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His dedication and bravery over the past forty years as Jersey’s Bomb Disposal Officer has kept islanders safe and won her Majesty’s recognition, as Stuart Elliott was awarded with a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen's New Year Honours list.
But while the former police officer has a cool head and steady hand to safely deal with explosives and ammunition, there are a few things that ruffle him.
Between the emergency call-outs to potentially hazardous situations, Stuart shared five things that he would like to change about island-life….
I was brought up in an era where the slogan ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ was disseminated at every opportunity, a call taken up equally in the Channel Islands. Sadly, years on, I regularly witness the careless deposit by individuals or from passing vehicles of cigarette ends, sweet papers and other unwanted refuse without a second thought. Piles of cigarette ends emptied from the ash trays of parked cars onto the road is also one of my pet hates together with the little bags of dog mess placed on walls or hung on trees.
Pictured: Stuart hates the sight of rubbish so hopes to see a change in people's attitudes as well as a 'Keep Jersey Tidy' campaign.
Fly-tipping lifts the careless deposit of litter to one of being a deplorable nefarious act for which there is no excuse in my eyes with the readily available facilities at La Collette.
To seek out the miscreants can be a deterrent, but the true solution is in education. Perhaps resurrecting a ‘Keep Jersey Tidy’ campaign would be a positive step, however a change in attitude is what I truly hope for.
It is always a pleasure to note local names amongst the Birthday or New Year Honours lists but the numbers are limited, and the nominations received are in competition with the other islands and UK. It may therefore be reasonable to expect many deserved individuals are overlooked as far as formal recognition goes.
I would like to see the institution of a States of Jersey medallic awards system to supplement the UK awards, by making available a local Meritorious Service Medal to recognise the services of islanders; who have contributed to the wellbeing of the island to exceptional levels thus broadening the opportunity to thank those who would not otherwise receive such recognition. A Long Service Medal for States and Public Service employees may also be welcomed.
Pictured: Stuart has suggested a States of Jersey medallic awards system to recognise those who have contributed to the well-being of the island or worked in the public service. He believe's the Jersey Humane Society scheme could set a precedent.
As a long standing member of the Orders and Medals Research Society of Great Britain in addition to having previous involvement with the Jersey Humane Society and preparation of awards, I am well aware how precious medallic recognition can be not only to the recipient but their family. It would amount to a positive and permanent token of thanks by the States to their many long term employees.
Our resident gulls are on the whole fine handsome examples of endothermic vertebrates. However, for many year’s emigration has been on their minds; slowly encroaching inland selecting nice convenient cliffs, or more accurately the roofs of various buildings.
Of course, once they lay claim to the ‘cliff’ they defend it with a will the late Mr Churchill would have been proud of, especially around nesting time. My benevolence tended to dissipate when whilst clearing my house guttering I was repeatedly dive bombed with some gusto – an experience shared by many of my neighbours. I speedily formed the firm opinion they would be better to return to their coastlines and enjoy the feast on offer there.
Pictured: Stuart suggests unwelcome residential seagulls could be moved to the coast like 'Gulliver’(above) was.
I would like to see seagulls to have to apply for planning permission for their residence on their chosen roof. Any illegal residency, breach of planning regulations etc; can be resolved by removing the unwelcome resident to the Minquiers.
Perhaps it’s just me but I gain the impression driving standards have deteriorated somewhat for quite a few years now. Many seem oblivious as to whom has right of way on a roundabout or filter system, that the white centre lines are there to be straddled and yes, I’ve got to mention it… mobile phones used by drivers with utter contempt for the law. There is an obvious lack of consideration that the driver has in his hands an instrument that can change their or other persons lives in a fraction of a second.
Pictured: Anyone who uses a mobile phone whilst driving, in Stuart's eyes, has "utter contempt for the law."
There are many good drivers out there, but I still long for local road users to strive to increase their road craft and driving. A driving licence is a privilege and should accompany good manners and courtesy to other road users that in itself cannot but enhance road safety.
I couldn’t let this opportunity pass without mentioning one of my pet commitments, namely the disposal of marine pyrotechnics or ‘marine flares’ as they’re more commonly known.
They are safe and reliable up to their expiry dates, but if kept in poor conditions they may become defective before the end date, making them unreliable and potentially hazardous.
Pictured: Stuart warns expired marine flares are not safe and advises users to dispose them correctly.
My personal experience (having destroyed thousands) has also proved that expired marine flares of every type has at some point malfunctioned in a variety of ways, some quite violently and certainly not in the way intended. If so activated in an emergency it may well have added to a life threatening situation. They are not safe.
If I was to change anything, it is the hope that all marine flare users will not be so blasé and will follow the correct guidance regards storage, use and disposal; thus ensuring they never present a danger to others.
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