2006 - a year in features

Throughout the year, our features team has brought you tales of islanders battling adversity or celebrating major success and others just having a lot of fun along the way. We've brought you food heroes and Fairtrade, a miracle man and Miss Guernsey, ballroom dancers and babies. We've thrown in our very own Tamworth Two, a young Sinatra and, last but not least, the Rolling Stones. What more could you ask? The chance to dip in again, perhaps? Read on ... IN January, one of Guernsey's favourite sportswomen shared the story of how she had overcome the biggest challenge of her life.

When former national badminton champion Sally Wood heard that she had breast cancer, she decided to do what she had always done - take on the opposition and beat it.

Not only did she defy the disease, she triumphed in a completely different sporting arena - showjumping.

Sally had been crowned English national badminton champion in 1998, making her the first mum ever to collect the title. The victory followed a run of earlier successes, including medals at the Commonwealth Games in 1982 and a long-running battle with manic depression. 'I want anyone who has been diagnosed with any illness to hear my story and stay positive. A year ago I never would have thought that I would be sitting in this room surrounded by trophies. That is the wonderful thing about sport and life.'

In early 2006, we declared actress Sheila Hancock an honorary Guern.

During research about her ancestors for the BBC TV series Who Do You Think You Are?, the widow of actor John Thaw visited the island. Thanks to a portrait painted in Guernsey and Priaulx Library chief librarian Amanda Bennett, the show uncovered a local connection through Sheila's great-grandmother, Ann Judith Williams Zurhorst, who had married retired shipbroker Frederick. The couple had once lived at Glategny Esplanade. 'It's a bit like a thriller,' said co-author of the book which accompanies the show Dan Waddell. 'And finding out about your roots puts things into perspective.'

Sheila, who spent a day filming in St Peter Port and St Andrew's, was intrigued by her newly discovered Guernsey link.

WE also got the chance to wallow in a little spot of swine fever. Time was when every home had its own pig and these days they're back in vogue, with celebs from George Clooney to Liz Hurley going hog wild to own one.

It's a little bit The Good Life, it's a little bit designer, so we caught up with some local Tamworth owners including Keith Wallace, who introduced the breed to Guernsey in 2000, to see what all the fuss was about. Two little piggies in particular - the Ciotti family's Ham and Rasher - just couldn't help hogging the limelight, as our picture shows.

BY MARCH, the words on almost everyone's lips were 'smoking ban'.

We caught up with a man who helped play a part in what became a successful campaign to make Guernsey a smoke-free zone.

Alun Williams is chairman of the Guernsey Adolescent Smoke-free Project, which works to steer youngsters away from cigarettes by showing how they can have a good time while staying healthy.

It's an approach that has led to dramatic results. In 1995, twice as many young people in Guernsey smoked compared with the UK. But by 2005, the island had been recognised as a world leader in reducing tobacco use by such people. The move led to a special commendation in Guernsey's annual achievement awards.

'We don't preach, we teach,' Alun told us.THE first half of 2006 also saw another local first, when Guernsey became an official Fairtrade island.

A campaign backed by the Guernsey Press helped it achieve international recognition for helping hundreds of producers in developing countries to secure a fair price for their goods.

Our special register during Fairtrade Fortnight saw more than 100 organisations pledge to use ethical products.

It ensured that we passed all the targets and gained status as a community committed to helping the poorest people on the planet.

IN APRIL, a sell-out ballroom dancing event stole the show. The Collas Day Dance Floor Challenge saw eight local personalities take to the floor in aid of the Women's Refuge charity and they included Guernsey Press reporters Nigel Baudains and Aaron Scoones, Advocate Sara Mallet, director of the island's Financial Intelligence Service Toni Bligh, BBC TV presenter Roisin Gauson, Deputy Leon Gallienne and Yorkshire Guernsey managing director Peter Symes and his wife Jane. We went behind the scenes and the sequins on the night to see the teams put through their paces, including winners Roisin and her dance partner Tony Penney.

IN MAY we paid special tribute to one of the island's most revered road stars, the scooter. The year marked the 60th birthday of the Vespa, the ultimate accessory of the mod squad and representing all things cool, from Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday to the undisputed Modfather, Paul Weller.

We asked local fans and scooter club members why the two-wheeled wonder retains a special a parking space in their hearts.

WHEN island rugby player Gareth Nicolle broke his neck during a match, he feared he'd never walk again, let alone step down the aisle with his girlfriend.

Twenty-five minutes into an away game against Guernsey First XV's rivals Tottonians, his life changed forever during a freak collision in a scrum.

