Bailiwick of Guernsey Bailliage de Guernesey
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: "God Save the Queen" (official) "Sarnia Cherie" (official for occasions when distinguishing anthem required)
Location of  Guernsey  (Dark Green)
Capital		St Peter Port 49°27′N 2°33′W / 49.45, -2.55
Official languages		English (predominant) French (legislative)
Recognised regional languages		Guernésiais, Sercquiais, and historically Auregnais which is now extinct. The present flag of Guernsey was adopted in 1985 and consists of the red cross of St The Coat of arms of Guernsey is the official symbol of the Channel Island of Guernsey. A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's "God Save the Queen", or "God Save the King", is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms It is the National Sarnia Cherie is used as the anthem of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. St Peter Port is the Capital of Guernsey, as well as the main Port of the island An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people A regional language is a Language spoken in an area of a Nation state, whether it be a small area a federal State or Province, or Guernésiais, also known as Dgèrnésiais, Guernsey French, Guernsey Norman French, is the variety of Norman language spoken in Guernsey roa Sercquiais also known as Sarkese or Sark-French ( roa Lé Sèrtchais) is the Norman dialect of the Channel Island of Sark Auregnais, Aoeur'gnaeux or Aurignais was the Norman dialect of the Channel Island of Alderney ( French: Aurigny
Government		British Crown dependency
-	Head of state	Elizabeth II, Duke of Normandy
-	Lt. Governor	Sir Fabian Malbon
-	Bailiff	Geoffrey Rowland
-	Chief Minister	Lyndon Trott
British Crown dependency
-	Separation from mainland Normandy. For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II The Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey is the representative of the British monarch in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a Crown dependency of the British Crown The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency off the coast of France. Geoffrey Rowland is the current Bailiff of Guernsey (since 2005 The Chief Minister of Guernsey is the Head of government of Guernsey. Lyndon Trott is the current Chief Minister of Guernsey. He was elected to the position on 1st May 2008 and his term of office will expire on 30th April 2012 The Crown Dependencies are possessions of The Crown in Right of the United Kingdom, as opposed to overseas territories or colonies of the United . .	1204
-	Liberation from Nazi Germany	9 May 1945
Area
-	Total	78 km² (223rd) 30. Liberation Day is a Day, often a Public holiday, that marks the liberation of a place similar to an Independence day. Events 1457 BC - Battle of Megiddo (15th century BC between Thutmose III and a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare sizes of different geographic regions we list here Areas between 10 km² (1000 Hectares and 100 km² (10000 hectares This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. 1 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0
Population
-	July 2007 estimate	65,573 (197th)
-	Density	836. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 3/km² (12th1) 2,166/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2003 estimate
-	Total	$2. List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 59 billion (176th)
-	Per capita	$40,000 (5th2)
HDI (n/a)		n/a (n/a) (n/a)
Currency		Pound sterling3 (GBP)
Time zone		GMT
-	Summer (DST)	(UTC+1)
Internet TLD		.gg
Calling code		+44-1481
1	Rank based on population density of the Channel Islands including Jersey. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT) is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London Daylight saving time ( DST A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E The Bailiwick of Jersey ( Jèrriais: Jèrri) is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France.
2	2003 estimate.
3	The States of Guernsey issue their own sterling coins and banknotes (see Guernsey pound). The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency The pound is the currency of Guernsey. Since 1921 Guernsey has been in Currency union with the United Kingdom and the Guernsey pound is not a separate currency

The Bailiwick of Guernsey (French: Bailliage de Guernesey) is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The various terms used to describe the different (and sometimes overlapping geographical and political areas of the Islands of Great Britain Ireland and surrounding islands are often The Crown Dependencies are possessions of The Crown in Right of the United Kingdom, as opposed to overseas territories or colonies of the United Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy.

As well as the island of Guernsey itself, it also includes Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou, Burhou, Lihou and other islets. An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant Alderney ( French: Aurigny; Auregnais: Aoeur'gny) is the most northerly of the Channel Islands and a British Crown dependency Sark (Sercq Sercquiais: Sèr) is a small Island in the southwestern English Channel. Herm ( Guernésiais: Haerme) is the smallest of the Channel Islands that is open to the public Jethou (ˈdʒɛthuː is a small island that is part of the Channel Islands. Brecqhou (or Brechou; pronounced ˈbʁɛku is one of the Channel Islands, located at about, just west of Sark. Burhou (pronounced bu-ROO is a tiny Island approximately 14 miles (2 Not to be confused with Lihou Reef and Cays Lihou /'liu/ is a small Tidal island (95 Vergées 38½ Acres 15 For human anatomy see Islets of Langerhans An islet is a small Island. Although the defence of all these islands is the responsibility of the United Kingdom, Guernsey is not part of the UK but rather a separate possession of the Crown, comparable to the Isle of Man. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin ˈɛlʲən ˈvanɪn or Mann (Mannin) is a self-governing Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea at the geographical Guernsey is also not part of the European Union. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in The island of Guernsey is divided into 10 parishes. Together with the Bailiwick of Jersey, it is included in the collective grouping known as the Channel Islands. A bailiwick is the area of jurisdiction of a Bailiff. The term was also applied to a territory in which the Sheriff 's functions were exercised by a privately appointed The Bailiwick of Jersey ( Jèrriais: Jèrri) is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. The Channel Islands ( Norman: Îles d'la Manche, French: Îles Anglo-Normandes or Îles de la Manche) are a group of Islands Guernsey belongs to the Common Travel Area. The Common Travel Area is a passport-free zone that comprises the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey

