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Tooled-Up

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Tooled-Up

For our DIAMOND edition, we met up with two professionals who use diamonds for work everyday; Dentist Ciaran Milner and Drilling Specialist Paul Passman tell us about their tools of the trade. Juxtaposing the clinical pristine Dentist’s Diamond Drill with the tough and weathered Diamond Core Drill, we find out more about these amazing high end bits of kit.

Paul Passman, Drilling Technician/Operative at Diamond Drilling & Cutting Specialists 

Pictured Holding a Hilti DD150 Diamond Core Drill and with a ICS 880F4-Fl Diamond Chain Saw

What are they used for?

I use the Core Drill on a daily basis for creating smaller holes from about 8mm to 160mm (for larger holes a rig mounted machine would be used). It will cut through block, granite, stone, brick and reinforced concrete. The Diamond Chainsaw would only be used for cutting block or reinforced concrete in tight spaces where other machines would not fit or for when a deeper cut is required, as it has a cutting depth of 630mm. It is also very expensive to use as the chains have a short life span.

Are they difficult to use?

They can be hard to use and very dangerous if handled incorrectly, so we have one on one training and full supervision is undertaken for each machine until operatives have enough skill and confidence to work on their own.

Have you ever broken one?

These machines have a lifespan of between 18 months to two years if looked after, but because of the level of vibration they endure, they do require constant maintenance and repair.

How much do they cost?

For the Diamond Core Drill the motor i’m holding would be about £2,000 on its own, or £3,500 with a stand. The core bits would cost between £30 to £300 depending on the size of the hole and make up of the diamond segments attached. For the Diamond Chainsaw; the motor would cost about £2,500 with the chain and the bar costing an additional £350 to £650 a time, again depending on the length of chain and diamond segments used.

For any diamond drilling or cutting you might need, call the team on 07797 718439.

Ciaran Milner, Dental Surgeon & Owner of Milner Dental and she is also President of The Jersey Dental Association 

Pictured holding a KaVo turbine hand piece with diamond bur.

When do you use this?

I use it daily for a number of procedures including preparing teeth for fillings and crowns. It rotates between 400,000 – 700,000 revolutions per minute and will cut through enamel which is the hardest substance in the body.

Is it hard to use?

It’s not hard to use, but it takes over five years of Dental School to be qualified to use it on a person.

Have you ever broken one?

No, but the diamond burs wear out regularly. A hand piece will last a few years.

How much does one cost?

About £800 for a hand piece and £5 – £10 per diamond bur.

For any Dental needs you might have, call the Milner Dental team on 766383 to book an appointment.

Diamonds Are Forever

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Diamonds Are Forever

We’re lucky enough to be spoilt for choice with a number of highly reputable and longstanding jewellers here in Jersey. For our Diamond edition, we met with some of the faces behind Rivoli, Catherine Best, Aurum and Hettich, to find out what it’s like to work with such precious materials everyday.

Deborah Macklin
Jewellery Designer
Rivoli

What does a typical working day look like for you?

On a typical day, I could be designing a unique piece of jewellery to a customer’s brief, viewing gems and diamonds to buy for future collections and commission pieces, or working on a new instore jewellery collection. We recently launched our Rivoli Love Collection of diamond solitaires and three stone rings, so there is much excitement surrounding that at the moment. I could also be generating ideas for future Rivoli Events, planning seasonal campaigns, or posting on Instagram! Every day is unique at Rivoli Jewellers, but one thing that does remain the same is that each day I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by beautiful diamonds.

What inspired you to pursue a career in this industry?

As a student of art and design, I quickly realised that with hard work, determination and a sprinkle of luck, I could make a career for myself that involved my favourite things – designing and making jewellery. I started my first job as a bench jeweller in Jersey age 21 and the rest is history!

What is your favourite aspect of the job?

I love the moment when I’m drawing and a great design appears on the paper, but by far my favourite aspect of being a jewellery designer is the moment I see the piece of jewellery I’ve designed be brought to life by our jeweller. Then of course the moment I present that piece of jewellery to the client for the first time.

