Channel TV's brave bid for survival
PLUS: Elizabeth College construction begins + Sark's first silver mines dug
Channel TV faces a rival
Channel Television faced the prospect of being taken off the air this week in 1992. Every ITV licence holder was forced to re-apply for the right to broadcast and, when it did, Channel Television offered to pay just £1000 for its licence to be renewed. Rival CI3 put in a bid of £102,000, valuing every viewer at around 75p (as opposed to the 0.7p value placed on every viewer by Channel Television). Initially, the licence was supposed to go to the highest bidder, until a change was made, allowing authorities to consider the quality of each bid, too, on which basis Channel Television won the right to carry on broadcasting.
Two stories from Sark
The first silver mines were dug on Sark this week in 1834. Unfortunately, they were largely unproductive, and it looked like the initial investors would see little or no return for their money. The Seigneur mortgaged his fief to raise funds to continue the operation, but when he died his son couldn't meet the mortgage payments, and the island was sold to Marie Collings, after 130 years in the Le Pelley family.
Sark fire brigade was established after the Stocks Hotel caught fire this week in 1957. It was the second serious fire on the island that year, and it cost the life of the hotel's manageress.
Elizabeth College construction begins
Elizabeth College’s foundation stone was laid this week in 1826. When it had opened in 1563 its roll of students was smaller than the number of staff, but by the early 1800s, that had changed, and it was finding it hard to give everyone room to learn. Thus, on 19 October 1826, almost 60 dignitaries attended and watched as the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, Sir John Colborne, cemented a plate over a hollowed-out granite foundation stone. The stone is a time capsule containing a vase, inside which there was (and still is) a selection of British and French coins.
Island FM takes to the air
Guernsey's first commercial radio station, Island FM, launched this week in 1992. It had been the only applicant for a licence to broadcast to Guernsey, and was backed by Channel Television. Channel had also been one of the backers behind an unsuccessful bid for the right to broadcast across Jersey, where the licence went to Channel 103.
Guernsey fortified
This week in 1941, Hitler demanded the Channel Islands' fortification and, in doing so, changed Guernsey’s appearance forever. He ordered between 200 and 250 strongpoints on each of the larger islands, with the deadline for competition set as the end of the following year. The results of their work are still visible in the dozens of concrete strong points dotted around the island and her neighbours.
Plus…
Footballer Matt Le Tissier was born in Guernsey this week in 1968. He was the first midfielder to score 100 Premiership goals, and since retiring from playing professional football, has made a name for himself on Channel 4 quiz, Countdown.