipality of St Martin. The British Red Cross were delighted to receive the donation from our Connétable and nominated the Diamond Club as one of their ‘Supporters of the Month’. A huge thank you to the Parish team who organised such a lovely event. We continue to keep Liberation special in St Martin and the Red Cross is an important part of those commemorations.

Liberation Club

Photo Gallery

Even before this time, life was tough. My mother would tell me how flour had to be sifted because the ration might contain vermin droppings, nails or tacks, bits of string etc. and she was convinced that Jersey received the sweepings from the mill house floor. Coffee was made from, for example, ground acorns, sea water collected and dried in the sun, or if possible, boiled off on the stove to obtain salt, which was gritty due to the sand content. People were very resourceful from necessity. Bake houses were set up around the island. There was one right next door to the Rectory at the end of Gerald and Dolly Amy’s garden at Central Stores. For a small fee parishioners could bring their pot of food to be cooked communally when wood became in such short supply. The winter of 1944-45 was particularly harsh with starvation, malnutrition and desperately freezing conditions. Most trees had long been cut down for firewood, and it had become illegal to fell trees without permission, so keeping warm was really not possible.

It is hard to imagine the joy and excitement when the SS Vega delivered those precious Red Cross Parcels from the good people of Canada and New Zealand. Children had never tasted

St Martin’s Primary School

by St Martin’s Journalism Team

Year 5 States Chamber Visit

In January, Year 5 pupils from St Martin’s School visited the States Chamber to discuss the topic of Jersey’s wildlife. Each child wrote and performed a speech during the visit. Heidi Whitehead explained the history of the building and the roles of important people, including the Constables and Deputies. Everyone enjoyed listening to the speeches and thank you to all involved for making it such a memorable experience.

Mud Kitchen

At St Martin’s School, we are creating a mud kitchen area behind the school. We have installed new planters and are choosing what to plant in them to enhance this outdoor space. Our aim is to support bees, butterflies and other insects, while giving children a fun, creative area to explore.

School Disco

In February, St Martin’s School teachers and the PTA hosted a school disco for the pupils. The Headteacher, Mr Godden, joined in the fun with the children. The PTA and staff helped with drinks, food and a range of activities. Thank you to the PTA for organising such an enjoyable event and for all their hard work.

Caring Cooks

De Putron Challenge

Well done to the Year 6 pupils of St Martin’s School who participated in the De Putron Challenge. This involved a STEM challenge to build a bridge and then answer a variety of maths and general knowledge questions. They tried their hardest in all the challenges during Heat One and achieved a fourth place finish. A fantastic effort from everyone involved.

Padel Tennis Trip

Year 5 and Year 6 pupils visited Padel Tennis Jersey to take part in an hour of padel tennis. Before this, they attended weekly lessons in our school hall. The children loved the sessions and looked forward to them each week, learning some new skills. A big thank you especially to Emma and Russell from Padel Tennis Jersey for such a brilliant experience.

St Martin’s pupils have been taking part in lessons with Caring Cooks, where they have made a selection of delicious dishes, including apple crumble and banana pancakes. Many children said they found the lessons fun and creative. The food was taken home to share with family and friends. Pupils worked together to prepare their dishes.

Tree Bench Thanks

Thank you to everyone who helped create our lovely tree benches. We are very grateful on behalf of St Martin’s School.

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Confirmed Dates

Saturday 4th July at St John & Saturday 8th August at St Martin

Timings: 11am - 1pm

If you would like to contribute to future editions of “Les Nouvelles de St Martin”, please email Susan Parker at susiep99@hotmail.com or call 07797 916991

Where we’ll be:

• St John – Saturday 4th July, 11am–1pm

• St Martin – Saturday 8th August, 11am–1pm

• Grouville – August

• St Clement – September

• St Saviour – October

• St Helier – November

• St Lawrence – December

Votes for Continuity

Electors in St Martin voted for continuity with the Constable and two district Deputies retaining their seats in the States.

Rose Binet and Carolyn Labey were re-elected as Deputies, having each represented the Grouville and St Martin district for four years. Ms Labey, the outgoing Minister for International Development, also served as Deputy of Grouville between 2002 and 2022 before the new electoral districts were created.

Ms Binet received 1,846 votes to poll topper Ms Labey’s 2,379. They beat former States Member Scott Wickenden, who received 1,303.

Constable Karen Sheton Stone was returned unopposed. A total of 1,222 parishioners voted for her, with 201 putting a cross next to “None of the Candidates”.

The Best of the Rest

Meanwhile, Helen Miles topped the Senatorial poll with 15,859 votes. She has been a leading backbencher for the past four years, chairing the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel and spearheading a review of the relationship between central government and the parishes. It is her second term as an Assembly Member, having been elected a Deputy in St Brelade in 2022.

What’s your vision for Jersey, and can politicians deliver it? What’s important? Which aspects of our unique institutions and culture should we hold onto? How important is the parish system? Are you optimistic about the future? Are you happy?

We’re asking readers to answer a few questions to provide a snapshot of Jersey today. It’ll take no more than around five minutes.

It was a disastrous night for Reform Jersey, whose longstanding leader, Sam Mézec, lost his seat. Despite topping the poll is his party’s St Helier heartland, he finished tenth with 9,374 votes, 2,197 votes behind ninth placed Mary Le Hegarat. Former Education Minister Rob Ward failed in his bid to become St Helier Constable, while Raluca Kovacs lost her Deputy seat in St Saviour.

Four of the nine Senatorial seats went to women, including first-time States Member Serena Kersten Guthrie, former captain of the England netball team, who finished fifth.

There will be one other first-time Member on the Senatorial benches. Mark Boleat, founder of think tank Policy Centre Jersey and a former senior figure in the City of London, came eighth, winning a seat on his second attempt.

Alan Maclean, a former Senator and minister in the governments of Terry Le Sueur and Ian Gorst, makes a return to the Assembly. The remaining Senatorial seats went to Ian Gorst, Lyndon Farnham, Elaine Millar, Tom Binet and Mary Le Hegarat, all of whom held ministerial positions in the outgoing government.

There will be five new faces among the Constables. Steve Pallett makes a return after unseating Mike Jackson in St Brelade, Tina Palmer beat former Chief Minister John Le Fondré in St Lawrence and David Curtis ousted Kevin Lewis in St Saviour. The retirement of Simon Crowcroft in St Helier and Philip Le Sueur in Trinity opened the door to Inna Gardiner and Andy Howell respectively.

You can use the QR code to access the survey. The code will also be published on LinkedIn and Facebook on the Our Island Jersey pages. Please follow us and share the link so that we can reach as many people as possible.

Thank you and we look forward to sharing the results with you in future editions.

https://tinyurl.com/2p2k56pm

How did we do?

At the Government of Jersey, hearing about people’s experiences using our services is one of the ways we learn about what’s working, as well as where we need to improve. Let us know what went well and what we could do better. Your feedback is important to us. gov.je/feedback feedback@gov.je 01534 444444

Tell us in person or send to: Feedback, PO Box 55, e e , P

by Sophie Channing Senior Youth Worker

In May, Maufant Youth Project held their Annual General Meeting at St Martin’s Public Hall. We had 6 young members from the project helping to present the work the youth project had achieved in 2025. The young people spoke well and were confident in their perspective of their involvement in the activities and project.

We have been busy getting creative with our arts and crafts making. We explored colours and patterns to enhance the project and increase the vibrancy inside the building for users, making lots of art to put up and canvases to display. We have also been making bracelets, bookmarks, keychains, pompom animals and fruits.

With the weather getting warmer and brighter, we took the Seniors out on a trip on the minibus to St Ouen to watch the sunset. They enjoyed seeing the waves and the fresh air. They are currently organising more trips to get out and about this summer. Across all our age groups, we are consulting young people and organising trips and outings for the summer holidays based on their suggestions. Its looking like its going to be a fun-filled summer programme of activities. We are currently getting ready for our first residential trip of the year to the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Activity Centre (Crabbe) for our young helpers, workers and our Juniors.

Cooking and baking continue to be very popular at the youth project. The young people highlight what they would like to make, and I find a recipe for them. We work through budgeting and handling money, purchase the ingredients and producing the end project for all the enjoy. Some of the favourites recently have been milkshakes, brownies, waffles and bread.

Young people gain a lot from all these activities and involvement in the youth project. As part of the Jersey Youth Service, we follow a curriculum using the following headings - Identity and Belonging, Culture Community and Heritage, Health and Wellbeing, The Environment, Transitions, Economic and Financial Wellbeing and Global Citizenship.

When young people gain or learn something, we call it an outcomethese can be individual outcomes or group outcomes. We record these outcomes in our end of night recording. The outcomes recorded from the above activities mentioned have been increase in self-confidence, presentation skills, public speaking, creativity, imagination, hand-eye co-ordination, group cohesion and bonding, food hygiene, measuring, recipe reading and budgeting, among many more.

Upcoming events

Friday 5th to Sunday 7th June

Queen’s Silver Jubilee Activity Centre Crabbé Residential Trip

Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd August

St Aubin’s Fort Residential Trip

For further information about the project, please contact Sophie Channing on 07797 78287 or email sophiechanning@jys.je

Education by Stimulation

On a glorious springtime Saturday, the Jersey Trees for Life team – including a bumble bee, a ladybird, an owl and a squirrel – was in St Saviour’s Woodland for the first of its two annual children’s events, April Adventure.

