'In our hearts and lives...'

Things have changed a lot at the Guernsey Press and Star in the last 200 years, but it will always be at the centre of island life for Yvonne Ozanne.

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I HAVE a copy of The Star, dated May 9, 1945.

It celebrates the arrival of British Troops in Guernsey and was printed by the Guernsey Star and Gazette Co. Ltd, Bordage Street, Guernsey.

Kenneth Gartell was the editor.

I would have been four years old the following day and our family were still living in England, having been evacuated in 1940.

The harsh conditions for islanders who had remained is evident in the For Exchange column within that paper: 'Boy's sandshoes, black, size 12 for size 1'; 'Roll-on corset, knicker elastic for what permissible'.

These are very telling advertisements, especially when we compare them with today's buying and selling needs.

The Guernsey Press and Star is our island's main provider of news. People can, for example, exchange views, trade with each other and even keep track of islanders' lives through the 'Hatch, Match and Despatch' family announcement columns. It helps our community to have an identity, a culture and indeed a voice.

Back then the Press was a broadsheet. I well remember the plop of the paper hitting my great-aunt's conservatory floor next door as it was delivered by a boy on a bike.

My father would ask us to fetch it, then eagerly scan the tide and weather information.

The letters page was still lively in those days – maybe more polite than now. Writing to the Press was generally a last-ditch attempt for someone to air their grievance or to express a serious view. Now, it is a healthy forum for opinions and the opportunity to show opposition to our government, for example, as and when it is thought needed.

One of the first newspapers in the island was Le Gazette de Guernesey, printed in France and written in French, which ran from 1791 to 1936. A small reference to that paper remains as La Gazette Officielle, printed almost every day inside the back cover.

The Star's first edition was published on 29 June 1813, followed 84 years later by the inaugural Guernsey Evening Press on 31 July 1897 – four small pages printed on green paper complete with the first editorial message. 'In the hope of meeting a patient and appreciative audience... the Guernsey Evening Press timidly and humbly makes its bow to the Guernsey people'.

Although the paper is never timid – and in the world today, being humble wouldn't serve our island very well – it has gone from strength to strength.

Herbert Machon was the editor in 1959 when, as a wet behind the ears typist, I joined the staff. My manager was one Emile Digard, father of current editor Richard.

His uncle, Emile's brother Alf, shared an office with the then-chairman, Gervaise Peek, whose family count a founder of The Guernsey Press, Gervaise F. Peek, among their number.

When I worked at the Press, divorce cases were fully reported, with any parties cited exposed to all readers.

Those featured were frowned upon and having your face 'plastered all over the Press' was not considered a good thing. The natural instinct of a Guernseyman is to keep himself to himself. However, which other newspapers include a list of funeral attendees? The Times and The Telegraph do, but you have to be royal or a VIP for them to bother.

I can recall getting to work on the bus each morning.

Our offices were above the Guernsey Press shop in Smith Street. The printing machinery, all ink and typefaces, was at the back of the premises, bordering on Le Marchant Street. You went right to the back of the shop to enter and pay for your classified announcements with the girls there.

Roy Maindonal was the shop manager and Paul le Moal ran the print shop. Frank Roussel was the editor of The Star. He had his own office along our corridor.

Each day we would see such legendary folk as Victor Coysh, Carel Toms, Herbie Winterflood, Dave Prigent, Rex Bennett and Cyd Gardener. The journalists shared a large office and I found them all a bit terrifying.

There were also photography and art departments. I longed to do some designs for the advertisements, in fact one of the artists once said I could help her, but I was too worried about getting it wrong. That would have been worse than not doing it at all.

I loved my time at the Press. It was always interesting, with news coming in all the time. We were given free copies of The Star as it came off the printing press. I read mine during the morning break with a warm jam doughnut from the shop opposite, which is now a chemist. The managers had their morning break in The Coal Hole pub, handily situated at the top of Smith Street.

Each Saturday we went dancing, mostly to the Channel Island Hotel. Sometimes it would be St George's Hall, Mont au Nord or Whitewoods Hotel. Tony and I loved the cha-cha-cha and still have a go at parties. Do you remember Tea for Two? We loved it.

I left the Press somewhat reluctantly. My boyfriend and future husband was leaving the island to live in, of all places, Luton. I followed him.

We were married in Guernsey then returned to the UK for a couple of years. When Tektronix, an American firm making oscilloscopes, started up operations we came home and both found employment with the company.

Of course the newspaper's reporting, advertising and printing are all done at Braye Road now.

The GP has its own website.

Things have gone 'digital'. You can log on, follow it on Twitter and interact on Facebook to your heart's content, 24 hours a day.

I am proud, indeed honoured, to be writing this article to celebrate 200 years of The Guernsey Press.

Like our beloved island, in all seasons and in all weathers, The Press will always have a special place in our lives and hearts.