He had the opportunity to work elsewhere, but the pull of Guernsey was too strong for Andrew Ozanne, as Rosie Allsopp found out COMMUNITY is a word close to Andrew Ozanne’s heart.

The strength of community spirit in Guernsey is one reason why he loves living here rather than the UK, which had been an option in his early 20s after he had completed his training to become an architect.

‘It’s been a common theme in my life and I don’t think I’m unique in that sense. It’s the community around you that’s important.

‘I don’t know of anywhere else in the world that commits itself to the gluing together of its community like Guernsey,’ he said.

‘People believe they can contribute and build the capacity of the community to look after itself and I believe that it’s fruitful.

‘In Guernsey I come across people from different sectors, from charities, education and health, and when you talk to them you find they are committed to assisting the community to look after itself.’

Mr Ozanne, a partner at Lovell Ozanne, was born and grew up here, first attending Forest Primary School and later Elizabeth College.

He left the island to study architecture at Oxford Polytechnic after a false start in tertiary education at art college.

‘I realised fairly early on that I would make a second-rate artist. I had an interest in architecture because of my father [the late Jurat Lawrie Ozanne] and I thought there was little point continuing at art college.’

Mr Ozanne was a high-achieving student, nominated for a bicentennial scholarship. He was also accepted to read for a PhD at Manchester.

But a friend of his father recommended that he leave academia.

‘He said I was bonkers and that I was a commercially-minded person, not an academic.’

He returned to the island in the early 1980s with his wife, Sheila, with the intention of staying for six months.

‘We were going to travel, but Guernsey is such a comfortable place.

‘I enjoyed rugby and sailing and Sheila and I had very good friends. She enjoyed it and had a good job with Midland Bank.’

His community work began around that time.

‘I was elected procureur of the poor for the Forest parish, which I very much enjoyed. I was committed to the parish and there was a feel-good factor that came with it.

‘I think there’s something important in that, the sense of security in being a big fish in a small pond, and I enjoyed it.

‘The other thing is that both my father and mother had a very strong work ethic. It was very important to be able to justify your use of time and I suppose that’s been one thing in my life that’s motivated me, the use of time.’

In his spare time, Mr Ozanne is a keen supporter of several local charities.

He is the current chairman of the Lloyds TSB Foundation, which donates around £1m. a year to good causes in the Channel Islands, chairman of the Crime Prevention Panel and vice-chairman of Victoria Hospital Incorporated, which assists people with socio-medical needs.

Despite his numerous charitable interests, Mr Ozanne said he did not believe in giving selflessly.

‘I’m no altruist, but I am able to put lots of time into what interests me, which is seeing how I can effectively help those who are disadvantaged or discriminated against.

‘I’m not motivated by wealth other than to be secure. Once you reach that balance, unless there’s some other motive, there’s a contentment with it which enables you to give your time.

‘For me, becoming chairman of the Lloyds TSB Foundation is a lifetime goal. That’s not because as chairman I can do any more or less than previous chairmen, but because the foundation can do something effective. The way we do that is to help organisations to build their own capacity.’

Mr Ozanne describes himself as fortunate in all aspects of his life.

‘I was born in the right place at the right time. I can’t pretend I’m a good architect, but I’m a successful businessman. I have enjoyed the prosperity that has come with the economic development of Guernsey.

‘I’m fortunate in the people I work with: they are fantastic and hugely committed. And I’ve also been fortunate because throughout my entire life I have had phenomenally good friends, the same group of friends all the way through. People I cycle with and run with.

‘But the most important thing of all is my family. I have three daughters who are contented and happy and I have a very tolerant and supportive wife.’

He is a keen participant in endurance sports despite being diagnosed with type-one diabetes when he was 14.

‘I enjoy long-distance running, cycling, swimming and triathlon but I’m not competing this year because of a bad back.’

Though he has taken a break from competition, Mr Ozanne is planning to cycle up Mont Ventoux with friends in October.

The mountain is one of the highest peaks on the Tour de France route.

‘It’s about 1,600m and is seriously uphill.

‘I like to do something every October, whether it’s going to Africa to walk in the hills or mountains. I enjoy having a challenge on the horizon to keep me motivated.’

His love of endurance sports was sparked by friendly rivalry with his friend, Chris O’Neill.

‘When I was young I wanted to run as fast as Chris and it’s taken me 50 years to realise I will never run as fast, so my next objective was to run further.’

For the future, Mr Ozanne is content to keep working, enjoy his family and do his bit for the community.

‘I have a hugely tolerant wife, I was really lucky to have met and married her: she is hugely supportive.

‘I really enjoy my business and the people I work with.’

But he has no ambitions to become a public servant.

‘I have no political aspirations. I have huge respect for our politicians and I very much enjoy being a non-States member of the Home Department, but I don’t feel I can contribute at a political level.’