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Visit of the National Trust for Jersey |
The National Trust for Jersey visited Guernsey on a beautiful autumn day. Thirteen members arrived at Guernsey Airport at 9am and were conducted on a tour of Trust properties commencing with the recently acquired double archway at Les Blancs Bois. A tour of the Folk Museum resulted in much favourable comment and this was followed by a quiet ramble down the Saumarez Nature Trail to look at the Ozanne Tower, which the Trust hopes to acquire shortly. This was followed by a delicious lunch at President Michael Eades residence. The afternoon was spent on a visit to Les Caches Farm and Barn in the Forest as well as a look at the serious dry rot problems in Esperanza 1. The visit ended with a visit to see the Trust's working waterwheel at La Quanteraine Farm followed by tea at the Café du Moulin. The Jersey party departed at 6pm.
The Jersey party was led by their President, Mrs Hilary Grant, Treasurer Michael Murphy, two vice Presidents, 7 Council Members and their Chief Executive Officer, Charles Alluto. Michael Eades commented to the media that "Given the essential similarities between the two organisations, regular contact can only be of benefit to both and to the joint objectives we have. The NT for Jersey is the senior organisation and goes back to 1930. We've been around since 1960. We can learn from them as they are larger than us and are more experienced. They have a very professional structure, with a chief executive and headquarters. We are a little too small for that at the moment, but if we carry on growing, the Trust will have to address various issues on the way it is managed." Mrs Grant commented that "Even though we have been established for longer, there are always things that the older brother can learn from the younger brother."
A letter from Mrs Grant, after the event, said: "I am writing to you on behalf of all thirteen of us who travelled to Guernsey on Saturday to say thank you so much for giving us such a splendid day. I know that the informal approach that you all took was very successful in promoting a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. I am certain that contact between the two Trusts can only benefit both from the practical level of waterwheels to exchanges of ideas at strategic level. We were delighted to be shown several of your projects. The challenges you face our very similar to ours! Please pass on our thanks to all who worked so hard to make our visit so enjoyable."
Hilary Grant