This Is Guernsey

New Herm residents Gavin Hyde and Angela Brown. (0571866)

IF YOU think you have a long commute to work, spare a thought for new Herm resident Angela Brown.

Despite moving to the island in early February, Angela has only just given up her marketing job in Tring in Hertfordshire.

Partner Gavin Hyde took on the position of estate foreman and moved two months ago. But Angela flew back and forth between England and Guernsey to work her notice with British Waterways.

‘We had so much to sort out at home,’ said Angela. ‘We bought our house just before we left, but Gavin had to be here as soon as possible.’

He, too, had been working for British Waterways, as a manager, looking after a group of reservoirs that provided water for a canal and taking care of a Georgian pumping station. His job also involved looking after the wetlands and woodlands in the surrounding areas and a lot of environmental work.

‘I’d heard vaguely of Herm,’ said Gavin. ‘Then one day I saw an advert in Farmers’ Weekly.

It sounded like an exciting opportunity, so we followed the link to the Herm website and liked what we saw.’

Despite having their interviews in Herm on Christmas Eve, the weather was very kind to them.

‘When we arrived, the sun was out and it was very mild,’ said Angela. ‘The island seemed so idyllic. It’s such a lovely setting.’

With his extensive background, Gavin was more than qualified for the Herm job, which involves heading the team of truckies, taking care of the cattle and keeping the fields and paths in a good condition.

Now that Angela is finally here, the couple are getting on with life. They love Herm’s close community and are eager to be a part of it. Both have volunteered to help the Britain in Bloom committee with the various jobs that need to be done and Gavin’s skills mean he’s able to assist the gardening team as much as possible.

‘We truckies will do whatever we can to help take the pressure off the gardeners, even if it just means keeping the paths clean and swept. And in our spare time, we’ve helped collect rubbish off the beaches.’

With few animals on the island, Gavin and Angela’s choice of pet has caused quite a stir among the island children. They have two female ferrets, as yet unnamed.

‘I’ve had so many pets, I don’t bother naming them any more,’ said Gavin.

‘I’ve had fruit bats, an African mongoose, a South American spring hare, a raccoon, lots of reptiles, and I had a fox for years.’

Gavin’s ambitions still haven’t been completely fulfilled, though.

‘I love beekeeping,’ he said.

‘I’d love to keep bees on Herm and sell real Herm honey.’