Contents 1 History 2 Politics 3 Geography 4 Parishes 5 Economy 6 Transport 7 Demographics 8 Education 9 Culture 10 Sport 11 Notable Guernsey people 12 Gallery 13 References 14 External links

History

Rising sea levels transformed Guernsey first into the tip of a peninsula jutting out into the emergent English Channel, then, around 6000 BC, into an island when it and other promontories were cut off from continental Europe. A peninsula is a piece of land that is nearly surrounded by Water but connected to Mainland via an Isthmus. During the 6th millennium BC, Agriculture spreads from the Balkans to Italy and Eastern Europe and from Mesopotamia to Egypt. An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the Continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European ^[1]

At this time, Neolithic farmers settled the coasts and created the dolmens and menhirs that dot the islands. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos A dolmen (also known as cromlech, anta, Hünengrab, Hunebed, Goindol, quoit, and portal dolmen) is a type of A menhir is a large upright Standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as Monoliths or as part of a group of similar stones The island of Guernsey contains three sculpted menhirs of great archaeological interest; the dolmen known as L'Autel du Dehus also contains a dolmen deity known as Le Gardien de Tombeau. A statue menhir is a type of carved Standing stone created during the later European Neolithic. In Archaeology, a dolmen deity is a humanoid figure sometimes seen in the Megalithic art cut into the walls of Chamber tombs in western Europe especially ^[2]

During their migration to Brittany, the Britons occupied the Lenur Islands (former name of the Channel Islands^[3] including Sarnia or Lisia (Guernsey) and Angia (Jersey). Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into It was formerly thought that the Island's original name was Sarnia, but recent research indicates that may have been the Latin name for Sark; although Sarnia remains the island's traditional designation. Sark (Sercq Sercquiais: Sèr) is a small Island in the southwestern English Channel. Coming from the Kingdom of Gwent, Saint Sampson (abbot of Dol, in Brittany) is credited with the introduction of Christianity to Guernsey. Gwent was one of the kingdoms or principalities of Mediæval Wales, in the Welsh Marches. Saint Samson of Dol (born late 5th century was a Christian religious figure who is counted among the Seven founder saints of Brittany. Dol-de-Bretagne (Dol Gallo: Dóu) is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Bretagne in northwestern Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings

In 933 the islands, formerly under the control of the kingdom, then Duchy of Brittany were annexed by the Duchy of Normandy. Events By Place Europe Cotentin and Jersey are seized by William Longsword, Duke of Normandy. The Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish ( from the Danelaw) invasions of The island of Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy. The Channel Islands ( Norman: Îles d'la Manche, French: Îles Anglo-Normandes or Îles de la Manche) are a group of Islands In the islands, Elizabeth II's traditional title as head of state is Duke of Normandy. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state Duke of Normandy is a Title held or claimed by various Norman, French, English and British rulers from the 10th century until the

During the Middle Ages the island was repeatedly attacked by French pirates and naval forces, especially during the Hundred Years War when the island was occupied by the French on several occasions, the first being in 1339. The Hundred Years' War (Guerre de Cent Ans was a prolonged conflict lasting from 1337 to 1453 between two royal houses for the French throne vacant with the extinction of the senior The English Channel naval campaign of the years 1338 and 1339 saw a protracted series of raids conducted by the nascent French navy and numerous privately owned raiders and pirates against

In 1372 the island was invaded by Aragonese mercenaries under the command of Owain Lawgoch (remembered as Yvon de Galles), who was in the pay of the French king. Aragon ( Spanish: "Aragón") is an autonomous community of Spain. Owain Lawgoch, (English "Owain of the Red Hand" French "Yvain de Galles" full name Owain ap Thomas ap Rhodri (c Lawgoch and his dark-haired mercenaries were later absorbed into Guernsey legend as an invasion by fairies from across the sea. A fairy (also fay, fey, fae, faerie; collectively wee folk, good folk, people of peace, fair ^[4]

During the English Civil War, Guernsey sided with Parliament, while Jersey remained Royalist. Castle Cornet is a large Castle in Guernsey, and former Tidal island, which is now part of one of the breakwaters of St Peter Port's harbour St Peter Port is the Capital of Guernsey, as well as the main Port of the island The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. " Roundheads " was the Nickname given to the Puritan supporters of Parliament during the English Civil War. The Bailiwick of Jersey ( Jèrriais: Jèrri) is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War ( 1642 &ndash 1651 Guernsey's decision was mainly related to the higher proportion of Calvinists and other Reformed churches, as well as Charles I's refusal to take up the case of some Guernsey seamen who had been captured by the Barbary corsairs. Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Charles I, (19 November 1600 &ndash 30 January 1649 was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. The Barbary pirates, also sometimes called Ottoman corsairs, were Muslim Pirates and Privateers that operated from North Africa, from The allegiance was not total, however, there were a few Royalist uprisings in the Southwest of the island, while Castle Cornet was occupied by the Governor, Sir Peter Osbourne, and Royalist troops. Castle Cornet is a large Castle in Guernsey, and former Tidal island, which is now part of one of the breakwaters of St Peter Port's harbour Castle Cornet was the last Royalist stronghold to capitulate, in 1651.

