OBE for Andrew Ozanne

Saturday 08 June 2019

Architect Andrew Ozanne is to receive an OBE as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to Law Enforcement and Health in the Bailiwick.

“I am really stunned by getting this award and it was genuinely unexpected” he said, explaining that he had received the call to tell him when he was in a compost heap.

“I was standing in the compost heap in our garden when Sheila my wife shouted that someone was on the phone for me. She passed me the phone and it was His Excellency. After being informed of my nomination, my first response was ‘what - me?!'

"If the end goal of an award is that it inspires people, that’s great but I don't think anyone actually sets out to get an award,” he said.

Pictured: Her Majesty, The Queen. 

Mr Ozanne’s OBE reflects his passion for crime prevention, which through the rehabilitation of offenders has led to a substantial, marked change in attitudes towards criminals both inside the prison walls and among the outside society. 

He has chaired Crimestoppers and is the founder of the charity CLIP (Creative Learning in Prison). The primary focus of CLIP is introducing initiatives and programmes into prisons that work at better integrating offenders back into society upon release. Now a self-sustaining charity, CLIP invests in therapy through the arts in an attempt to draw out the core issues in wellbeing that often manifest as the motivations behind crime.

“We are achieving 80% qualifications of prisoners upon release. MBQs, open university…it is all about upskilling and empowering people so they can be more in charge of their lives and not return to prison. The objective is to reduce reoffending but also to give the prisoners a feeling of well-being, of achievement in the hopes that offenders will continue their creative endeavors” he said.

“Education enables you to choose a career path, which then enables you to accrue sufficient wealth that allows you to be social. If you are not in that situation, these things become tougher. Life is often dictated by a combination of circumstances,” he added.

Guernsey prisoners have won 17 Koestler Awards for art, writing and poetry, with one prisoner even winning an award for writing an autobiography. The prison offers lessons from portrait artists and even puts together an in-house magazine.

Discussing how family dynamics can become strained as a result of separation, Mr Ozanne also explained how reestablishing relationships between family members is of utmost importance, with the charity placing an emphasis on positive bonding opportunities.

Mr Ozanne’s contribution to health in the island community is also prominent and has been recognised through his OBE.

He recalls a time in Guernsey when diabetics were provided with one blunt syringe and six steel needles, kept in Tupperware boxes. It wasn’t until he left the island for schooling that he was aware of the archaic insulin used and the unsafe methods. 

Upon returning from university, he pushed for disposable needles and syringes to be provided to diabetics, as well as specialised nurses and physicians. Subsequently, he stood as the Chairman of The Diabetic Association for several years. In addition to this, Mr Ozanne has sat on the medical charity, Victoria Hospital, since 1984.

“The people in that committee inspire me and I admire them so much. The effort they put in… there’s an element of hardship in that – the time it takes, the effort, the organization, the administrative side for years and years” he said.

Mr Ozanne credits his fortunate circumstances in upbringing for his efforts and subsequent achievements.

“I’ve been very fortunate. I grew up in a very well-structured community family. I had a really good education, I’ve got a great business, fantastic people work for me. I couldn’t ask for better employees. So, looking at me as a product… I have been spoilt in some respects," he said. 

He cites ‘never be too proud to talk to anybody’ as the best advice he’s ever been given.

Pictured: Government House. 

The celebrations will feature a performance by Major Sergeant Gary Freeland and the Bugles of 5^th Battalion The Rifles (6x buglers), accompanied by an orchestra of young local musicians from the Schools’ Music Service. His Excellency’s son will feature as Captain in the Regiment.

The Commanding officer of 5 Rifles, Lieutenant Colonol Andrew Ridland will be present at the reception as a guest of His Excellency and Lady Corder, accompanied by his wife.

Pictured top: Andrew Ozanne.