Grouville GazetteGazette An independent glimpse of life in our parish Summer 2016 Volume 14 Issue 2 Printed on paper from sustainable resources. A parish to be proud of! IN this summer’s Grouville Gazette we are very excited to be introducing some new regular features which you will be able to enjoy in each edition. Firstly, we are going to take a regular look at what our Honorary Police force have been up to. We all know that they play a vital role in the parish, but how well do you know what goes on day- to-day? It might surprise someG of you! OurG new regular column from Centenier Liz Viney tells us all of the ins and outs that our Honorary force have been up to recently, from tackling illegal parkers to tracking down dangerous dogs. Find out why the Constable may be heading to the Minquiers (page 33) (Page 30) History is something that interests a lot of people, but businesses is celebrating an important milestone this how many of you know all about the history of Jersey’s summer. Ransom’s garden centre has been trading for greatest parish? Well, luckily for us, Grouvillais girl an incredible 50 years and we take a trip down memory Michèle Leerson works at Jersey Archive and she has lane (Page 3) with David and Janet Ransom and discover agreed to dig deep in to Grouville’s past and uncover how their famous establishment got off the ground. some amazing stories. This edition (Pages 16&17) we This edition we also say a rather belated hello and learn all about Michèle’s work, including a recent project welcome to Gorey’s new youth club leader. As well as on Gorey village. introducing herself, Ciara Mooney tells us (see page 8) As well as looking after the welfare of all of those in our tells us all about her exciting plans for the years ahead parish, our Grouville Deputy also has an extremely and how any of our parish’s youngsters can get involved important role to play as chairman of the Overseas Aid in the fantastic goings on down in the village. Commission. She recently visited one of the official We mustn’t forget that towards the end of the summer it refugee camps in Jordan and has an amazing story to will once again be time for the fabulous Grouville Church tell. (Pages 22&23) Fayre at Les Pres Manor. All of the details are on page 4 We also get the regular update from the Constable, who including the all-important date for this year’s festivities. explains why parish officials will be making an official visit And do not miss a wonderful piece on the recent to the Minquiers this year. (Page 33) petanque tournament at Holme Grown, where our very And although it’s not strictly in our parish (even though it own Deputy’s and Constabe’s teams met some stiff very much feels like it) one of Jersey’s best-known opposition! (Pages 18&19) “ Every one of our carers is an ambassador for high-quality, respectful care.” ɄƌɄ ɄƌɄ ɄƌɄ ɄƌɄ Our Home Care service can support you in the comfort of your own home. 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To find out how we can help you or your loved one visit us online at www.lv.je Grouville Gazette | Summer 2016 2 50 years at the helm of Ransoms by Samuel Masters David and Janet Ransom can feel justifiably proud: not only have they created a business that has stood the test of 50 years; they have ensured that their leg- acy lives on in their three daughters who are now leading Ransoms Garden Centre through a new era. David and Janet Ransom met during the late 1950s while David was studying at Kew Gardens. Having graduated he followed Janet to New York, where they got married on Christmas Day, before packing up their posses- sions and heading cross- country to California, where David found work in a nurs- ery near Longbeach. It was here that David learned about growing David and Janet Ransom at home plants in containers, ena- bling the business to sell its products year round, instead Their relationship, like their business, has been built on of in the narrow autumn to spring window adopted by hard work, passion and respect. Creating a business that most British nurseries. can withstand the storms and grow during the good The lure of David’s home Island brought him back to times takes commercial acumen and a good sprinkling Jersey with his young wife and, at that time, the first of of luck and while it has not always been plain sailing, their four children. With him he carried the seed of an there has been lots of fun along the way. David and Janet idea that had been planted in that small dusty nursery on talk animatedly about the buying trips they have made the other side of the world: could he replicate the method the length and breadth of the land – from Cornwall to the of growing plants in containers for the local market? Lake District and the many lively and colourful characters David joined his father’s landscaping business for a short they have met along the way. These are memories that while before seeing the opportunity to pursue his dream have shaped their lives and their business, and when you of starting his own garden centre. At that time there were speak to their three daughters – Katherine, Sarah and about a dozen nurseries in Jersey, but no garden cen- Rebecca - who have taken over the running of the gar- tres. In fact there were very few garden centres in the den centre, it’s evident that the values and beliefs that whole of the British Isles. were formed in those early days are as strong today. The dream really started to bloom when Janet’s parents, Katherine looks after the administration of the business, Fred and Alice Sales, moved to Jersey in the early 1960s, overseeing buying in the UK and Europe and running the bringing with them a wealth of knowledge about running Potting Shed gift shop; Sarah is a patissier and started a successful business. the Ransoms Tearooms in 1992 with her mother, who is Together, David and Janet, with Fred and Alice, bought a a trained chef; Rebecca followed her grandfather, father 15th Century farmstead at Faldouet in St Martin, with 37 and maternal uncle to Kew and now looks after the horti- vergees of land. They moved in on David and Janet cultural side of the business. The fourth sibling James Ransom’s wedding anniversary – Christmas Day 1965 - has also got green fingers and has established his own and opened to the public as Ransoms Garden Centre independent landscaping company. just five months later. In those early days it was all about In their Golden Anniversary year, as David and Janet look building a loyal customer base that appreciated the on from retirement, they can see their daughters nurtur- knowledge, choice and quality service that have become ing and growing the business with the same passion for the bedrock of Ransoms over the last 50 years. innovation and quality that they started with in 1966. The days were long, with the centre staying open for Building a strong business that is as much a part of the longer hours than the competition and David and Janet family as the family is part of the business takes Ransoms carrying on potting up plants as soon as the children, patience, strength of mind and a clear vision. And that’s now numbering four, had been put to bed for the night. something the Ransoms clan seem to have in spades. Grouville Gazette | Summer 2016 3 The Grouville Church Country Fayre 2016 by Caroline Osgood There is something for all the family at the Grouville Church Fayre A date for your diary; the Grouville Church Fayre will be there will be jewellery and produce stalls and, of course, held on Saturday, 3rd September in the picturesque set- the Grand Raffle with its many prizes. ting of Les Pres Manor, by kind permission of the Le Maistre family. This is the major annual church fundraiser, The Tea Tent will provide a scrumptious selection of so please bring yourselves and as many friends as you cakes and sandwiches together with the very reasona- can muster to make it a great success. bly-priced BBQ serving bacon rolls, burgers and pork sausage rolls and, naturally, there is also an ice cream The fayre opens at 11 am and continues until 5 pm. Entry van and candy floss. You won’t go thirsty, as the Les Pres is free, as is the parking, and the route to the fayre will be Team will be providing their home-made cider alongside marked from Rue á Don for those arriving by car or bus.