Archives for January 2011

There is a tiny building in Jersey called Le Don Hilton, it is set in St Ouen and has become famous as Jersey's 'White House' due to its white-washed walls.

Over the years it has been a venue for weddings, a temporary art gallery and a meeting place for people 'out West'.

But, after a campaign by the National Trust for Jersey, who own the building, it has now been turned green.

The colour was changed by the trust to highlight green initiatives they are launching to mark their 75th anniversary year.

They have made 12 pledges to make activities more sustainable.

The pledges will run throughout the year, in January they reviewed loft insulation in all their properties and in February they will introduce eco light bulbs.

In March they will introduce washing lines to all their 'tenanted properties' and in April they will provide vegetable patches.

So, the painting of the house came with a message for people - get green.

But it wasn't universally popular. Jersey politician, Deputy Colin Egre said the trust had "defaced an icon".

"I have always known it as the white house, my parents have known it as the white house, my grandparents knew it as the white house and my great-grandparents knew it as the white house - it is the white house.

"It is an iconic building in St Ouen's Bay, it's been photographed by people, it's been painted by people.

"What on earth have the National Trust done?"

The trust's chief executive, Charles Allutto, said the building will remain green all year in spite of the protests.

He said: "I do think you have to give it a heavy dose of realism in that it is just a coat of paint.

"There is an important message behind there, we haven't done it for a commercial reason, we haven't done it just to say the National Trust is out there.

"What we have done is said 'come on we all need to focus on making our lives greener'."

Canary wharf

It isn't just white houses turning green that caused 'debate' in the island - but somehow time seems to make the debate less fierce.

In 2003 builder's merchants, Norman Limited, turned parts of commercial buildings in St Helier bright yellow in line with their corporate re-brand.

Jersey Architect Paul Harding said at the time that bold colour schemes could improve the look of drab buildings, but warned against going over the top.

Peter Norman from Norman's said at the time that the company set out to re-brand itself and is delighted with the success of that move.

In his view, all reaction, positive or negative, was good.

Eight years on, while some still dislike the building's colour, it has become affectionately known as 'canary wharf' by others.

Tobermory

And it isn't just in Jersey that changing the colour of a building can cause debate.

When the owner of the Mishnish hotel in Tobermory, the real life home of fictional children's island Balamory, changed the colour of the facade from bright yellow to black in 2006, some locals worried about the postcards.

Olive Brown, who ran an ironmongery, said: "I think it is a pity to change the colour of something so world famous and we are mystified beyond measure as to why it is being changed.

"It is very strange given that the three colours of the buildings are on millions of postcards, as well as being in Balamory."

Another resident said: "The buildings are the one thing in the town that everyone knows and recognises.

"When you arrive by boat it is the first thing you see.

"It is only half-painted, so I don't know how many people know about it yet, but I think some locals will be quite upset."

Fade away?

So, how much does the colour of a building matter? And if it matters now - how long before the change becomes the norm and the controversy goes away?

Mr Alluto said he hoped once the arguments about the colour change of the white house had calmed down, the discussion would move onto green matters, such as energy saving and waste management.

Former Jersey politician Mike Vibert, 60, died after suffering a heart attack on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Vibert was the island's education, sport and culture minister from 2005 until 2008.

He was first elected to the States as Deputy of St Brelade number two district in 1996 and became a Senator in 2002.

He had been a teacher in London and Jersey before becoming a journalist and helping set up BBC Radio Jersey.

Geraldine des Forges worked for Mike Vibert while she was a presenter at BBC Radio Jersey. She presented between 1982 and 2000.

Here she shares her memories of Mr Vibert and working with him at the BBC.

"Mike Vibert was a founder member of BBC Radio Jersey when it opened at Broadcasting House, Somerland in Rouge Bouillon in March 1982.

"Formerly a school teacher, then a journalist at the Jersey Evening Post, 'Vibes' as he was affectionately known, will be remembered with great affection by those of us who worked at Radio Jersey in the early years.

"In those days, there were no radio cars and he would have had to get to any town-based interviews by riding the 'station bicycle' - he always wore bicycle clips around his trousers. One of the first major stories' that he had to cover was the explosion at the Gas Company in Tunnell Street.

