To celebrate its 150th birthday, the Société Jersiaise is holding a conference on 9 June, an appreciation of the island’s Victorian architect, Adolphus Curry on 10 June and a ‘Victorian Day’ at La Hougue Bie on 17 June.
The conference on 9 June is titled: PAST. PRESENT. FUTURE.
On 10 June, the Société Jersiaise will honour the life and work of one of Jersey’s most brilliant sons, the Victorian architect and engineer Adolphus Curry. In 1885, Curry was elected to the Société Jersiaise. He almost immediately joined the Museum Committee and from 1892, he served on the Comité Exéquetif. Curry enjoyed international recognition within his lifetime. He was a dedicated Freemason and advised on town affairs from drainage and dredging to road widening and infant mortality. Today, Curry is usually remembered for his iconic buildings like the Victoria Club and the Opera House, but to focus on these large, flamboyant works perhaps does him an injustice. He was a remarkably skilled and versatile architect and engineer who designed houses, the interior and exterior of shops, pedestals for statues, factories, railway stations, a roller-skating rink, a pavilion, hotels, an opera house, banks, schools, an orphanage, and ecclesiastical buildings.
The programme for the day includes:
10 – 11am: Town walk with Stuart Fell to include the Southampton hotel and the railway station.
10 – 11am: A Day in the Life of Curry conducted by Melanie Cavey, to include the family business, TP Curry the tailor, and to finish at the Masonic Temple.
11 – 2.30: Masonic Temple
Adolphus was a Past Master of his Lodge and designed the air conditioning system. Geoff Morris, former Past Master, Librarian and Curator will host visitors.
1 – 2pm: Talk by Trudy Mirza to about Adolphus Curry at the Société Jersiaise
2 to 3pm: Town walk with Stuart Fell to include the Southampton hotel and the railway station.
2 – 3pm: A Day in the Life of Curry conducted by Melanie Cavey, to commence at the Masonic Temple and include the family business, TP Curry the tailor.
3.30 and 4pm: Tour of Banjo’s Enjoy the limited edition Curry cocktail for the month of June.
5pm Vin d’Honneur at the Town Hall: Simon Crowcroft is throwing open the Town Hall and holding drinks to celebrate Curry as a son of the town.
