October

Although Victor Hugo is more often associated with Guernsey, where he spent 15 years in exile and wrote some of his most memorable works, he had initially tried to build a new life for himself in Jersey. That all came crashing down when he was involved in the publication of criticism of the Queen, and he was forced to leave the island at the end of October.

This was also the month in which the Channel Islands’ last execution took place, and the Channel Islands’ oldest resident died – fortunately of old age. TV illusionist Derren Brown, meanwhile, diced with death when he came to Jersey to film a television special, which would see him play Russian Roulette. This was also the month during which the BBC broadcast the first episode of the drama that would put Jersey on the map for many viewers – Bergerac.

Jersey started issuing its own stamps in October, it was the month in which the first modern Jersey Marathon was run and Debussy’s La Mer, part of which was written while the composer was staying in the island, debuted. It was in October that Hitler ordered the Channel Islands’ fortification and, more curiously, Jersey Airport’s runway moved.