Guernsey
April 17, 2023
18 April 23. Guernsey.
Capital town St Peter Port faces east and so the morning sun lights up the town giving it a very warm feeling. This extends into the Harbour Office where Captain David Barker leads one of the smartest teams of Deputy and Assistant HMs I have met on my travels.
David returned to Guernsey after a career in the Merchant and Royal Navy as aviator, mariner and frigate commander. He works on an island where everyone knows everyone - just 64,000 people live here.
The Victorian harbour works well, but is squeezed to capacity with ferries, cargo ships, cruise liners, fishing boats and pleasure boats all using the tight space. Add to that, a 10 metre tidal range and you end up with a rubik's cube of activity. Plans to build a new commercial harbour just north of St Peter Port are being considered by the "States of Guernsey" however this is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
As well as HM he is Chief Coastguard, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Head of the Lighthouse Authority and Registrar of Shipping. Soon after his appointment a light plane carrying footballer Emiliano Sala crashed into the sea just off the island. As HM he had to co-ordinate the rescue as well as deal with the world's press. His RN training in Media Relations prepared David for this onslaught, but was tested when the star's family was told by a mystic that Emiliano was alive and living on the small island of Burhou (see map). David took the family there to show them it was uninhabited, however on the beach there was a football. RN training did not include how to explain that!
Thank you David for your generosity and a very happy stay. @guernseyharbours
Capital town St Peter Port faces east and so the morning sun lights up the town giving it a very warm feeling. This extends into the Harbour Office where Captain David Barker leads one of the smartest teams of Deputy and Assistant HMs I have met on my travels.
David returned to Guernsey after a career in the Merchant and Royal Navy as aviator, mariner and frigate commander. He works on an island where everyone knows everyone - just 64,000 people live here.
The Victorian harbour works well, but is squeezed to capacity with ferries, cargo ships, cruise liners, fishing boats and pleasure boats all using the tight space. Add to that, a 10 metre tidal range and you end up with a rubik's cube of activity. Plans to build a new commercial harbour just north of St Peter Port are being considered by the "States of Guernsey" however this is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
As well as HM he is Chief Coastguard, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Head of the Lighthouse Authority and Registrar of Shipping. Soon after his appointment a light plane carrying footballer Emiliano Sala crashed into the sea just off the island. As HM he had to co-ordinate the rescue as well as deal with the world's press. His RN training in Media Relations prepared David for this onslaught, but was tested when the star's family was told by a mystic that Emiliano was alive and living on the small island of Burhou (see map). David took the family there to show them it was uninhabited, however on the beach there was a football. RN training did not include how to explain that!
Thank you David for your generosity and a very happy stay. @guernseyharbours