Tributes paid to Alex Bridle

Wednesday 13 November 2019

Alex Bridle, a formidable woman who has left her mark on Guernsey's social, professional and official calendars, has passed away after a short illness.

Her family announced her death yesterday, with a notice in the Guernsey Press confirming she passed away on Friday 8 November, in London.

Described as the 'beloved wife of John Bridle', there will be a Memorial Service for her in Guernsey in the New Year, after a private funeral.

Mrs Bridle was the Founder and Managing Director of the Guernsey Event Company, a firm which has been involved in a number of official and social events in the islands. She was the woman behind the organisation of events such as Proms on the Pier, the Guernsey Air Display, Ice Skate Guernsey and many others.

Sad to hear of the death of @eventguernsey founder Alex Bridle - a formidable lady who got the job done in a challenging sector of the marketing mix.

— Steve Falla (@steve_falla) November 12, 2019

Most prominently, Mrs Bridle helped to organise the island's official Liberation Day commemorations and celebrations for many years, working with the former Culture and Leisure Committees, and more recently, the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture. 

As well as organising events for the island's public, she worked on a number of private events and through her hard work she supported a number of different charities. 

ESC President, Deputy Matt Fallaize is among those who have paid tribute to Mrs Bridle, saying she was the 'driving force' behind many of the island's most well known events. 

“Alex Bridle has been an integral part of bringing the Island’s community together in so many ways, but especially in relation to our Liberation Day celebrations. I, along with current and past Committee members and our staff have worked with Alex for more than 13 years and it is with great sadness that we learn of her passing. She was a driving force behind so many celebratory events, her tenacity and hard work only matched by the fun and laughter that she so loved to hear during events that she had helped to stage.

"Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.”

I'm sorry to hear that. Brigadier Bridle as she was affectionately known in media circles. Formidable and a worker

— tothevale (@tothevale) November 12, 2019

Pictured: Ice Skate Guernsey was one of many projects Mrs Bridle worked on.

Most recently Mrs Bridle is believed to have been working on the event management of the Ice Skate Guernsey rink which is being set up at Le Friquet Garden Centre for the Christmas period. 

How very sad. A bright lady who loved what she did and executed it perfectly. I respected her greatly.

— Julie Todd (@ToddAssoc1) November 12, 2019

She had also been instrumental in the reimagining of the former Awards for Achievement. The original awards was a States backed campaign to honour businesses, and as well as unsung heroes in the community. Mrs Bridle had helped organise that, and earlier this year she launched the Island Enterprise Awards which were to replace the Awards the Achievement, and which were intended to focus on the success stories within Guernsey's business community. They are due to be staged in early 2020. 

Pictured top: Alex Bridle at the launch of her Island Enterprise Awards earlier this year.