Seymour Hotels Centenary Magazine SPREADS - Flipbook - Page 40
THE TRUE STORY, IN THE
WORDS OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE THERE.
Visit Jersey War Tunnels to hear occupation memories first-hand through
archive footage and interviews with the people who lived through it.
The unique exhibition is housed within 1km of
underground tunnels built by slave labourers
from Russia, Poland, France and Spain. It is filled
with fascinating historical artefacts and exhibits
that paint a rare picture of survival in the face of
unimaginable hardship.
2020 marks the 75th anniversary of Jersey’s
liberation. To celebrate this historical event,
Jersey War Tunnels is launching an exciting
new exhibit that reveals what Islanders
were doing when they found out that the
war was over.
One Islander shared the memory from his
childhood, ‘I was walking to school with some
friends, meeting other children along the way
who were all running back home. We did not
believe them when they said the war was over,
but Mr Gale the Headmaster, was at the gate and
told us to go home and tell our parents the war
was indeed over.’
Another remembered: ‘The war was over by
the 7th May 1945 and the whole population
stopped going to work, anticipating the arrival
of the liberation forces.’
The new exhibit also uncovers stories of the
celebrations that followed the Liberation. An
archive from the time reveals an Islander’s
relief to see the British Army: ‘The children
have had sweets given to them and chocolates
and the Tommies, God bless them, have been
unloading food stuff all day for us. We will
be okay.’
Silver
Teapot
Memories
When the Smith family first came to Jersey, they didn’t stay at one
of the Seymour family’s hotels.
F
ollowing this not so positive
experience, Mary and Lewis
Smith visited their local travel
agent and this single-handedly changed
the course of their holiday relationship
with Jersey. The travel agent insisted on
booking the family into their favourite
Jersey hotel, promising to arrange the
best room. Room 340 at the Portelet
Hotel proved to be the ticket to holiday
This May, ahead of Liberation 75, the tunnels
will reveal a second new exhibit, which will
use advanced technology to showcase
Winston Churchill and a defining moment in
wartime history.
We are open daily from 9.30am – 5.30pm with last admission at 4.00pm
(9:30am-3:30pm from 1st November-15th November, with last admission at 1:30pm)
Tickets can be purchased at:
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jerseywartunnels.com/buy-war-tunnels-tickets
paradise. The family returned, often
two or three times a year for forty years.
Each time they would return to the
same hotel, stay in the same room, eat
at the same table and be served by the
same waiter.
During its final season, Mary and
Lewis came to Jersey for one last
trip and, on opening the door, were
surprised to be greeted by their whole
family. It became the perfect final
holiday to the Portelet Hotel and a
wonderful goodbye.
Among the fond memories are the
friendships made and the silver service.
“Gentlemen would have to wear
jackets and ties. You weren’t allowed
inside the dining room if you weren’t
wearing one,” Mary says, remembering
with a chuckle the selection available
for gentleman to borrow. “One of
our friends came to dinner in a blue
Hawaiian shirt. Well, that wasn’t going
to do. He borrowed a brown jacket and
tie and the combination looked quite
the picture. Ladies had to wear long
dresses and it was wonderful having the
excuse to dress up.”
But what made the Portelet Hotel so
special and a place to return to so many
times? Mary credits their many visits to
the wonderful service they consistently
received. It became their home from
home. Jersey Airport had to regularly
return the room key for 340 because
Mary had forgotten to return it to
Reception.
Mary’s daughter Theresa has many
fond memories of their holidays from
the age of two. Of afternoon swims in
the pool after a busy day and ordering
tea that would arrive in silver teapots.
“We spent so much time in the water.
Starting at the beach before coming to
the hotel for lunch, venturing out for
the afternoon and always returning for
a swim in the pool followed by a pot
of tea. Ahhhh those silver teapots were
beautiful and helped make everything
so extra special. That cup of finely
poured tea was the perfect end to many
carefree days. Every time I see one it
triggers such happy memories.”
The Smith family may all be grown
and married, but their Jersey holidays
continue as they introduce their
children to the Island. Mary and Lewis
frequented the Portelet, and now
their grandchildren love to visit the
Merton Hotel and splash about in the
Aquadome. The one constant is the
Smith’s loyalty and promise to enjoy
many more joyful family holidays with
Seymour Hotels.
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