Paul Tranter
Head Jeweller
Catherine Best

What does a typical working day look like for you?

The day starts by setting up the workshop and making sure all of the manufacturing equipment is in full working order. The jobs I will be working on will be bespoke customer commissions, stock jewellery or customer’s repairs. Throughout the day I am able to work on different jobs allowing me to have a diverse and varied range of work.  

What inspired you to pursue a career in this industry?

Growing up, I loved using my hands to create model aircrafts and ships. This industry allows me to have the same level of enthusiasm, using my hands to bring a design sketch to life and creating beautiful and unique handmade pieces of jewellery.

What is your favourite aspect of the job?

At Catherine Best, we are encouraged to complete each piece of jewellery from start to finish. Usually in this industry, you would specialize in one key area of the manufacturing process, whether that be manufacturing, mounting, setting or polishing, so you would usually be handing a piece of jewellery over to someone at different stages from manufacturing process, rarely seeing your finished piece. I enjoy taking the ownership and pride in working on pieces from the start to the very end.

Richard Blampied
Owner & Goldsmith
Aurum

What does a typical working day look like for you?

After an early rise to walk our two family dogs, I get into work early before the phones start ringing to check the diary and plan my day. When I’m not advising and helping customers, most of my day is spent in the workshop, where I could be preparing work for the goldsmiths, picking stones for the diamond setter, or completing paperwork and estimates. My daughter, Julie, is a qualified Goldsmith and Gemologist and we often have design meetings with my wife, Alexa, as we not only create new and bespoke items, but also remodel customers existing jewellery. This is usually passed down through generations, which is both humbling and inspiring. We can help to turn something very sad into something beautiful that can be treasured by the next generation.

What inspired you to pursue a career in this industry?

I was always a sporty child and preferred to be outside playing football, but when I left school I was offered a job in the workshop of a small local jeweller. Having had the chance to train in the skill of watch making and repairing, I quickly realised that I enjoyed working with my hands. After 18 months, I left for a Goldsmithing college in the Black Forest where I served my apprenticeship. I must have loved it because I’m still here 50 years later!

What is your favourite aspect of the job?

It’s difficult to say – regular trips to the diamond centre in Antwerp are always a highlight, or seeing one of Alexa’s designs come to life, or watching my daughter make decisions that I had to make a generation ago. I think my favourite has to be the talented people I’ve worked with over the years. We hand make the majority of our exceptional pieces in house, so the credit for any reputation we have goes to the team, both past and present. After 50 years, I would like to think we have a wealth of knowledge in all aspects jewellery and have had some amazing commissions. We have become good friends with so many of our loyal customers along the way, so to work alongside friends, family and some incredibly talented people is an absolute pleasure.

Beata Sass
Sales Associate
Hettich

What does a typical working day look like for you?

My day starts by setting up the store windows to make sure our diamond displays are to the highest standard. Every window tells a story and every detail is important, so the diamonds must all look their very best. I spend the rest of my morning working on customer enquiries, special orders and preparing the shop floor for customer visits. My favourite part of the day is looking after our existing and new customers in the store, offering them the best service experience and the finest quality diamonds in the Channel Islands.

What inspired you to pursue a career in this industry?

They say ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ and in some ways it’s true. I’ve always been interested in beautiful jewellery and watches, and the luxury retail sector is my area of expertise. My natural interest combined with strong communication and people skills have made me a successful sales person. I love what I do and enjoy every day!

What is your favourite aspect of the job?

Creating lasting memories is part of my job, but it’s also my favorite aspect of it too. Helping a couple choose the perfect engagement ring or diamond to celebrate a special occasion is an important moment that customers never forget. As a diamond expert and a sales specialist, I relish making the experience memorable to every single customer.   

Bib Gourmand for Mark Jordan

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Bib Gourmand for Mark Jordan

Mark Jordan at the Beach has been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand for the seventh year running – the only restaurant in the Channel Islands to receive this honour. A Bib Gourmand might not be as well-known as the Michelin Star but is hugely popular with followers of the Michelin Guide. It’s a value-for-money award which proves that great food doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. And more good news is that Mark Jordan at the Beach will be open every day for lunch and dinner throughout November this year.