He heard a loud cracking noise in his head and instantly knew something was wrong. 'I could feel everything but couldn't move anything,' said the 26-year-old who later discovered he had broken his neck in two places. Gareth underwent seven hours of surgery at a top London spinal unit. His family was warned he could end up in a wheelchair but just 13 days later he walked, unaided, from the hospital. His recovery amazed doctors and led to him being dubbed the island's very own 'miracle man'.

JULY marked a record year for Grammar School A-level art students. Sixteen were offered places on some of the most sought-after college courses in the British Isles.

We caught up with them at their end-of-year exhibition to get a glimpse of the promising home-grown talent on show. From fashion to film, prints to pixie shoes, this was an exciting and varied showcase of the island's future art stars.

THE island's very own glamour girl, Miss Guernsey, graced our pages in August, proving she is more than just a pretty face.

It had been a whirlwind year for 17-year-old Kira Gavey, who plans to study psychology and whose natural personality and sense of humour shone through. Kira also posed for a special fashion shoot for us the day after her beauty queen win.

THAT was also the month when a satanic row rocked the island.

Cancer survivor Irene Scott, who opted for a mix of conventional and alternative medicines for her treatment, believed it had played a significant role in her recovery.

But during a controversial talk at La Villiaze Evangelical Church in St Andrew's, local GP Dr Paul Williams likened treatment with a spiritual background to dabbling in the dark arts.

The story sparked huge debate in our letters pages.

Dr Williams told the Guernsey Press that homeopathy treatments had no place in modern medicine.

'I know I'm upsetting my colleagues. For many years I've called homeopathy witchcraft, slightly tongue-in-cheek. But there is an element of truth in it.'

IN SEPTEMBER we started spreading the news that Guernsey's answer to Frank Sinatra had officially arrived.

Teenage crooner Tom Strawbridge was crowned champion of the island's X Factor competition, beating off entrants from throughout the Bailiwick.

'I think I was born 40 years too late,' said Tom, a lifelong fan of the legendary Rat Pack and a keen island footballer and cricketer. He wowed the 300-strong audience at the Doghouse despite admitting to a spot of stage fright. 'It's the same as playing a big game of football,' the 17-year-old said later. 'Once you're on the pitch, the nerves disappear.'

We urged islanders to 'go green' in October. As the Mont Cuet landfill debate continued, we ran a special environmental edition of The Week featuring Guernsey's very own crusading 'green goddess', Rosie Dorey.

For her, recycling is not so much a passion as a way of life. And she is urging everyone to play a part in helping to protect our planet.

'I believe we each have a moral obligation to recycle,' she said.

She and her husband have three children, but throw away at most just two small carrier bags of waste per week.

'People will look back on this and wonder why we didn't do something sooner.'

This was also the month that Guernsey hailed its very own Food Hero.

The island's favourite butcher, Jason Hamon, scooped three times as many reader votes as anyone else in our competition celebrating the very best of Guernsey's food industry. Organic vegetable box pioneer Anne Sandwith and tomato industry legend Roger Higgs came joint runners-up in the vote, organised in conjunction with Feast. The Forest Stores favourite, who is on first-name terms with most of his customers, says his secret is quality over quantity as he uses only the finest organic meat.

GUERNSEY'S beautiful babies proved little stars in our popular Baby of The Year competition, which this year attracted almost 300 entries.

Pretty as a picture, Georgina Burnet won the under-one category, with Armani Watson runner-up. Winner of the 13- to 24-month category was Phoebe Page. Runner-up was Rio Gaudion.

In the 25- to 36-months category, the winner was Lily-Arna Watson, with Mai-Leigh To runner up.

A record-breaking 5,000 readers voted for their favourites.

NOVEMBER was an exciting month for local music fans. We discovered some previously unpublished photos of the Rolling Stones' visit to Guernsey's St George's Hall in the summer of 1964.

They were yet to be legends but the pictures of the band on Guernsey turf showed they already had star quality. The concert was loud, it was raw and it lasted only 30 minutes but for everyone who was there it was unforgettable. Supporting act was local band The Westcoasters.

Val Mechem (nee Marquis) was just 15 at the time. 'Mick Jagger was such a showman,' she said. 'I'd never seen anything like it before.'

IN December we featured several articles about the effect of domestic abuse on our community. The island has the same problem as the UK where one in four people has experienced abuse at some stage in their lives.

Our stories revealed how it can affect people from all walks of life, with harrowing tales from a successful businesswoman in the finance industry and a local mum. We also focused on how Guernsey Women's Refuge and its outreach services can be a haven for the many affected, including during Christmas time.

Last year figures revealed there were 425 domestic violence incidents reported to the police in Guernsey. Of those, 345 involved women as the victims, 80 were male. In 39% of cases, children were witnesses.

The news adds weight to calls, backed by the Bailiff, for corporate funding for an international conference in the island in October focusing on the impact of such abuse on society and local business.