Six Channel Islanders On New Years Honours List

Six islanders from Guernsey and Jersey have been recognised in the King's New Year's Honours List.

Raymond Evison, the founder of the Guernsey Clematis Nursery, has been awarded the CBE for Services to horticulture and to Guernsey.

Mr Evison is approaching 40 years in business in Guernsey and 65 years in horticulture.

During this time he has created more than 200 new clematis species and cultivars.

His achievements include winning 33 RHS Gold medals at Chelsea, six Williams Memorial Medals, and two Lawrence Medals for the best overall exhibit at Chelsea.

He has also written five books on clematis, founded the Guernsey Botanical Trust, and designed and built the Victor Hugo Garden, in Candie Gardens.

He says his fascination with nature began at an early age: "Horticulture has been my life. I grew up walking along the woods in Shropshire and it was a lovely place I seem to have had an interest in plants since then, aged 4.

My father was a gardener so from a very young age I was pottering around in gardens."

He recalls the moment he was asked to become a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: "When His Excellency phoned me, and asked if I would accept the title, I couldn't speak. It's a great honour for Guernsey Clematis, horticulture, and Guernsey as a whole.

It is difficult to describe how excited I feel about it."

Photo of Raymond Evison by John de Garis

Jersey businessman Kevin Keen receives an OBE for services to the business and charity community in Jersey.

Mr Keen has spent his career in business working as Managing Director of companies on the island.

He started his life in Jersey business at the retailer Le Riche which went on to become SandpiperCI.

Kevin explained how he developed a reputation as Jersey's 'business fixer' - turning around the fortunes of struggling companies:

"When I left in the early 2000s, I was looking for a new challenge and I could see that there were problems at the then Jersey Milk, which became Jersey Dairy.

"I could see how important that business was to the island and I felt the challenge to help and put my name down to be managing director, which I did for just over four years.

"We went through some very difficult times, but we got through it, and at the end, we found someone who was up for the job and was already there and he is still running it today."

Kevin was also Managing Director of Jersey Post after his time at the dairy, a role he stood down from in 2014 after three years before going on to turn around the JSCPA following a period of financial difficulties.

He told us it was hard to believe that he was receiving an OBE for his 20 years of work in the island business:

"I got a call from the Lieutenant-Governor in November, I was in Australia when the call came through. I didn't know what to say other than mumble hopelessly.

"When I came off the phone I told my wife. After thinking about it in the next few days, I thought someone had pranked me so I called Government House to double check, it's unbelievable that it should happen to someone like me."

Julia Bowditch becomes an MBE for Services to Sport in Guernsey.

As Director for the 2023 Island Games, she was responsible for every aspect of the event, including coordinating more than a thousand volunteers.

She says the community spirit was worth the hard work: "It's been interesting and rewarding working on the games.

"I probably worked on it for about five years - but it wasn't just me - we had a massive and wonderful voluntary team that we couldn't have gone without.

"Guernsey 2023 showed what can happen when our whole community pulls together. I’m delighted to be named in the King’s New Year’s honours list and I’m very proud and humbled by the magical and unforgettable week we created.

"It was a huge privilege to be Games director and together we all made the Games possible.”

Local sports venues will continue to benefit from the High-Speed broadband Julia secured.

Michael Blackie becomes an MBE for services to the community as chairman of the Executive Council of the Jersey Eisteddfod.

He has been volunteering for the cultural event - which sees islanders compete in speech, presentation, and music - for nearly 24 years.

Mr Blackie says it's a privilege to be recognised: "I was utterly amazed by the idea that I should be given this award.

"It's anything but a one-man band, I have a wonderful executive council that I work with and they are very dedicated.

"I have spent a lot of time on the Eisteddfod. It's been a bit of a learning curve and being a chairman was quite daunting at first but I've had many great mentors throughout the years."

Peter Tabb receives a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community.

He has been a member of Jersey's Lions Club for 50 years, raising money to support struggling islanders and families.

Peter is currently the President of the Trustees of the Maison des Landes hotel, which opened in July after a £3.1 million refurbishment. 

The hotel is adapted to make it accessible to disabled islanders and visitors. 

He also set up a local diabetes charity in 2004 after UK charities were not funding projects on the island.

Jersey's Lieutenant Governor told Peter he had been recommended for a British Empire Medal before an event Mr Tabb was hosting:

"I greeted His Excellencey as he got out of his car and before I had the chance to welcome him, he said I'd like to have a word with you.

"It didn't occur to me what it could be, but he said that I had been recommended for the recognition and I was stunned."

Vanessa Wakeford, the First female House Manager to the Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey, is awarded the Royal Victorian Medal.

The award was established by Queen Victoria in 1896 to recognise ‘distinguished personal service’ to the Monarch and her household.

Miss Wakeford worked at Government House on 'an ad hoc basis' as a supernumerary House worker before being formally employed as a Senior Housemaid on 1st November 1993 - becoming House Manager on 11 August 2007.

She says her career has been fulfilling: "I've worked at Government House for around 30 years, looking after the day-to-day needs of His Excellency, his family, and any guests.

"The role constantly changes so it's always interesting."

She says the medal was a pleasant surprise: "It's a great honour to be nominated and get the award.

"My immediate reaction was that really it should be a team medal, because I can't do anything of this without the team that I work with.

"They just support you in every way - so thank you to all my past and present colleagues."