Along with its autumnal equivalent, this event has proved extremely popular in recent years as parents seek ways to encourage their youngsters to engage directly with nature – something that’s become imperative in an age of technological oversaturation and a rapidly warming planet.

If nature engagement was the aim, it was certainly fulfilled. Around 140 children attended the two 90-minute sessions, each offering a host of nature-themed activities including sapling repotting, coaster art, a tree quiz and the obligatory scavenger hunt, complete with sweet incentives. All for a fiver too.

It was wonderful to see families playing together in the woodland. It was also safe to conclude that dads enjoy building dens as much as their kids do.

Although sometimes overlooked in the maelstrom of activity, education is a core part of the charity’s raison d’être. As today’s children will supersede us, it’s vital to ensure they’re engaged with nature, understanding the symbiotic relationship we share and its fundamental importance to our existence.

Jersey Trees for Life thanks everyone who contributed to the event’s success, from those who bought tickets to all the volunteers that made it happen. Thanks also go to the Parish of St Saviour for providing facilities and Honorary Police. These events really are a fantastic way to bring community together.

BaCk oN ThE AvEnUe

It’s free. Bring your own chairs, relax and settle down for the day and night parades!*

After a year away, we are delighted to return to Victoria Avenueplace where we feel the Battle of Flowers truly belongs. Following the tremendous success of the scaled down parade through Town in 2025, and after listening carefully to public feedback, we have made a number of important changes for this year’s event — not least the decision to keep both the Day and Night Parades completely free.

By returning the event to Victoria Avenue and extending the arena from Rue de Galet to Lower Park, we can safely and comfortably accommodate even larger crowds, while also providing float builders with the space needed to create the large-scale, imaginative exhibits for which the Battle of Flowers is renowned.

The Day Parade will travel from west to east, while the Night Parade will travel in the opposite direction, from east to west. The events will be single-pass parades along the southern carriageway of Victoria Avenue.

This format o ers spectators a fantastic opportunity to enjoy an immersive Battle of Flowers experience along the entire route, from Lower Park to Rue de Galet.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own chairs and settle in along either side of the parade route to enjoy the 29 spectacular floats, marching bands, and entertainers up close with pre-parade performances and live music all completely free of charge along with a wide range of food and drink outlets.

The Night Parade, taking place the following evening, will feature all floats fully illuminated, accompanied once again by bands and entertainers, this time travelling westward from the Lower Park.

Beginning at 8:45pm, spectators can look forward to a spectacular display of lights and entertainment, culminating in a breathtaking finale, details to be confirmed.

*Subject to the Baili ’s Permission

Day Parade Fri 14th Aug

Arena opens at 13:00, with pre-parade entertainment, food and drink available on the laybys between Lower Park and Rue de Galet.

Parade starts at 15:00, single pass from Rue de Galet to Lower Park, where floats will park up for viewing.

Arena closes at 18:00

Moonlight Parade Sat 15th Aug

Arena opens at 18:30, again with pre-parade entertainment, food and drink.

At sunset (approx. 21:20), the parade starts from Lower Park, all floats illuminated, and travels to Rue de Galet. This will be followed by a finale shortly after 22:00 –details yet to be confirmed.

Arena closes at 23:00.

A message from the Battle Organisers

We are committed to making the Battle of Flowers a free community event from now on and to make sure it is accessible to all.

We are very grateful for the grant funding we have already received.

However, trying to find the final £40,000 in the current financial climate has proven more than a little challenging, so in order to be able to put on the show that Islanders have come to expect, we are asking for your support.

Please help us out, anything you can give will be gratefully received – thank you.

If you want to keep Battle free, please donate what you can at www.battle.je/fundraising

Repair

by Jennifer Bridge

Café

Celebrating Jersey Repair Café’s youngest volunteers

At Jersey Repair Café, the motto is simple: “If you can wheel it or carry it, you can bring it.”

Over the years, a multitude of much-loved items have come through the doors for repair, including electrical, leather, wooden, ceramic, fabric and mechanical items.

The café has three aims: environmental, social and educational. There is a great atmosphere at the Repair Café with live music, freshly baked cake, tea and coffee, and best of all, it is a free service. There is a serious environmental aim - to keep items in use as long as possible.

In this article, we would like to celebrate our youngest volunteers and thank them for their efforts.

Ava McCoy is still at primary school and has been volunteering for three years - first helping her nana, Linda Guillemot, at the refreshment table by taking cake, tea and coffee orders. Now that Ava is a bit older, she is enjoying helping her nana at the welcome desk. Earlier this year, Ava was recognised for her volunteering in an assembly at her school. Her teacher said, “Volunteering is a brilliant way to develop confidence, independence and important life skills, and I'm so pleased that she is embracing this opportunity.” Ava’s nana, Linda, explained that she loves to see knowledge being passed onto the younger generation, and the ambience of the Repair Café is indeed lovely to experience.

Oliver Bisson got involved because his dad is one of the regular musicians who entertain at the Repair Café. Oliver enjoyed the challenge of taking ten drink orders, and commented, “Somehow, we managed to get every order correct and in good time! It feels like a good challenge and a fun time. It’s nice to get out the house on a Saturday morning.”

Keegan Carcel is volunteering as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award. He sits next to his Dad, Claude, and they work on electrical items together. He describes becoming more confident, more thoughtful about what he throws away, and more willing to talk to strangers. “It’s a great way to give back to the community,” Keegan says. “You will learn a lot from other repairers as well as share your own knowledge. I think it’s something more young people should get involved in.”

Thomas had already been doing electronics repairs at home when he volunteered with his mum, Louise, who can be found in the fabric repair section. He recently successfully completed his portable appliance testing certification, courtesy of 4Group, which sponsored four places for Repair Café volunteers on their training course. Describing his successful repair of a much-loved child’s toy, Thomas said, “It was a truly heartwarming moment”. He also paid tribute to all the other volunteers and encouraged more young people to get involved, “There are many experienced repairers willing to share their wisdom.”

The Repair Café team thank our young volunteers for their commitment, and we all look forward to giving you a warm welcome at the next Repair Café.

For more information, please see our Facebook group Jersey Repair Café www.repaircafe.org.je

Thomas shaking hands with a satisfied customer

Thomas concentrating on an electrical repair

Ava taking cake, tea and coffee orders at the refreshment table

Juste Tchiques Pensées

par Davi Mathet

Ch’t’ articl’ye ichîn, la vingt-huitième, s’sa ma dreine, auprés neuf ans qué j’crai. Ch’est p’t-être aussi bein, car i’ veint un temps qué les bouonnes idées d’veinnent difficiles à trouver et i’ y’ a un dangi qué nou c’menche à s’èrpéter!

Mais ch’est p’t-être eune chance à chârer tchiques pensées acouo eune fais. J’tais à penser l’aut’ jour ès ênormes changements qu’ i’ y’ a ieu dépis l’temps à nos grand-pathents; deux grandes dgèrres pouor en c’menchi. Quand il’ allaient à la pronm’nade ch’tait à pid, à j’va ou p’t-êt’ sus eune bike. I’ n’ y’ avait pas fort dé vaituthes, si du tout. Les batchieaux à stînme c’menchaient, mais les batchieaux à vaile ‘taient pus nombreux. Man grand-péthe disait souvent comment il aimait hardi quand san grand-péthe lé prannait au havre en Ville à dgetter les grands batchieaux à vaile.

L’êléctricité et l’téléphone avaient ‘tait dêcou’erts mais cèrtainement pas dans lus maîsons. Quand ma grand’méthe mouothit en 1954, ou n’ avait janmais ieu d’l’êléctricité dans sa maîson. San mênage dé maîson ‘tait bein difféthent! Ou n’avait janmais connu dé radio siez lyi, sans pâler dé télévision et dé téléphone.

Man grand-péthe vêtchut longtemps assez pouor vaie la télévision et vaie les hommes attèrri sus la leune! Tchi progrès! Et dans mes quatre-vingt ans, i’ y’ a ieu acouo pus dé changes; jé n’sai pas si ch’est tréjous du progrès? Nos télévisions au jour d’aniet en couleu et bein cliaires sont rein comme lé sien sus tchi mon grand-péthe èrgardait ‘Steptoe and Son’ et ‘tait bein amusé. I’ iouïyait haut comme eune chouque, tchi ‘tait p’t-être aussi bein, car il éthait p’t-être ieu un choc dé ouï tchi qu’i’ disaient!

J’ai veu les disques à 78 révolutions par minnute et pis 45 et 33, les enregrîstreurs à bobin à bandes magnétiques, les mini enregrîstreurs, les cassettes, les cassettes VHS, et les CDs et DVDs. Achteu ch’est tout des apps sus nos ordinnateurs. Et i’ n’ y’ a pas lé moindre des doutes qué nos êfants et p’tits êfants en vèrront acouo eune pus grande récolte. Dêjà lé AI est arrivé pour bein et mal, comme toute autre învention. Il est eune grande aîgue par exempl’ye dans la méd’cinne et ès hommes d’affaithes, mais malheutheusement il aîgue ès siens tchi veulent faithe toutes sortes dé mêchanceté. J’mé d’mande si les gens aniet sembl’yent d’aver mains dé respé et lus pliaingnent bein pus?

