Jersey Post Celebrate the past Achievements of Jersey Women

Throughout history, women in Jersey have made significant contributions to their communities, professions, and society at large. Despite a variety of obstacles, the impact made by the women celebrated in the Jersey Women of Achievement stamp issue has reverberated far beyond the island's shores, leaving an indelible mark on the world. Kiera Melville, the local artist behind the issue, used her skills to depict each women’s personality and accomplishment in the use of colour and background illustration.  

The 60p stamp features a portrait of Ivy Forster, Jersey’s first female politician. During the German occupation of Jersey in the Second World War, Ivy helped escaped slave workers who had been brought to the Island by the Nazis. After Jersey’s liberation, Ivy became an after-dinner speaker, giving talks on her experiences during the war, she was then encouraged by the Bailiff to stand for election and in 1948 she was elected as Jersey’s first female politician. Ivy went on to become the first woman to top the poll when she was re-elected in 1951. 

Illustrated with a ‘Votes for Women’ banner, Caroline Trachy was the founder of the Jersey Women Political Union. As with other places in the world, the path for women standing for political election in Jersey has not always been an easy one. In December 1922, due to her gender Caroline was disallowed from standing as Deputy. Following this decision, Caroline went on to found the Jersey Women Political Union in April 1923. Her pioneering work led to changes in Jersey’s legislation, allowing women to be sworn into office in the States. 

Within the second 98p stamp, the background features two hands holding each other, this symbolises the work of renowned occupation heroine Louisa Gould. In WW2, during the Island’s occupation Louisa a local shopkeeper and her sister Ivy Forster, harboured a Russian slave worker - Feodor Polycarpovitch Buirry - known as ‘Bill’. Having lost her elder son Richard in action, Louisa was inspired to act to protect ‘another mother’s son’. Bill was hidden by Louisa and her family for two years before she was reported by a neighbour. Louisa was able to gain enough time to relocate Bill before the investigation. Sadly, a Russian/English dictionary was discovered during the search and used as evidence to send her to the Ravensbrück concentration camp in Germany. Louisa was sent to her death in the gas chambers on the 13 February 1945, just two months before the camp was liberated. 

Born in St. Brelade 1677, Marie Bartlett, founder of the general hospital, was the wife of English merchant Francis Bartlett. Marie was undoubtedly a spirited individual who felt for the poor in Jersey, who due to the low standards of living and lack of a suitable place of care suffered terribly. After her husband passed, she took the rein of his business, leading it to continued success. In her Will, Marie left 91,567 livres tournois (around £7 million today) so the General Hospital was able to be developed to look after Islanders. A French inscription found on her monument, which reads; To the memory of Miss Marie Mauger – widow of Mr Francis Bartlett – foundress of the General Hospital. Buried in this parish April 26, 1741. She stretched out her hands to the poor, she reached forth her hands to the needy – Proverbs 31, 20.’  

Pioneer of the ‘Salvus’ life jacket, Orpheus Beaumont was the daughter of a sea captain and named after the naval ship on which her older brother was serving in New Zealand. She suffered from ‘drowning fits’ as a child gaining her a desire to ‘beat the sea’. In the year following the sinking of the Titanic, Orpheus dedicated herself to designing a new type of life jacket, as previously cork was used. Orpheus’ new lifejacket ‘Salvus’ won the approval of the safety experts of the British Board of Trade and was made in the tens of thousands.

Jersey’s West End Star Ivy St Helier was born in 1886, under the name Ivy Janet Aitchison. She took the stage name Ivy St Helier, in her West End debut in 1910. Her greatest triumph was as Manon in Noel Cowards play Bitter Sweet. The show was an instant success during the gloom of the General Strike. Ivy St Helier captivated audiences with her versatility over many years until her death in 1971, remembered as a ‘gifted revue artist’, and a pioneer for female entertainers in the West End. 

The issue’s miniature sheet, features Physician and Methodist missionary, Dr Lilian Mary Grandin. She was the first Jersey women to obtain a medical degree and used her knowledge to conduct various medical expeditions. Dr Grandin was particularly keen to help those in remote areas of China, and in 1906 she made the treacherous journey from Southampton port to China. Upon arrival, Lilian the next 10 years travelled the remote areas of China on her pony to help the locals and teach local women on how to become midwives. After a two year refresher course during the Great War years, (1914-1918), she retuned to Shanghai to continue her missionary work.   In 1924, Dr Grandin became ill with typhus. Already weakened and in poor health from the strain of the vast responsibility she bore, the Doctor passed away three weeks before Christmas. Her simply inscribed gravestone read: A Physician Beloved. 

Jersey Women of Achievement will be available from Thursday 22nd August 2024 and will be taken off sale on Monday 24th August 2026. You can order the stamps and the accompanying products online, or from Jersey's Post Offices.