4th May 2016
The Occupation Tapestry is completed
The Occupation Tapestry celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jersey’s liberation at the end of the Second World War. Featuring 12 panels and more than 7.5m stitches, it depicts events that occurred both locally under the German administration, and in the wider world.
The first panel depicts Neville Chamberlain declaring peace in our time as he holds aloft the piece of paper he’d brought back to Britain after his meeting with Hitler, surrounded by images of Jersey’s evacuation and the approach of German forces.
The tapestry, which took 950 locals from each of Jersey’s 12 parishes 30,000 hours to stitch, is housed in the Maritime Museum at St Helier harbour. The last stitch was made by the Lieutenant Governor’s wife, Lady Gene McColl.
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Other events that occured in May
Jersey’s open-air swimming pool opens
- The Jersey Times described the outdoor swimming pools opening as “one of the most brilliant functions witnessed in our island for some time”.
- Read more…
Feminist and journalist Rosie Boycott is born
- Jersey-born Rosie Boycott founded one of the most important feminist publications ever produced, and edited several newspapers.
- Read more…
Jersey historian Philip Falle dies
- Philip Falle produced a definitive history of Jersey, found favour as an advisor to the king, and was ordained a priest.
- Read more…
King of the Ecrehous is admitted to hospital
- Phillipe Pinel was known by many as the King of the Ecrehous, under which title he ruled the islands off Jersey’s north-east coast.
- Read more…