Bein seux, i’ y’ a d’autre formes dé change, par exempl’ye à la societé et à la tchultuthe, et dans nos églyises, qué j’avons tous veu. Comme nou vieillit, nou sait qué nouos jours sont nombrés, ch’est là qué les grandes tchestchions d’veinnent bein împortantes. J’ai trouvé à ches drein, un mèrveilleux moussieu au YouTube, lé Dr John Lennox, un professeur des Mathématiques et des Science Physiques, aut’fais à Oxford et Cambridge et vraîment partout l’Monde, et un apologiste Chrétien. Pour les siens tchi connaîssent ches choses-là, ieune dé ses niéches est Christine Getty tchi, auvec sén homme, a composé bein des cantiques modèrnes. Il a eune telle grande connaîsance et sagesse profonde qui délivre si douochement et cliairement qué ch’ est un vrai pliaîsi dé suivre ses discours. Il est juste un p’tit mio pus vyi qu’mé et ses crianches sont bein comme les meinnes, qu’est p’t-êt’ la raîson qué j’aime tant l’êcouter, mais j’ai lé r’quémande – chèrchiz sîmpliément à YouTube – ‘John Lennox’ et ou vèrrez tchique ou pensez.

Mais achteu, à bétot. I’ y’ étha tréjous du Jèrriais auvec nouot’ rédactrice, Susan, mais si i’ y’ a tchitch’un qu’aim’thait èrprendre ma plieunme, i’ s’sont les hardi beinv’nus.

Dr John Lennox

Just a few thoughts

by David Marett

This Jèrriais article, the 28th, will be my last one, after nine years I believe. It’s perhaps as well, because there comes a time when good ideas become difficult to find and there is a danger of repeating ourselves.

But it is perhaps an opportunity to share a few final thoughts. I was thinking the other day of the enormous changes there have been since the days of our grandparents; two world wars for one thing. When they travelled around, it had to be on foot, on horseback or on a bike. There weren’t many motor vehicles, if any at all. Steam ships were starting but sailing ships were still more numerous. My grandfather often said how much he loved it when his grandfather took him to gaze at the big sailing ships in the harbour in town. Electricity had been discovered and the telephone invented, but not in his house. When my grandmother died in 1954, she never had electricity in her house. Her housework was very different. She never had a radio or wireless as they would have called it, let alone a television or telephone.

My grandfather lived long enough to watch television and see men land on the moon! What progress! And in my eighty years there has been even more change; whether it is always progress, I’m not sure? Our television sets today, in colour and very clear, are nothing like the ones my grandfather enjoyed watching “Steptoe and Son” which he found very amusing. He was as deaf as a doorpost, which was perhaps as well, because he might have been quite shocked to hear what they were saying!

I’ve seen and heard 78 rpm records and then the 45 and 33 rpm discs, tape recordings on reelto-reel recorders, mini disc recorders, cassette tapes, VHS cassettes, CDs and DVDs. Nowadays it is all on apps on our computers. And there’s absolutely no doubt that our children and grandchildren will see a whole crop more. Already AI has arrived for good or

ill, as with all new inventions. It can be a great aid, for example in the medical and legal world, but unfortunately it also helps anyone who wishes to do all manner of mischief. I ask myself if people today seem to have less respect for others and complain a lot more.

Of course there are other forms of change, for example social and cultural and in our churches that we have all seen. As we get older and we know are days are numbered, that’s when the great questions become very important. I have found recently a wonderful gentleman on YouTube, Dr John Lennox, a former professor of Mathematics and Physical Sciences at both Oxxford and Cambridge and indeed all round the world, and a Christian apologist. For those who will understand this, one of his nieces is Christine Getty who, with her husband Keith, has composed many modern hymns. He has such a huge knowledge and profound wisdom that he delivers so gently and with such clarity that it is a real pleasure following his discourses. He is just a little older than me and his beliefs are very close to mine, which might be the reason I like listening to him so much, but I do recommend him – simply search on YouTube for John Lennox and see what you think.

But now it is goodbye. There will always be some Jèrriais in Les Nouvelles with our editor Susan, but if there is anyone who would like to take up my quill, they will be very welcome.

Jersey Farmers Markets at Le Tacheron Farm, Trinity

Something Jersey’s been missing is here and it’s worth the trip to Trinity.

Jersey Farmers Markets runs every other Saturday at Le Tacheron Farm from 10am to 2pm through to the end of September, with the next market on Saturday, 11 July

Browse fresh fruit and vegetables, locally caught seafood, cut flowers, honey, free-range eggs, meat, pastries, and freshly baked bread. Stay for the coffee and hot food made by a different chef from whatever’s seasonal and available on the day. There’s live music, farm animals to meet, loads of parking and no particular reason to rush home. Children will love it too. The farm’s rare breed animals, from pygmy goats and baby lambs to donkeys and working horses, have a way of stopping people in their tracks.

The setting is no coincidence. Le Tacheron, whose name means ‘team’ in Jèrriais, is one of Jersey’s most distinctive working farms. Growing a range of cereals including spelt, barley, rye, and oats, milling its own flour on site, and baking its own bread, it’s a place that takes field-to-fork seriously. Around it, a

rotating cast of bakers, farmers, fishers, butchers and artisan producers sets up every other Saturday, alongside the Huddle Van, a mobile education hub hosting talks and workshops on food, health and growing. “We want to inspire and encourage others to see themselves as an important part of agriculture and this community,” says Charles Le Maistre. That spirit of open invitation is exactly what this market is built on.

Behind the market is a simple principle: local producers deserve a direct route to their community, where they keep their profits and build their businesses with genuine support behind them. This is about making Jersey’s incredible producers more visible, and rebuilding food resilience on the island in a way that lasts beyond a single season.

Those living in St Martin’s, Maufant, or Victoria Village are encouraged to walk or cycle. As a thank you, anyone arriving on foot or by bike will receive a free Jersey Wonder.

The event is proudly sponsored by Butterfield.

Follow @jerseyfarmersmarkets on Facebook and Instagram for more details.

Every other Saturday 10:00am–2:00pm

Free entry & on-site parking

What3words: baggage.factories.pecans. Bus routes: Route 3, 21, 23 and 33.

Jersey Farmers Markets, Le Tacheron Farm, Rue de Dielament, Trinity JE3 5HX.

St Martin Household recycling collection 2026

This guide explains how to use the St Martin household recycling collection. A collection planner is included so you know when your recycling will be collected. Every home in St Martin receives a recycling collection, in addition to the existing rubbish and glass collections. Recycling collections will be on the same day as your glass collection.

For the month of June Glass & Recycling Thursday 18 Jun 2026 Friday 19 Jun 2026

For the month of July Glass & Recycling Thursday 16 Jul 2026 Friday 17 Jul 2026

For the month of August Glass & Recycling Thursday 20 Aug 2026 Friday 21 Aug 2026 For the month of September Glass & Recycling Thursday 17 Sep 2026 Friday 18 Sep 2026 For the month of October Glass & Recycling Thursday 15 Oct 2026 Friday 16 Oct 2026

For the month of November Glass & Recycling Thursday 19 Nov 2026 Friday 20 Nov 2026

For the month of December Glass & Recycling Thursday 17 Dec 2026 Friday 18 Dec 2026 Glass and Recycling Collections 2026

For collection enquiries, contact GermBusters Ltd. Tel (01534) 869918 | Email info@germbusters.je All refuse, recycling and glass out before 5am please.

For more information, visit stmartin.je

Recycling in Jersey MythBusters

Myth

FAct !

All recycling collected in Jersey just gets burned in the Energy Recovery Facility.

Items sent for recycling through Parish and Government of Jersey collections are not incinerated Only contaminated materials are diverted for energy recovery.

Myth Recycling and general refuse are collected by the same truck, and get mixed together.

FAct !

Some collections rounds use the same type of vehicle , but the loads are kept separate to ensure proper recycling.

Myth You don’t need to rinse out food containers or bottles before recycling.

FAct !

Dirty items can contaminate the whole collection, making them unrecyclable . Always rinse before recycling!

Myth You should leave metal lids on jars and bottles

FAct !

Myth Glass can go in general waste orenergy recovery.

FAct !

Myth

FAct !

be recycled.

Metal lids and tops should be removed and placed with your household metal recycling. Glass can damage the Energy Recovery Facility , leading to costly repairs. It must be recycled properly.

What Was but What If…

PART 4

Compiled by Peter Tabb

Extracted from We

Shall Eat Grass

A compendium of myths, mysteries and minutiae of the only German Occupation of British Soil.

On Monday 7 May, prime minister Winston Churchill announced on the BBC radio the unconditional surrender of all German forces and ended his announcement with

When the Royal Navy destroyers HMS Bulldog and Beagle arrived off Guernsey at 14.00 hrs (Double British Summer Time) on 8 May with a party under the joint command of Rear-Admiral G.C. Stuart DSO DSC and Brigadier A.E. Snow OBE and expecting an unconditional German surrender, Kapitänleutnant Armin Zimmermann, representing the Channel Islands commander-in-chief Vizeadmiral zur

See Friedrich Hüffmeier (conveyed to the rendezvous by a battered and rusting minesweeper and who gave the Nazi salute when boarding Bulldog), advised that he was empowered only to discuss terms for an armistice that would commence at 00.01 hrs the following day, not sign any unconditional surrender. What’s more, the proximity of the two British warships was a ‘provocative act’ and they would be fired upon if they did not go away.