During the wars with France and Spain during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Guernsey shipowners and sea captains exploited their proximity to mainland Europe, applying for Letters of Marque and turning their merchantmen into privateers. A letter of marque is an official warrant or commission from a Government authorizing the designated agent to search seize or destroy specified assets A privateer was a private Warship authorized by a country's Government by Letters of marque to attack foreign shipping

The nineteenth century saw a dramatic increase in prosperity of the island, due to its success in the global maritime trade, and the rise of the stone industry. One notable Guernseyman, William Le Lacheur, established the Costa Rican coffee trade with Europe. William Le Lacheur (born 15 October 1802 Forest Guernsey, Channel Islands, died 27 June 1863, London) was Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( Spanish: Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica,) is a Country in

During World War I approximately 3,000 island men served in the British Expeditionary Force. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The British Expeditionary Force ( BEF) was the British army sent to the Western Front in France and Belgium on the outbreak of Of these, about 1,000 served in the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry regiment which was formed from the Royal Guernsey Militia in 1916. Royal Guernsey Light Infantry was a regiment in the British Army that was formed from the Royal Guernsey Militia in 1916 to serve in World War I.

The Bailiwick of Guernsey was occupied by German troops in World War II. The Occupation of the Channel Islands refers to the Military occupation of the Channel Islands by Germany during World War II which lasted World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Before the occupation, many Guernsey children were evacuated to England to live with relatives or strangers during the war. Some children were never re-united with their families. During the occupation, some people from Guernsey were deported by the Germans to camps in the southwest of Germany, notably to Biberach an der Riß and interned in the Lindele Camp ("Lager Lindele"). Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Biberach is a town in the south of Germany Biberach district capital in the free state ( Länder) of Baden-Württemberg. There was also a concentration camp built in Alderney where forced labourers, predominantly from Eastern Europe, were kept. Alderney ( French: Aurigny; Auregnais: Aoeur'gny) is the most northerly of the Channel Islands and a British Crown dependency It was the only concentration camp built on British soil and is commemorated on memorials under the Alderney's name in French: 'Aurigny'.

Guernsey was very heavily fortified during World War II out of all proportion to its strategic value. There are German defences visible all round the coast and additions were made to Castle Cornet and a windmill. Castle Cornet is a large Castle in Guernsey, and former Tidal island, which is now part of one of the breakwaters of St Peter Port's harbour The Channel Islands have had a number of Windmills over the centuries Hitler became obsessed with the idea that the Allies would try to regain the islands at any price, and over 20% of the material that went into the Atlantic Wall was committed to the Channel Islands. The Atlantikwall ( English: Atlantic wall) was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by the German Third Reich Most of the German fortifications still remain intact and although the majority of them are on private property several are open for the public to explore. ^[5][6]

Politics

Main article: Politics of Guernsey

The States of Guernsey, officially called the States of Deliberation, consists of 45 People's Deputies, elected from multi- or single-member districts every four years. Politics of Guernsey takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic British Crown dependency, whereby the Chief Minister The States or the Estates signifies in different countries and Dominions the assembly of the ( feudalistic) representatives of the Estates of The States of Guernsey ( French: États de Guernesey) is the Parliament of the Island of Guernsey. There are also two representatives from Alderney, a self-governing dependency of the Bailiwick, but Sark sends no representative. Alderney ( French: Aurigny; Auregnais: Aoeur'gny) is the most northerly of the Channel Islands and a British Crown dependency Sark (Sercq Sercquiais: Sèr) is a small Island in the southwestern English Channel. There are also two non-voting members: HM Procureur (Attorney General) and HM Comptroller (Solicitor General), both appointed by the monarch and collectively known as the Law Officers of the Crown. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II

Laws made by the States are known as Projet(s) de Loi before they are passed and Loi or Law(s) afterwards (e. g. The Human Rights (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2000.

A Projet de Loi is the equivalent of a UK Bill or a French projet de loi, and a Law is the equivalent of a UK Act of Parliament or a French loi. Laws have no effect until promulgated by Orders-in-Council of the Crown. They are given the Royal Sanction at regular meetings of the Privy Council in London, after which they are returned to the Islands for formal registration at the Royal Court.

The States also make delegated legislation known as 'Ordinances (Ordonnances)' and 'Orders (Ordres)' which do not require Royal Assent. Commencement orders are usually in the form of Ordinances.

The Lieutenant Governor is the representative of the Crown. Throughout the Commonwealth realms The Crown is an abstract metonymic concept which represents the legal authority for the existence of any government The official residence of the Lieutenant Governor is Government House. An official residence is the residence at which Heads of state, Heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially Since 18 October 2005 the incumbent is Vice-Admiral Sir Fabian Malbon, born in Southsea, Portsmouth, in 1946 and a serving naval officer 1965-2002. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. His last naval posting before retirement from the Royal Navy was deputy commander-in-chief of fleet.

Each parish is administered by a Douzaine. Douzeniers are elected for a six year mandate, two Douzeniers being elected by parishioners at a Parish Meeting in November each year. The senior Douzenier is known as the Doyen (Dean). Two elected Constables carry out the decisions of the Douzaine, serving for between one and three years. A constable is a person holding a particular office most commonly in law enforcement. The longest serving Constable is known as the Senior Constable and his or her colleague as the Junior Constable.

The legal system is Guernsey customary derived from Norman French customary law, heavily influenced and overlaid by English common law, justice being administered through a combination of Magistrates Court and the Royal Court. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. English law is the legal system of England and Wales, and is the basis of Common law legal systems used in most Commonwealth countriesand the A magistrates' court or court of petty sessions, formerly known as a police court, is the lowest level of court in England and Wales and The legal profession is fused - there is no difference between solicitors and barristers as in England and Wales: Guernsey Advocates fulfill both roles. A "solicitor" is a term used in many Common law jurisdictions for a lawyer who offers legal services outside of the courts A barrister is a Lawyer found in many Common law Jurisdictions that employ a split profession (as opposed to a Fused profession) in relation England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland An advocate is one who speaks on behalf of another person especially in a legal context The Royal Court is presided over by the Bailiff and twelve Jurats (a permanent elected jury), the ultimate court of appeal being the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Bailiff (from Late Latin baiulivus, Adjectival form of baiulus) is a Governor or Custodian (cf Jurat (through French from mediaeval Latin jurat, "he swears" Lat The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom, established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833

Several European countries have consulate presence in the island. The French Consulate is based at Victor Hugo's former residence at Hauteville House. Victor-Marie Hugo ( ( February 26, 1802 – May 22, 1885) was a French Poet, Playwright, Novelist The German Honorary Consulate is based at local design and advertising agency Betley Whitehorne.

