The initially temporary structure –which at that time was the centrepiece of the SeaGuernsey 2005 celebrations – was carefully lifted into place on Sunday 24 April 2005, with the team just managing to get the final section into place before the heavens opened in the afternoon.
It was a day that is still clear in the mind of Marine & General boat yard manager Andy Richmond, who, along with now retired M&G staff Andrew Way and Peter Marret, was instrumental in getting the mast up.
‘It is a bit of a one-off in Guernsey,’ he said.
‘It was an interesting job.’
While a popular landmark today, the mast was not always so beloved. The local SeaGuernsey event was linked to the UK SeaBritain event – a year-long festival celebrating Britain’s long love affair with the sea, and connected with the bicentenary of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar in 1805. Newspaper reports at the time were divided, with some islanders worried it would overshadow the area or not have a clear message.
But then-Commerce & Employment member Mike O’Hara had a clear vision, saying in 2004 that the mast would be a landmark and would make a great light tree at Christmas.
He was proved right and the structure has even featured in a calendar for the best of British roundabouts.
‘It was quite controversial,’ Mr O’Hara said.
‘I always had the idea that it would be a gateway to Guernsey, as soon as people came off the boat they would see it. I had so many calls from people objecting – it was quite staggering.
‘Then when it was erected, people started calling to say how wonderful it was.’
He said that the visit by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who visited the mast in 2005 to unveil a Liberation Day commemoration stone there, was very special.
‘It was just wonderful.’
Mr Richmond said it was relief that it ended up being popular.
‘Once it was there, people thought it looked really good.’
However, another challenge was keeping it up.
It was only intended to be in place from Liberation Day 2005 until the end of the year.
So it was only built with a short life expectancy in mind.
Mr Richmond said after being in place for about three years, they took it down and gritblasted off the thin, temporary paint and repainted it to last.
The rigging was also replaced with more long-lasting stainless steel lines.
He said it was lovely to see it still so well-loved, noting that this had been one of the company’s most iconic jobs.
Guernsey Ports now keeps the mast ship-shape.
Acting harbour master James Way –who is the son of Andrew Way, who was involved in first getting the mast erected – said the mast is culturally significant to Guernsey.
‘As well as being an important local landmark, it is a link to Guernsey’s proud maritime heritage,’ he said.
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