Earl and Countess of Wessex Visit Guernsey

Le Viaer Marchi, which translates as “the old market”, is an annual event on the island of Guernsey. It has been held for the past 30 years, but this year was a special year, as the event welcomed royal visitors, the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The Earl and Countess spent an evening at the fair, where they learned about traditional arts and crafts, and enjoyed the local cuisine. Earlier in the day, the Wessexes kicked off their Guernsey visit by participating in the official opening of Le Murier and St. Sampson’s High schools, according to an article in the Guernsey Press.

The educational complex was completed in 2008, and is quite unique. Le Murier is a school for special-needs children aged 11-16. It can accommodate 130 students, and is able to serve the needs of students with learning disabilities. This school shares the complex and many facilities with St. Sampson’s High School, which is a traditional high school. The goals of the complex’s educators are to break down stereotypes regarding disability, and to be able to share ideas among teachers and students.

When the Wessexes arrived, they were greeted by the students and teachers. The Earl of Wessex joked with the crowd, encouraging them to “cheer as if this was the most exciting thing they have ever seen”. The head of Le Murier, Alan Brown said that the Countess, “…was good at engaging with the children, so she put them at ease”.

After visiting the educational complex, the Earl and Countess visited the Priaulx Library, and Candie Gardens, where they greeted many of the island’s residents.

For more information about Guernsey, please visit this website.

For more information about Le Murier and St. Sampson’s, please visit this website.

To read about, and to discuss the Earl and Countess of Wessex, please visit this thread.

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Education, Guernsey, Official Visit, The Countess of Wessex, The Earl of Wessex.