Geography

At 49°28′N, 2°35′W, Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands have a total area of 30 square miles (78 km²) and a coastline of about 30 miles (50 km). The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand By itself, the island of Guernsey has a total area of 25 square miles (63 km²). Guernsey is situated 30 Statute miles (48 km) west of France's Normandy coast and 75 statute miles (121 km) south of Weymouth in England and lies in the Gulf of St Malo. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. Weymouth (ˈweɪməθ is a town in Dorset, England situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey on the English Channel coast Saint-Malo ( Breton: Sant-Maloù; Gallo: Saent-Malô) is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern Lihou, a tidal island, is attached to Guernsey by a causeway at low tide. Not to be confused with Lihou Reef and Cays Lihou /'liu/ is a small Tidal island (95 Vergées 38½ Acres 15 A tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland by a natural or man-made Causeway that is exposed at low Tide and submerged at high tide In modern usage a causeway is a road or railway elevated by a bank usually across a broad Body of water or Wetland. The terrain is mostly level with low hills in southwest.

Elevation varies across the bailiwick from sea level to 375 feet (114 m) at Le Moulin on Sark. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International The highest point in mainland Guernsey is Hautnez (363 ft; 110 m), in Alderney at Le Rond But (306 ft; 93 m), in Jethou (248 ft; 75. 6 m) and Herm (322 ft; 98 m). Natural resources include cropland.

Guernsey itself contains two main geographical regions, the Haut Pas, a high southern plateau, and the Bas Pas, a low-lying and sandy northern region. In general terms, the Haut Pas is the more rural of the two, and the Bas Pas is more residential and industrialised.

There is a large, deepwater harbour at St Peter Port. St Peter Port Harbour is located in St Peter Port. It was a natural anchorage used by the Romans but it is now Guernsey 's main port for passengers St Peter Port is the Capital of Guernsey, as well as the main Port of the island

The climate is temperate with mild winters and cool sunnier summers. The hottest months are August and September where temperatures are generally around 20 °C (68 °F). On average, the coldest month is February with an average weekly mean air temperature of 6°C. Average weekly mean air temperature reaches 16°C in August. Snow rarely falls and is unlikely to settle, but is most likely to fall in February. The temperature rarely drops below freezing, although strong wind-chill from Arctic winds can sometimes make it feel like it. The wettest months in terms of rainfall are on average December (average 108mm), November (average 98mm) and January (average 89mm). July is on average the sunniest month with 250 hours recorded sunshine; December the least with 50 hours recorded sunshine. ^[7] 50% of the days are overcast.

The Casquets, a group of islets, are notable for the lighthouse facility constructed there. Origin of name Theories as to the origin of the name include derivation from the French 'cascade' which alludes to the tidal surges which flow A lighthouse is a Tower, building or framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or in older times from a fire and used as an

Parishes

The island of Guernsey is divided into ten parishes (the parish of St Anne, Alderney is not generally included in the enumeration of parishes in the Bailiwick):

Parish Population (2001) Area (vergees) Area (km²) Area (sq mi) 1. A parish as an Administrative division of several countries. In England and in one American state ( Louisiana) it is sometimes called A parish is a Local church; it is an administrative unit typically found in episcopal or presbyterian churches St Anne is the main town on the Channel Island of Alderney and sometimes described as the capital Alderney ( French: Aurigny; Auregnais: Aoeur'gny) is the most northerly of the Channel Islands and a British Crown dependency A vergée or vergee is a unit of area a quarter of the French Acre. Castel &0000000000008975. Castel ( Guernésiais: Lé Casté; French Sainte-Marie-du-Câtel) is the largest Parish in Guernsey in terms of Area 0000008,975 &0000000000006224. 0000006,224 10. 200 3. 938 2. Forest &0000000000001549. The Forest ( Guernésiais: La Fouarêt, French La Forêt) is a parish in Guernsey. 0000001,549 &0000000000002508. 0000002,508 4. 110 1. 587 3. St Andrew &0000000000002409. St Andrew ( Guernésiais: Saint Andri; French: Saint-André-de-la-Pommeraye) is located in the centre of Guernsey and as such 0000002,409 &0000000000002752. 0000002,752 4. 510 1. 741 4. St Martin &0000000000006267. Saint Martin ( Guernésiais and French Saint Martin; historically Saint-Martin-de-la-Bellouse) is a parish in Guernsey, Channel 0000006,267 &0000000000004479. 0000004,479 7. 340 2. 834 5. St Peter Port &0000000000016488. St Peter Port is the Capital of Guernsey, as well as the main Port of the island 00000016,488 &0000000000004074. 0000004,074 6. 677 2. 578 6. St Pierre du Bois &0000000000002188. St Peter's ( Guernésiais: Saint Pierre) known officially as Saint Pierre Du Bois ( English: "St 0000002,188 &0000000000003818. 0000003,818 6. 257 2. 416 7. St Sampson &0000000000008592. Saint Sampson ( Guernésiais: Saint Samsaon; French: Saint Sampson) is one of the Parishes of Guernsey, Channel Islands 0000008,592 &0000000000003687. 0000003,687 6. 042 2. 333 8. St Saviour &0000000000002696. For the parish in Jersey see Saint Saviour Jersey St Saviour ( Guernésiais: Saint Sauveux; French: Saint-Sauveur 0000002,696 &0000000000003892. 0000003,892 6. 378 2. 463 9. Torteval &0000000000000973. Torteval ( Guernésiais: Tortévas) is the smallest of the ten Guernsey Parishes Its name comes from the Guernésiais words 000000973 &0000000000001901. 0000001,901 3. 115 1. 203 10. Vale &0000000000009573. Vale ( Guernésiais: Lé Vale; French: Le Valle) is one of the ten Parishes of Guernsey. 0000009,573 &0000000000005462. 0000005,462 8. 951 3. 456

