Marie de Garis’ children, from the left, Pierre de Garis, Nicky Martel and Jean de Garis, with her youngest brother, Frank Le Messurier, and the Marie de Garis Community Garden stone. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 1030712)

A ST PETER’S community garden has been dedicated to the memory of the late Guernsey-French dictionary author and historian Marie de Garis.

The naming ceremony was held yesterday morning in the garden created in 2008 by the St Peter’s Floral Group next to St Peter’s Post Office.

Members decided to name it The Marie de Garis Community Garden in recognition of her work. She died in August, two months after her 100th birthday, but throughout her life had worked tirelessly to preserve the island’s traditional language and culture.

Group member Nigel Baudains said that before she died, he had put the suggestion to her when he met her at her home. ‘She said she was overwhelmed at the idea,’ he recalled. She had agreed to name the garden herself but she died on the day she was due to attend the ceremony.

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