Festung delighted by level of interest in bunkers
HUNDREDS of people were roaming across Fort Hommet headland on Saturday, as Festung Guernsey opened up three of its bunkers there.
The Jager-type casemate bunker is often open on Saturdays during the summer. But it is much rarer for the two bunkers on the northern side of the headland to be open.
These were a Type U personnel bunker and a Type 633 bunker.
Festung Guernsey project co-ordinator Steve Powell said he and his colleagues were pleased with how many people came along.
‘It’s been very busy,’ he said. ‘There’s been a mix of locals and visitors, which is interesting.’
The volunteer group have been holding annual open days for about the last seven years, and Mr Powell said they were seeing people getting more engaged.
‘We find there is great interest. It’s very refreshing and encouraging that people want to see these things.’
A few weeks ago the group held an open day at its sites at Pembroke and Mr Powell said they were inundated with people.
Saturday’s event saw more than 100 people in just the first hour.
Among the people looking around was Ross Kendall and his son Max, 11, who were looking around the Type 633 bunker. Mr Kendall said his grandparents were in Guernsey during the Occupation, so it was interesting see history from that time.
‘It’s the first time I have been in this bunker and I’m quite interested to see it,’ he said.
‘I did not realise how much there was down here. It’s very interesting.’
Steve Walden came along to look at the bunker with his nine-year-old daughter Ruby. They had gone along to the recent Pembroke open day and said it was great to look around the Fort Hommet sites.
‘I think the Festung Guernsey work is amazing,’ Mr Walden said. ‘I hope they do more.’
All the money raised from Saturday’s event goes towards Festung’s work, which involves uncovering and restoring Occupation sites.
The group is already responsible for 24 bunkers across 10 sites, and on Hommet headland alone it has six.
Mr Powell said that more planning applications were being worked on to expand the group’s activities.
'Lights out' event planned
A FOURTH ‘lights out’ event is set to be held at the German Underground Hospital, after the ‘phenomenal’ success of the previous three.
The events allow islanders over 16 to explore the site with just torch light to lead the way.
The most recent one was held on Friday night, and Festung Guernsey project co-ordinator Steve Powell said it had gone really well.
An exact date for the next one has not been set yet, but it is expected to be in mid-September, and will be the last one for 2023.
