Oscar-winning screenwriter made his home in Jersey

Thursday 03 January 2019

New records released by Jersey Archive have shown how a multi-award-winning screenwriter, who once worked with Hollywood starlet Katherine Hepburn, made his home in the island in the 1960s.

Writer of ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ and ‘The Ladykillers’ William Arthur Rose (1918-1987) eventually settled in Jersey in 1964 after moving from his native Missouri to Canada, London and then Brighton following the end of the Second World War.

During his time in Jersey the Oscar and BAFTA winner lived at La Falaise in St. Brelade and then moved to La Fosse, Trinity. He died in Jersey in 1987 and is buried in St. Clement’s Churchyard. 

The registration card of William Arthur Rose was made public for the first time yesterday as part of a release of over 150 records at Jersey Archive which have never before been open to the public, having been subject to Freedom of Information Law restrictions until now.

Pictured: William Rose's registration card which he received when he moved to Jersey in 1964 (Jersey Archive).

Rose's story is just one of those documented by these newly-opened records illustrating life in Jersey up to 100 years ago.

Also released were documents from the Hospital and the Police as well as the minutes from the Public Assistance Committee which made decisions relating to the welfare and care systems in Jersey.

The Hospital Admission Register for 1918 shows that nearly 300 Jersey people died from the outbreak of Spanish Influenza and Police registers for St. Helier detail various crimes committed over 100 years ago. 

Pictured: The Hospital Register for 1918 showed that nearly 300 people died from the Spanish flu in Jersey (Jersey Archive).

Among those crimes were skinny dippers at Havre des Pas and La Collette, who were fined ten shillings, and a woman who was sentenced to a month of hard labour for stealing a door from a room she was occupying in Regent Place.

Another record showed how gossip got one 63-year-old woman in trouble.

Ann Louisa Bragg was arrested in 1918 for circulating "scandalous reports" against a widow - so "scandalous", apparently, that they caused a disruption of the public peace. She was sentenced to a £2 fine or eight days' hard labour.

Pictured: Archive Director Linda Romeril.

Linda Romeril, Director of Archives and Collections at Jersey Heritage said: “It is always fascinating to be able to study these documents and use them to tell the stories of people who lived in Jersey 100 years ago.

“The documents tell us so much about the social history of the Island and through them we can track the history of crime, poverty, health and the role of women within our community. This is particularly relevant in 2019 as we celebrate 100 years of women in Jersey having the right to vote.”

The public can view the newly-opened records at the Jersey Archive where there will be a free talk about some of the most interesting stories they document at 10:00 on 19 January.