To book call 01534 780180 or email bookings@markjordanatthebeach.com

Four Grand Rosettes!

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Four Grand Rosettes!

The team from Tassili at Grand Jersey are celebrating this week, having been awarded four Rosettes by the AA at a gala event at Grosvenor House in London on Monday evening.This accolade, which ranks Tassili amongst the very best restaurants in the UK, is awarded to very few establishments.

It’s a fantastic achievement for Nicolas Valmagna, Executive Chef and Luis Silvestre, Sous Chef at the AA Five Star St Helier hotel, who have been working tirelessly to put Tassili firmly on the map as one of the island’s best gastronomic experiences.

Four Rosettes are awarded to restaurants which according to the AA ‘exhibit intense ambition, a passion for excellence, superb technical skills and remarkable consistency’ and where ‘the cooking demands national recognition’.

Nicolas’ style is largely French with overtones of British cuisine. Simplicity, taste, produce and technique are all key to his philosophy as he strives to showcase the exceptional quality of produce available on the island with signature dishes like crab, passion fruit gel, combava lime, bisque dressing and coconut foam that combine elements from both the land and sea around the beautiful island of Jersey.

Nicolas said, “We are thrilled that Tassili has been awarded four AA Rosettes. We’ve been working really hard over the last three years and to receive this recognition is great motivation for us to keep creating and delivering the highest possible standards.”

“Luis shares the same passion as I do for trying different things, tasting them and refining them until we reach perfection. I am proud and excited about what we can achieve as a team in the future!”

Commenting on the accolade, Simon Miller General Manager of Hand Picked Hotels Jersey said, “This prestigious award is testament to the amazing work of our Tassili team. We are extremely proud of Nic and Luis’ dedication and commitment to showcasing creative, well crafted, seasonal dishes, with authentic provenance, that genuinely surprise and delight our customers each and every time they visit. These four Rosettes are really well deserved.”

This year marks the 110th year of AA Hotel & Hospitality Services. The annual black tie AA Hospitality Awards event is one of the highlights in the industry calendar and is attended by world-renowned chefs, prominent hoteliers, restaurateurs, hospitality gurus and key media. The event recognises and rewards the excellence of hotels, restaurants and their respective teams across the UK.

Tough Cookies

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Tough Cookies

WORDS Imogen Pickering
PHOTOGRAPHY Danny Evans

The word ‘tough’ has two definitions:

  1. Strong enough to handle adverse conditions or rough handling
  2. Ability to endure hardship and pain

At some point in our lives, we all have to face tough conditions, be they emotionally or physically. But, in certain careers, dealing with difficult circumstances is a daily occurance. We met two gentlemen; Alex from A&A Scaffolding Solutions and Julian from Maillard’s Funerals, whose daily routines see them face tough working conditions, on two entirely different spectrums.

ALEX
Managing Director, Founder
A&A Scaffolding Solutions Ltd.

What does a typical working day involve for you?

It’s an early morning start, getting to the yard to schedule the day’s jobs for the team and having the wagons either loaded with scaffold gear or emptied from the day before. The main aspect of my job nowadays is in pricing up jobs and managing schedules, but I’m sometimes required to jump back on the tools. This would mean either stripping/dismantling scaffolding or assisting in erecting jobs, however that is usually delegated to the fantastic team I have working for me at A&A Scaffolding Solutions Ltd.

What possessed you to pursue a career in scaffolding?

I was never someone who enjoyed school, since I loathed paperwork and being stuck indoors, so I knew I wanted to pursue a career which meant I could be outside. To be honest, I thought Scaffolding looked easy, but I soon realised it was far from it. I’ve stuck at it for so long because of the banter and camaraderie you get with working in a team, as well as the fact you get to spend all of your time outdoors, especially in the summer when it’s hot.

What is the toughest aspect of your job?

