This Is Guernsey

By Nigel Baudains

John Hunter and his wife, Jan. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0542227)

A FORMER teacher at Elizabeth College could soon have a role in French parish politics.

John Hunter and wife Jan left Guernsey in 2003 to start a self-catering/bed and breakfast business in southern Dordogne. Mr Hunter was invited by the mayor of Penne d’Agenais in Lot et Garonne to join his list of candidates in the forthcoming parish election.

‘The role is very similar to the douzaines, not high-powered, but the more you hear people discussing it, the more complicated it seems to get.’ Elections will be held in more than 35,000 French regions on Sunday. Many will not be decided on the day as, following an elimination process, a second election will be held the following week.

In Mr Hunter’s region, three people have put their name forward for mayor, including the incumbent, Patrick Fabre, who asked the Guernseyman to join his team.

‘If elected, I’d be the only non-French person, which is something that the local paper has already picked up on,’ said Mr Hunter.

Potential mayors each choose their preferred team of 19 members.

The electorate can vote for mayors and team members, meaning the final selection could be an amalgam.

Mr Hunter said selection was complicated as were French parish politics in general.

‘There’s a lot of red tape in France, with the local people wanting things straightaway and the mayor trying to steer a steady path,’ he said.

Mr Hunter will hold the voluntary position if elected. The meetings take place monthly.

Last year, Mr Fabre conducted the marriage service of the Hunters’ daughter, Nicki, who tied the knot with Tom Johnson.

‘Patrick was nice, very kind and very amusing,’ said Mr Hunter.

The couple knew Mr Fabre before they took up permanent residence in France, having previously owned a holiday home in the area.

The Hunters love the region, which is very rural and a fruit-growing territory and is about a six-and-a-half hour drive from St Malo.

Mrs Hunter has also taught locally and both now teach privately in France in a part-time capacity.

Of the dialect in the area Mr Hunter said: ‘The accent there is very strong, similar to our patois.’