What follows is a bad translation by Google, but worth attempting to read.
The festivities of the new Lan still echoing, the port had not des- full of yachts. And in the tumult, a soul of St. Barth is gone. Jean Magras, who died Friday, January 2. After a religious ceremony at the Catholic Church of Gustavia, he was buried in cemetery at Public, Tuesday, 6 January. Jean Magras was born 14 November 1930. Parents farmers, Colombier.
On the same island, why so much so that different. Inlas- worker sand, Jean Magras greatly helped transform St. Bartholomew. It is at a turning point, which saw take place on the island the first major changes. Earthmoving roads for many more cars. Construction of the first self-service in Gustavia. In a first central electric in Public. Jean Magras will all these sites almost. It will lead to many of them. Réunis- health team consists of one or another, climbing on the back of his truck, which descended from Colombier by Public by Corrosol. Working man's arms, even to break the rock. Jean Magras was the last generations of St. Barths forged if dura tion. At 14, he had already left school with the certifi- cate of study. To get to work immediately. Trades, he will do all kinds. Exercising too fisheries and maritime transport. Petty trading.
In the first grocery store run by her mother, in Colombier, soon dubbed a bar: the Pigeonnière. And construction, yet. It also will build some of the first island structures dedicated to tourism. The Village Saint-Jean, among others. For St. Barts has already begun to receive its first visitors on holiday. A certain David Rockefeller, for example. Or Olle Nyman. A Swede, came to visit the ancient possession of the crown.
A Christmas Eve day, Olle Nyman parks his Mini Moke near the Pigeonnière, which escapes from the music. Jean Magras is behind the counter. Swedish baron slides his head in the dark and after a few minutes (and a ti-punch) sealed a lasting friendship. It will last until the disappearance of Olle Nyman in 2006. This friendship, as was discussed with the lawyer and historian Per Tingbrand, demonstrates the links between St. Barth and Sweden, John Magras help restore . He and others: Charles Magras, Marius Stakelborough, Daniel Blanchard ... With the latter two, Jean Magras will be the first trip to Sweden in 1979. Pushing up the far north and the town of Piteå, with which our island is now twinned. On their return, organized the first Piteå Day on the Beach Public. Will follow in 1984 the creation of the Saint-Barth Association of Friends of Sweden (ASBAS) John Magras chair from 1990 to 1996. And he will pre-
Presidents of honor. Consecration of this commitment in favor of Sweden, in 2002, Jean Magras will be elevated to the rank of Knight of the Royal Order of the Polar Star. By His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf. The decoration will be given to him on 13 May 2003, during the stopover on our island of the Swedish navy ship HMS Karlskrona. By the Ambassador Frank Belfrage, came specially. Inexhaustible on his memories, Jean Magras he had published a few years ago a little book History of a life to tell. Just as he indulged gladly take visitors past charges or make a run at the Pigeonnière, in Colombier.