Alderney stands tall

HOW does a small island of 2,000 souls with a high proportion of elderly people – and limited medical facilities – cope with the impact of a virulent global pandemic?

Alderney’s wartime evacuation and subsequent homecoming will always remain as the ultimate example of an indomitable spirit but now, as with all small communities, the Bailiwick’s northern island has another crisis etched in its collective memory.

‘Not once did we feel we were alone,’ said President William Tate. ‘Thankfully we were able to rely upon the guidance of a group of committed professionals in Guernsey to provide the strategy and guidance we desperately needed.

‘We knew at the outset that our priority was to keep the community informed at all times in a clear consistent way, which we were able to do through the medium of our local radio station, QuayFM.’

Initially daily and then less frequently as restrictions were lifted, Mr Tate broadcast with clarity and often humour as the island tuned in at 9.15am. His messages were backed up with a series of five Covid-19 newsletters spelling out the way to keep Alderney virus-free and reporting on morale at the hospital, medical centre, care home, pharmacy and essential shops.

A small group of ‘incredibly committed representatives’ of Alderney’s front-line services formed an Operational Group, led by CEO Andrew Muter.

‘This enabled us to put in place the processes required to ensure that we had the resilience required should the virus find a hold on the island,’ said Mr Tate. ‘I was privileged to see them in action on a daily basis.

‘My role was to convey the messages to the community on a daily basis, making it very clear that we were all in this together and that we all had our part to play. The Operational Group was supported by our States members, who kept the political lines open whilst representing our interests to the Civil Contingencies Authority in Guernsey.

‘The response was no less than anybody living here would expect. We came together as a tight-knit community supporting each other, whether through Alderney Spirit, our volunteer support community of people giving their time, or the Helping Hands Appeal, making financial donations to support our most vulnerable members.’

As 37% of Alderney’s community is over 65, the challenge was clear.

‘Although the war against this insidious virus is not over, there is a sense in the community that the battle, for the time being, has been won,’ Mr Tate added as the island was welcoming a steady stream of visitors from the other islands in the ‘Bailiwick Bubble’ created under Phase Five.

‘We will fight to maintain our virus-free environment, continuing to pay strict adherence to the ongoing advice and guidance from Public Health.

‘Through all of this has shone the eternal flame of man’s inherent goodness, but to single out individuals would be unfair. This has been a team effort, where each and every one of us has given their all.’

Liz Bowskill, operations manager at the Connaught Care Home, praised the resilience of the 40 residents and the professionals who provide social care services. ‘Only in Alderney have I ever seen such a supportive community,’ she said. That care was expressed by a scheme organised by Barbara Benfield of Age Concern in which Alderney’s children and young people wrote letters to the island’s elderly at the height of lockdown – as a result, many are keeping in touch with their new pen friends.

What now for this beautiful island with its friendly community, wonderful wildlife and unique heritage?

The island is fully committed to the Bailiwick-wide ‘Revive and Thrive’ strategy with its leaders engaging enthusiastically with the opportunity to rebuild a better island. Strong calls to develop respectful Second World War heritage tourism and revisiting of plans to create a marina in Braye Bay are just two examples of ambitious planning alongside high quality hospitality businesses and solid financial and gaming sectors.

Much will depend on air and sea links, especially a lifeline Alderney-Southampton air route, but for now the island is delighted to be welcoming Staycationers from Guernsey – hotels, guest houses and self-catering establishments are seeing a surge in enquiries and the restaurants are once again filling with happy customers.

For the Bailiwick’s yachtsmen eager to enjoy Alderney’s charm and beauty, free Braye Harbour moorings are being offered to visiting recreational boat owners for the rest of the season. There are around 70 yellow visitor moorings that normally cost £20 a night, and a water taxi that is also free for the summer season.

Alderney has not seen a single reported case of Covid-19 throughout the crisis. And, as its president insists, that’s down to a cocktail of common sense, team effort and community spirit: ‘Alderney stands tall.’