Thank You

Following the publication of my last Blog I have been surprised and heartened by the large number of hits it has received. However I understand that some readers have had difficulty in posting comments I believe that this is down to a problem with Blogger.

I have also received many letters, emails and phone calls from Residents Island wide expressing their appreciation for my time in the States.

I also note that there are requests for me to continue with my Blog, I will give the matter consideration. In the meantime I thought I share with my readers some of the comments I have received. I have deleted any reference to the sender’s details.

1. Hi Bob

What a great disappointment reading the Jersey election results.  You must be gutted.  

I have no doubt many have appreciated all your hard work over the years and you will be missed, including by some of your colleagues.

Politics is tough eh. Take care and now have time to relax and start thinking of you instead of others.

2 Dear Bob,

Thank you for all that you have done for St Martin’s parish and the marvellously positive and human way that you have related to everyone.  Though I am sure that you are disappointed, you can be proud of the long, distinguished and appreciated service that you have given.

Once you put your head above the parapet, as everyone in public life does, then you take the risk of being shot at and criticised but that goes with the territory.

I do look forward to continued links with you and pray that your post-States life will be really good and enjoyable.

3 Hi Bob

I was sorry to learn that you were not voted back in office, I just wanted to say thank you

for your support and help and I know that you had helped many other parishioners in the parish.

4 Dear Bob

Just wanted to drop you a line to say how sorry I am about the St. Martin result. I hope you're not too disappointed and wish you all the best for the future. I'm sure you'll continue to contribute to Island life in whatever capacity you choose to follow. You might even enjoy a well earned rest, but I doubt you'll stay still long enough for that!
 

5 Dear Bob
I am so sorry about your election result. I was really surprised but at least you can have quieter life now!

Bob, good morning. Want to say I am sorry for your distress, but it has been a pleasure to know you.

6 Dear Bob,

I was saddened and surprised to hear of Mr Luce's victory. I know that it is always difficult being a straight, honest and outspoken politician in what is ultimately a conservative borough.

Your presence in the chamber will be sorely missed and I would like to say thank you for all the support you have given to me, even before my first election until the present.

Rest assured that there will always be members in the States to keep up 'the good fight' and push for transparency and human rights.

7 Hello Bob

H and I are sorry to hear you have not been re-elected for another term and we both would like to thank you very much for everything you have done for us whilst you have been in office.

I remember you expressing concerns about running for another term in office as your wife wanted you to call it a day.  Perhaps the upside of this is that you will be able to spend more time together enjoying your lives.

Good Luck

 8 Dear Bob,

I'm so sorry things didn't work out better yesterday. The States have lost someone with honesty and integrity.

9 Hi Bob

         So sorry to see you lose last night. Hope you are both ok it has been great working with you

10 Bob

I am so sorry that you did not get in yesterday. I personally would like to thank you for everything you have done over the many years you have served. Not only sorting a few of my problems out but tackling difficult issues. All the best in your retirement.

11 Dear Bob

I want to say how sorry I am to see that the people of St Martin didn't vote for you in sufficiently large numbers on Wednesday. You've made a real contribution to the better government of Jersey in recent years, even if the pressure you have applied has resulted in less progress than you have wanted to see. Your departure from the States will leave it without a champion for human rights and it's not easy to see how that gap will be filled.

12 Oh dear, sorry you lost your seat Bob but no doubt your wife will be pleased to see more of you and you'll be able to do all those exciting things that you would have done if you hadn't been up to your neck in States business!

I hope that the MVA can count on you as a source of all wisdom, you do know the ropes and how to get things done, added to which, you have a longer history of the Maufant fiasco than most of the householders.

'Bye for now Bob and thanks for all you have done over the years as our representative.

13 Dear Bob 

So sorry about the result!  Obviously, you were stitched up because you are a decent person and for that reason I have to say that really the States of Jersey do not deserve good people amongst them who fight for their rights, at their own peril.    And you are that good person Bob, as is your wife who, I know, along with the corrupt States of Jersey, will be very glad at the outcome!

I do not live in Jersey, but I thank you for pointing out the unfairness of the judicial system which is only obvious to us who live outside of it or who happen to understand the law and whose lives it has affected.  And always for standing up for what you have believed to be correct in the interest of the island and humanity, in fact.     Such views had to be stopped by the corrupt States of Jersey it seems!

 Anyway, I do hope you will have time to reflect and remember all the good you have achieved. 

 14 Bob

I saw the result last night. I am sure that is disappointing but I also think something else will turn up to engage you. I can't see you being idle. You are too high octane for that.

