A true son of Guernsey
THE passing of Graham Guille comes as a great loss to us all. Graham was a man of high principle and integrity, devoted to his family and immensely proud of his Guernsey ancestry which he researched and wrote about in detail. His membership of Mensa came as no surprise. His ability to quickly grasp concepts, policies and underlying threads of many different problems was an obvious measure of his intelligence. It enabled him to put his time and abilities at the disposal of all those who needed him most, assiduously investigating, documenting and following up on a broad range of issues.
His approach to island politics was in step with his belief that Guernsey needed a ‘government of all talents’. He never tired of emphasising that the essential quality for States members was, ‘Loads of common sense and a practical view of the island’s problems and our place in the world’. One of his favourite catchphrases, appropriately used in some speeches, was: ‘It’s never about what it’s about.’
Graham was vice-president of the States Housing Committee on which I also served from 2008-2012. After leaving the States both of us continued to work together calling for a public vote on the proposed Guernsey Population Control Policy, which lacked detail of the 40 control measures. Graham enjoyed tremendous support at public meetings. Many letters to the press were written. One of July 2014, covering nine points, includes Graham’s strong belief that there should be ‘A Bill of Rights to cover all established residents of Guernsey. Islanders of Guernsey ancestry should have absolute right to live in the island of their birth.’
Public support for our campaign achieved States recognition of birth-right for children with ancestral connection and locally born to be granted residency status from birth, thereby negating the proposal for a child to have to wait 14 years before obtaining Guernsey residential status.
Graham contributed greatly to our island during his lifetime, a true son of Guernsey who will be greatly missed.
GLORIA DUDLEY OWEN
gdudleyowen@cwgsy.net