Condor Ferries has recruited Chartered accountant Andreas Tautscher (6968) as a non-executive director.  Andreas has joined the board with immediate effect.  Andreas who has spent almost 30 years in banking, asset management and working on local government advisory committees said he was very excited to join the Condor Ferries board. 

TJ Fitzgerald (9978) has received global recognition.  TJ, who attended Oxford University, is currently in his third year of the UK government’s flagship civil service fast stream graduate programme.  'I am currently working in NHS Financial Strategy and financial lead on the Health Care Bill going through Parliament,’ said TJ.  'As part of the finance fast stream, I am expected to complete a finance qualification.  I have been fully self-teaching the ACCA qualification and in December I completed the strategic business leadership exam.  I later discovered that I received the global award for achieving the highest mark in the world in this exam.'  TJ has since worked on a number of high-profile government policies and budgets.     

Matthew Le Maitre (9271) is the new Environmental Sustainability Lead and will provide expertise and coordination of strategy in relation to the island’s energy transition to net zero, and continues to with his responsibility for the subsea cable network.  He joined the company is 2021 and has a background in infrastructure and energy projects both onshore and offshore, including work on the construction of two offshore windfarms in the UK from his time as a hydrographic survey consultant.  ‘As a Guernseyman who has spent many years working overseas, I’m really excited to bring home my experience gained elsewhere and put it to good use here.  There is going to be much change and innovation in the next five years and I’m looking forward to making sure sustainability is at the heart of decision making.’

Ben Hinshaw (8949) celebrates his first novel, "Exactly What I Mean", published by Penguin.  ’The book has been picked up by the BBC programme Between the Lines which is presented by Sara Cox,’ Ben said.  ‘I won the Loller Cup at St Martin’s Primary School in 1992 for creative writing.  I’ve still got it…I went to Nottingham University and got a BA and then an MA, not in English lit but geography.  When I left I thought, “Time to be a writer”.’  Not long after he won the Jersey Arts Trust prize for his short story.  He worked in London for seven years, as a bookseller, writing in his spare time.  He met his future wife and in 2012 the couple went to live in the US.  ’There is this creative writing programme and if you get onto the right one, it’s free.  So I did this course for two years at the University of California.  And it was a game changer.’  The rudiments of Ben’s book began as short stories he had worked on from 2008 to 2016.  ’There are different settings, some close to home - there are boys at Elizabeth College in 1990 - but there is a middle-aged woman in California, another character in London.’    

After being involved in beach kiosks since he was a child, Nic Percy (6621), until recently the owner of Vistas at Vazon, has stepped away from the kitchen and the business.  As a child during the 1960s, Nic helped his mum who rented whoopee floats at L’Ancresse.  The family operated the kiosk at L’Ancresse for many years until fairly recently, with Nic running it for a few years.  In the mid-1980s the Percy family took on what was then known as the Vazon Beach Cafe.  Nic eventually started cooking and apart from a few years in the 1990s when he worked in Jersey, he has always worked in the kitchen at Vazon.  His dad used to run the cafe and when Nic’s mother died, he returned to the island and ended up taking over what became Vistas after a major upgrade in 2014.  Nic has decided to retire for health reasons.  Nic wished the new owner, Stephen Lansdown, well.  He said he had left with many years of happy memories. 

New president of La Societe, Roy Bisson (4861), hopes to engage people of all ages with the organisation, while continuing to preserve Guernsey’s wildlife.  Roy has been been a member of La Societe for about 30 years and a historic building enthusiastic.  He became a council member in 2014 and recently stepped up to be president.  Roy said it was important to encourage islanders to get involved with the work of La Societe.  ‘We are going to target recruitment.  Guernsey has a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the many disciplines La Societe tackles and we need to encourage more people, particularly those with scientific backgrounds, to join our sections and share their wealth of experience.’  ‘We are the second-biggest property owner on the island, after the States, but we have no buildings, only land,’ said Roy.  'Continuing to preserve local hedging and farmland would also be crucial’.   