Scaffolding is a manual job, for which you need to have a head for heights and be physically strong. Although it’s great working outdoors in the summer, on the flip side, working throughout the winter can be bitterly cold. In any given day, you can be up and down scaffolding structures which can be high as the tallest buildings Jersey, lugging about seven tonnes of scaffolding tubes and boards. It can be hard on the back and joints, especially when you get as old as me! Having said this, it definitely keeps you fit, healthy and strong, which is proven by the fact that we still have a couple of guys in their sixties working on the tools for us.

What does it take to do your job well?

Scaffolding has evolved massively over the last 20 years, so the skill sets and techniques the trade once required are very different to what’s needed now. The most important thing you need to have is a good sense of awareness and common sense, with a good regard for health and safety guidelines; as these keep the public and us safe. In addition, you must be reliable, be able to work with and trust your team, as well as having a good head for heights.

JULIAN
Managing Funeral Director
Maillard’s Funerals Ltd.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

Every day is different, there is no set routine. Much of the time you are involved in arranging funerals which consists of sending numerous emails or phone calls and attending to paperwork. Then there are the days you are officiating at a funeral which can take up quite a few hours and then there are the times when you are meeting families to discuss making funeral arrangements. There is so much variation to your day and it can all change with one phone call, one minute you can be at your desk the next you can be out and about on a variety of different tasks.

What possessed you to pursue a career in funerals?

I had been in the jewellery trade for many years and decided it was time for a new challenge. The funeral business has always held an interest for me, I consider it a very noble and quite an elite career which not many people would think of doing as a profession. My skills in dealing with people over many years have proved useful to help support and guide them through a hugely emotional time in their lives. I have found it to be a tremendously rewarding career and I am so pleased I accepted the offer to join the Maillards team.

What is the toughest aspect of your job?

There are a number of difficult aspects in this job and certainly one of the hardest is witnessing an individual or family totally distraught at the loss of their loved one. You have to remain professional but give strength, support and guidance to them even if inside you are feeling their grief. Having said that, if there comes a time when you are not emotionally affected anymore then perhaps that is the time to seek another career. When you are dealing with a number of funerals all at once there are numerous fine details, arrangements and legal paperwork all to be done within limited time constraints, forget just one element and it can disastrous. You only get one chance to get a funeral right.

What does it take to do your job well?

You must be empathetic, a very good listener, have strong organisational skills and be able to work under pressure to achieve deadlines. You will need to be an excellent timekeeper, attention to detail is paramount and have the desire to go that extra step to help people through possibly the worst time of their lives. Finally and strangely, you may think, you must have a good sense of humour because on a bad day that is the one thing that will help you to get through it.

Frankie Goes to Ruby’s

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Frankie Goes to Ruby’s

“Wherever I Go is me, encapsulated,” says Frankie Davies, Jersey-born songwriter, on her highly anticipated debut album. This is an important release for Davies, in fact, she has said that “this represents me, my journey and experiences over the last 4 years.”

In 2015 Frankie released her debut EP ‘Dancing All Night’ out of which came 3 singles, critical praise and national airplay. In 2017 she began work on her debut album, recording with renowned Nashville musicians in the home of Country, and back in the UK with her all-female band. Davies has visited Nashville on many occasions to write and perform, once notably with BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris as one of just 3 UK artists selected to represent BBC Introducing in Nashville at the Americana Music Festival. She continues to enjoy support from Bob and his team on his radio shows and festival stages. In 2016, Davies was invited back to Nashville to perform at an international showcase at one of the world’s biggest Country festivals, CMA Fest.

Davies performs at the highest level touring the UK and wider Europe with some of the biggest names in Country Music including Maddie & Tae, Chris Young, Charlie Worsham, Mo Pitney & Josh Kelley. Closer to home Frankie has appeared regularly at the UK’s biggest Country Music Festival ‘C2C’, toured with UK favourites The Shires, supported Ward Thomas & completed her first headline tour in 2017.

2018 marks an important step in her story, the release of ‘Wherever I Go’, Davies’ debut album on the 26th of October, something fans have been waiting to hear for a long time. Its variety of influences are tied together by Davies’ evocative vocals and addictive melodies that transport listeners through both painful and joyful moments in her life.

