30th April 2008
Jersey chooses a new anthem
Ma Normandie has long been Jersey’s semi-official anthem. However, the song, which had been penned by Rouen-born Frederic Berat hadn’t been written with Jersey in mind at all, but Normandy, as its title suggested. Jersey is still ruled by a monarch whose official title is the Duke of Normandy, as passed down the line of succession from William the Conqueror. Nonetheless, the States of Jersey made the decision to commission a replacement in 2008, hoping to find something more appropriate to the island itself, which could be used an official anthem when Jersey was competing at sporting events.
Public performance
A handful of shortlisted entries were performed at the Opera House on 30 April 2008, and a panel voted on which should be adopted in place of Ma Normandie. As the BBC later reported, “when the time came for the Opera House evening, there was some controversy… five dignitaries each had a vote, and the votes of the audience were collated and given as one vote”.
Gerard Le Feuvre’s Island Home came out on top and, in May 2010 it was declared Jersey’s official anthem.
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Other events that occured in April
The death of a very wealthy shipping baron
- When ship builder Sir Robert P Houston died, he left a £7m fortune and no male heir, which was bad news for his wife.
- Read more…
First Jersey Royals are exported to London
- Jersey new potatoes only found fame on the mainland after the first shipment went on sale in Covent Garden on 16 April 1859.
- Read more…
Plans revealed for bridge to France
- Plans for a 16-mile bridge linking Jersey to France, which would also carry fibre optic cables and fuel pipes, were revealed in April 2008.
- Read more…
Jersey votes to retain the death penalty
- The States of Jersey votes 22 to 28 in favour of retaining the death penalty when it debated the matter in April 1972.
- Read more…