Map of the parishes of Guernsey.

Economy

Unlike many countries, Guernsey has not delegated money-creation to the central bank and has instead issued interest-free money from 1822 to 1836, stimulating the growth of economy after Napoleon's wars without creating public debt and without increasing taxes. Guernsey Post is the postal service for the island of Guernsey, Channel Islands. A pillar box is a free-standing Post box, in the United Kingdom, where Mail is deposited to be collected by the Royal Mail and forwarded to the A telephone booth, telephone kiosk, (or telephone box in the British Isles) is a small structure furnished with a Payphone and designed

Financial services, such as banking, fund management, and insurance, account for about 32% of total income. A banker or bank is a Financial institution whose primary activity is to act as a payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money Insurance, in Law and Economics, is a form of Risk management primarily used to hedge against the Risk of a contingent loss ^[8] Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, especially freesias, have been declining. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Manufacturing (from Latin manu factura, "making by hand" is the use of tools and labor to make things for use or sale Horticulture is the art and science of plant cultivation Horticulturists (or horticuluralists) work and conduct research in the fields of Plant propagation The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family Freesia (Ecklon ex Klatt is a Genus of 14-16 species of Flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, native to Africa. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular offshore finance centre for Private equity funds. An offshore financial centre (or OFC) although not precisely defined is usually a low- Tax, lightly Regulated jurisdiction which specializes in providing Private equity fund is a Pooled investment vehicle used for making investments in various equity (and to a lesser extent debt securities according to one of the investment However while Guernsey is not a member of the European Union, the EU is forcing Guernsey to comply more and more with its own rules. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in As with other offshore centres, Guernsey is also coming under increasing pressure from bigger nations to change its way of doing business in many ways. Guernsey is currently changing the way its tax system works in order to remain OECD and EU compliant. From 1 January 2008, it will operate a Zero-Ten corporate tax system where most companies will pay 0% corporate tax and a limited number of specific banking activities will be taxed at 10%. As a result it is confronting what it terms a financial "black hole" of forty-five million pounds or more according to some estimates which it aims to fill through economic growth and indirect taxation. Guernsey now has the official ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code GG and the official ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code GGY; market data vendors, such as Reuters, will report products related to Guernsey using the alpha-3 code. ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes are two-letter Country codes in the ISO 3166-1 standard to represent countries and dependent territories. ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 codes are three-letter Country codes in the ISO 3166-1 standard to represent countries and dependent territories. In Finance, Market Data refers to quote and trade related-data associated with equity, fixed-income, Financial derivatives This article is primarily about Reuters prior to its 2008 merger with Thomson

Guernsey also has a thriving non-finance industry. It is home to Specsavers Optical Group, which manages the largest optical chain in the UK and Ireland and also operates in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Australia and Spain. Specsavers is the world's largest privately-owned optical retailer Healthspan also has its headquarters in Guernsey.

Guernsey issues its own sterling coinage and banknotes. The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency The British Crown dependency of the Bailiwick of Guernsey has its own currency the Guernsey pound, which is linked to the Pound Sterling. The pound is the currency of Guernsey. Since 1921 Guernsey has been in Currency union with the United Kingdom and the Guernsey pound is not a separate currency UK coinage and English and Scottish banknotes also circulate freely and interchangeably.

Public services, such as electricity, water, and postal services have been commercialised by the States and are now operated by companies wholly owned by the States of Guernsey. Guernsey Telecoms which provided telecommunications was sold by the States in a 'fire sale' to Cable & Wireless. Cable & Wireless ( is a British Telecommunications company In the mid-1980s it became the first company in the UK to offer an alternative Telephone Wave Telecom, (owned by Jersey Telecom) also provides some telecommunications excluding local loop services. Gas is supplied by an independent private company. Both the Guernsey Post postal boxes and the telephone boxes are painted blue, but otherwise are identical to their British counterparts, the red pillar box and red telephone box. Guernsey Post is the postal service for the island of Guernsey, Channel Islands. A pillar box is a free-standing Post box, in the United Kingdom, where Mail is deposited to be collected by the Royal Mail and forwarded to the The red telephone box, a public telephone kiosk designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, is a familiar sight on the streets of the United Kingdom, Malta

Transport

See also: Transport in Guernsey

Ports and harbours exist at St Peter Port and St Sampson's. Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands. It is part of the Common Travel Area, allowing passport-free travel to and from the United Kingdom St Peter Port is the Capital of Guernsey, as well as the main Port of the island Saint Sampson ( Guernésiais: Saint Samsaon; French: Saint Sampson) is one of the Parishes of Guernsey, Channel Islands There are two paved airports in the bailiwick (Guernsey Airport and Alderney Airport), and 3 miles (5 km) of railways in Alderney. Guernsey Airport is the only Airport on the island of Guernsey. Alderney Airport is the only Airport in the island of Alderney. Alderney ( French: Aurigny; Auregnais: Aoeur'gny) is the most northerly of the Channel Islands and a British Crown dependency

