The first of the plaques was dedicated to former director Bryan Mauger and late chairman Jurat Mike Tanguy, while the second commemorated the late architect Mitch Sneddon, who worked on transforming the home with the addition of the new wing, which opened in 2024.
They were unveiled by former Bailiff Sir Richard Collas, patron of the home, at a ceremony at the weekend, which also marked the re-naming of the new wing, which has been named in memory of Mr Tanguy and Mr Mauger.
‘I do believe that the island has something miraculous here at Le Platon,’ said Sir Richard in a short speech.
‘It is thanks to some remarkable people that [home manager] Hazel Robins and her team are able to carry out the amazing, caring work they do here day and night, every day of the year.’
The home has a history dating back more than 100 years, making it the island’s oldest operating care home.
Sir Richard remembered Mr Tanguy, chairman of the home’s board of directors for 20 years, including for a significant part of the time that the new wing was being envisioned, planned and built.
‘It is tragic that he passed away so early, before he had the opportunity to see the product of his work,’ he said.
‘None of us knew how Mike found the time to do all that he did, but we will be forever grateful.’
Sir Richard also paid tribute to Mr Mauger, who recently stepped down from his role as a director after 30 years of serving the home. Mr Mauger was in attendance at the ceremony, though he had no idea that his name would be revealed inscribed alongside Mr Tanguy’s on the plaque of the new wing.
‘That was our big surprise for him,’ said current chairman Hubertus Lau.
Finally, Sir Richard paid tribute to another man who played a significant role in bringing the new wing into reality – the late Mr Sneddon.
‘His architectural genius, his talents, vision, attention to detail and research are responsible for the success of the project,’ he said.
‘He strove to ensure that what would be built here would be of the very highest standard and the most modern and best equipped home of its kind on the island.’
Both Mr Tanguy’s and Mr Sneddon’s families were present to see the plaques unveiled.
Though the new wing of Le Platon has only just been formally named, it has been open for some two years.
‘It was a massive step up for the home,’ said Mr Lau.
‘The old home had space for 25 residents – 13 in the old wing, and another 12 in an annex which got knocked down for the new wing. We are now a 50-bed home, and we have 37 really high standard rooms for EMI [elderly mentally infirm] care – dementia care.’
The new wing is designed to be a safe and enabling space for individuals with dementia, down to the colours of the doors, which are all unique, to make each person’s own room easier for them to identify.
The project was in planning and in progress for many years, suffering delays during Covid, before it was eventually completed and officially opened in April 2024.