Zimmerman was detained for an hour while Admiral Stuart and Brigadier Snow contacted GOC Southern Command in Plymouth for instructions and after Zimmerman had disembarked, Bulldog’s captain, a grizzled commander who’d spent much of the war escorting trans-Atlantic convoys, exclaimed, ‘To hell with that. These beggars have surrendered…’ and with both the Admiral and Brigadier compliant, ordered his vessel and Beagle to heave to.

the words “…and our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed today.” This last was greeted with cheers and applause in the Royal Square since Bailiff Alexander Coutanche, tipped off about Churchill’s broadcast had arranged for loudspeakers to be set up around the square. At the fringe of the cheering crowd stood several German soldiers, ignoring what, in any other circumstance, would have been a crowd that needed dispersing.

We all know that in fact it was almost two more days before the German forces formally surrendered but what if…

At 16.45 precisely, a 12 inch shell screamed over Bulldog and splashed into the sea 50 yards ahead of the destroyer. Thirty seconds later a similar eruption took place 50 yards astern.

‘The mad beggars!’ the captain shouted. ‘Sound “Action Stations”. His First Lieutenant pressed the large red button, commenting drily, ‘They’re bracketing us…’ as similar eruptions took place ahead and astern of Beagle. ‘They’s got a four gun 12-inch battery inland and they’re radar guided…’ He recalled the notes he had browsed before sailing. The notes gave precise details of the ordinance in place on both islands compiled by RAF reconnaissance and that the Mirus 12-inch battery was manned by officers and men of the Kriegsmarine. ‘Any single shot can sink us…”

‘Guns!’ The Gunnery Officer was fastening his helmet. ‘Prepare to open fire…’ He leaned over the speaking tube to the wheelhouse below. “Ring Full ahead and start zigzagging. Flags, call Beagle and tell him to hop it…”

“Fire on what, sir?’ The First Lieutenant questioned. ‘The battery is inland. We have no idea where it is nor even what’s actually facing us on the coast since these are all protected by bunkers…” He pointed to the coast where bunkers and towers were evident. He didn’t add quite what the effect of their 4.7-inch guns would be and in the coastal area there would be civilians. Wryly he thought of Nelson’s instruction that ships should never take on land-based batteries.

“Belay that order,” the captain snapped. As ever his First Lieutenant, a “Wavy Navy” officer who had been a lawyer before the war, was right. What the hell could they fire upon?

Bulldog surged ahead, heading out to sea with Beagle in her wake as eruptions occurred just where they had been hove to just moments before.

HMS Beagle British Destroyer

‘Their guns have a range of more than 20 miles…” the First Lieutenant commented to the Gunnery Officer who was literally twitching his thumbs..

‘Good God…’

‘Let’s hope so. We might be meeting Him soon…”

Another 12-inch shell exploded in the destroyer’s wake, shaking the entire vessel. Bulldog leaned into a sharp turn as the slim vessel zigzagged. Beagle was heading away from her consort, also zigzagging wildly, opening the gap between them. Suddenly Beagle’s bridge structure dissolved in a fiery blast, so violent that it rolled the ship onto her beam ends.

‘Good God, Beagle’s bought it!’ as another 12-inch shell landed on the stricken destroyer literally blowing the vessel apart. For a moment or two the bow and stern remained above the surface before sinking in a welter of smoke, oil fuel and loose deck fittings.

Despite the risk, the captain ordered Bulldog to circle the widening circle of fuel and wreckage. ‘She’s gone with everyone in her…” the Gunnery Officer muttered as Bulldog heeled into a tight turn. ‘Keep an eye out for survivors,’ the captain barked into the Tannoy. “And let’s hope those beggars don’t go for the double!’

But there were no survivors. Beagle, Bulldog’s sister B-Class destroyer and regular companion on convoys, had been destroyed by a single very accurate salvo.

‘Resume zigzagging. Let’s get out of here. Those beggars will pay for this.”

Bulldog headed out to sea eventually heaving to near the western end of the Minquiers reef where the Roches-

Douvres lighthouse had stood until being destroyed by the Germans in 1944.

‘What do we do now, sir?’ the Gunnery Officer asked. ‘We stand down, that’s what and await instructions.’

They had remained hove to for almost half an hour when a Telegraphist appeared with a message from the GOC Southern Command advising that the new German Führer, Grossadmiral-zur-See Karl Doenitz had given the order to all the German forces to surrender and they were all complying, including the CinC of the German forces in the Channel Islands.

The Captain rang down to the wheelhouse. ‘Set a course to take us back to Guernsey.’ He turned to the officers on the bridge. ‘I’d like to see the madman who opened fire on us and sank Beagle brought aboard in bloody chains…’

Once again the foregoing is a work of fiction although Bulldog and Beagle did retire out of range when so suggested by Kapitänleutnant Zimmerman. It did not happen but could it have done.

“We Shall Eat Grass” will be published later this year.

Adm Huffmeier being escorted from his Guernsey headquarters to HMS Faulkener

St Martin’s Church

by Reverend Pete Stone

The world can feel a bit of a mad, bad place at times. With wars and cost of living worries and the constant stream of news updates at our fingertips, it’s no wonder many of us feel anxious - not just about the future, but sometimes about getting through the week.

Ioften find myself thinking of some words from Jesus, “Do not worry.” I sometimes wonder what he really meant. Was he suggesting some kind of serene calm to wash over us? Because that isn’t always my experience.

Most of us won’t solve global conflicts or influence economies. But we do have a say in the small, everyday moments close to home.

Growing up, one of the first posters I had on my wall was of Belinda Carlisle of “Heaven is a Place on Earth” fame. Partly I loved the song and partly, if I’m honest, it was a teenage crush. But there was something else too - she had red hair, like I did back then. Instead of the usual nicknames, here was someone confident and unapologetically herself. It didn’t change what others said overnight, but it changed how I carried myself. I walked a little differently.

If something as simple as that can make a difference, what about a smile? A kind word? Letting someone out at a junction? Giving a little extra to a good cause, or taking a moment to notice someone who might otherwise be overlooked? Individually, these things might seem small in the face of the world’s problems. But they matter. They shift our focus from what we can’t control to what we can. They bring a glimpse of something better into the here and now.

There’s a story about a man walking along a beach covered in stranded starfish. He sees a child picking them up and throwing them back into the sea, one by one. “There are thousands,” the man says. “You’re not making a difference.” The child tosses another into the water and replies, “It made a difference to that one.”

When Jesus first spoke those words, people had plenty to worry about. Food and clothing weren’t guaranteed. Life was uncertain. They were living under Roman occupation, and for many of the earliest readers, persecution wasn’t far away. Worry wasn’t theoretical - it was part of daily life. So it seems unlikely that he was simply saying, “Switch off your feelings.” Instead, he spoke about seeking God’s kingdom. That might sound like a religious phrase, but at its heart it’s about something practical: shaping a way of living that reflects hope, justice and care for others. In the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “your kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven.”

Maybe the invitation is less about suppressing worry and more about shifting our focus. There is so much we cannot control.

Church Diary

Perhaps that’s where we begin. Not by fixing everything, but by doing what we can, where we are. And maybe that’s how a bit of heaven finds its way into the world.

You are always welcome to pop into St Martin’s Church during the day, for a quiet moment of reflection or prayer. Every Sunday, we meet at 8am and 10am, you will be very welcome to join us. Below are our extra services over the next few months.

JULY

Sun 5th 6pm St Martin’s Day Evensong with Cantabile

AUGUST

Sun 2nd 10am Lammas Service (Thanksgiving for the 1st Loaf of the Harvest) at Bel Val Farm

Sun 23rd 4pm Hymns and Pimms in the Rectory Garden (or in the Church if wet weather)

Photo: Cetin Katirci

BOOKMARKS

The Jersey Norman Story 1,000 Years

Price £9.95 / By Jean Treleven and Geraint Jennings

When the Normandy Region made the decision to celebrate 1,000 years of Norman heritage for the Millennium of the birth of William the Conqueror, Jersey just had to be involved as our loyalty to the Dukes of Normandy stretched from 933 to 1259, continued with the Kings of England and elements of that strong Norman heritage have continued to the present day.

A new publication; The Jersey Norman Story 1,000 years/ L’Histouaithe Nouormande dé Jèrri 1,000 ans by local historian Jean Treleven and Geraint Jennings gives the background to our Norman links along with evidence of Norman heritage that is retained in the island today.

It is bilingual, in both Jèrriais and English, a testament to the strong link with Jersey’s Norman past represented by the Island’s Norman language. It gives students and others the opportunity to discover some of the rich heritage contained within that language as well as discover the Norman story.

Available from:

• The Maison de la Normandie et de la Manche

• The Société Jersiaise bookshop

• The Museum Bookshop

• The Harbour Gallery.

£9.99 / By Robyn Conway

This Autumn, we are excited to be publishing a brand new Jèrriais children’s nursery rhyme book entitled Rînmes Rêjouis.

Following the success of the Jèrriais translations of Lé Gruffalo, D’vinnâle dé Marmoûset (Monkey Puzzle), La Maîson Crêpie et Squouîzie (A Squash and a Squeeze) and La Carpéleuse Hardi Affanmée (The Very Hungry Caterpillar), this beautifully illustrated original book is designed to encourage parents and carers to explore Jersey’s native language with younger children.

A History of Shooting in Jersey

Price £10 / By David

Dorgan

This is the story of the sport of shooting in Jersey.

Jersey’s shooting origins began with the need to defend the island and the creation of the Jersey Militia in 1337. The Militia were involved from bows to rifle shooting.