The Guernsey Railway, which was virtually an electric tramway, and which began working on 20 February 1892, was abandoned on 9 June 1934. The Guernsey Railway opened as the Guernsey Steam Tramway on 6 June, 1879 with two steam Tram engines more being added later Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It replaced an earlier transport system which was worked by steam, and was named the Guernsey Steam Tramway. The latter began service on 6 June 1879 with six locomotives. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This leaves Alderney as the only Channel Island with a working railway. Alderney ( French: Aurigny; Auregnais: Aoeur'gny) is the most northerly of the Channel Islands and a British Crown dependency Stations Mannez Quarry Braye Road Rolling stock Current The current stock is former ^[9]

Demographics

The population is 65,573, as of 2007. ^[8] The median age for males is 40. 7 years and for females is 42. 6 years. The population growth rate is 0. 239% with 8. 65 births/1,000 population, 10. 07 deaths/1,000 population, and 3. 81 migrant(s)/1,000 population. The life expectancy is 77. 53 years for males and 83. 64 years for females. 1. 4 children are born per woman. Ethnic groups consist of British and Norman-French descent, Portuguese and increasingly, Latvian. British people, or Britons, are the native inhabitants of Great Britain and their descendants or citizens of the United Kingdom, of the The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west

For immigration and nationality purposes the United Kingdom generally treats Guernsey as though it were part of the UK; however, Guernsey is constitutionally entitled to restrict immigration by non-Guernsey residents and maintains its own immigration and border controls.

The housing market is split between local market properties and a small number of open market properties. Anyone may live in an open market property, but local market properties can only be lived in by those who qualify - either through being born in Guernsey (to local parents), by obtaining a housing licence, or by virtue of sharing a property with someone who does qualify.

Housing licences are for fixed periods, and are usually only valid for as long as the individual remains employed by a specified Guernsey employer.

These restrictions apply equally regardless of whether the property is owned or rented, and only applies to occupation of the property. Thus a person whose housing licence expires may continue to own a Guernsey property, but will no longer be able to live in it.

There are a number of routes to qualifying as a "local" for housing purposes. Generally it is sufficient to be born to at least one Guernsey parent, and to live in the island for ten years in a twenty year period. Once "local" status has been achieved it remains in place for life. Even a lengthy period of residence outside Guernsey does not invalidate "local" housing status. More details may be obtained from the States Housing Control Department.

Although Guernsey's inhabitants are full British citizens, an endorsement restricting the right of establishment in other European Union states is placed in the passport of British citizens connected solely with the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. British nationality law is the law of the United Kingdom concerning Citizenship and other categories of British Nationality. The Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin ˈɛlʲən ˈvanɪn or Mann (Mannin) is a self-governing Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea at the geographical Those who have a parent or grandparent born in the United Kingdom itself (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), or who have lived in the United Kingdom for 5 years, are not subject to this restriction.

Education

Guernsey adopts mainly England's National Curriculum, including the use of the GCSE and A Level system, in terms of content and structure of teaching. Elizabeth College is a private school in the town of St Peter Port, Guernsey. The National Curriculum was introduced into England, Wales and Northern Ireland as a nationwide curriculum for primary and secondary The General Certificate of Secondary Education ( GCSE) is the name of an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject generally taken in a number of subjects by The A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education qualification in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, Children are allocated a primary school on a basis of catchment area, or are allowed to attend either two Catholic primary schools. In terms of admissions however the island continues to use the 11 plus exam to decide on whether a child should receive education at the Grammar School, or receive state funded places at the independent schools Elizabeth College for boys, and The Ladies College for girls or Blanchelande Girls College for Roman Catholics. The Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre is a public Grammar school school located in the parish of St Elizabeth College is a private school in the town of St Peter Port, Guernsey. Parents have the choice to send children to independent schools as fee payers. For children who are not selected for the Grammar School or colleges, they attend the secondary schools of La Mare de Carteret School, Les Beaucamps School, St. La Mare de Carteret Secondary School is a post-11 secondary school on the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands, located in the Castel parish Peter Port School and St. Sampson's School.

The Education Department is currently part way through an ambitious programme of re-building its secondary schools. So far the Department has completed the building of La Rondin special needs school, the Sixth Form Centre at the Grammar School and the first phase of the new College of FE - a purpose-built performing arts centre. The building of a new secondary school and a second special needs school at Les Nicolles is well under way.

Students currently may leave school at the end of the term in which they turn 15, if they so wish: a letter must be sent to the Education department to confirm this. However, this option is undertaken by relatively few students, the majority choosing to complete their GCSEs and then either begin employment or continue their education. As from 2008, the school leaving age will be raised to 16, in line with the UK.

In 2001 along with planned redevelopment of secondary schools the then Education Council tried unsuccessfully to abolish this system. Nevertheless there is now a planned redevelopment of state schools across the island, however most of the plan is subjected to securing state funding.

Post GCSE students have a choice of transferring to the state run The Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre, or to the independent colleges for academic AS/A Levels. The General Certificate of Secondary Education ( GCSE) is the name of an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject generally taken in a number of subjects by They also have the option to study vocational subjects at the island's Guernsey College of Further Education.

