Jordan Walters and leisure centre architect Barrie Pimm-Smith design a logo for the Alderney Community Team.
ALDERNEY’S proposed leisure centre site will feature a peace garden dedicated to Sapper George Onions, who was killed in the island shortly after the Second World War ended.
Six weeks ago a team of community-spirited locals – including numerous St Anne’s School pupils, Sergeant James Priest and PC Malcolm Messenger of Alderney Police, youth services manager Lisa Oates and Alderney Wildlife Trust manager Roland Gauvain – helped clear an area of York Hill in order for the garden to be developed.
After the clearance, leisure centre supporter Jane Aireton arranged for Rev. Arthur Mignot to talk to the youngsters about Sapper Onions – a soldier who lost his life while helping to clear some of the 35,000 mines strewn across Alderney by the occupying Germans.
Following the huge amount of support for the clearance, Jane decided to form the Alderney Community Team – an organisation that will offer services and equipment to the leisure centre cause.
Jane, who came up with the idea to develop a peace garden, asked the children involved in the effort to design a logo for ACT.
Jordan Walters came up with the winning design.
‘Jordan won first prize and along with leisure centre architect Barrie Pimm-Smith, learned how to use a complex computer art programme,’ said Jane.
Jordan’s winning design.
‘The results speak for themselves. The colours used reflect the Sapper regimental colours.
‘The design will be used on fund-raising T-shirts, which will be available to buy at the Christmas market.’
This year’s Christmas market will not be held in Victoria Street. Instead, the annual event will take place on Saturday 12 December at the Island Hall.
Another change will see the market being held from 2.30pm to 5.30pm, rather than in the evening, as in previous years.
States marketing manager Joanna Parmentier explained the reasons behind the changes.
‘It was reported that the increased number of late-night shopping dates had an adverse effect on the number of people who turned out for last year’s market.
‘In addition to this, Barbara Benfield announced that she is changing the Christmas tree and carols event into a Christmas fair. As a direct result of discussions with Barbara it was decided that the introduction of a Christmas fair would further reduce the number of people turning up for the street market. Therefore, we have agreed to organise a joint event.’
The Island Band will play at the market, while Father Christmas is set to make an appearance to distribute presents. Stalls will be put up in the Island Hall’s front garden.
‘The Island Hall will be turned into a winter wonderland for the day,’ said Joanna. ‘Having the event in the afternoon will also mean that children are wide awake and looking forward to meeting Santa.’
Joanna is hoping that islanders will sell stocking fillers at the fair, as these have proved popular in the past.
Pitches are available for £5. A pitch and a table can be hired for £10.
Article posted on 20th November, 2009 - 10.00am
4 Article Comments
If Churchill hadnt been an alcoholic warmonger I wonder if the Channel Islands could have remained out of it. Sapper however was a very brave man and its good that he is remembered.
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Andy – it’s very easy to look retrospectively at historical figures and judge them through the lenses of our present cultural context. I believe this to be a mistake, as one should always judge historical figures in the context of their time.
In Churchill’s case, it’s true he liked a tipple or three. It could also be argued that his less savoury characteristics are conveniently ignored due to his wartime record. Nevertheless, although he wouldn’t be a good Prime Minister now, one might argue that he was the “man for the moment” and his personality was ideally suited to lead, and eventually win, the war against Hitler.
In respect to the Channel Islands, let’s not forget that Britain went to war with Germany months before Churchill was made Prime Minister, so it’s extremely debateable whether he or any other PM could have prevented the Channel Islands involvement (even if they had wanted to) unless of course they had surrendered to the Germans.
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Paul I realise that statement could cause immense offence and maybe I am wrong.
In my experience politicians are on their own agendas which rarely coincide with the good of the nation.
Just look at Blair and Bush.
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Andrew Marr’s tv prog tonight was a well balanced view on Churchill’s initial involvement. A well respected historical military scholar who called it right, despite his personal failings. Those first few years of his drunken intellectualism distanced ourselves or the Britain’s natural fascism, led by the vain Chamberlain.
Thank heavens for the BBC.
Although I’m not sure how what I just said is very relevant.
Squak
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