Seasonal Greetings from... The Bailiff

Monday 23 December 2019

In his first seasonal greetings to islanders as Bailiff, Tim Le Cocq shares a little family history as he looks ahead to next year's Liberation celebrations.

He also took the opportunity to acknowledge the charity work undertaken by many islanders...

"This is my first Christmas message to readers of Bailiwick Express and I am grateful for this opportunity.

Although I have been Bailiff for little over two months, I find that my diary is already filling with invitations from the charities, clubs and associations that add so much to the richness of Island life.

Pictured: The Bailiff describes charities as adding to "the richness of Island life".

At the time of writing, those activities have just begun, I am very much looking forward to them and to gaining a better understanding of the way so many people in our Island work quietly to improve the lives of Islanders, especially those with particular needs or vulnerabilities.

I am acutely aware as well of how many Islanders work at the festive time to improve the position of those less fortunate than themselves or to provide with dedication and commitment, often taken for granted, the services that we need so that the rest of us can enjoy the holiday period. I am grateful to them and they are and will be in my thoughts over Christmas.

These acts of service and of kindness that are very much a part of the Jersey spirit and they seem to me to have a particular lustre at this time of year.

Pictured: The Bailiff paid tribute to the islanders that work hard "so that the rest of us can enjoy the holiday period".

As to the year ahead, I look forward very much indeed to my first Liberation Day as Bailiff, which will be 75th anniversary of the Liberation. This is for many reasons a very significant celebration and I know that Islanders will come together to mark how special it is. It is special to me for family reasons as well.

My grandparents and uncle were here during the Occupation, my mother was a child evacuee and my father served in the Royal Navy and came home with Force 135 after years away with no news from his home.

But as important as these things are, Liberation 75 is perhaps a time to mark not only the traditional things that Liberation means to us all but also time to look forward to what it may mean in the future to ensure that it remains for generations to come a relevant celebration of our identity and the best that we are. I look forward to telling you more about what is planned shortly.

Pictured: The Bailiff believes Liberation 75 will be an opportunity to not only look back, but forward.

Now we are in the festive period.

Since ancient times, people have recognised the Winter solstice, the longest time of darkness and the coming of new light and have celebrated that change. Now that coming of light is celebrated for very different reasons and many Islanders will be celebrating the Christmas story. However, to take a pause, to be thankful for the coming of new light and the start of the new year is important for all of us and is deeply instilled in us.

Whether those reading these words hold to heart the Christmas message or whether you simply at this time feel the natural need to be still and be renewed, may I, in this my first Christmas message, wish all of the readers of Bailiwick Express a peaceful and joyful Christmas and a very Happy New Year."