Views from a humble subject of the crown

As our King visits our island to honour our long-standing relationship I feel we must also honour him and ensure we as an island “pull our socks up” and show our King that Jersey stands for?Jersey in many ways is a fertile ground for entrepreneurs being a community.

I remember when the King visited our island back in 2004 when he then the Prince. we stood outside the Gates of St. James school which I attended in more formative years, waiting for the king to drive past and give us a wave. The acknowledgement of our king than Prince was such that he drove past even the school with the most “troublemakers” It was a touching moment for many who have been so excluded from the broader “circle of schools”.

I once again encounter the grace of our now King through his work as prince as patron to the Prince's Trust. Showing his commitment to even the most “scrappy kids on the block” myself I count among them. In my younger years explored going through this programme always having had an “entrepreneurial spark” Unfortunately I was told that “The compilation of the cohort wasn’t right” I guess like an article one must have the right start and ending and the right words to strike a-cord so must a scheme, for the wrong ingredients “makes for a disastrous lunch”.

I have however seen the great good the Prince's Trust has done for my contemporaries I met throughout my less-than-ideal education and people who otherwise were on a path of less inclusion, showing them that “there is light at the end of the tunnel" for determined entrepreneurs.”

For these reasons, I deem instrumentally important that we as a Crown Dependency show our King a warm reception and ensure we do everything in our power to demonstrate the values Jersey stands for.?One book that has always struck me as being a good “warden of these values” is "A Jersey Man’s Journey" by Pierre Horsfall. As a dedicated British Citizen and islander, I can only hope that a copy of this book is presented to his Majesty our King upon his visit. Perhaps by our Chief Minister? or how special would it be for Pierre to present the book himself, someone who has led Jersey admirably in times when those values were still demonstrably prominent?

Let’s ensure we leave His Majesty our King with a lasting impression of the values of our island and “forge a path forward together” as subjects of the crown. I am sure a committed team working collaboratively across Jersey is preparing to make this a reality like four corners all pulling in the same direction for a harmonious and prosperous future.?

Our thoughts inlined should especially boost account of our enduring relationship, as the Jersey story is very much a testimony to the historical saying:

from small acorns great oaks grow.

God Save The King!