May 2009 – Edition 50

Sportiest articles: The McShane footballers
(October 07), Warren’s marathons (numerous), Annie
at Ogontz School for Young Ladies (September 2008)

Biggest unsolved mysteries: Who was
Jerrems Hill named after (September 2006); who was
Serena Jerrems (July 2007); who is Eva Jerrems
(April 2007); who was Jerrems C. Hart (February 2007)

Longest article: Jerrems Migration from
Gainsborough to Melbourne (June to August 2007)

Most unusual subject: Plank Roads (May
2008)

Biggest breakthrough: Wappenham articles
(February 2008, March 2008)

Most touching stories: Tribute to Liam
(November 2006), Baghdad Bike (October 2005),
Anna and the baby mice (November 08)

Most adventurous story: New Guinea
experiences of Laurel and Laurie (May 2007)

Most humorous item: AAADD (Age Activated
Attention Deficit Disorder) (April 2006)

Most humorous series: Emails from Heaven,
Letters from Angie the Guardian Angel, items about
Old Rascal Ray.

Most intriguing story: Dan’s Coat with a
Jerrems Tailors label purchased in a Baltimore
consignment
shop (November
2005)

Best researched: Ari’s items on the origins of
the name “Jerrems” (September 2005)

PEOPLE

Oldest subject: David Jerrems, Nicholas
Herkeimer, American Revolutionary War (June 2008)

Strongest Jerrems: James Jerrems the
blacksmith (January 2006)

Most mentioned people: Carol (pictured),
Warren,
Jeanne/Caty, Alexander Nicholl/Nicoll the
Tailor

Most hardened criminals: Helen for excise
duty evasion (August 2008), Genevieve for speeding
(June 2005)

Most colourful: Leonore’s paintings “Still Life
with Melon” and “Still Life with Rooster Figure”
(January 2007), Leonore’s shawl (July 2008) pictured,
Nicoll the Tailor card with Geisha Girl, Pictured below.
(October 2006)

Biggest beard: Alexander Nicholl (October
2006, March 2009)

Most ghostly appearances: Old Rascal Ray at
Nicole
Kidman’s wedding (September 2006) and at G8
Conference in Tokyo (August 2008), and Obama’s
Inaguration
(April 2009)

Most risqué: Famous photograph by
Carol, “Girl in a Mirror” (August 2005)

Most puzzling: Wedding /christening photo
provided by Laurel (February 2007)

Most evocative: Liam (December 2006),
gravestones of Jane and Mary in Willingham cemetery
(June 2006), Sandra and gravestones in Utica
cemetery (August 2008), Alexander Nicholl and his
grandchildren Annie and Donald (December 2008
and January 2009)

Most glamorous female: Sandra’s great aunt
Sarah wearing a boa (November 2008)

Most debonaire males: Mark Healy ll with
Auburn Speedster (December 2006 and October
2008), Vincent Healy ll in US Air Force uniform
(October 2008)

Most novel: Dancing elves (December 2007,
December 2008)

Best animal photos: Jenny’s cloned cat (April
2006), Sue holding bald eagle (June 2007), Nicoll the
Tailor trade card showing girl with cat and puppies
(March 2009)

Worst taste: Nicoll the Tailor trade cards
(Negro Series) (October 2006, February 2007)

Most talented ballet dancer: Jacqueline
Jerrems (January
2007)

Best travelogue: Roving Reporter Sue’s trip
from Las Vegas to the Olde Country. (June 2006)

Most famous musical instruments maker:
Musical firm of Lyon & Healy founded by Mark Healy,
the first. (November 2006)

Most modern musicians: Cicada with Nick
Jerrems (August 2007)

Looking back through the previous 49 editions I am
reminded of the Forsyte Saga. So many generations
and so many things happening.

Knowing that the next edition of the JJ is the fiftieth
edition has made me think about the significance of
the number “50”. For married couples their 50th
wedding anniversary is their “golden wedding
anniversary”. Does this make this the Jerrems
Journal’s golden anniversary?

I have asked some of my Jerrems descendants up
here what the significance has been for them. My
daughter-in-law Elizabeth says that when she
and the
children migrated to Melbourne in 1859 the ship spent
many days in wild seas in the 50 degree latitudes.
She does not have happy memories of the number 50.
For my great grandson Alexander Nicholl
Jerrems,
who played gridiron and baseball for Yale University in
the 1890s, the significance was the record number of
home runs which had been recorded by a player in a
year. Until Babe Ruth came on the scene (and
eventually hit 60 home runs in 1927) the magic target
for a baseballer was 50 home runs.

Regarding my Australian descendants, which
includes my great grandson Harry Jerrems
who in the
1920s played first grade cricket for Richmond in
Melbourne, the significance is that 50 runs are a half
century of runs. Although the scoring of 50 runs is far
less significant than a century, it is still noteworthy and
is celebrated.

For those of my Australian offspring who were
swimming enthusiasts (particularly my great
grandson Alf who won a medal in the
Australian
Swimming Championships), the significance for them
is that a standard swimming pool was 50 yards long.
Alf specialised in racing 100 yards.

So the number 50 had historical significance for the
Jerrems families of yesteryear. In my case I like to
have a good sleep every night, preferably 50 winks
rather than 40 winks.

I have been mulling over what else to say to you. You
see, there are some good old “conversation starters”
used on Earth which are irrelevant up here. Take the
weather for example. How often have you people
started conversations with comments about the
weather? Thousands of times, I wager. But the
weather up here is always the same, so we do not
bother talking about it to each other.

Speaking of the weather reminds me of the great
photo of Alexander Nicholl and the children in
the
January edition of the Jerrems Journal. We had quite
a chuckle about how Alexander was all togged out for
London’s weather in his best “Nicoll the Tailor”suit.
Looked like a real overdressed toff, he did. Up here
we have been wearing shorts and open-necked shirts
for so long I had forgotten what the old suits looked
like. He still sports the same old beard, so he is my
main rival for being Santa Claus for our Xmas Party.
The photo also reminds me of how much we like to rib
each other up here about how we looked when we
were babies or children. I love to remind my great
grandson Donald (your grandfather) of how
angelic he
looks in the photo in his frilly white shirt, breeches and
black stockings.

My wife Elizabeth has just reminded me that
one of
her favourite topics of conversation with her friends is
about scone recipes, except that nowadays she has
tried all the recipes her friends have collected. This is
understandable because she has been cooking them
for just over 200 years. So she says it would be great
if your readers could send her their favourite recipes.
There is no hurry, we will be here for a while more.
I love to have my scones served warm with strawberry
jam and lashings of fresh whipped cream. This
reminds me that I a have seen a lot of recent publicity
from Earth saying that obesity can kill you. This does
not worry me unduly because I am already dead. In
any case being 18 stone on Earth never did me any
harm.

Being of robust build actually had big advantages
when I lived in Gainsborough in the 1800s. Big
people have big voices, a great help when (like me)
you are the Chief Constable of Gainsborough
and you
want to break up an unruly mob of the local lads. One
bellow of “STOP” from me and you could hear a pin
drop.

I think my voice has matured with age (I am 227). I
class myself as a baritone but my wife is not
convinced.

Better go, Elizabeth has made a pavlova for
my
afternoon tea. I need to eat a lot to keep up my
strength.

PS: My grandparents , William Jerom and
Cecelia Futtit were married in the church pictured
above.

If my records are current and accurate, here is a
count on subscribers:

16 Australia
1 New Zealand
2 United Kindom
1 France
1 Germany
27 United States

29 subscribers with surname of Jerrems:

12 Female
9 Male
8 Husband/Wife