Saturday, October 13, 2018

One Hundred Years

In memory of Everard Chandler Stent, 
of St Luke's, Jersey, Channel Islands
died October 27 1918

His headstone bears the inscription;
"Born In Jersey, Beloved Of All; He Laid Down His Life For His Friends."





Jersey Evening Post - Monday November 4 1918

Roll of Honour. It is with very sincere regret that we chronicle the death
which took place in action somewhere in France on 27 October last of
Bombardier Everard C Stent, eldest son of Mr & Mrs T C Stent of 1 Lansdowne
Villas, St Lukes. The deceased was formerly a prominent footballer and one of
the most popular members of the Jersey Wanderers Football Club, he played
in many an inter-insular match, always with credit to himself and advantage
to his side. He followed his father's profession of schoolmaster. Of an
unassuming but most genial disposition Everard Stent had a very wide circle
of friends who will learn of the death of so fine a young fellow and so gallant a
soldier with great sorrow. To his father and mother and other members of the
family and to Miss Elsie Gruchy of La Prevalaie, Grouville, the deceased's
fiancee, we would offer our respectful condolences. The following is and extract
from a letter sent by a Gunner in Bombardier Stent's battery "He was not at
all well this morning and stayed in bed, but hearing someone was wounded
he rushed out in his bare feet and started bandaging when another shell
came on and killed all that were near, Everard among them. If ever there
was a man whose life had not been lived in vain he is that man and I am very
proud that he was a pal of mine. He was recommended for the Military Medal
some time ago but his whole life since he joined up has been a record of
thought for others and he was loved by every man in the Battery. We have
lost the bravest and most unselfish man I have ever met and, to me, it is like
losing my brother".




Saturday, September 1, 2018

River Sonnet

The farthest eastern rocky shoreline shown
A glimpsed channel, a route mapped within
Barely visible unless somehow known
I paddle here to follow where I've been

Then, the daring love opening to chance
Now, a memory. A struggle to repeat
The river is still here - light, rock, flow, dance
Canoe moves so gently, bird song drum beat

The loss envelops like a pressing weight
And sorrow rises to the trees above
Red blood of sunset, on water, and fate
Opening the past, youth and urgent love

River, take my weight, sorrow and wrong
Light, hold me as the river bleeds my song.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Unfurling




'Unfurling'   Anne Renouf   -   Christensen Fine Art, Peterborough   -    April 2018