CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR 2016/17

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2017

Chairman Clive Armstrong

We have had a very busy and successful year as a committee, we have ups and downs. Especially with the loss of some dear friends.

I will summaries’ our events over the past twelve months.

Field Of Remembrance. At the end of October, we attended the service and commencement of the annual Field of Remembrance, this is the fourth year that the Partnerschaft has been present, and it was well attended.

Remembrance Services. Both our remembrance services were again well attended, our  event in the afternoon had been tweaked slightly, we provided chairs for the former internees, and Father Nick Barry produced a new service with a hymn, was well attended a dry afternoon for once, the tea afterwards was held a new venue, the Merton hotel, they provided an excellent tea, which was ready for all of us as soon as we arrived, they also provided a free carpark for us, so we could attend the service and have the tea without the worry of parking. We had excellent feedback from this event.

November Get together. At the end of November our annual get together at the town hall was once again was successful whilst the numbers were down slightly on the previous year we had excellent entertainment, firstly by two primary schools singing carols, and then music provided by Derek Upton and his band the “usual suspects”, we had a raffle in which three of the primary school students were thrilled to be asked to call out the numbers. They each received a small gift at the end. We had very positive feedback from this.

Family History Fayre.  In January is year we attended for the first time the Family History Fayre, held at the Jersey Library, The event was attended by Marlene and Eberhard  on Friday and Clive, Sandra, Lillian and Sarah, This event was a great success with great interest show from the general public with many interesting questions and comments.

72nd Liberation anniversary at the War Tunnels. This years Liberation memorial service and afternoon teas was again held at the War Tunnels attended by the Bailiff and his wife., Firstly the Memorial Service, because of the appalling weather we made an quick decision to hold the service on the terrace of the tea room so shelter could be had, a special thanks must go to Father Sasinowski, who was not aware he had to provide a order of service, a quick chat and basic facts he gave an excellent service and anyone listening to it would not have known it was off the cuff, a new feature added was three readings provided by the Youth Theater, thanks must be given to the readers Lilly-Mae, Fyn, Jyothi Nayar and the team. Whilst guest proceed to get out of the rain, The Bailiff Clive, Father Sasinowski joined Stuart and his wife for the bailff to lay a rose. We adjourned to the Café for tea, this year under the new management of Darren of Mange Tout we had a far better service provided all teas and coffees provided quickly, , and the cost was very reasonable. The Internees I spoke to during the event thought the idea of them sitting on the terrace and us speaking to them from the slightly raised terrace was ideal as they found it difficult nowadays to mount the garden of remembrance, something to bare in mind for the future.

Website, Facebook and Twitter: These are continuing to be developed whenever I get a chance I am adding more information. From the website I have been in touch with the family of one of internees that had died in Bad Wurzach, I and piecing together information for them, it appears he had an eventful life.

Looking forward to the coming year In July a small group will be visiting Bad Wurzach,We have one candidate wishing to apply for a travel bursary to Bad Wurzach to work, she has been before and enjoyed it so much would like to go again, in her university break.

Finally

Sadly we have received notice that due to ill health Terrance has tendered his resignation from the committee, he has enjoyed being part of the team.

I hope that the offers of assistance for different events to be managed by individual committee members will continue.

Grateful thanks are due to Angela for organizing our trip to Bad Wurzach  this year.

I would like to thank all of the committee for their time and support

My apologies to anyone whom I have neglected to mention but thank you.