This Is Guernsey

By Thom Ogier

HUMAN rights champion Peter Mahy (pictured) was inspired by his time at the Grammar School, he revealed yesterday.

The 37-year-old, who grew up fishing and sailing in Guernsey with his two brothers before pursuing a career in law, said his passion for human rights was born in the classroom.

‘I studied sociology A-level at the Grammar School and I was fascinated,’ he said. He took pride in his work.

‘I think I was one of the first at Grammar to get an A grade for sociology. I was very happy and it put me in good stead to do my law and criminology degrees,’ he said.

He expressed thanks to the States of Guernsey for helping to fund his further education at Sheffield and Cambridge universities.

His mother, Karen, said she felt extremely proud of her son, who she always knew was bright.

‘I have been telling everyone I know, actually everyone I meet, about what he has done. I’m very happy for him,’ she said.

He always had an active mind, she said.

‘I would never have to tell him to do his academic work when he was young and during this case I think he often started work at 6am and finished at 8 or 10pm.’

Her son still returns to Guernsey regularly and sails and fishes in the summer.

‘I remember when he was little when we were fishing at Rousse. He caught a conger eel, a really big one, and the whole boat was shaking because he was so frightened,’ she said.

Her other two sons have also done well.

‘One is a teacher in Kuwait, the other is an accountant setting up a new branch in Malta,’ she said.

Article posted on 6th December, 2008 - 9.29am