The book begins with the Militia Years from 1337 to 1860. In 1861 and civilian shooting begins. The ranges are covered, together with over ninty names of shooting clubs and associations. The Occupation stopped shooting in 1940.

The next section is devoted to clubs from all areas of shooting from 1945 up to 2026 covering their history, locations and ranges.

Jersey-made guns and gun makers together with some recent gun retailers and an outline of the Firearms Laws from 1879 to the present showing the low nunber of crimes and offences committed, together with some of the strictest firearms regulations anywhere in the world. The Island’s unique honorary sytem of licensing when compared with the UK, is almost world beating in its effectiveness.

There is a listing of Jersey Government Gold and Silver Medal winners from 1863 to1913 with placing names.

Available from:

• Amazon.co.uk, £10.00 ISBN 9781036960834

• The Société Jersiaise

• The book shop in the Central Market

The book launch event will take place as part of the Jersey Festival of Words.

Date: Sunday 20th September

Time: 10am-12pm

Where: Jersey Zoo

Age: Suitable for 0-6 year olds

Please join members of the Jèrriais Teaching Service for themed art and craft activities, facepainting and group singing of nursery rhymes in English and Jèrriais. These activities are free of charge, but normal Zoo admission fees apply. A free copy of the book will be gifted to every family attending.

Captain Bryan 1877

Cantabile

by Director of Music, Graham Caldbeck

Cantabile is looking forward to leading the annual Patronal Festival Choral Evensong on Sunday 5th July at 6pm in St Martin’s Parish Church, where the choir is privileged to rehearse each week.

This Patronal service celebrates the second annual feast day of St Martin of Tours which marks the saint’s ordination and the removal of his remains to Tours Cathedral.

Cantabile, directed by Graham Caldbeck, will be joined by the Rector’s wife, Anne Stone, on cornet and Michael Wynne, Director of Music at St Luke’s, will play the organ and accompany the choir. The Rector of St Martin’s Church, Rev Pete Stone will give the sermon and Rev Martin Dryden from St Clement’s Parish Church and member of Cantabile, is the Cantor.

The choral music to be performed is attractively wide-ranging. From the 17th Century, the choir performs music by Batten and Smith; Walmisley from the 19th Century and Vaughan Williams from the 20th Century.

From about 5.40 pm, Michael Wynne will play organ music by Lübeck, Lefébure-Wély, Campbell and Peeters.

Four well-known hymns are included for everyone to sing.

All present are invited to join the choir for a glass of wine and nibbles after the service.

Everyone is welcome – please join us for this special service.

Catholic Women’s League

by Pat Guegan

The Catholic Women’s League started our 2026 fundraising with an Easter Hamper Raffle, which was very popular again this year.

We plan to purchase book tokens to donate to Every Child Our Future (ECOF) which they will distribute so that the children can choose books of their own to purchase. The charity supports children to develop their reading skills by sending volunteers into primary schools. They also hold out-of-school sessions at the Town Library.

A homemade Cake Sale was also held recently to raise much needed funds.

We are looking forward to welcoming Susie Richardson, CEO of Jersey Cares to speak to us about her new role. At Christmas, 120 angels were made and donated with a Christmas message from the CWL to go in the shoe boxes they sent out.

At our recent AGM, a new Chairperson and Treasurer were elected and our Secretary was re-elected.

We continue to support the Anglican and Methodist Churches with hosting the Lenten Lunches in St Martin. Our share of the fundraising this year is being donated to Friends of the Holy Land.

We look forward to continuing our programme of fundraising and social activities, and there will be two opportunities to join gatherings in England where we can meet up with members of other Sections.

We continue to seek new members, all enquiries welcome. Please contact Pat Guegan on 07797 724054 or by email at gueganfamily@gmail.com

THE VISITES DU BRANCHAGE AND VISITES ROYALE CHECK BEFORE YOU CHOP

The Visites du Branchage are when the Parish authorities visit and check the Parish roads and footpaths to ensure they are safe for all who use them.

In addition, senior members of the Royal Court, including the Bailiff conduct a “Visite Royale” to two of the 12 parishes each year.

This year it is the turn of St Lawrence and St Martin.

For those who care for Jersey’s wildlife this is a time of stress, call outs and rescue missions.

There is a requirement for vegetation that overhangs roads and footpaths (including pavements) to be cut so that there is a clearance overhead of 12 feet on public roads and 8 feet on footpaths.

Before occupiers of property bordering public roads and footpaths begin contacting gardening contractors, or readying strimmers to begin the task themselves A PLEA on behalf of our diminishing wildlife - CHECK BEFORE YOU CHOP!

The overgrown banques, hedgerows. fosses, and leafy trees provide homes to our birds, mammals, reptiles and insects.

The housing shortage in Jersey extends to the natural world as well and building more homes for humans means a further loss of habitat for our precious wild creatures.

If you are a landowner, tenant, parish official, or farmer who subcontracts the work to others, please brief your contractors the best way to conduct a “good” branchage.

DO NOT EVER cut banques down to bare earth, there is no requirement in law to do so. If using a flailer, alter the blade accordingly.

• During the June/July branchage, cut only the sides of the banque to a minimum height of 10 cm.

• Leave the vegetation uncut on the top of the banque, as long as it does not overhang the road.

• On the second branchage in September, cut the sides and top of the banque to a minimum height of 10 cm.

• Leave tussocks of vegetation for wildlife where possible.

• Remove all cuttings; do not allow them to cover the banque or fall into the road.

• Do leave some vegetation around the base of trees and hedgerows and check carefully for hedgehog nests on the ground and birds’ nests in trees and hedgerows BEFORE beginning work.

• Use your boot, a gloved hand, a rake or a stick to gently move any creatures out of harm’s way.

At this time of the year our wildlife is rearing its young. Hedgehog mothers are nursing their hoglets and if she is killed or injured, or the nest is disturbed, the babies are unlikely to survive. This adds to the drastically declining population of our hedgehogs.

PLEASE help us to retain what we have before it’s too late.

If you find an injured hedgehog please telephone Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group on 01534 734340, or contact us via our website jerseyhedgehogs.co.uk

For other injured wildlife please contact the JSPCA on 01534 724331

Dates for the Visites are listed on the Parish websites and take place between 26th June and 10th July, and again between 3rd and 18th September 2026

Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group, White Lodge, Le Chemin des Moulins, St Helier, JE2 4ZR e-mail: jerseyhedgehogs@hotmail.co.uk

Strimmed hedgehog with a head injury sewn up by the vet Hoglet found in a disturbed nest site

by David Marett

Methodist Church

As I reflected in my last report, the Easter season is perhaps the most cherished and important for the church, and this year did not disappoint.

The relatively solemn period of Lent was an opportunity - only relieved by the quiet joy of Mothering Sunday mid-stream, when all our ladies receive posies from the children – then on to reflect on the coming Holy Week with all its roller coaster of emotions – a triumphal but peaceful entry of our Lord into Jerusalem on the back of a colt, demonstrating that peaceful intent. But then a week of troubles, particularly with the conservative ecclesiastical authorities, who just could not see beyond their laws and regulations, except for one or two notable exceptions. The events of Maundy Thursday, which puzzled even his closest followers.

A few of us greatly appreciated a four-week course at St Helier meditating around some beautiful abstract paintings by local artist, Carmela Knight, one of which you can see here. With music and prayers there was much to think about.

On Maundy Thursday, we shared in a solemn but lovely two-part service at Ebenezer, with Rev’d Pete and Rev’d Keith, which took us through from the Last Supper and Light into Darkness. Then we had the remembrance of the Good Friday events of the Crucifixion in a service at St Helier Methodist Centre before we could burst out into the joy of the Resurrection on Easter Day, with our Chapel beautifully decorated once more. We now look forward to the Church’s ‘birthday’ at Whitsun.

Meanwhile, our Messy Church continues to flourish with an average of 15 very enthusiastic children attending monthly. Our thanks to a dedicated staff, who have survived the loss of their inspirational leader/coordinator, Helen Westcott, who has had to return to the mainland with her husband. Helen still keeps in touch via the internet at our monthly Bible Studies. It was good to hear latterly that she has now settled well into a new spiritual home.

We now look forward to a relatively new Circuit initiative “Ignite” – nothing to do with burning down churches! – which is the

and practical plan to fulfil our vision and mission

Sadly, we shall soon be saying goodbye to our Circuit and District Superintendent, Rev’d Dawn Saunders in July. Dawn has done a very good job of moving us on in a very positive way. Not in the best of health, we thank her and wish her well as she moves on. She will not be replaced, which puts extra pressure on our two remaining ministers in the Island. I am sure they will have good support from lay staff and congregations alike – “the harvest is great, but the labourers are few.”

We also wish our own Minister, Rev’d Keith Sandow, every blessing in the next few months while he ‘recharges the batteries’, while on sabbatical.

latest stage

as a Circuit towards a very different future. We had a very productive seminar at Ebenezer recently.

Rev’d Keith Sandow

Rev Dawn Saunders

Carmela’s painting - “Hope”

Circuit Prebutal and Lay Staff

Church Gouray

by Reverend Jeff Wattley

One of the Island’s most prominent and generous philanthropists, Sir David Kirch, passed away at the end of February after several years of ill health. I had the privilege of conducting his funeral at Gouray Church on 9th April.

