Guernsey Zoo sold for just £70,000
This week in Guernsey
Guernsey Zoo, once one of the island's most popular attractions, was sold this week in 1973. The unusual advert for an “attractive fully furnished period house with six bedrooms” also listed a baby elephant, chimpanzees, baboons, bears, llamas and exotic birds housed in cages and aviaries, many of them heated for the winter, on a two-and-a-quarter acre site. Reports surrounding its eventual sale said that it went for around £70,000.
Work began on the Val des Terres this week in 1931. It was built entirely by the island's long-term unemployed, although the first sod was ceremonially cut by the Bailiff. Sadly, regardless of the fanfare, reports suggest that the event may well have been spoiled by the weather . Guernsey had just over two hours of sunlight that day, and the boats from the mainland were delayed by fog.
A hotel porter was tried for murder this week in 1973. It hadn't taken police long to find the body of Margaret Weaver, who had been killed and buried just a few metres from the Guernsey hotel where she worked. A 21-year old kitchen porter went on trial for her murder in a case that brought the very admissibility of police evidence into question.
Guernsey Police appointed its first Chief Inspector this week in 1915. The successful candidate was Edwin A Green, who transferred from his post at the London Metropolitan Police to lead the newly-established Guernsey force, after being handed the role at a convened States Committee meeting.
Guernsey Police moved to its new HQ this week in 1956 and was given a brand new khaki uniform with a distinctly Mediterranean feel. It stayed in that St Peter Port location until 1993 when it moved to its present site in the old hospital building, which had taken six years to prepare for police use.
Guernsey Fisher first set sail this week in 1972. The 1537 ton cargo ship had been built by James Fisher & Sons. Following its maiden voyage, it plied the waters between the mainland and the Channel Islands.
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