Knighthood ‘a huge privilege’
BAILIFF Richard McMahon has said he is thrilled after being awarded a knighthood as part of the King’s first Birthday Honours.
Sir Richard was informed of the news by Lt-Governor Richard Cripwell via telephone a few weeks ago.
‘He told me that my name had been recommended. I accepted without hesitation, it is a huge privilege,’ he said.
He added that the honour was a recognition of the hard work done by court and parliamentary staff.
‘I could not do the job I do without the support of everyone here. I enjoy the challenge of working as part of a small but growing team.’
He expected to find out soon if he would be knighted by the Monarch himself.
Sir Richard is Guernsey’s 90th Bailiff, but is believed to be the first Bailiff not born in Guernsey.
He read law at the University of Liverpool, before undertaking a postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge.
After a period in academia, he moved to the island in 1995 to take up a job with the law officers at the Royal Court.
After stints as a civil servant legal adviser, before returning to the courts as HM Comptroller and then Deputy Bailiff, during which time he was made a Queen’s Counsel in 2009, he became Bailiff in May 2020 during the Covid pandemic.
He said one of the biggest highlights of his time as Bailiff was attending the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year.
‘Fortunately I was present for both Lucy Beere’s and Alastair Chalmers’ medal wins. They were huge achievements.’
He added that he would try to catch a glimpse of each island and each sport during the Island Games next month.
‘It will be a great opportunity for us to showcase our island,’ he said.
A patron of more than 40 local charities, Sir Richard has also invested a lot of time into developing the island’s relationship with the German town of Biberach, where prisoners from the Channel Islands were held during the Second World War.
‘I was out there most recently in April. It’s been wonderful to receive invitations to go, and we have developed a genuine friendship with the town,’ he said.
Trio honoured
Three other Bailiwick residents received honours in the list.
Alan Gough, who was instrumental in setting up the school Music Service, was awarded the MBE.
David Warr, whose charity work stretches back more than 20 years, received the OBE, primarily, he believes, for his work as chairman of Vive La Vallette, the group behind the regeneration of the Bathing Pools.
There is a BEM for Sark fire chief Kevin Adams, who also plays the church organ and has held other voluntary posts in the island.
