From Mike Bull.
THIS last few days I have been watching The Channel Isles at War, presented by John Nettles, with great interest.

It brought back many memories of my childhood during the Occupation, including the fact that both my parents spent time in jail for listening to the ‘wireless’.

I must say John’s presentation of the subject was the most balanced I have seen so far. Too often the subject of collaboration, ‘Jerry-bags’, etc, are sensationalised out of all proportion, and some of the more important issues skipped.

It was nice to see him close the last episode with the question: ‘What would anyone else have done in similar circumstances?’

Today, I opened our local newspaper, The Press and Journal, and turned to the section that invites readers to submit interesting photographs that they have taken recently. Right there was the enclosed picture of the old States Tug, the Duke of Normandy, berthed at the Crinan Canal on the north-west coast of Scotland, where she is used as a canal work boat by the canal authorities. I immediately thought that this would be of interest to your readers.

I can well remember at the age of ten watching The Duke bringing all the senior liberating officers into St Helier Harbour from the warships and in turn some of the Germans being taken on the reverse journey.

Funnily enough, for a young lad it was all an amazing adventure. As John Nettles said though, not so, I’m afraid, for our parents.