Select a region
Customers queuing for fish and chips in St Aubin were given more than they bargained for 70 years ago when the van supplying their dinner ended up in the harbour...
The accident took place at 19:00 on 12 June 1954 on St Aubin’s Slipway, where the mobile shop was parked at the top opposite St Brelade’s Parish Hall.
This was one of many pitches for the van, which was a regular at fêtes as well as various country parishes.
All of a sudden it went into reverse, careening down the slope and toppling into St Aubin’s Harbour, with the brake seeming to have slipped for an unknown reason.
Pictured: Rene Liron leading a protest of the TGWU at pensioners being denied a 10 Xmas Bonus in 1977. (JEP Photo Archive)
The owner of the van, named as Henry Liron in newspaper reports but more commonly known to Islanders as René Liron (he would become well-known later in life as the head of the local branch of the Transport and General Workers Union), was thrown from the vehicle before jumping in the cab to try and stop its descent.
Unfortunately, he was too late. The van was gathering momentum and was already moving at an angle down the slipway.
It gave a lurch and fell on to the bed of the harbour.
Pictured: Chip van on the front page of the Weekly Post on 19 June 1954. (Jersey Heritage)
Mr Liron was flung out of the cab. He escaped with cuts to his head and burns to his arms.
His wife, Simonne, and his brother, Serge, were in the vehicle and escaped relatively unscathed.
Mrs Liron received some burns to her hands and arms and some cuts and bruises.
Serge, who was blind, was left in shock but physically uninjured.
Pictured: The chip van incident was on the front page of the Evening Post on 14 June 1954. (Jersey Heritage)
The noise of the incident had drawn a crowd and the family were assisted to the nearby Tenby Hotel to be given first aid whilst waiting for the ambulance.
After treatment at the Hospital, they went to Mrs Liron’s parents’ house at Wesley House, the Bulwarks, to recover.
In the meantime, fire was threatening to engulf the fish and chip van, with two coke-burning cookers in the vehicle still alight.
Passers-by set to putting out the flames with buckets of water and various other utensils carried from the hotel down to the wrecked van.
Pictured: Photographs of the Lirons and St Brelade officials appeared in the Evening Post to record the handing over of a new fish and chip van. (Jersey Heritage)
Members of the St Brelade’s Honorary Police, who were at the nearby Parish Hall, came out to the scene and took charge of salvage operations, headed by the Constable, J W Chevalier, with Centenier Vibert and Constable’s Officer Brian Lucas.
George Greaves, the manager of the Harbour Works was contacted, and he came with four members of his team to move the van before it was covered by the incoming tide. In moving the vehicle, it was clear that it was unsalvageable, with the bodywork collapsing.
Customers at the Old Court House Hotel, hearing of the accident, started a collection for Mr Liron and raised over £2.
Picutred: René Liron Occupation Registration Card. (Jersey Heritage)
However, that was not the end of the fundraising.
On 18 June, it was announced in the Evening Post that a subscription had been opened at St Brelade’s Parish Hall to raise money for Mr Liron.
It was noted that the Constable and other prominent parishioners had shown a special interest in the case.
Obviously, the people of St Brelade were extremely passionate about their fish and chip dinners.
Just over a month later, on 22 July, photographs of the Lirons and officials of the Parish of St Brelade, appeared in the Evening Post to record the handing over of a new fish and chip van.
Pictured: Photographs of the new fish and chip van appeared in the Evening Post. (Jersey Heritage)
The subscription was said to have had a much better response than was anticipated and, with the money raised, the Parish was able to buy Mr and Mrs Liron a larger van than had been lost and equip it with the necessary fryers.
The couple expressed their gratitude to those who had contributed to the collection and the residents of St Brelade were once again able to enjoy their fish and chips dinners.
This story was told as part of a series in collaboration with Jersey Heritage.
To uncover more stories like this, visit Jersey Archive or search its online catalogue HERE.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.