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Guernsey's new Lieutenant-Governor marks 100 days at Government House this weekend.
Lieutenant-General Richard Cripwell and his wife, Louise, moved to Guernsey in April following his installation in February as Her Majesty The Queen's personal representative.
Since then, His Excellency and Mrs Cripwell have thrown themselves into their new roles and into island life, including visiting other islands in the Bailiwick.
Pictured: Lieutenant-General Cripwell watching sport at Beau Sejour a few days after moving to the island.
"Louise and I have managed to swim in the sea, which was glorious, and I met the poet laureate at the Guernsey Literary Festival," said Lieutenant-General Cripwell.
"We have also cycled around Sark with our children, travelled on the Channel Islands’ only full-size railway and I’ve walked Guernsey’s beautiful west coast on a very sunny day.
"If that’s your first 100 days then you can’t help but think you’ve landed in the right place."
Pictured: His Excellency has enjoyed walking along Guernsey's beautiful west coast.
Lieutenant-General Cripwell said his first 100 days in the Bailiwick had been "surprisingly busy" but also "the perfect introduction to the job".
"There’s certainly been plenty to see and do, getting to know the Bailiwick’s three jurisdictions and experiencing a Liberation Day with a Platinum Jubilee Royal visit," he said.
"For me, the whole thing has highlighted what an extraordinary privilege it is to be the Sovereign’s personal representative in a Crown Dependency, and especially in Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee year.
"For Louise and I to experience the anniversary of the longest reigning British monarch in one of the Crown’s two oldest possessions was something particularly special.
"As a Crown Dependency, Guernsey is defined by its relationship with the Sovereign and, whether you class yourself as a Royalist or not, that bond is central to the character of these islands. It’s made them what they are today."
Pictured: The Lietenant-Governor is The Queen's personal representative in the islands.
Lieutenant-General Cripwell has already spent time with politicians in each island and met as many people as he could to understand local perspectives.
"I have made a start by attending at least one sitting of each of the islands’ parliaments and tried to meet and talk to as many islanders as I can, to understand how they see things," he said.
"My job is to look, listen, learn and to understand on behalf of The Queen, who acts through Her Government, and to provide advice and a channel of communication.
"I was attracted to the job by the partnership of three separate, self-governing jurisdictions. That makes for a rich and fascinating identity.
"The Bailiwick is clearly more complex than it might first appear and, instinctively, I have always believed that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
"Personally, I’m very much committed to being Lieutenant-Governor of a Bailiwick of three jurisdictions, and to serving them all in equal measure."
Pictured: Lieutenant-General and Mrs Cripwell are about to celebrate their 100th day at Government House.
Lieutenant-General Cripwell said he was looking forward to the rest of his term.
"As this first busy spell draws to a close, Louise and I are now looking forward to getting out, embracing life in the islands and meeting as many people as we can.
"Wherever we have been, everyone really has made us feel so welcome."
Pictured top: His Excellency during the Platinum Jubilee weekend. Credit: Chris George.
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