“In one sense this album is a showcase of lessons learnt from my beginnings and being young and naive in the music industry. From the rockier, You Don’t Know Me, written with Emily Linden, where I let my frustration pour out, to the contrasting Front Row Seat. The latter song is about an experience that broke me. I had been led to believe that a show I had been booked for would suddenly change my life. When it came to showtime there was only one person in the audience.” This confrontation with a harsh world at such a young age only pushed Frankie forward and adds a grit to her songwriting as well as moments of heart-breaking honesty.

“I went out and I played and from my disappointment, I discovered something truly valuable. Even if there is only one person to listen to my music they deserve my performance. I am always grateful to anyone who wants to listen.”

 

ALBUM LAUNCH RAISING MONEY FOR FOJO FRIENDS OF JERSEY ONCOLOGY
RUBY’S, JERSEY WEDNESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER

Frankie will be celebrating the release of the album with an intimate launch at Ruby’s on Wednesday 7th November with all proceeds going to FOJO – Friends of Jersey Oncology Frankie will be playing songs from the album and sharing the stories behind the songs.

Doors 7pm, with local support TBC.
£10 (Advance) £15 (On the door)
https://www.365tickets.je/frankie-davies-friends-at-rubys
@frankiedaviesmusic

Social Media
FB: https://www.facebook.com/frankiedaviesmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrankieDaviesUK
Instagram: http://instagram.com/frankiedavies
Web: http://www.frankiedavies.co.uk

Stoked Music Management
mac@stokedmusic.co.uk

For press enquiries, please contact Ellie Thompson at Prescription PR via ellie@prescriptionpr.co.uk

The Genuine Articles | John & Angela Sowerby

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The Genuine Articles | John & Angela Sowerby

PHOTO Glen Perotte

John and Angela of Jerriaise D’or Goat Farm in St Ouen are currently the only goat’s cheese producers on the Island.

The farm started in 2010 when the Golden Guernsey goats were reintroduced into Jersey by John and Angela and the process of organically increasing the size of the herd began. There is a history goatherds in Jersey, most of which died out during the Second World War, and many locals have fond memories of goats and particularly Golden Guernseys being kept by their families in their youth.

The Golden Guernsey are still a rare breed and John and Angela were delighted with the birth of 11 kids this year. The welfare of their goats is paramount. The kids remain with their Mums until weaned and they continue to milk their girls by hand. Jerriaise D’or is the only goat farm in the Channel Islands which is a member of KIWA, the goat farming equivalent of Red Tractor. The KIWA assessor commended Jerriaise Do’r on the farm for the wonderful environment created resulting in very happy and healthy goats.

Golden Guernseys are a relatively low yield dairy goat but the milk is high quality, creamy, but fresh tasting. There is an increasing demand for untreated dairy produce and Jerriaise D’or’s hand crafted artisan products are unique – unlike the commercially-farmed goat products available in the supermarkets. The milk is twice filtered, remains raw and is used to produce cheese, yoghurt, kefir and ice cream.

The fresh cheeses include the popular Jerriaise D’or Rosemary and extra virgin olive oil, Jerriaise D’or honey infused with Jerriaise D’or Lavender, Jerriaise D’or thyme, smoked spicy paprika and cracked black pepper or for those who prefer their goat’s cheese unadulterated there is Au Naturel. In addition there is a aged goat’s cheese which is a little special called Saulire (aka Fluffy Fuhka!) which improves with age to produce a more complex and fuller flavour.

The cheeses are available from the farm and from Relish in St Helier.

Merged with the Modern

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Merged with the Modern

WORDS Imogen Pickering

Rose Valley is a newly renovated traditional Jersey granite cottage, offering a fantastic combination of traditional and contemporary design while providing all of the luxuries of a modern family home, without compromising on character.

Set in an idyllic location at the heart of St Martin’s, Rose Valley is in walking distance of St Catherine’s Woods, Rozel Harbour and beautiful country lanes. Virtually silent, the property sits amongst picturesque fields and rolling countryside, so as soon as you arrive, you truly gauge a sense of being away from it all.