Former Bailiff Sir Richard Collas (5699) has been appointed the first chairman of the new Guernsey Language Commission.  A language and history enthusiast, Sir Richard said he wanted islanders to come forward with ideas and offers of help to get the commission contributing towards island life.  ‘We have a heritage of which we can be proud and we owe it to our forefathers and to future generations to preserve and promote it.’  The States agreed to establish the commission in September 2020, and has set funding aside for it.  Its aims are to sustain, develop and promote Guernesiais, as a standalone body from the States, pulling together a strategic plan to revitalise the language.       

Founder of publishers Blue Ormer and editor of the Guernsey Society Review, Steve Foote (7003) has been chief executive of the Priaulx Library since January.  ‘I spent the first couple of months asking loads of stupid questions but I began to formulate plans and ideas.’  One of those ideas was suggested by Steve’s friend, Jim Delbridge - a podcast.  ‘It’s about making the library more accessible and giving people a taste of what they can find here,’ explained Jim.  Steve and Jim both agreed on a set time for the podcast - 40 minutes.  ’The first one is about the quarrying industry,’ added Jim.  ‘One will see us researching local surnames and another where we’ll be speaking to head librarian Sue Laker about how the library has been recently approached by the British Museum,’ said Jim.  ‘It has an exhibition called Breaking News, about how different places reported the news during the war.’  One thing the podcast won’t be is just Jim and Steve broadcasting to the island.  ’Through our Facebook page we want people to talk about the subjects we’ve raised,’ said Jim. 

Two Guernsey music students have used local references to influence an ambitious electronic music composition.  Blair Taylor (11101) and Harvey Falla (11089), both alumni of the Guernsey Music Centre, are in their third year at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester.  Their 30-minute piece, Give-And-Take, included recordings and references captured on island.  Among them was an excerpt from the song Sarnia Cherie and speeches made in States debates.  Blair is a violinist and Harvey is studying the double bass.  ‘We decided to base it on Guernsey because we can both relate to the same experiences and memories of the island and it allowed the performance to feel very personal to us.’ 

Caius Bearder (10852) has finished his time as Glasgow School of Art studying Silversmithing and Jewellery BA Hons, and is now pursuing his career as a designer and maker of silverware and jewellery.

Peter Harwood (5306) is named in the Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours list.  Former chief minister Peter is awarded the OBE his services to Guernsey.  He has been a trusted advisor to local business leader, government and the third sector for many years.  As chairman of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission from 2006-2011, he worked to safeguard Guernsey’s international reputation as a finance centre while helping to keep the island competitive and compliance with international standards.  He said he was flabbergasted as his recognition from The Queen.  ‘I feel very humbled that people have taken the time and effort to put my name forward,’ he said.  In the 1990s, as a voluntary member of the States of Guernsey Policy Group, he led a two-year study that produced a review of the island’s machinery of government, which bears his name.  He was elected to the States in 2012 and served for one term.  For your years from 2016, he was a non-voting member on the Scrutiny Committee and currently holds the same position on Home Affairs.  Last year he was chosen to lead the implementation of the States of Guernsey Justice Strategy, which includes future sentencing policy.  Since 2017 he has been chairman of Guernsey Victim Support and Witness Service.  He is a founder and trustee of the Help a Guernsey Child charity and in 2018 launched Carers Guernsey LBG which supports unpaid carers in the Bailiwick.  

David Becker (8666), a partner at Deloitte, has cycled 100 miles to raise money for Mind, cycling from London to Essex and back in the RideLondon Essex 100 event with his sister.  ’The ride was great fun with a wonderful atmosphere among the riders,’ said David.  He chose to raise money for Mind following the impact that the pandemic had on people’s health.  ‘I’m proud to say that we raised £915 for Mind.’