"For many years, Mike was relentlessly teased by the station staff about a photograph of him interviewing a glamorous, and rather well endowed, model who came to Jersey to promote the launch of the station. As always, he took it in good part.

"Mike's teaching experience held him in good stead as a journalist. He was a stickler for good grammar in the news items and would religiously check the list of daily events to make sure that they were 'properly written' before being read 'on air', in those days by the Receptionist. He was also a stickler about the correct pronunciation of Jersey names.

"Vibes was very hardworking, totally honest and very fair in everything he did. He had a great sense of humour and was well liked and respected by all the staff who worked with him. Everyone was very sorry when he left Radio Jersey. However, he carried forward those same good qualities when he became a States Member.

"He will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him."

BBC Radio Jersey stalwart Roger Bara will be back in the breakfast show hot seat from Monday 17 January, from 7-10am.

Roger will be taking over from Chris Stone, who is moving to present a new afternoon show from 1.15-4pm.

Radio Jersey Managing Editor, Jon Gripton, said: "Roger Bara is one of Jersey's best-known broadcasters and I am delighted to have him back where he belongs presenting the Radio Jersey breakfast show.Roger Bara At Breakfast will be a lively, hard-hitting, interactive and entertaining start to the day."

Roger, who first presented the Breakfast programme on Radio Jersey in 1993, said: "It will be so good to once again be at the very heart of everything that happens in our island. I have sorely missed holding to account the island's decision makers.

"I'm also looking forward to both talking to and taking comments from our thousands of listeners throughout the parishes."

Roger comes from a colourful and musical background, having been Bonnie Tyler's keyboard player in the late-Seventies and featuring in many TV shows - including several appearances on Top Of The Pops.

He originally came to Jersey to be musical director at the famous Caesar's Palace at Greve de Lecq and at the Opera House - a position he held for 12 years. He also appeared in several episodes of Bergerac during this period.

Since joining Radio Jersey in 1989, Roger has presented some of the most memorable moments in recent island history. The 50th anniversary Liberation Day celebrations in 1995 saw Roger host two days of outside broadcasts.

Two years later Roger led a team covering the Island Games, providing 12 hours a day of live action from venues throughout the island. He has also hosted every election night programme since the mid-Nineties.

He also commentated on Jersey cricket's greatest ever moment - beating USA in the World League Division 5 semi-finals, which guaranteed them promotion. He commentated on the now-famous final against Afghanistan at Grainville, which not only went round the world but became part of the award-winning film Out Of The Ashes.

The day will start at 6am with a new early breakfast show presented by Simon Jupp. Simon will then jump into the car to report from around the island through the Breakfast and morning shows.

Carrie and Sara

In other changes starting on Monday 17 January, Radio Jersey presenters Carrie Cooper and Sara Palmer will host a 10am-1pm programme, which Sara describes as: "Like Loose Women but for a Jersey audience - lively guests and topical talk all with a smile. There's no better place to find out what is going on in Jersey and feeling involved in your community."

There will also be a new daily news programme Jersey At One with Chris Rayner, providing in-depth news and analysis of the day's events across the island at 1pm.

Christina Ghidoni will present a new show between 4-7pm which, on Thursdays, will incorporate the political talk show Talkback - which is moving from its Sunday slot.

On Friday evenings, Roger Bara and Richard Collinson will present a new sports news and chat show from 6-7pm. Richard said: "With Jersey Rugby Club doing so well, and with so much other sport in the island, this show will be a mix of news and discussion on the week's big stories, and a preview of the weekend action."

And straight after Friday Sportscene I will be bringing you the best of the islands music scene with BBC Introducing in Jersey from 7pm.

But that's not all, we will also be playing music from local bands, singers and songwriters throughout the ouput as part of our new BBC Introducing playlist.

Finally Sundays on Radio Jersey will also have a different sound as The Sunday Request Show takes the place of Talkback between 10am-12pm and the popular Sunday Classics show, with Tim Pollard, moves to a new Sunday lunchtime slot.

You can see the latest BBC Radio Jersey schedules online.