Grow crew member’s wishing well restored
A wishing well that was built in 1993 in memory of a Grow crew member, Richie, has been renovated with the help of the son of the architect who originally designed the well.
Roger and Margaret Anne Higgs, Richie’s parents, originally asked Lawrie Ozanne to design the wishing well at Grow in memory of Richie.
Three decades after the well was first built, Grow redeveloped its site. Despite great care being taken during the demolitions for the new development, the well’s roof tiles and timber had deteriorated over time due to its position on the site leaving it open to the elements.
Marguerite Talmage, Grow board member and daughter of the late Mr Ozanne, asked her brother Andrew Ozanne, who is a trustee of Creative Learning in Prison, if the renovation of the well could be done in the prison workshop.
‘Dad drew up the plans and then made the original timber structure in our shed at home using wood from our stables’ said Mr Ozanne, who is now an architect himself, following in his father’s footsteps.
‘Being able to facilitate this refurbishment feels very special to both us and the Higgs family.’
One of Richie’s sisters, Sue Brewer, said her family and the Ozannes had known each other for years.
‘We were thrilled that the original collaboration could be brought together again in renovating Richie’s Well,’ she said.
‘I know Richie would be delighted that his well is now back to its original condition. He would be rubbing his hands together in glee at the thought of being the centre of attention again. I can almost hear him giggling.’
The prison authority agreed, and the prisoners restored the well back to its original good condition.
‘The prison has been involved in a number of projects with Grow over the years, most recently in helping their team set up their new greenhouse, so we were keen to help restore the well,’ said Dave Le Feuvre, head of education, training and regimes at Guernsey Prison.
Norman Piette provided the materials needed to renovate the well.
‘We are big supporters of Grow so when Andrew asked for our help with this project we were delighted to get involved by supplying timber and other materials,’ said NP Group marketing manager Dalen Vile.
When the wishing well was first built in 1993, Richie’s family, members of the Grow team and Lawrie Ozanne gathered to unveil it. A photograph taken by the Guernsey Press at the time includes crew member Simon Ozanne, who has been with Grow since day one and worked alongside Richie and the late Maurice Lihou who was the inspiration and driving force behind establishing Grow 40 years ago.
The well has now been re-dedicated and photographed with some of the people who were in the original picture along with the new generation of Richie’s family and those who have helped renovate the well.
Richie’s sister, Sally Le Poidevin, was in the original photo with her daughter Pheobe, whose daughter Sophia is now pictured with the wishing well that was built in memory of her great uncle.
‘Richie absolutely adored Pheobe and I know he would love Sophia. It’s absolutely amazing. He would love it,’ said Ms Le Poidevin.
‘I am just so happy everyone is here remembering him. He really enjoyed coming to Grow and would have loved the new development, especially the cafe. He really would have loved something like that.’