There are no established universities on the island. Students who attend university in the United Kingdom receive state support towards both maintenance and tuition fees. Recently however, the States of Guernsey Education Department has proposed the introduction of student loans for middle and upper income earners due to the black hole deficit in state spending in 2008. This has been met with much opposition by local politicians, families and students who argue that it will deter future students from going and returning from university, due to very high housing and living costs in Guernsey. The department argues that it had no choice but to introduce them. The decision has been deferred until 2009, with postgraduate funding being restored.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Guernsey

English is the only language spoken by a majority of the population, while Guernésiais, the Norman language of the island, is currently spoken fluently by 2% of the population (according to 2001 census). The culture of Guernsey is the culture of the island of Guernsey which has been shaped by its indigenous Norman language and traditions as well as French Pierre-Auguste Renoir ( February 25, 1841 &ndash December 3, 1919) was a French Artist who was a leading painter in Guernésiais, also known as Dgèrnésiais, Guernsey French, Guernsey Norman French, is the variety of Norman language spoken in Guernsey Norman is a Romance language and one of the Oïl languages. The northern Norman can be classified in the septentrional Oil languages with Picard and However, 14% of the population claim some understanding of the language, Sercquiais is spoken by a few people on the island of Sark and Auregnais was spoken on the island of Alderney until it became extinct. roa Sercquiais also known as Sarkese or Sark-French ( roa Lé Sèrtchais) is the Norman dialect of the Channel Island of Sark Sark (Sercq Sercquiais: Sèr) is a small Island in the southwestern English Channel. Auregnais, Aoeur'gnaeux or Aurignais was the Norman dialect of the Channel Island of Alderney ( French: Aurigny Alderney ( French: Aurigny; Auregnais: Aoeur'gny) is the most northerly of the Channel Islands and a British Crown dependency Until the early twentieth century French was the only official language. Family and place names reflect this linguistic heritage. Portuguese is also spoken by around 2% of the population. George Métivier, considered by some to be the island's national poet, wrote in Guernésiais. George Métivier (1790–1881 was a Guernsey poet dubbed the "Guernsey Burns " and sometimes considered the island's national poet. The island's loss of the language and subsequent anglicisation of its culture was due to the majority of the island's children having been evacuated, prior to German invasion of World War II, returning home, having received an education in the UK during the war and afterwards, speaking English and familiar with English customs. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

Victor Hugo wrote some of his best-known works while in exile in Guernsey, including Les Misérables. Victor-Marie Hugo ( ( February 26, 1802 – May 22, 1885) was a French Poet, Playwright, Novelist Les Misérables (pronounced /le miːzeʁabl(ə translated variously from French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched His home in St. Peter Port, Hauteville House, is now a museum administered by the city of Paris. St Peter Port is the Capital of Guernsey, as well as the main Port of the island Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city In 1866, he published a novel set in the island, Travailleurs de la Mer (Toilers of the Sea), which he dedicated to the island of Guernsey. Toilers of the Sea (Les Travailleurs de la mer is a novel by Victor Hugo.

The best-known novel by a Guernseyman is The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, by GB Edwards which, in addition to being a critically-acclaimed work of literature, also contains a wealth of insights into life in Guernsey during the twentieth century. The Book of Ebenezer Le Page is a novel by Gerald Basil Edwards first published in United Kingdom by Hamish Hamilton in 1981 and in the Gerald Basil Edwards (born in Guernsey 1899 died in Weymouth, 1976 is the author of The Book of Ebenezer Le Page which was published posthumously

The national animals of the island of Guernsey are the donkey and the Guernsey cow. The donkey or ass, Equus asinus, is a member of the Equidae or horse family and an odd-toed ungulate. thumb|right|500px|Guernsey cattle in [[St Saviour's Guernsey|St The traditional explanation for the donkey (âne in French and Guernésiais) is the steepness of St Peter Port streets that necessitated beasts of burden for transport (in contrast to the flat terrain of the rival capital of St. Helier in Jersey), although it is also used in reference to Guernsey inhabitants' stubbornness. Saint Helier ( French language: Saint-Hélier, Jèrriais: St Hélyi) is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey, the largest The Bailiwick of Jersey ( Jèrriais: Jèrri) is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France.

The Guernsey cow is a more internationally famous icon of the island. As well as being prized for its rich creamy milk, which is claimed by some to hold health benefits over milk from other breeds [1], Guernsey cattle are increasingly being raised for their beef, which has a distinctive flavour and rich yellow fat. Although the number of individual islanders raising these cattle for private supply has diminished significantly since the 1960s, Guernsey steers can still be occasionally seen grazing on L'Ancresse common.

There is also a breed of goat known as the Golden Guernsey, which is distinguished by its golden-coloured coat. The Golden Guernsey is a rare breed of Goat from the Bailiwick of Guernsey on the Channel Islands. At the end of World War II, the Golden Guernsey was almost extinct, due to interbreeding with other varieties on the island. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including In Biology, hybrid has two meanings The first meaning is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa. The resurrection of this breed is largely credited to the work of a single woman, Miss Miriam Milbourne. Although no longer considered in a 'critical' status, the breed remains on the "Watch List" of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust ( RBST) is a conservation charity whose purpose is to secure the continued existence and viability of the United Kingdom ’s native ^[10]

Guernsey people are traditionally nicknamed donkeys or ânes, especially by Jersey people (who in turn are nicknamed crapauds – toads). Inhabitants of each of the parishes of Guernsey also have traditional nicknames, although these have generally dropped out of use among the English-speaking population. The traditional nicknames are:^[11]

St Peter Port	Cllichards	(spitters)
St Sampson's	Rôines	(frogs)
Vale	Hann'taons	(cockchafers)
Castel	Ânes-pur-sàng	(pure-blooded-donkeys)
St Saviour's	Fouormillaons	(ants)
St Pierre du Bois	Etcherbaots	(beetles)
Forest	Bourdons	(bumblebees)
St Martin's	Cravants	(ray fish)
St Andrew's	Les croinchaons	(the siftings)
Torteval	Ânes à pids d'ch'fa	(donkeys with horses' hooves)

The Guernsey Lily Nerine sarniensis (Sarnia is the traditional name of the island of Guernsey in Latin) is also used as a symbol of the island. The Guernsey Lily ( Nerine sarniensis) is a South African plant with handsome lily-like Flowers naturalized on the island of Guernsey. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome.