15 Dear Bob,

I voted for you but it was not enough. Sorry you were not elected.

Everything's changing.

16. Bob, sorry about the result. Thank you for all you have done for the Parish the last 18 years.

17 Dear Bob

Don't know what to say, we are so sad this has happened, you don't deserve it.

18 Dear Bob

So sorry to hear of your defeat last night, we shall miss your helpfulness and friendliness and seeing you cycling around the parish. I hope you continue riding your bike around these parts but whatever you decide to do now I wish both you and Ann well. We will see how the new deputy gets on.

19 We just wanted to say how sorry we are that you didn't get in as deputy but wanted to say a personal thank you for all the hard work you have done and especially for helping us. We really do appreciate it.

20 Sorry you didn't get in. At least you have a good past record in the States

21 Really sorry to hear the result of the election but well done for all that you achieved over the years. It was a pleasure to serve with you when I was involved.  However retirement has many advantages whether enforced or chosen!!!

After a decent period of resting let me know if you need things to do.

22 Dear Bob,

I am so sorry to hear the news last night.  I was surprised given the endless effort you have made for your Parish.

It was a pleasure getting to know you better and working with you and I would like to thank you for the tremendous work you have put in helping me.

23, Deepest commiserations. It was always going to be a tough fight.

Time to relax and take some holidays. You can be proud of your record.

24 Dear Bob
Sorry to see the news last night - there is no doubt that the States has lost a hard-working Member who is prepared to put in the time to research a subject properly.

25.  Sad to hear of your result - if successful, I was looking forward to working with you again.

26 Hope you are doing ok.  I was really sorry to hear the results last night, it was certainly a surprise

 27 Good morning
Sorry to see you didn't get back in last night the public do not realise how much time and effort that you put into ever thing. You have done and how honest and straight speaking you are, you will be sadly missed in the states chamber.
I suppose the + side is that you will be able to spend time with your wife travelling as you mentioned to me during the summer and not have the likes of me bending your ear!

28 Hi Bob,

Shocked and Saddened by the Result! Would like to thank you once again for all your hard work and assistance with my planning permission and your tremendous support and also for your sterling work both in the Parish and the Island as a whole. Wishing you all the best for the future.

29 Hi Bob,

Commiserations in the loss of your seat as Deputy, having said that, however, Ann will be pleased you can now relax and enjoy life, apart from the Human Rights of course as we still need your expertise.

30 Good morning Bob

You must be very disappointed and I commiserate with you.

You fought a good campaign and it seems the voters wanted a younger man.

So look at the bright side and enjoy your retirement in the knowledge that you served the community well.

31 Dear Bob,

I was shocked to see your St Martin result - politics is a tough game and whilst we might not have seen eye to eye on some things, I respected you.

32 Dear Bob

Sorry things didn't turn out quite how you were expecting. It might though be a blessing in disguise as it will give you and Anne the opportunity to take time out together and to write this book you have been saving up. Looking forward to buying a signed copy when it is published. The island owes you a debt for the hard work you have put in over these eighteen years. What comes after a BEM?

33 Dear Bob,

We would just like to say how sorry we are that you have not been successful this time. We could say that you deserve the rest but know that you are not the sort to do nothing so we are sure you will soon find something else to fill your time.

34 Bob, my commiserations to you, you will be a great loss, digging away at the back there with your pen-knife. Who's going to do that stuff now?

35 Dear Bob,

Very sorry to hear the result in St Martins. We were listed to vote in Grouville so could not lend our support. You should be proud about airing some controversial issues. I suspect that people merely felt like a change.

36 Hi Bob
Sorry you did not get in, a very great loss to the Island

37 Dear Bob,

I am sad to see that your ungrateful voters have not supported you again this time. You have done a fine job of fighting for right against wrong, and I for one have admired your work. 

Congratulations on having pulled your weight for six terms.

38 Dear Bob,

I have just heard the news update and I am in utter disbelief over the result

You are and always will be the best man for the job and I look forward to you standing again and showing the new boy how to do it properly. I don't think he has the stamina to serve the parish with the same dedication as you have for so long and certainly does not have the connections you do with the elders of the parish. I feel that once all the uni students settle into working life his following will decrease as will his enthusiasm

39 Hi Bob,

I'm really sorry to hear the result. I don't know much about Steve Luce but it is a real loss to the parish for you to not be elected.

Best wishes.

END

I thank you all for your kind sentiments and look to the future with interest.