2023 in review: May and June

Friday 29 December 2023

May opened with an historic event in the Coronation of King Charles III - who will go down in history as the longest serving Prince of Wales (to date) before being crowned Monarch at the age of 74 in 2023.

Having been heir apparent to the throne since his mother acceded the throne in 1952 when he was just 3 years old, Charles was eventually crowned in a ceremony held on 6 May.

The Bailiwick was represented at the coronation in London and events were held in each island to observe and mark the occasion.

Pictured: Police officers and St John Ambulance personnel were in London to assist with the Coronation while the Bailiff and Lieutenant Governor were invited to the ceremony. 

For the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Coronation rolled into Liberation Day on 9 May with further ceremonies, commemorations and celebrations being held across the islands.

While not as large a public focal point as in previous years, there was more to do in St Peter Port again this year after complaints about all events being spread across the parishes last year.

The round-island cavalcade attracted large numbers of spectators with a further chance to see the vehicles when parked in town, along with live music and fireworks - in the pouring rain - to finish off the day. 

It was back to work for all after the bank holidays of early May, with a series of creditors meetings for those with an interest in the collapsed business Hurel Ltd - formerly RG Falla - during the month.

Pictured: One creditors' meeting, held behind closed doors at St James, saw many people leave with stern faces after they were told there was no money to repay them for any losses.

The parent company - Garenne Group - and seven Garenne-linked businesses entereed voluntary liquidation in Guernsey as well as at least two in Jersey during the first few months of the year.

The remaining assets were sold in management buy outs.

With the loss of some construction firms among them, the Garenne collapse was worrying as it coincided with the growing housing crisis.

Released in May, a Guernsey Community Foundation Report had found that more than 1,000 adults and children were "insecurely housed" at the end of 2021 with steps being taken to provide more people with charitable support as they faced homelessness.

This figure - albeit from 2021 - was 47% up on 2016 figures. 

One possible bright light for people desperate to see new housing built in the island was the latest green light for the Leale's Yard development.

In May we were told work on the retail and residential development behind the Bridge would start this year. It has not, at the time of writing.

Pictured: We were told that work on Leale's Yard would begin this year.

Never far from the headlines, the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture was in the news for its decision to close Herm School on a year-long trial and its pledge to continue funding the Sports Commission's Active8 programme after previously warning the grant may be cut.

Herm School did close in July, then reopened in October after the States overruled ESC. It is now known as Herm classroom not school though.

The funding for the Active8 programme remains under review with ESC saying in May it needed to look at all its options.

One positive from ESC during May, if you're a teacher, was that roles had started to be ring fenced for senior educators under the new structure across the secondary schools.

With Verona Tomlin appointed Principal of Les Varendes and Keiran James taking on the Sixth Form Centre as a standalone role, the next stage would see ESC ring fence roles for other teachers too.

Martin Haines and Vicky Godley retained their posts as Principals of Les Beaucamps and St Sampson's High Schools respectively while Liz Coffey continues in her role as Executive Principal of the Secondary School Partnership, overseeing the three High Schools and the Sixth Form Centre.

Come June, ESC were getting well and truly into the Island Games spirit along with the rest of the island.

Events in schools saw visits from Jet the Puffin - the Guernsey 2023 mascot.

Pictured: Jet(hou) the Puffin made his debut appearance in June, ahead of the Island Games in July. 

In June, the States discovered that covid had cost the island more than £100m in total within less than two years.

The travel restrictions alone had cost us more than £65m it was confirmed.

That came soon after news that there had been 12 reports to the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) Yellow Card scheme – in the Channel Islands - about the covid-19 vaccine, where a fatal outcome was recorded.

For some, the pandemic had reinforced the need to invest in the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, but that intention was starting to suffer by June.

With phase one of the project nearing completion, and HSC keen to carry on seamlessly with phase two it was said that a five year delay would add around £25m to the overall cost.

HSC hoped that would convince the States to fund the project but they were disappointed later in the year.

Pictured: In May we were warned that any delay to Phase 2 of the hospital plans would lead to higher costs.

With the King announcing his first official Birthday Honours List, there were celebrations across the Bailiwick as four men were honoured.

The Bailiff was knighted, making him Sir Richard McMahon while Alan Gough received the MBE for services to music in Guernsey, Kevin Adams received the BEM for services to Sark, and David Warr received an OBE for services to the community in Guernsey. 

As summer arrived the number of Asian Hornet nests being discovered multiplied with teams in Guernsey, Alderney and Sark all helping to tackle the pests.

Nexts were discovered in each island, including Herm, with the queens, her worker hornets and the nests being destroyed every time.

Bus journeys became easier to plan for many with the arrival of a long awaited app.

This also coincided with the final countdown to the 2023 Island Games with visitors and residents all asked to consider using active travel or public transport to get around during the busy week.

Work was going on to spruce up the various sports locations, with Team Guernsey being encouraged every step of the way during their final weeks of training, and the opening ceremony was promised to bring a carnival atmosphere to the St Peter Port seafront.

Aside from the excitement over the Island Games, GST continued to manage to find its way into the news and the public consciousness.

Despite the States rejecting the consumer tax earlier in the year, Deputy Mark Helyar - then P&R lead for the treasury - urged everyone to accept that the island's finances needed urgent action. 

Pictured: Tim the tortoise was back at home a few days after going missing. 

Aside from the Island Games and taxes, an 85-year-old tortoise grabbed the headlines in June.

Tim the tortoise went missing from his owner's home at Jerbourg. A reward was offered along with a donation to the GSPCA if he was returned to their garden.

When Tim was found back in his garden a few days later the reward was never claimed but the donation was made to the animal welfare charity as promised.

And June also brought us 'pylongate'.

The structures at La Grande Mare caused some uproar among those who felt their view of the west coast had been damaged.

The Development and Planning Authority President, Deputy Victoria Oliver had to admit she hadn't realised how tall they would be, but she said her committee had passed the plans.