The Blue Plaque panel, left to right: Deputy Gloria Dudley-Owen, Edith Le Patourel, Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland, Dr Jason Monaghan and Helen Glencross. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0841804)
A PANEL has been created to consider nominees for Guernsey’s Blue Plaque Scheme.
The plaques recognise islanders who have made important contributions to the Bailiwick or the wider world.
Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland, who will chair the panel, said: ‘When the Blue Plaque Scheme was launched in England 140 years ago, it had an immediate impact.
‘It is one of the oldest in the world.
‘Nowadays it is administered by English Heritage. We have been able to borrow from the experience found in England and adapted it to meet our local need.’
He thought the introduction of a Blue Plaque Scheme was long overdue.
‘I am confident that it will capture the public imagination. But we are going to be very selective, just as the English Heritage is.’
Organisations and individuals can make nominations.
The Museums Service will administer the scheme. Director of museums Dr Jason Monaghan was confident enough islanders would put forward ideas.
‘We hope to put one or two plaques up a year,’ he said.
‘When we put up one last year for G. B. Edwards [author of Ebenezer Le Page], we had a lot of interest and people were sending in lists of ideas.
‘That’s when we thought we needed to set up a formal application process.’
Each nominee must meet basic selection criteria before being considered and a building associated with them should survive in Guernsey.
Nominations are expected to include artists, scientists, sporting personalities and people who have made significant contributions to the welfare or happiness of Guernsey people.
One consideration is that the nominee must have been dead for 20 years or the centenary of his or her birth has passed.
This means that a nominee’s career is complete, their work evaluated and reputation established.
A plaque was erected to G. B. Edwards in 2008 as an Arts Commission initiative.
Sponsorship will cover the cost of the plaques.
nÊThe nomination form, including selection criteria and guidelines on how to make a nomination, is available from the Guernsey Information Centre, Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery and the Royal Court. Alternatively email helen.glencross @cultureleisure.gov.gg.
Article posted on 15th September, 2009 - 2.29pm
Most Commented: