A YEAR after John and Julia Singer (pictured) took over the lease of Herm, their feelings about the island are as strong as ever.
Although they aren’t hands-on tenants as the Heyworths were, they have thrown themselves into island life and all it involves. But not everything has been the way they imagined.
‘It has been far more arduous than we expected,’ said John. ‘I think we were maybe a little naive about what it would entail and we underestimated the prominence of the island within the local community.’
But the continuing number of visitors and guests, and the happiness they get from the island, has helped keep them motivated.
‘We never wanted our own private island,’ continued John, ‘and we get great pleasure from running Herm and enjoy the satisfaction of pleasing the guests. We share their pleasure. But it has taken up more of my own time than I expected and I had a big workload before I even came here.’
The new management structure has worked well this year, with the board directors doing an ‘admirable’ job of establishing themselves as recognisable leaders.
‘Not only the directors, but all the full-time island staff have really taken ownership of their jobs.’
‘Which is more satisfying for them,’ added Julia.
All that is, of course, made possible by the Starboard Settlement, which funded the buying of the lease, and for which John is the investment manager.
‘What has really made it worthwhile for me is actually living here,’ said Julia. ‘To be part of such a wonderful community and to have such lovely neighbours.
‘We feel very fortunate to have inherited Pennie and Adrian’s, and Major Wood’s, creation of 60 years, the superb facilities and community they created. We love walking the dogs straight from the garden to the fields and I’m thrilled to have to go everywhere by boat, which is magic for me.’
Among all those exceptionally positive aspects of Herm Island life, however, there is a frustration for the Singers in that the States of Guernsey appears unable to understand the importance of a lease extension.
‘There are currently 39 years left on the lease,’ said John.
‘We keep being told we need to make improvements and we are happy to put all profits back into the business, but we need to know it’ll be worthwhile for Starboard Settlement.’
John compares it with the leasing of a house. If you buy one, you are happy to put in money to make improvements, knowing it will be yours for some time. But if you are leasing a house just for a few years, you don’t spend a fortune changing the interior.
‘The States have the ability to increase the lease by 21 years, which is all we are asking for at this time, but it has taken months just to get an ambiguous letter offering the prospect of endless bureaucracy and fees.’
It is undeniable that various parts of the island do need updating, and some of that work is already under way.
‘Starboard Settlement is firmly committed to the perpetual renewal of all aspects of Herm Island and looks forward to a time when this can be guaranteed. This stage, of course, can be reached with an extension of the lease that doesn’t take protracted negotiation, legal costs and time, which can be put to better use both by Herm’s directors and the States of Guernsey.’
Article posted on 30th October, 2009 - 10.00am
One Article Comment
Singers a year on
My first reaction to your headline was that here was an article about a choir or band: but no, it is much more serious than that! It is about politicians fouling up future developments that could make Herm Island an even better place than it already is.
I write as a former regular visitor to Herm and know that the Singers have already made changes towards continued improvement but surely the dimmest politician can see that nobody can afford to enter into long term developments if they aren’t given a long term view of the future.
Is it too much to hope that Guernsey Press will seek interviews with each politician involved in these decisions (or should we call them non-decisions?) to explain their long term plans for Herm Island beyond the current lease? Then at least the Starboard Settlement could plan for Herm to be developed in the right direction for that longer term future.
If you don’t get answers, you will know that your politicians are sitting on their hands without a thought in their heads. Come on States of Guernsey: your minds are like parachutes – they will only work when they are open: use them, please!
John Maclaren
Cambridge
New Zealand
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