Guernsey-born Beryl Brown, formerly Guille, has been awarded an MBE. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0696540)
AN OXFORDSHIRE librarian was the subject of the Lt-Governor’s New Year’s toast yesterday.
Beryl Brown was born in Guernsey to Castel growers Stanley and Amy Guille.
She left the island when she married an RAF man in 1963, but she is always eager to return.
‘I have travelled all over the world,’ said Mrs Brown, 65.
‘But Guernsey is my home and I wanted to be with family here when I told them about my honour.’
Mrs Brown found out in November that she might receive an MBE for her 30 years’ work for Oxfordshire council.
‘I worked to help save Wychwood Library, which serves five or six villages in the area,’ she said. ‘Now it’s the focal point of the village.’
Sir Fabian proposed his fourth loyal toast at the Bailiff’s reception and congratulated Mrs Brown on her honour.
However, he also said islanders have been taking such awards for granted.
‘Normally at this point I would talk about all the New Year’s honours that have been presented by the Queen,’ he said.
‘However, this year we should not be disappointed.’
He said he was from Weymouth and that while its population was comparable with Guernsey’s, people there rarely received honours.
‘We were lucky to get one a year,’ he said.
‘With a bit of luck, we will have plenty of honours for Guernsey in the future. And we do have Beryl with us, who is a former Guille.
‘She will be receiving an MBE for her services to local government in Oxfordshire.’
Mrs Brown has been staying with her sister in Guernsey and still has three siblings in the island and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
‘It is lovely to be here with the family to celebrate,’ said Mrs Brown.
‘They were really surprised and are still trying to get used to it.’
Mrs Brown, who has recently retired, is now planning to do some more travelling with her husband, although they will wait until they have been summoned to London to receive the award.
nÊBailiff Geoffrey Rowland is recovering well from the football injury he sustained last week. He snapped his Achilles tendon during a match between the States and the media on Saturday. He has been told to keep his foot dry and it is expected to take several months to heal fully.
Article posted on 2nd January, 2009 - 2.29pm
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