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Martyn House, 41 Victoria Street, Alderney, GY9 3TA

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Living in Alderney

by John Arlott, OBE

A first visit to Alderney, in 1953, prompted the decision to retire there - one day. That resolve never faded; twenty-seven years and many holidays there merely fortified the determination which was realized in 1980, The island's attractions are many; in the first place, as a matter of basic convenience, it is the only major Channel Island where residence is not officially restricted. It is, too, quite self consciously an island.
That said, we may start to count its blessings. With the exception of a single tragic winter within living memory, the weather is warm bright and sunny through spring, summer and autumn, and for the rest of the year, comfortably mild. It is, above all "livinable", in the early days as a parent, safety for children was striking and valuable. The beaches hold few dangers - indeed, it is often possible for a family to find one to itself for a day. Crime is almost non-existent; there was one almost comic incursion of three thieves who were all too easily caught; for the rest, there is an all-embracing sense of safety. It is important, too, that the air, like the surrounding sea water, is quite strikingly clean by mainland standards. Several religious communities are healthily maintained and the parish church is the biggest in the islands.

For those who value their hobbies, angling records have been set up both from the shore and boats; while the flora and fauna include enough rarities to attract naturalists and bird-watchers. They, and antiquarians are admirably catered for by a most generous library and a quite unique museum.

There is much sport, too, especially cricket, which attracts sides from the mainland happy to pay their air fares to fly in for two or three matches over a weekend. Count in, too soccer; once - though only once - Alderney won the Muratti Vase, the inter-island competition. There is a nine-hole golf course with its own intriguing problems, squash, badminton, snooker and, of course, magnificent swimming and sailing. There is a flourishing sailing club; and the States - the island government - have promised a marina.

Alderney is the nearest Channel Island to France; the French coast at Goray is a bare eight miles away, an easy boat trip for a splendidly cooked French lunch (a Normandy company is to provide a summer boat service to and from Alderney); while Cherbourg is only a few minutes away by plane. There is a regular Aurigny service between the island, Jersey, Guernsey, Cherbourg and the mainland. All those are, too, favourite trips for the increasing number of aeroplane owners on the island.

Alderney's pleasures are sirnple. It caters happily for eaters and drinkers of all kinds; and the place breeds its own legends. Meanwhile, new building indicates that its financial future is about to grow appreciably. That, though, will not be allowed to swamp its character, which is characterized topographically by a variety of housing - some ancient, some modern - ancient forts and, essentially a degree of space surprising in so small a compass - space to walk or ride, to breathe easily and enjoy - as anyone who lives there will tell you - one of the most felicitous environments within the British realm.