Sir David wrote an autobiography several years ago which he titled, ‘My Lease of Life’. In the introduction to the book, he made a profound and deeply spiritual observation when he wrote,

“When I returned to Jersey following my month-long treatment [for cancer] in the UK in 2012, what I had been through started to affect me. I realised that, although I have always been a great believer in freehold properties---actually owning them outright--one only ever has a lease on life. You only have it for a period and it is all about doing what you can to make the best of your allotted span”.

“One only ever has a lease on life” - ultimately, we do not own or control our own lease on life. Moreover, we cannot know for certain the length of the lease. This realisation spurred Sir David on to make the very best of the unexpired years of his allotted span, not by accumulating more and more, but by seeing how much he could be a blessing to others, and especially the elderly, through extraordinary acts of generosity and kindness.

Now, of course, being an instinctive entrepreneur he continued to use his business head and so in large measure he was able to build up his Trust Fund even as he was giving his money away, but he had resolved in his mind that giving, whether £150 annual gifts to the over 70s, for which thousands of people across the Island are profoundly grateful, or creating a well-funded Trust Fund in his own name, was the legacy he wished to leave behind.

The Bible reading chosen for the funeral service was from Acts 20 and included the words written by the Apostle Paul, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words that the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive”

We would all do well to follow the wisdom from the introduction to Sir David’s book, “One only ever has a lease on life. You only have it for a period and it is all about doing what you can to make the best of your allotted span.”

Regular services each week at 8.30am and 10.30am.

Gorey Boat Blessing 2026

Gorey Boat Owners Association and Gouray Church welcome you

Sunday 5th July 2026

11.00am

Gorey Harbour

Photo

Sir David Kirch

The work of the Jersey Care Commission is expanding. Chief Inspector Becky Sherrington answers key questions about what these changes mean for Islanders

EXPANSION OF REGULATED CARE SERVICES IN JERSEY

What is changing in the regulation of care services in Jersey, and what does this expansion mean?

Following changes to the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014, our remit has expanded to include the regulation of hospital services, ambulance services and Government-provided mental health services. Certain laser clinics will also be inspected under the updated Law.

This means these services will be subject to independent regulation against a Single Assessment Framework, a set of clearly defined standards that outline how care services should be provided. The changes reflect a commitment to ensuring Islander’s receive health and social care services that are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

What’s the purpose of independent regulation, and how does it help improve care?

Independent regulation helps provide Islanders with assurance about the quality, safety and effectiveness of health and social care services, while supporting continual improvement in care quality. We help achieve this by setting clear, evidence-based standards and assessing services fairly, proportionately and transparently through inspections and ongoing oversight.

What services are included in the expanded regulation, and what is not?

The expanded Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014 includes the independent regulation of hospital services, ambulance services, Government provided mental health services and certain laser clinics.

Ambulance services provided by charitable organisations, including St John Ambulance Jersey and Normandy Rescue, also fall within the updated Law. Private mental health services are not included. Decisions about which services are regulated are made through the legislative process and voted on by the States Assembly. The Commission’s role is to apply the Law as enacted.

What

happens next, and when will inspections begin?

Following the amendments to the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law in November 2025, the Law was enacted on 6 April 2026. Newly regulated services now have until 6 October 2026 to register with us.

We’re preparing to carry out our first onsite inspection with a blend of local and external inspectors in 2027.

How will hospital services be inspected?

Hospital services won’t be inspected all at once. Because of the size and complexity of the hospital, inspections will be introduced in a phased, proportionate way, focusing on defined service areas or “blocks” over time, including medicine, surgery, outpatients, women and children’s services and mental health. This approach will also help protect patient safety and minimise disruption to patients, staff and day-to-day clinical activity.

Who

carries out inspections? Will specialist expertise be used?

Inspections are carried out by our experienced team of Regulation Officers, who have a wide range of professional experience from across health and social care, including frontline care, clinical, leadership and management roles. To inspect the hospital, ambulance and mental health services, specialist knowledge will also be required, so inspections will also be supported by external senior clinical advisers and subject matter experts, including specialists from other regulators such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC), professional bodies including the Royal College of Psychiatrists and other relevant organisations.

What happens during an inspection?

During an inspection, a range of evidence is gathered from different sources. The voice of service users and their families or carers is an important part of how we continually improve services, alongside the views of staff, leaders, on-site observations and the review of records and systems.

At the end of the inspection, initial feedback is shared with service leaders before an inspection report is produced setting out findings, including both good practice and areas for improvement. All inspection reports are published on the Jersey Care Commission website.

What happens after an inspection?

After each inspection, we publish an inspection report on our website. We don’t use ratings or judgement scores. Instead, reports provide clear, evidence-based findings that support transparency, accountability and continual improvement. The reports identify what is going well and areas of good practice as well as areas for improvement. Reports clearly set out, if required, the actions needed and timescales for improvement, with progress monitored through ongoing oversight.

For more information visit carecommission.je

Becky Sherrington Jersey Care Commission Chief Inspector

A QUIET INVASION!

(And it’s not just from

Asian Hornets)

We are under attack! Not from our neighbours, but from a quieter, more insidious invasive threat: non native plants, animals, and even pathogens such as viruses and fungi.

These invasions often go unnoticed at first, yet their effects can be far reaching—damaging our environment, disrupting our economy, and even affecting public health and our society. When a non native species spreads and causes harm, it is classified as an invasive non native species (INNS).

The pathways by which these species arrive are varied, but human activity is a key factor. Through global trade and travel, we have become highly effective at moving organisms around the world. Sometimes introductions are deliberate, such as ornamental plants or exotic pets. More often, however, they are accidental, with species hitchhiking as stowaways on freight, as a contaminant on imported goods or even escaping from captivity.

In Jersey, responsibility for protecting the island from INNS lies with the Biosecurity Team within Natural Environment, often working closely with other departments, including Regulation, the States Vets, and Customs and Excise, as well as with landowners, volunteer groups, the public, and neighbouring jurisdictions. This work is ongoing, dynamic, and collaborative, focused on identifying threats and managing those that pose the greatest risks—both now and in the future.

Some examples of INNS that are under active management in Jersey are the Asian or yellow legged hornet (Vespa velutina), Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), purple dew plant (Disphyma crassifolium), sour fig (Carpobrotus edulis), and the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa). Others, not yet established but considered likely threats, include the coypu (Myocastor coypus), the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), and the rose ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri), amongst many others.

With so many species that could pose a threat there has been a structured process of risk assessment. This began with compiling lists of INNS already present and those likely to arrive in the future. Given the similarities between the islands’ environments and shared risks, collaboration with colleagues in the Bailiwick of Guernsey has been both practical and valuable, contributing to the concept of a “Biosecure Bailiwick.”

Each of the species were assessed based on factors such as its potential rate of spread, ecological and economic impact, and the pathways by which it might be introduced. For high risk species, the next step was to determine whether management is feasible and where it is, strategies are developed, ranging from eradication to long term control, often in partnership with relevant stakeholders. For species not yet present, there are contingency plans focus on prevention, early detection, monitoring, and rapid response.

The public plays a vital role in this effort. You can help by responsibly managing non native plants and animals, such as disposing of garden waste correctly or ensuring unwanted pets are not released into the wild. Staying alert and reporting suspicious sightings is equally important. If you notice a species of concern, you can contact the Biosecurity Team at invasives@ gov.je providing a photograph and location details.

By working together, Jersey can reduce the risks posed by invasive non native species and help protect the island’s unique natural environment.

By Alastair Christie BSc

(Senior Scientific Officer – Invasive Species, Asian Hornet & Japanese Knotweed Coordinator)

Ring-necked Parakeet (photo: Carole Devillers)

Coypu (photo: Non-Native Species Secretariat)

Asian Hornet (photo: Alastair Christie)

Asian Tiger mosquito (photo: Alastair Christie)

Sour fig (photo: Alastair Christie)

St Martin’s Flower Club

Our March demonstrator was Arnaud Metairie, an award winning French floral designer now based in the Cotswolds. Arnaud is known for his humorous commentary and creative flair, and he didn’t disappoint.

His arrangements called ‘Floral Fantasy’ were beautifully artistic and the flowers he used were gorgeous. One arrangement with pink phalaenopsis (orchids) and peach and cream roses on a large circular frame covered with similar coloured ribbons was really outstanding. Arnaud also filled two large urns with strelitzias, peach roses, gorgeous cream and pink anthuriums and purple stocks, which looked lovely.

April saw a visit from Sue Wall, a Jersey girl who now lives in the South of England. Her title was ‘Reuse and Recycle’ and she had been very inventive with her containers, one being a textured lampshade turned upside down with a dish fitted inside to hold the flowers. Another was a toilet brush holder with a platform 9 3/4 poster on it with a metal frame holding the lid to put the flowers in along with some old-fashioned medicine bottles with labels saying things like ‘bat ears’ and ‘owls’ eyes’ along with a sorting hat in a Harry Potter themed arrangement.

Sue also judged our competition held every April for the Hilary Stentiford Trophy, the title of which was ‘Burst into Spring’. This was won by Phillipa Romeril with a delightful arrangement of bluebells bursting through the small spring flowers and foliage below.

