Iconic photographs of Guernsey’s seafairing community as well as accompanying watercolours and drawings of the islands are currently on show at Sula Gallery.
They are the work of Carel Toms, who worked at the Guernsey Press for nearly five decades, rising from printer’s devil to become features editor for more than 30 years.
Twenty-four years on from his passing, Carel’s work is being shown and will be auctioned at the exhibition Carel Toms And The People Of The Sea.
The photographs, which have been donated for auction by Nello and Della Ciotti, were originally displayed on the walls of their restaurant, Mora, on the Quay, which closed in 2022 after 15 years of trading.
‘Mora was the name of William the Conqueror’s flagship,’ explained Marco Ciotti, who ran the restaurant. ‘The photographs were from the 50s and 60s, and that generation were Anglo-Norman. When Mora closed we didn’t want to ditch the photos, we wanted to get them back to the people to whom they may mean something to.
‘Back in 2022, we were unable to organise an exhibition, but my mother did actually give the photo of Wilf Savident to his daughter.’
Marco explained why the proceeds raised will go to the local branch of the RNLI.
‘As many of the crew of Guernsey lifeboats have been manned by fishermen, we thought it would be a great idea to organise an auction and the money raised would go to supporting RNLI Guernsey.’
The exhibition is being organised by Les Gens d’la Mair, a local cultural group and heritage initiative dedicated to preserving, celebrating and reviving Guernsey’s rich maritime history. It was founded this year by Marcel Lenormand.
‘Marco got in touch because he really liked what we were doing with Fete d’la Mair in summer,’ explained Marcel.
‘It’s really wonderful to be a part of this. These images are authentic pieces of Guernsey’s maritime history, when so many locals made their living from the sea.’
Extra interest has been added to the exhibition by way of authentic fishing and maritime equipment.
‘Tony Falla and Max Gaudion helped with the props,’ said Marcel. ‘We have glass bobbers, ropes, anchors, lead weights, ormer baskets, pots and propellers as well as shells and pebbles.’
A rope from Bec du Nez acted as the ‘ribbon’ which was cut to open the exhibition.
‘These really are exceptional pictures and we’re hoping they find new homes across the island with people who love them,’ said Celia Allen MBE, chair of the Guernsey Lifeboat Fundraising Committee.
The 24 framed prints – as well as the watercolours and drawings, which belong to both the Sula Gallery and Marie, Carel’s daughter – are on public display at the gallery between 10am and 5pm until Saturday 14 November. Admission is free. Successful bidders will be contacted following the exhibition’s close.
For more information, contact Marcel Lenormand on 07781 143641 or via email at lesgensdlamair@gmail.com.
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