A local delicacy is the ormer (Haliotis tuberculata), a variety of abalone harvested from the beach at low spring tides, although strict laws control their harvesting. Abalone (from Spanish Abulón) are medium-sized to very large edible sea Snails marine Gastropod Mollusks in the ^[12]

Of the many traditional Guernsey recipes, the most renowned is a stew called Guernsey Bean Jar. Bean Jar is a local dish of the Channel Island of Guernsey. The traditional Guernsey Bean Jar has been around for centuries and still proves popular today It is a centuries-old stew that is still popular with Islanders, particularly at the annual 'Viaer Marchi' festival, where it served as one of the main events. Lé Viaer Marchi ( Guernésiais: the old market) is an annual festival held in Guernsey on the first Monday of July

Guernsey Gâche is a special bread made with raisins, sultanas and mixed peel. Guernsey Gâche ( is a local dish of the Channel Island of Guernsey.

In July 2006 smoking in enclosed public places was banned, a law put in place to protect workers' right to a healthy working environment.

Sport

Main article: Sport in Guernsey

Guernsey participates in its own right in the Commonwealth Games. Guernsey participates in its own right in the Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games is a multinational Multi-sport event. Held every four years it involves the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Guernsey participates in the bi-annual Island Games, which it hosted in 1987 and 2003. International Island Games Association (IGA is an organisation the sole purpose of which is to organise the Island Games a friendly biennial Athletic competition between teams In sporting events in which Guernsey does not have international representation, when the British Home Nations are competing separately, islanders that do have high athletic skill may choose to compete for any of the Home Nations – there are, however, restrictions on subsequent transfers to represent another Home Nation. "Home nation" (common noun redirects here home nation is also used to refer to the host country of Multi-sport events (eg The football player Matt Le Tissier for example, tried out for the Scotland national football team but ended up playing for England. Matthew Paul "Matt" Le Tissier (born 14 October 1968 is a retired footballer who played for Southampton and England. The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. The English national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football

The island's traditional colour (e. g. for sporting events) is green. Green is a Color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a Wavelength of roughly 520–570- nm. The Corbet Football Field donated by Jurat Wilfred Corbet OBE in 1932 has fostered the sport greatly over the years. Although more recently the island has upgraded to a larger, better quality stadium, called Footes Lane.

BBC photo of Guernsey Stadium

The Guernsey Football Association runs Guernsey football. The top tier of Guernsey football is the Sure Mobile Priaulx league where there are 7 teams (Belgrave Wanderers, Northerners, Sylvans, St Martin's, Rovers, Rangers and Vale Recreation). The champions in 2006-07 were Northerners. The second tier is the Jackson league which is a mixture of top league players, lower players and youth players. The third tier is the Railway League, featuring three extra teams, Alderney, Guernsey Police and Port City.

Guernsey also has one of the oldest softball associations in the world. The Guernsey Softball Association was formally established in 1936, it is now one of the oldest and longest running softball associations to be found. Affiliated to the International Softball Federation (ISF) the GSA has both fast & slow pitch leagues with over 300 members is a very popular island sport. [2]

Guernsey was declared an affiliate member by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2005. The International Cricket Council (ICC is the international governing body of Cricket. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[13]

Guernsey also enjoys various motor sports. In season, regular races take place on the sands on Vazon beach on the west coast. Le Val des Terres, a steeply winding road rising south from St Peter Port to Fort George, is often the focus of both local and international hill-climb races. Hillclimbing (also known as hill climbing, speed hillclimbing or speed hill climbing) is a branch of Motorsport in which drivers compete against In addition, the 2005, 2006, and 2007 World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx is a Guernseyman. Andrew Graham Priaulx, MBE (born Guernsey, 8 August 1974) is a racing driver European Touring Car Championship champion

The racecourse on L'Ancresse Common was re-established in 2004, and races are held on most Bank Holidays, with competitors from Guernsey as well as Jersey, France and the UK participating. A race track (or 'racetrack' or 'racing track' is a purpose-built facility for Racing of animals (eg A bank holiday is a Public holiday in the United Kingdom and also in the Republic of Ireland.

Notable Guernsey people

See also: List of people from Guernsey

Gallery

Little Chapel, Les Vauxbelets, Guernsey	Little chapel interior	Fountain Bordage signs St Peter Port Guernsey	Guernésiais BBC sticker
Festival of the Sea (in Guernésiais)	Victor Hugo in exile in Jersey	Victoria Tower	QE2 Marina, St. This is a selected list of famous people from Guernsey. List James Saumarez (1757-1836 Vice Admiral of the Blue and first Baron de Saumarez Peter Port
Relief map of Guernsey from SRTM data

References

External links

• States of Guernsey - official government site
• VisitGuernsey/ Guernsey Tourism
• BBC Guernsey - local features and news
• This Is Guernsey - information and news from the Guernsey Press and Star
• The Guille-Allès Library - public library
• The Priaulx Library - local studies library
• La Société Guernesiaise
• The Guernsey Society - a network for Guernsey people worldwide
• Map of Guernsey

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