In May, we hosted Carole Stables, a talented florist from Hampshire whose theme was ‘As if by magic’. She did a very varied selection of arrangements evoking magical moments in her life, including one that was a huge ring of openly woven basketwork that was the size of a lifebuoy to which she attached 8 heads of gorgeous pink orchids, each with an aspidistra leaf and some white chiffon. Carole then produced a large silver glitter ball to put inside the ring which we all knew represented

by Kay Laverty

the day she went to Strictly Come Dancing! It looked spectacular and, at the end of her demonstration, 8 lucky raffle ticket winners were given a beautifully arranged orchid to take home.

Everyone is welcome to attend our meetings. The first meeting is free of charge, and thereafter it is £8 per meeting, which includes tea and biscuits. For details, please contact Kay Laverty on 853041 or 07797 760536

Carole Stables with her ‘As if by magic’ arrangements

Sue Wall presenting the trophy to Phillipa

Sue Wall Arnaud Metairie

‘Floral Fantasy’ by Arnaud Metairie

St Martin’s Women’s Institute

by Anne Pasturel

Sorrow and joy are opposite sides of the coin. We were sorry to learn of the death of Nancy Thelland earlier in the year. It was she who gave a choice of designs for the lovely parish tablecloth. Our talented needleworkers chose one which they then interpreted so well. On the flip side of the coin, members were delighted to learn of the marriage of one of our members.

Our February speaker was Richard Nunn, Captain of the local Salvation Army corps. From a Salvation Army bonnet, he took items to illustrate his talk about the work of this excellent organisation. They work in over 100 countries and are now ministering in China, having been accepted by the government there.

March was our Institute’s AGM - all went smoothly and I am delighted to report four new members for the committee. We presented certificates won by members at the Spring Eisteddfod; there were 19 given out to our talented members. Jill Campbell is donating one of her award-winning quilts for us to raffle in aid of Dementia Jersey.

The speaker in April was the head of Samaritans in Jersey, and what an interesting and informative talk it was. She asked for questions as we went along which made for an interactive evening and again good feedback from our members.

May is Resolution month in the WI calendar. From the host of resolutions sent to our national headquarters in London, the two which came top in a vote by members were "Homelessness

among Women" and "The provision of more Public Toilets". The vote from our members was in favour of these resolutions. These votes will be added to the national vote and if carried will be put forward to the U K government to implement action. The WI will also mount campaigns about these issues.

May is also the month when our local Federation holds our local AGM. Sadly, the speaker who should have been our national Chairman Jeryl Stone was indisposed. Our Board did an excellent job of finding replacements at such short notice and we welcomed two members of the British Legion Women's Section, who were excellent.

I was recently at a U3A talk about all things bookish. The speakers were two ladies from a book club, the CEO of charity Every Child Our Future, and the Headteacher of Rouge Bouillon school. They were all interesting, but the most affecting one was the headteacher who told us the number of different languages they have in the school, and how some children are without books at home. To cut a long story short, at our April meeting I asked our members if we could help, and at our May meeting we collected 60 books to donate. I suspect that number will increase in the coming months.

Our monthly Canasta, Book Group and Craft afternoons continue and are enjoyed by those who attend.

Because of the upcoming election we cannot have the Public Hall for our meeting in June. We are relocating to the Hotel Ambassadeur for an afternoon meeting with surprises.

We would welcome new members, especially from the Parish. Three visits are available before a decision is made about joining. Please contact Anne on 730409 or 07797 757679 or by email at apasturel@live.co.uk

Branch director of Jersey Samaritans, Tarnia Snepp

Our talented Eisteddfod winners

by Susan Parker

L’Office du Jèrriais is working hard around the Island to revitalise our native language. Learner numbers of all ages are increasing, and there is a quiet realisation that Jèrriais is something which makes our Island truly distinctive.

L’Assembliée d’Jèrriais (Jèrriais Assembly) celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, having been formed in 1951 to hold meetings and publish items in our native language. The group began with 27 people and membership grew over the years to almost five hundred. Around 40 people still attend regularly, and new members who are learners or supporters of Jèrriais are very welcome.

While there were still farmers who knew how to plough with a number of horses (La Grand’ Tchethue), L’Assembliée d’Jèrriais decided to film the operation for posterity. The filming took place in early May 1968. Eileen Le Sueur is pictured in the centre, and Jean Le Maiste MBE is the young man in the bowler hat. Photo credit: Jersey Evening Post

L’Assembliée d’Jèrriais held their Dîner Annuel (annual lunch) at the Ambassador Hotel in April with around 50 people enjoying a delicious meal and sharing memories of life in Jersey. A warm welcome was extended to a small delegation from l’Assemblliae d’Dgèrnésy (Guernsey Assembly) and it was lovely to hear the native language of our sister island being spoken.

Reflecting on 75 years of L’Assembliée d’Jèrriais, François Le Maistre, who has been involved since the beginning as a child, said in his toast:

“Ch’est un privilège et un honneu d’être ichîn auve vous aniet quand nou s’en va célébrer lé septante-chînquième annivèrsaithe dépis qué L’Assembliée fut fondée en 1951.

J’tais p’tchiot quand la preunmié rêunion s’fit au mais d’Novembre, et les p’tchiots né fûtent pon învités à chutte rêunion. Mais à la deuxième rêunion au mais d’Janvyi 1952, mes deux fréthes, ‘Douard et Jean, et mé, j’tions là et à toutes les rêunions pouor bein d’s années auprès. Nou sortait d’ La Fèrme à Portînfé à sept heuthes vîngt pouor être en bouôn temps pouor la rêunion à huit heuthes dans La Salle d’Agritchultuthe en Ville.

J’avions des discours, et pis des r’citâtions, d’la chant’tie, des pièches dé thiâtre et des concèrts dans des Salles Pârouaîssiales alentou d’ L’Île. J’avions du monde comme Amelia Perchard, Eileen Lé Sueux, Alice Bliampid, Gordon Lé Breton, Ben Amy, Emma Syvret et un tas d’autres et j’m’en rappelle d’un dgialogue entre Ken Vibert et Margaret dé Gruchy. Et pis, i’ y avait étout Lé Sèrvice Annuel au mais d’Avri à difféthentes Églyises et bein seux, Lé Sèrvice des Cantiques dé Noué, tchi continnue touos l’s ans.

Eune année dans les mille neuf chent nénante (1990s), j’tais lé Prédicateu à la p’tite Églyise dé St. George pouor lé Sèrvice Annuel et j’ai aîdgi étout deux’-trais fais au Sèrvice dé Noué. Mais, quand j’tions à travailli sus la fèrme, ‘Douard et mé, j’soulions chanter ensembl’ye, pûtôt « Ma Normandie » ès concèrts et pis, quand ‘Douard s’en fut en Angliétèrre, j’chantis « Ma Normandie » auve Ben Amy. Et, i’y’ avait des grandes occâsions comme la bordée qué l’ Sieur Èrthu dé La Mathe, donnit un discours à la Salle Publique dé St. Martîn entouor san travas comme Ambassadeur pouor la Grande Brétangne! La Salle ‘tait plieine et ch’tait souvent la même chose ès rêunions auve des foules dé monde, qué ch’sait chent ou chent chînquante pèrsonnes et pus.

A young boy takes time to chat with the girls during a break in filming. Photo credit: Jersey Evening Post

Even the photographer took his role seriously by dressing for the part. Photo credit: Jersey Evening Post

Mais, dans les chînquantes et souaîxantes, j’avions des milles et des milles Jèrriais tchi pâlaient lus Langue Native touos les jours. Et, i’ y’ avait bein pus d’ întéthêt dans l’Jèrriais dans chu temps-là.

Mais, i’ n’ faut pon pèrdre lé couothage, pa’ce qué nouos Maîtres et Maitrêsses du Jèrriais sont à faithe du raide bouôn travas auve des milles jannes gens touos l’s ans. I’ faut les féliciter et Colin (Ireson) étout, pa’ce qué i’ tait iun des preunmièrs à ensîngni lé Jèrriais.”

“It is a privilege and an honour to be here with you today to celebrate the 75th anniversary since the Assembly was founded in 1951.

I was a child when the first meeting took place in November, and children were not invited to this meeting. But, at the second meeting in January 1952, my two brothers, Douard and Jean, and I were there, and at all the meetings for many years that followed. We left the farm at Portinfer at 7.20pm to be on time for the 8pm meeting at the Agricultural Hall in town.

We had speeches, and then recitations, singing, drama performances and concerts in parish halls around the island. We had people like Amelia Perchard, Eileen Le Sueur, Alice Blampied, Gordon Le Breton, Ben Amy, Emma Syvret and so many others, and I remember a dialogue between Ken Vibert and Margaret de Gruchy. There was also the Annual Service in April at different churches, and of course, the Christmas Carol Service, which continues every year.

One year in the 1990s, I lead the Annual Service at little St George’s Church, and I helped a few times at the Christmas Service as well. When ’Douard and I were working on the farm, we used to sing together at the concerts, usually ‘My Normandy’, and then, when ’Douard moved to England, I sang ‘My Normandy’ with Ben Amy. There were other great occasions like the event when Sir Arthur de la Mare gave a speech at St Martin’s Public Hall about his work as British Ambassador. The hall was full and this was often the case at the meetings with so many people, 100 or 150, or even more. But this was in the 1950s and 60s when there were thousands upon thousands of Jersey people who spoke our native language every day. And there was more interest in Jèrriais in those days.

We mustn’t forget the courage of our Jèrriais teachers who are doing very good work with thousands of young people every year. We mush congratulate them, and Colin (Ireson) too, because he was one of the first to teach Jèrriais.”

