Latest news with #GuernseyIsland
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
South African travels to Guernsey for his third round-island walk
A man from South Africa is looking forward to completing his third round-island walk on Davies has flown to Guernsey to take part in the annual Saffery Rotary Walk which follows the 39-mile (62.8km) coastal path around the Davies said he loved the "great scenery and camaraderie" of the event which is dedicated to raising money for 25 of the bailiwick's Vizia, director at Saffery Trust, said walkers would experience a "truly rewarding day" that could "create real change for these deserving causes". Difficult terrain Mr Davies said he had visited Guernsey five times and had first taken part in the round-island challenge in 2023."The first time, two-thirds of the way through, I needed to sit down and gather my thoughts, but it was a lot easier the second time," he said he had met "some really nice people" during the walks but the terrain could be hard South African advised people to have the right clothing, use plasters and balm to avoid blisters and chafing and to stay said he planned to take part in the walk every year and hoped his two daughters would join him - although his wife would definitely not."My wife thinks I'm nuts!" he laughed.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Family of Guernsey WW2 doctor meet with patient's relative
'I would not be here if not for WW2 doctor' 12 minutes ago Share Save Olivia Fraser BBC News, Guernsey Share Save Kowald family Dr Albert Kowald, who is known as the "good doctor", with his daughters Helga and Irmtraud The family of a doctor who risked his life to supply medicine to islanders during the Occupation of Guernsey has had an encounter with a relative of one of the people he helped. Luftwaffe officer Dr Albert Kowald was stationed in Guernsey during World War Two. However, the former SS officer was imprisoned by the Germans after he was discovered to be helping islanders and was not released until Liberation Day. At a book launch on Monday, there were a number of surprises in store for the family, including a meeting with Margaret Richardson, whose father and grandfather were treated by Dr Kowald. Dr Kowald's family and researchers who worked on the book attended the launch The book about Dr Kowald's life, called The Good Doctor, was published with the help of his daughters, sons in laws and researchers. Enlisting historian Richard Heaume, researcher Olivier Bailey started to piece together the story using letters and artefacts back in 2018 for the family. It was launched at the Occupation Museum, where Dr Kowald's son-in-law Horst Schmidt-Bischoffshausen and daughter Irmtraud Zotti signed copies. Mrs Zotti said: "It means quite a lot and I am so happy that now this book has been finished. I nearly didn't believe that it would be." Mr Schmidt-Bischoffshausen expressed how proud he was of his father-in-law. "It was very risky for him, fortunately he survived," he said. Margaret Richardson's father penned a letter of support for Dr Kowald Mrs Richardson, whose father William Carre suffered with asthma, said she had "such a debt of gratitude for this family". Without Dr Kowald's medication, she said she did not know if her father would have survived. "If this hadn't happened and hadn't got through this, I wouldn't be here," she said. Mr Carre wrote a letter of gratitude in support of Dr Kowald in the hope he could use it as evidence of his good actions. The letter was signed by 16 islanders, but it did not help, and just days after being freed by the British, Dr Kowald was taken away from the island and moved through a number of prisoner of war camps. It was not until 1947 until he was fully free and allowed to continue to practise as a doctor. The family of Dr Kowald were keen to hear from any others whose relatives may have been helped by him. Dr Albert Kowald kept his daughter's birth announcement with him Researcher Oliver Bailey presented Mrs Zotti with a second surprise at the evening. During his research, Mr Bailey said he had found her birth announcement, which her father had kept with him during his imprisonment. He said there had been "ups and downs" to the research but he was proud to have helped uncovered so much. "There are more leads now, so we might have to do a second edition," he said. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to