Cyclists Saxon Brewer-Marchant (10533) and Nathaniel Jones (10667) were in Market Square on a busy Friday lunchtime in late May to raise funds ahead of their Venice to Ventoux charity cycle.  The pair set off on an eight day cycling trip this month where they aim to cycle 1,000km across Italy and France to raise £5,000 for Mug.  The idea for the trip was inspired by Mr Jones’ grandfather who loved cycling, the Tour de France and Venice from his days as an artist.  ‘We push each other to perform our best when cycling, and motivate each other to undertake challenges we wouldn’t normally consider.  Doing this sort of event by ourselves will be much tougher mentally, so having each other’s support is key.’  

David Warr (6106) and Stuart Falla (5822) have started their 2023 marathon training to raise money for youth sections of St John Ambulance Guernsey.  David and Stuart, as part of The Old Masters team, have committed to take part in next year’s Guernsey Marathon as a relay team.  ’The St Johns Guernsey Youth Service for 5 to 18 year-olds has inspired many young people to pursue a career in the health sector as paramedics, doctors, nurses and care workers or volunteers,’ said one of the team.    

Charlie-Joe Hallett (11196) was on record-breaking form from his first heat at the British Championships.  Competing amid great competitive depth in Sheffield’s Ponds Forge Pool, the Plymouth-based swimmer started off by lowering his Guernsey long-course 100m breaststroke record to 1min. 3.40sec. to qualify for the B final.  He placed 7th there, lowering his record to 1min. 3.12sec.  Charlie-Joe followed up with an island 50m record of 28.30, setting him up for a B final where he posted 28.51 for sixth.  He also produced two personal bests in the butterfly - 55.89 for 100m and 25.69 for 50m.  Younger brother Ronnie Hallett (11111) swam two straight personal bests in the 100m breaststroke, starting with 1min. 5.50 sec in his heat before going one-tenth faster for seventh in the junior final.  He swam a comfortable 50m heat of 29.58 and then, in the junior final, made an excellent start and led to 35m before slipping to sixth in 29.65.

Guernsey went into the 2022 edition of the Siam Cup as the holders following their 62-26 success in Jersey 7 days earlier, but the Raiders, including OEs Dom Rice (10875), Matt Creber (11086) and Matthew Armstrong (11349), were desperate to atone for their home defeat against Jersey Reds Athletic in November and they did so in a style matching the glorious sunshine with a second-half onslaught that left the visitors resembling King Canute trying to hold back the tide in a thrilling match that ended 52-0 to the Guernsey Raiders.  

The Old Elizabethan team of 5 small-bore shooters has won the Fletcher Cup competed for by former students of public schools in the UK.  The competitors individual scores are as follows; Matthew Guille (7008) 99, Nick Mace (8274) 99, Adam Jory (7916) 99, Nick Kerins (10358) 99, Luke Malcic (10965) 98 with a total of 494 ex 500, this was only one short of the record score for this competition.

Andrew Le Page (9652) is taking a trip to Love Island on our TV screens for the next few weeks.  Andrew who was a keen cricketer for Optimists in his younger days has been working in real estate in Dubai Hills.  “I’m actually single for once, so I thought why not?’ he told the programme. 

Fred Hamperl (7402) has become Guernsey Chess champion for the 10th time as "over the board" chess returned to Les Cotils after two years of pandemic disruption.  

Former aircraft pilot John Barnes (Hon. OE and former bursar at Elizabeth College from 1962-1985) was born 15 April 1921, which this year fell on Good Friday.  Unfortunately as John caught Covid, his 101st birthday celebrations were slightly delayed, but his family were still able to celebrate the milestone a few days later.  John moved to Guernsey from the UK in and after more than 20 years in the Royal Navy.  For John’s birthday last year, the family had a big party at Les Cotils.  Many of his relatives travelled over from the UK for the celebrations, for which then Lt-Governor Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder was also in attendance.