Sir Fabian liked people, and was well loved in return

In his tribute, he said that Sir Fabian enjoyed the sense of community in each of the islands and across the Bailiwick as a whole.

‘He was known as someone who liked people, and in return, was well loved, no doubt, helped by his great sense of fun,’ he said.

He joined the Royal Navy in 1965 and served on 12 ships during his career, including commanding the frigates HMS Torquay and HMS Brave.

He was made Captain of the Ninth Frigate Squadron in 1987 and was appointed director of Naval Service Conditions a year later.

During the Bosnian-Serbian war of the early 90s he was Commanding Officer of HMS Invincible, which provided air support.

He became the Naval Secretary in 1996 and his last role in the Navy was as Deputy Commander in Chief Fleet.

He was awarded a knighthood in 2001 and retired from the Navy the following year.

After retiring he settled in Weymouth and it was during this time that he spent some time as a crew member of a local fishing boat.

‘The crew felt rather special at having a retired admiral to helm their boat,’ said Sir Richard.

His going to the White Rock for a cup of tea and to chat to fishermen may have been due to how much he enjoyed himself on board this fishing boat.

‘Some may regard the White Rock Cafe as the alternative seat to this parliament,’ said the Bailiff.

Sir Fabian served as Lt-Governor from 2005 to 2011 and during that time he would often ride a small Honda scooter, wearing a Guernsey and a full face helmet, which he said allowed him to get out and about unnoticed, which he enjoyed doing.

He also enjoyed photography, which saw him spending a day doing work experience with Guernsey Press photographer Adrian Miller.

Sir Fabian hosted two Royal visits – HRH the Princess Royal in 2007 and the then Earl and Countess of Wessex in 2009.

Sir Richard extended the States’ condolences to Lady Malbon and their three sons, before members rose in silent tribute.

‘His period of office will be remembered with genuine warmth and affection for a long time’

Sir Fabian Malbon made an ‘immense and beneficial contribution’ to each of the Bailiwick communities during his time in office, said former Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland.

Sir Geoffrey was Bailiff throughout Sir Fabian’s term of office in the island.

‘Over that period we had an excellent innovative Crown representative and his period of office will be remembered with genuine warmth and affection for a long time,’ he said.

‘The Office of the Lt-Governor requires many skills, some of which are observable by islanders, while others are the subject of confidentiality and therefore not observed by many.

‘Sir Fabian had impeccable judgement and at all times promoted the Bailiwick favourably when dealing with successive UK Government ministers and senior civil servants. He was well respected by Her Majesty the Queen and her private secretaries.’

He recalled their first meeting, before Sir Fabian’s installation and while Sir Geoffrey was Bailiff designate. ‘I was in no doubt as the meeting concluded that the relationship which would exist between us would be a positive and happy one and that we would get on together in harmony for the benefit of the entire Bailiwick.

'Happily that proved to be the case and I was exceedingly fortunate that we served in our respective offices at the same time.’

Once briefed, Sir Fabian would be ‘bold and decisive’, said the former Bailiff, who added that he steadfastly maintained the constitutional requirement, as Her Majesty’s representative, of not involving himself in local political issues.

‘Islanders appreciated the fact that he had good communication skills and a sense of fun, was relaxed in his manner and always willing to support charities and associations whenever invited to do so.

‘I rarely saw him irritated, but remember one such occasion on a fishing trip when I, by good fortune and luck, caught more turbot than he did.’