(Picture by Lesley Bailey)

HERM this week said a sad farewell to its longest-serving and most well-known resident. Mel Brown (pictured) has left the island after 24 years of loyal service under three different tenants.

He arrived in 1986 as a seasonal worker at The Ship, returning for several summers before eventually becoming its manager.

Fourteen years ago he made the permanent move into the admin office as island secretary and has been an integral part of the island community ever since.

Mel’s official duties in the office included taking bookings and looking after holiday cottage guests and campers, organising cargos and acting as PA to the Heyworths and subsequent company directors.

Unofficially, he has been responsible for so much more – arranging flowers for church services and weddings, organising island nights out and resident leaving parties, as well as being the expert on all things Herm-related. This is unsurprising, as he has served under three island tenants.

When Mel first arrived in Herm, the Major and Jenny Wood still lived in the island, although the day-to-day management had been passed down to the Heyworths. After 22 years under Wood of Herm Island, Mel was undeniably a source of help and knowledge to the new management team under John and Julia Singer.

A year ago, he also took over the weekly church service in St Tugual’s. The island children, with whom he has always been very popular, took great pride in helping him ring the bell and take collection and he encouraged several of them to read lessons during the service. His last service on Sunday drew a huge crowd and afterwards he was presented with an engraved silver Bible from islanders.

Mel’s leaving party on Sunday night was a black-tie affair in the Mermaid, which was set up beautifully for a lovely meal. After speeches and more presents (a silver Tiffany pen and a decorative slab of Herm granite), a huge screen displayed a slideshow of pictures from over the years, which showed on a continuous loop all evening. There was also a scrapbook of many of the island children Mel has known over the years – he is godfather to several – in which they wrote their own little messages to accompany their photographs.

The cake was a gorgeous representation of the Herm campsite, with a tent, a sleeping camper and tiny pheasants. It was made by Lucy Jones, who makes cakes and cookies for The Ship.

The next day, many gathered at the boat to say goodbye and Mel was given three cheers as it pulled away.

He will be truly missed by everybody, as a friend and as a colleague. Hard-working, friendly, generous and helpful, he is a perfect example of what an islander should be.

Mel is beginning his new life by taking a well-earned holiday in Guernsey.