L’Assembliée d’Jèrriais are looking forward to the following events, and warmly invite you to join them for:

• Lunch at Maison des Landes in St Ouen on Saturday 11th July at 12.30pm

• Rêunion Annuel (Annual General Meeting) on Saturday 19th September at 2.30pm at St Martin’s Public Hall

If you would like to come along to either of the above events, please contact Ann Marett at maretts@gmail.com or 862447

You can hear and speak Jèrriais every weekday, so please join native speakers and learners on:

MONDAYS Santander Work Café, St Helier 1.00 - 1.50pm

TUESDAYS The Adelphi Pub, St Helier 5.30 - 6.30pm

WEDNESDAYS The Village Café, St Martin 10.30 - 11.30am

THURSDAYS Jersey Museum, St Helier 10.30 - 11.30am FRIDAYS Jersey Pearl, St Ouen 10.30 - 11.30am

À la préchaine! (Until next time)

For further information about Jèrriais, please contact L’Office du Jèrriais at info@jerriais.org.je

Members of L’Assembliée d’Jèrriais in 1955

François Le Maistre at the recent Dîner Annuelle

Current members and supporters of L’Assembliée d’Jèrriais enjoying the recent Dîner Annuelle

MYTH

COMMON MYTHS ABOUT DIABETES

DIABETES IS CAUSED BY EATING TOO MUCH SUGAR

TYPE 1 DIABETES IS THE ‘MILD’ KIND.

FACT

TYPE 1 DIABETES IS AN AUTO IMMUNE CONDITION (NOT CAUSED BY DIET).

TYPE 2 DIABETES IS INFLUENCED BY MULTIPLE FACTORS LIKE GENETICS AND LIFESTYLE.

FACT

PEOPLE OF ALL BODY TYPES CAN DEVELOP BOTH TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 DIABETES.

FACT

TYPE 1 DIABETES IS A SERIOUS LIFELONG CONDITION REQUIRING DAILY INSULIN.

Something for everyone

Tel: 01534 491910

6 great concepts to choose from...

Tel: 01534 491242

tidal view dining at its best

Perfect for: fun-filled evenings, luxurious lunches, romantic moments, authentic local history & stunning sea views overlooking St Aubin’s.

Location: st aubin’s village

Mont du Boulavard, St Aubin, Price: £££ www.voyagertides.je

côte d’azur spirit. jersey soul

Perfect for: generous plates, sunshine flavours, and that familiar brasserie comfort, elevated just enough to feel quietly chic.

Location: st aubin’s bay

Le Mont Felard, St Lawrence

Price: ££ www.azure.je

quality comfort food by the beach

Perfect for: delicious local seafood, juicy British meats wholesome vegetarian & vegan meals in a relaxed no fuss beachfront setting right by the sea.

Location: st brelade’s bay

La Route de la Baie, St Brelade

Price: ££ www.labrise.je

cocktails, curiosities & more!

Perfect for: curious cocktails, classy coupes de Champagne, cake filled afternoons, outstanding sea views and the history of Mr J.W. Chapman.

Location: st aubin’s village

Mont du Boulavard, St Aubin, Price: ££ www.voyagertides.je

rosé, spritzes & long afternoons

Perfect for: sunny cocktail sessions, intimate evening catchups, delicious snacks, afternoon teas & live music in a relaxed yet classy sea view setting.

Location: st aubin’s bay

Le Mont Felard, St Lawrence Price: ££ www.azure.je

beachside coffee, cake & cocktails!

Perfect for: beachfront coffee’s, home-made cakes, fresh juices & shakes, tasty snacks, epic beachfront cocktails and craft local brews overlooking the ocean.

Location: st brelade’s bay

La Route de la Baie, St Brelade

Price: ££ www.labrise.je

Read to the Beat with Jersey Library’s Summer Reading Challenge

This summer, Jersey Library is inviting children across the Island to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge, with this year’s lively theme Read to the Beat.

The Summer Reading Challenge is a free, annual initiative that runs throughout the school holidays, encouraging primary school children to enjoy reading for pleasure over the break. The 2026 theme celebrates the connection between stories, music and rhythm, adding a fun, creative twist to the challenge.

Children can sign up from Saturday 27th June at Jersey Library, Communicare Library or on the Mobile Library. Every kind of reading counts especially those inspired by music, sound and performance, including picture books, audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels and music scores. Incentives are given along the way including a swim pass from Aquasplash and on completion of the 6th book, children are presented with a medal and a certificate.

MOBILE LIBRARY TIMETABLE

MONDAY

10:00 - 10:30

St Ouen's Parish Hall

10:45 - 11:15

Greve de Lecq

11:30 - 12:15

St John’s Parish Hall

TUESDAY

09:30 - 11:00

Holme Grown

11:15 - 12:45

Gorey Common Carpark

14:45 - 15:30

Jersey Zoo

15:45 - 16:30 Maufant

WEDNESDAY

09:30 - 11:00

Langtry Gardens

11:15 - 12:45

St Martin's Village Green

14:30 - 15:30

Le Rocquier School

Children under four are encouraged to join the mini challenge, sharing stories with others and getting stickers and a certificate upon completion.

During the holidays, Jersey Library will host activities and events linked to the challenge, including best-selling author Gareth P Jones, Martyn Cast from Jenca Music School, Jo Logue from Jo’s Painted Pebbles and other craft activities.

The Summer Reading Challenge not only supports literacy but also promotes wellbeing, confidence and creativity. However your child enjoys reading – quietly or with plenty of rhythm – this summer is the perfect time to Read to the Beat.

John Ogilby's Aesop's Fables: An exhibition at Jersey Library

Step into the world of Aesop’s Fables as they were imagined in the seventeenth century.

Featuring illustrations from books in Jersey Library’s special collections, the exhibition reveals how these familiar animal tales were used to explore moral and social questions during a time of political uncertainty and change.

Although Aesop’s Fables originated in Ancient Greece, their ongoing appeal for writers and artists lies in their adaptability. By using animals to reflect human behaviour,

the stories address timeless themes such as power, ambition, deception and wisdom. In seventeenth century England, this indirect approach to storytelling made the fable a particularly powerful art form. At a time when speaking openly about politics and those in power could be risky, animals could safely act out moral dilemmas, allowing readers to interpret the message for themselves.

The exhibition also explores how illustrations shaped the interpretation of these stories. Full-page illustrations set the fables in detailed landscapes, reflecting a new fascination with the natural world. Far from being merely decorative, these illustrations were intended to help guide readers' make the right moral choices.

The exhibition is on display in the Jersey Library Second Floor Gallery until the end of September.

ST MARTIN PARISH NOTICEBOARD

ANNUAL RATES ASSESSMENTS 2026

Rates Assessments have now been sent out to all property owners and tenants in the Parish. Should you have any concerns regarding your assessment, please get in touch as soon as possible.

RATES ASSEMBLY 16TH JULY 2026

The Parish Rates Assembly will be held on Thursday 16th July at 7pm. The end of year accounts to 30th April 2026 will be presented and the Connétable will present the next year’s budget for approval. The Parish rate for the forthcoming year will also be proposed and agreed. We would encourage Parishioners to attend this Assembly as it gives a comprehensive insight into how the Parish funds are allocated and spent.

RATES DEMANDS 2026

Following the Rates Assembly, Rates Demands will be either emailed or posted out to all Parish property owners and occupiers. Please ensure your email address is up to date. Please expect to receive this document in the first week of August. Payments are required to be paid in full on demand. Should you experience any difficulty with this payment, please contact the Parish Secretary in the first instance.

VISITE ROYALE 2026

The Parish will be hosting a Royal Court sitting on Wednesday 29th July for the Visite Royale. The sitting will take place in the Public Hall for invited guests followed by an inspection of the Parish roads by car and minibuses. The inspection will finish at approximately 12pm.

BRANCHAGE 2026

The first Visite du Branchage will take place on Thursday 9th July. The second Visite will be on Thursday 3rd September. If you are responsible for managing banks, hedgerows, trees, etc which are adjacent to public roads and footpaths, please ensure your branchage is done on time and in accordance with best practice. Branchage guidelines can be found on the Parish website at www. stmartin.je or on request from the Parish Office.

MOBILE LIBRARY

Please note the Mobile Library stops at the Village Green every Wednesday from 11.15am to 12.45pm. For more locations, please contact Jersey Library on 448700

DUTY CENTENIER – 07797 717799 (Police matters only)

Office Opening Hours

MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8.30am to 2.00pm

WEDNESDAY 5.30pm to 7.30pm

SATURDAY & SUNDAY CLOSED

EDITORIAL Susan Parker T: 07797 916991 / E: susiep99@hotmail.com

ADVERTISING Martyn Farley T: 07797 743191 / E: martyn@farley.je

ACCOUNTS Helen Le Marquand E: helenlm@mediamasters.je A MediaMasters publication in association with the Parish of St Martin

Copyright notice: 2026© Parish of St Martin Magazine (Les Nouvelles de St Martin). The entire content of this publication is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be reproduced, sorted in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.

Reprint details: Reprints of articles can be purchased by contacting the publishers.

Disclaimer: Whilst the Parish of St Martin Magazine Team and contributors to this magazine have provided the information contained in it in good faith, they accept no responsibility, financial or otherwise, for any action taken by any other party as a result of the information so provided. Independent and appropriate advice should always be sought on such matters. The views expressed within this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.