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Hand-drawn Christmas pictures by schoolchildren of a town twinned with St Peter Port have been displayed in the Guille-Allès Library.
Young pupils at Hostetter Elementary in Masnières have drawn Christmas messages for Guernsey which were presented to welcome the Lieutenant-Governor, the Bailiff and other local officials during a recent visit to the northeastern French town to commemorate its defense by the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry in 1917.
Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell joined Sir Richard McMahon in meeting the Mayor of Masnières, Francis Noblecourt.
They were accompanied on the visit by the Dean of Guernsey, Reverend Tim Barker, Education President Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, St Peter Port's Douzenier, Mr Chris Nicolle, and the Chairman of the RGLI Trust - who organised the trip - Chris Oliver.
Representatives of the Guernsey, Sark and Alderney Branches of the Royal British Legion, also travelled to Masnières where a service of Remembrance was held in French and English at Les Rues Vertes, where 453 Guernsey soldiers were reported killed, missing or wounded throughout the two-day battle over a hundred years ago.
Pictured: Lt Gov Richard Cripwell visiting one of the French schools
More than 20 of a large collection of hand-drawn messages gifted to Guernsey have been selected to go on display in the Guille-Allès Library and will be available to view over the festive period.
Lt-Governor, Lt General Richard Cripwell, said: "We received a wonderfully warm welcome from people of all ages, who were all very interested and well-informed about Guernsey and the RGLI, and proud of their town’s unique relationship with the island."
"We visited two schools, and I was delighted to receive so many Christmas pictures from the younger children. Many had drawn Guernsey flags, which suggests the relationship between St Peter Port and Masnières has a bright future."
The RGLI Trust arranged for St Peter Port to be formally joined with Masnières in December 2019, when a twinning document was signed at Hauteville House by the Mayor of Masnières M. Francis Noblecourt and St Peter Port Constables.
Education, Sport & Culture President Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, added: "During my recent trip to Masnières, I visited the primary and secondary schools there and met teachers and students who know of Guernsey, and some who have visited now have Guernsey friends through the student exchange that has been pioneered by Chris Oliver and the Trust.
"It is fantastic that we have the artwork of the children displayed in the Guilles-Allès, giving another facet to the value of the exchange. I recommend anyone pop by and have a look at their work - it is a real joy to see."
Mr Oliver of the RGLI Trust said: "The Trust has not just focused on commemorating the valour of the men of the RGLI. Work has been on-going since the 100th Anniversary in 2017 to build solid relationships and cultural diplomacy between our two communities.
"The display of pictures in Guernsey now in 2024 from the young children of Masnières is another wonderful example of how our relationship has developed and how we look forward to building on this for our futures."
St Peter Port Douzenier Mr Chris Nicolle added that the link established through the RGLI Trust was a firm foundation for development of the towns’ twinning relationship.
"The community, within our twin town of Masnières, love our island. Their expression of this fondness is tangible and clear to see, from the oldest of residents to the children of primary and secondary school age," he said.
"The walls of classrooms exhibit our flag and there is an almost embarrassing degree of respect shown to Guernsey, a touching appreciation for the ultimate sacrifice paid by our forebears for their freedoms. I feel it incumbent on us, across the generations, to grasp the hands of friendship extended towards us."
The Christmas pictures will be on display at the Guille-Allès Library until Friday 3 January.
Adam Bayfield, Head of Marketing & Customer Services at the library, added: "The library is proud to be hosting this wonderful display of artworks and charming Christmas messages from the children of Masnières.
"It’s an important reminder of the strong historical ties between our communities, as well as bringing a touch of festive joy to the library during the Christmas season.’
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