We must remember them

Monday 24 March 2014

The Treasury Minister has announced how he plans to spend nearly half a million pounds over the next five years commemorating the centenary anniversary of the First World War.

£195,000 will be set aside so that four students and a teacher from each of the secondary schools will be able to visit the war's battlefields. But Senator Philip Ozouf said the trips, which are set to happen every year for the next five, could be opened up to more students, thanks to a philanthropic offer of financial support for the project.

Primary school children in the Island will learn more about the First World War from a Theatre in Education Project. Ten thousand pounds has been allocated for the production of The Great Warrior. The cast will be touring the schools for ten weeks and children in years five and six will get to take part in workshops.

Another ten thousand pounds is being allocated to produce and publish a book of Islanders’ poems on the Great War, and there 's a big launch event planned for 4 August this year which has a budget of £40,000. 

A local artist hopes to get involved in marking the centenary. Mike Etienne wants the Island to put on a gala dinner and art exhibition at the Grand Hotel in August with a light and sound show over Elizabeth Castle, which will be shown around the world on social media.

His plans cost £23,500: “I believe it is our civic and social duty to produce this event. The benefits to a proportion of humanity will prove worthwhile. I believe it is important to our understanding, respect, remembrance and education with a view to human sacrifice and the impact of the Great War on our lifestyle today. We need to work together and swiftly if we want to show the world what we can do.”

Meanwhile work started last week on a barren area of the St Helier Waterfront to recreate a battlefield, including a poppy field exhibit.

The Parish of St Helier will be working with the Jersey Development Company over the coming months, sowing poppies and building trenches on land between Castle Quay and The Radisson Hotel.

It’s the idea of the St Helier Bloom Group who were behind the silhouettes in People’s park and the green lizards in the lower park.

Once it’s finished, the exhibit will be open to schools and other groups on organised visits.