Guernsey Zoo up for sale
Castle Cornet explodes + Guernsey Police makes world's first underwater arrest
Castle Cornet explodes
The lightning strike also caused the ignition of the gunpowder stored in the keep, resulting in further destruction. As a result of the tragedy, the Court announced a day of island-wide fasting and prayer. The exact wording of the Court's ordnance attributed the event to "the instrumentality of Divine Providence," leading the inhabitants to believe that God's wrath was incensed against them due to their iniquities.
The keep of Castle Cornet has never been rebuilt since the incident and the position of Governor of Guernsey was abolished in 1835. The island now has a Leiutenant-Governor instead.
Guernsey Police makes world’s first underwater arrest
Guernsey Police made the world's first underwater arrest this week in 1968, over a case of unauthorised ormering. The collector was fully submerged, and collecting the shellfish out of season, both of which are forbidden.
A passer-by had notified police after spotting a diver off Castle Cornet. Constable David Archer was dispatched to the scene and, after locating the diver around 12 metres below the surface, he tapped the man on the shoulder and motioned for him to go up. Once both had their heads above the water, the arrest was made.
Ormers, also known as abalones elsewhere, can only be gathered on specific days between January and April each year, and there are strict regulations regarding their collection, including the prohibition of any breathing apparatus and of being partially submerged.
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Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney: little islands with big stories to tell. They’ve seen earthquakes and witchcraft trials, been caught up in the English civil war, faced invasion from France, and welcomed the Beatles and Rolling Stones on tour. From the construction of Corbiere Lighthouse and Victor Hugo’s flight to Guernsey, to the day a UFO appeared above Alderney, all of these stories and more feature in the Channel Islands’ remarkable history. Subscribe to the podcast today.
Guernsey Zoo up for sale
Guernsey Zoo, once a popular tourist attraction, was sold as a going concern this week in 1973. The zoo, which was situated on a two-and-a-quarter acre site, housed a variety of animals, including a baby elephant, chimpanzees, baboons, bears, llamas, exotic birds, and even a children's farmyard. The sale included facilities such as a tea bar, gift shop, garages, and parking for 250 cars.
The zoo had been successful, receiving animals from various international programs and achieving notable breeding successes. However, its eventual closure left the Durrell Wildlife Park in Jersey as the only zoological establishment in the Channel Islands.
Alderney elects its first president
Alderney elected its first president this week in 1949. This significant event marked a new chapter for the island, which had faced challenging circumstances during and after the occupation.
The new president, Sydney Peck Herivel, served for over 21 years until August 26, 1970. The presidential term of office is four years, and the candidate can stand for re-election as many times as they choose. The president is responsible for various duties, including calling meetings of the island’s legislature, liaising with the public and other government offices, and organising civic and social events.
As the Chair of the legislature, the president only ever cast a vote if the other representatives are evenly split on an issue, thus settling the matter.
Guille and Alles open their library
Thomas Guille and Frederick Alles opened their library in the former Assembly Rooms on St Peter Port’s Market Street this week in 1882. The library provided access to 15,000 books, including the full book collection of the Mechanics Institution.
The building was initially leased from the States of Guernsey, but Guille and Alles later purchased it, and extended it in 1888 as well as giving it a new entrance.
The library operated on a subscription basis for almost 100 years until 1978 when it faced financial difficulties. Instead of increasing the annual charge, it entered into a partnership with the States of Guernsey, which now leases the building from the trust that once ran the library, making it a free, open public resource.
The collection included not only books but also several pictures, and the library was well-received by the locals, quickly becoming a place of reference and learning.
Guernsey bans smoking indoors
Guernsey banned smoking in all public places this week in 1972. This ban was extended over the years to include most indoor places other than private homes, making Guernsey, by 2006, the first place in the British Isles to ban smoking in all enclosed public spaces.
The ban was enforced with a fine of £25 for anyone caught breaking the law, which was a significant amount at that time, representing around a week’s average wages.
Guernsey wartime files opened
Officials in Guernsey unsealed a controversial volume of the island’s wartime archives this week in 1993. The records detailed how the island authorities had complied with German demands regarding the local Jewish population, including the handover of names, which led to the deportation of three women who died in German concentration camps. The authorities claimed that they had done all they could to protect the Jewish residents, but were aware that failure to comply would likely have led to reprisals.
The unsealed files also revealed that half of the population had been working for the occupying army, often unwillingly, with some being laid off from local industries and informed that the German forces would be willing to give them work.
Jersey was unable to open its own files as its entire wartime archive had been stolen in the early 1990s. Many believe the contents were either destroyed or sold to collectors, most likely in the United States.
Meanwhile in Jersey…
Local is honoured as a war hero
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Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney: little islands with big stories to tell. They’ve seen earthquakes and witchcraft trials, been caught up in the English civil war, faced invasion from France, and welcomed the Beatles and Rolling Stones on tour. From the construction of Corbiere Lighthouse and Victor Hugo’s flight to Guernsey, to the day a UFO appeared above Alderney, all of these stories and more feature in the Channel Islands’ remarkable history. Subscribe to the podcast today.