MBE recipient praises those who have helped him
BUILDING relationships is key to getting things done according to a man who should know.
Jack Honeybill has been made an MBE for his services to the community in Guernsey.
He was chairman of the Friends of Les Bourgs Hospice fundraising body for more than 20 years, during which time the hospice lottery was launched.
By the time he stood down in 2017 the target had been met which enabled construction of the facility to be completed.
Mr Honeybill said he was stunned when he was told of the latest accolade.
‘I couldn’t have achieved anything I did over the years without the teams of people who helped me, and they deserve a pat on the back,’ he said.
‘In any project you have to build relationships, networking is key, and everything I have done is due to the help of the fantastic Guernsey community.’
In his 40-year career with the NatWest Group, Mr Honeybill said he was able to build many relationships which proved beneficial post-retirement in 2002.
He was executive officer of the Town Centre Partnership, which installed granite memorial benches and petanque courts around the harbour.
He also organised the Town Carnival, the Normandy Market, and summer music concert programmes in Candie Gardens.
He was elected to the States in 2004 and served two terms. During the second term he was deputy Treasury minister.
He was a founder of the Menfun charity (now Active) and a school governor for The Ladies’ College.
Mr Honeybill was also head of fundraising for The Little Chapel Foundation and a member and former chairman of the Guernsey Concert Brass.
He is currently treasurer and fundraiser for the Guernsey Street Festival, which was born from the ashes of the former Town Carnival, and for which £52,000 has been collected for this event, which runs from 23 July to 6 August.
He has been married to Valerie for 16 years and he has two daughters, Deborah Medlock and Claire Honeybill, and two grandchildren.
Achieving things brought an amazing feeling and he said it was that which drove him on to do more.
It was especially nice to be recognised in The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, he added.