When looking at Rose Valley from its gravel driveway, with parking for up to eight cars, you are met with a delightful south-facing garden at the front of the property. A plethora of mature trees and plants, garden shed and sandstone patio area make it the ideal space for family living and alfresco entertaining. Another garden at the rear offers even more privacy, with its tiered design providing the space for a large vegetable garden, adjacent to the property’s separate garage and workshop.  

A slate grey door sets the tone at the entrance, with the neutral shade perfectly complimenting the solid oak and granite interior which runs throughout the rest of the house. A light-filled entrance hall sits between the living and dining room, where the quaint, original fireplaces contrast with the large glass panels which open up the space to add a modern touch whilst allowing even more light to filter through. Large wooden beams run across the ceiling of both rooms to remind you of the property’s former state, providing a perfect blend of favourable features from both contemporary and traditional design.

Accessed via the entrance hall, or through the archway leading from the dining room, the property’s long, rectangular-shaped kitchen is found at the rear of the house and overlooks the back garden. A stone tiled floor beautifully compliments the solid oak worktops and exposed granite wall, and the high-specification Miele appliances make this space a cookery-lover’s dream. A separate utility is located at the far end of the kitchen which blends seamlessly into the rest of the room, with a back door opening out into the garden.

Following on from the kitchen and with its own access at the front of the house, there is a highly versatile annex within this property that offers an ideal space for a snug, home office, or guest wing. The mezzanine level is large enough to accommodate a double bedroom, study or teenage hideaway, with the space below also sizeable enough for lounge furniture, additional office space or storage units. The downstairs bathroom is shared with the rest of the house – beautifully decorated with a slate floor and monochrome hexagonal decor. It’s truly impressive and sure to be appreciated by all design-savvy visitors.

Along with the double bedroom on the ground floor located across from the kitchen, the two additional double bedrooms are found on the top floor of the property. A striking glass panelled staircase, complete with LED wall lights, leads the way from the entrance hall and adds real wow-factor to the space.

At the top of the stairs, the stark contrast between traditional and contemporary styling can be truly appreciated. With the state-of-the-art staircase behind you, traditional wood-paneled cottage doors, complete with cast iron thumb-latches and hinges, make the entrances to both bedrooms. Open those doors and you are met by two sizeable attic bedrooms, filled with natural light and with uninterrupted views over the front garden and fields beyond.

Between the two bedrooms, another house bathroom is located at the top of the stairs. Again, lover’s of contemporary design will be greatly enthused by this polished limestone space – including walk-in rainfall shower, black marble wash basin and illuminated mirror. Timeless and elegant, it oozes luxury and commitment to quality, resulting in a modern sanctuary for relaxation and comfort.

When defining your design style, many will argue that modern is often too sleek and traditional too tired. A marriage of the two, combining traditional and modern furniture, finishes, materials and fabrics, will often result in an elegant, enduring design that is both comfortable and classic. Rose Valley incorporates exactly that, where even though traditional and contemporary schemes will often introduce opposing elements in design, this property strikes the perfect balance between the two. No expense has been spared on ensuring this level of design is as exceptionally beautiful as it is functional.

Rose Valley is a property bursting with character on multiple levels. It encompasses everything from the warm welcome of a traditional family house, to the modern luxuries of a contemporary show home. Perfectly suited to the homeowner that wants the best of both worlds, viewing of this property is not to be missed.

Rose Valley
St Martin
£1,095,000

Savills
T: 01534 722227
www.savills.com

• Charming granite cottage

• Great guest or teenage wing

• Green lane walks on your doorstep

• Exceptional quality throughout

• Peaceful country setting

• Walk to the beach

Delivering the Heavy Goods

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Delivering the Heavy Goods

Words & photographs: Russ Atkinson

SOME PEOPLE WILL TRY TO ASSURE YOU THAT BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER – BUT SOMETIMES BIG JUST ISN’T QUITE BIG ENOUGH. AND IT’S TIMES LIKE THOSE THAT YOU’LL BE GLAD THAT HAULAGE TITANS FETCH & KARRIE HAVE TURNED IT UP TO ELEVEN WITH A BRAND NEW ADDITION TO THEIR FLEET.

