Sonia Hillsdon

A Century of Jersey Memories

Written memories of Island life during the twentieth century to celebrate the lives and memories of Jersey folk who lived during it.  

From the book:

As George Eliot sagely said: 'We enjoy the world because we were here as children,' So, in this book the world of the twentieth century Jersey is brought to life for us to enjoy through the childhood memories of over fifty islanders. The ages of these memory-sharers range from ninety five to those still looking forward to their ninth birthday.

However, these early memories of such everyday events as school and shopping are not just fascinating to read. Whatever the focal point of these journeys back into the past, each contributor is also unconsciously showing us the incredible change in social patterns, the way life has altered, over the century.

I went to a private school in Roseville Street run by two sisters (maiden ladies): Aimée Picot who taught, and Marie Picot who looked after the house. We entered the school in Hastings Lane (back entrance) through the playground and then into the cloakroom. School was upstairs in the front and was very strict, but marvellous grounding in essentials i.e. reading, writing and arithmetic. We learnt by rote and memorised lists of names. tables, etc. - never forgotten! No trouble with spelling!

Of course, the best entertainment during the 1930s was the real 'pictures'. I have vivid memories of the three St Helier cinemas of those days: the Opera House, West's and the Forum, which I saw being built in 1936. It was only five minutes walk from home. It was spacious, elegant and comfortable and for me became a symbol of what I expected the future to be.

I remember when we went to pick my brother up from the hospital. My mum took me to the room where all the babies were. The boys were wrapped in blue blankets and the girls had pink. My mum pointed at a blue blanket and said, 'That's your new baby brother', and I said 'No' because I wanted the one with the pink blanket.

Seaflower Books £4.95  

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