Florence Boot’s name has long been associated with Grève d’Azette in St Clement thanks to FB Fields, which is in regular use by sporting groups, and Florence Boot Cottages, which provide social housing for islanders.
But 100 years ago, the original Cottages were an exciting new feature of the area.
They had been built a couple of years beforehand and a celebration was held to mark their inauguration on 28 July 1925, the same day as Lady Boot’s 62nd birthday.
Over 200 youngsters and about 60 mothers, residents of the Cottages, as well as residents of other States of Jersey tenements, were invited to the occasion.
Sir Jesse Boot, Jersey resident, founder of Boots the Chemist and Lady Boot’s husband,had offered to build the Cottages in 1921 on the land in Grève d’Azette, which was owned by the States.
The Government gratefully took him up on his offer and agreed to lease the land to him for 75 years.
He decided to build 22 homes for families with five children who struggled to find adequate accommodation for their needs.
People started to move into Florence Boot Cottages in 1923.
A couple of years later, the grand inauguration event was organised.
The plot of land bordering the coast road near the houses was set aside for the event, which was put together under the supervision of Sir Jesse’s secretary, Mr R E Burt.
A marquee was erected and entertainment was laid on for everyone to enjoy, including the Barnardo Boys’ Concert Party singing songs, ensembles, jazz music and dancing, as well as Mr J Martin and L J Le Maistre putting on a Punch and Judy show.
The afternoon was punctuated with sports events for the youngsters, with Lady Boot arriving in time for tea. Grace was sung and staff from Bird’s the Bakery of New Street, who catered the event, set about distributing a wide variety of snacks, including bread and butter cakes, pastries and sandwiches.
One comment in the Evening Post report about the inauguration said of the attendance: “Three hundred of ‘em at Her Ladyship’s tea? Not by a long way. Nearer four or five hundred managed to get in. Well, there was more than enough for all.”
Three cheers were raised for Lady Boot with the newspaper reporting that she “must then, more than ever, have realised what joy she had imparted, and the sincerity of the wish”.
Multi-coloured balloons were brought out and handed to the youngsters, who set about playing once more. The party went back out onto the field where children received gifts. Further entertainment followed with magic and music played from a stage.
The afternoon culminated in a presentation by Lady Boot of prizes won at the sports events. She received a basket of flowers from the mothers and children who were tenants of the States’ houses, presented by Rose Andrews.
As the children left, they raised cheers for Sir Jesse and Lady Boot. An attendee was quoted in the Evening Post as saying: “Did you hear them cheer Lady Boot? What lungs! Well, she deserves it for her kindness.”
The day was a fantastic success. Everyone enjoyed themselves greatly and one mother who went to the celebrations told the newspaper: “Children had the [most] joy[ful]] day of their lives. My lot started it the day before dancing about. Nobody drove ‘em away or said ‘don’t’ the whole time. It wasn’t needed. Lady Boot’s orders was ‘let them enjoy themselves’ no doubt.”
The Evening Post later published a letter from Sir Jesse Boot that he wrote in honour of the inauguration: “It is fitting that on the occasion of my wife’s birthday we should celebrate the completion of the Florence Boot Cottages, for had it not been for her, these houses would not now be in existence, nor indeed any other of the schemes, on which I am engaged in her native island of Jersey which she loves so well.
About the Cottages, he wrote: “In the selection of the tenants, it has been a rule, broken only in exceptional cases, that every family must contain at least five children.
“As a matter of fact the total number of children in all twenty-two houses now comes to over 110 altogether, so that the average is well maintained.
“In building these houses, it was the desire of Lady Boot and myself to get an open space where they could live out-of-doors in the fresh air and sunshine and grow up healthy and strong.”
The Florence Boot Cottages were redeveloped in the 1990s and management of them was taken over by the FB Cottages Housing Trust. They continue to offer social housing to Islanders.
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This story has been 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.