Let’s get down to business. The crane bolted behind the cab of this truck is HIAB’s second-largest vehicle mounted offering, with the crane itself weighing in at a hefty eight and a half tonnes alone – and that’s before you even consider the behemoth it’s bolted to. Even at a reach of over 30 metres it’ll still pick up 800kg from underneath its hook, which is worlds apart from your average grab truck. Put simply, it’s a seriously serious bit of kit, and I didn’t hesitate at the chance to take a closer look at it in action.

You see, whilst the other kids at school used to look forward to a bit of Live & Kicking followed by a kick-around in the park on a Saturday morning, eight year old me was up early and itching to tag along with my old man to join him at work, because that’s where the trucks were. And eight year old me really, really liked trucks. More than dinosaurs, even. If there was a line up of stuff that boys tend to gravitate to, nothing held a candle to trucks. Twenty-five or so years later, I’d be lying if I said I’d gone off of them.

To a lot of people, Fetch & Karrie’s latest investment in equipment, which rolled off the ferry and onto island roads just a few weeks ago, would probably be seen as nothing more than something else to get stuck behind on the school run. To those in the know, though, it’s a powerful tool to have at your disposal.

Not just a heavy-hitting weight lifter, this graceful giant is also packing accuracy and flexibility that’s worlds apart from the comparatively clunky HIAB cranes I was always pleading to have a go on in my youth. Long gone are the clunky truck-mounted levers in favour of a wireless controller that allows the operator to get up close and personal with whatever it is they’re lifting, and hydraulic pumps so powerful they allow multitasking by automatically diverting pressure to where it’s needed most exactly when it’s needed to ensure not only faster, but smoother and,ultimately, safer lifting and shifting. Or should that be fetching and carrying?

Need something heavy moving? It’ll do it. Need something that’s far away moving? It’ll do it. Need a load of different things moving to different areas on the same site? It’ll do that too, all without having to reposition a handful of times – that’s the beauty of having the impressive reach that this machine offers. Just because you’ve got it, doesn’t mean you have to use it – but at least you know you can if the time comes. Having to reposition the truck less means more efficient working, which in turn means that this impressive machine will save time and money whilst simultaneously telling ‘impossible’ where to go.

I watched the operator effortlessly pluck not inconsiderably-sized branches from a tree being tended to by tree-surgeons and place them carefully down to be chipped and taken away, all at a distance and accuracy that looked so great in relation to the truck that quantifying it all was bordering the absurd. No less so given how quiet the entire operation was. Well, apart from the wood-chipping part, but I was there to find out about the crane, not the fate of a tree that’d seen better days. The noisy trucks of yesteryear that whined and hissed as the hydraulics worked away, clattering and jolting the vehicle around like a child’s toy as it earned its keep are now but a distant memory – this herculean hauler is nothing but silent and smooth. The king is dead, long live the king.

Sportspeople of the Month | Bethany & Ava

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Sportspeople of the Month | Bethany & Ava

Siblings Bethany (7) and Ava (6) fight often, but this is not a case of sibling rivalry. When the girls fight, they’re not going at each other; they’re representing Jersey in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The sisters have been training at Gracie Barra Jersey since they were both just aged three, under the tutelage of head coach, Rob Staples, and the girls’ father, Alan Corke. Over the years, the girls have grown from participants to champions, recently returning from a European competition in Wolverhampton with gold, silver and bronze medals in tow. The girls are a shining example of the young members of the Gracie Barra academy (and to be fair, the adults as well) because of their attitude and commitment to the sport of jiu-jitsu. We asked the sisters what they love about jiu-jitsu and why they think it’s important to play sport.

What do you love most about jiu-jitsu?

Bethany: Training and making new friends

Ava: Playing with different children

Why is jiu-jitsu better than other sports?

Bethany: Because you learn to defend yourself

Ava: Because there is so much to learn

What do you like most about competing?

Bethany: Winning

Ava: Making new friends

How does jiu-jitsu make you feel?

Bethany: Tired

Ava: Happy

Why do you think it’s important that children play sport?

Bethany: To learn new skills

Ava: To keep fit

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