Chronology of the Portuguese Community in Guernsey

From the age of the discoveries to

the present, the Portuguese have
been adventurous and pioneering
people.

Whether tempted by riches of the new world or the opportunities to provide a better life for their
families and themselves, millions of Portuguese from Madeira, Azores and the Portuguese mainland
left their homeland and settled in all four corners of the Earth.
The first immigrants came to Guernsey in 1963, and they were only three of them, all from the Island
of Madeira, and they were employed in the hospitality industry.
At that time the majority of the island's work forces were from Italy, Germany, Austria and
Switzerland.
Since Italy joined the EC in 1979 the number of Italians working in Guernsey began to drop. Their
places were filled by a gradually growing Portuguese community which already numbered around 400.

On June 10th 1980

The Portuguese Association in
Guernsey celebrated the first
Anniversary and the day of
Portugal, the poet Cames, and
the Portuguese Communities.

Guests of honour Dr. Caldas Faria Consul - General of Portugal in London, Monsignor Lawrence
head of the Catholic Church in Guernsey and Mr. Davies from the States Immigration Department.
The event was held at St. Margaret Hotel.
Most Portuguese are Roman Catholic (95%) but the number of church goers has dramatically
reduced over the years.

Portuguese people living in Guernsey do not have

there own Club or Social Centre. This can make it
difficult for them to fully celebrate their culture.
Traditional Portuguese culinary delights are
prepared in many homes and there are various
restaurants in the Island where diners can taste
and enjoy the food and wines of Portugal.
Chef Rivelino is one of the many
Portuguese in catering

In 1981: the Portuguese

Education Secretary first
promoted Portuguese lessons to
pupils at the Notre Dame du
Rosaire School in Guernsey. A
teacher from Portugal was
appointed to undertake the job.

Unfortunately there was a poor response from the children and the teacher resigned.
The Portuguese Secretary of Education faced great difficulties in obtaining a licence for the new
teacher, so the Portuguese Authorities had to cancel the education programme in Guernsey.
The Portuguese Association has given its own collection of books to the Guille-Alles Public Library in
St. Peter Port.

This picture was taken in 1982 Luso vs. Guernsey Police Luso team played friendly games with the States Fire-fighters and
various Banks. There was also a Mini-European Knockout Cup organized by Vale Rec Sports Club.

1981: was also the year the

Portuguese Association formed a
football team alongside the GFA,
namely 'Lusobritanic.'
Football and other sports has been
a key point of integration.

The successful 'Lusobritanic' football team

The Luso Team also took part in the Sunday Soccer League and later in the Bankers League
sponsored and funded by Portuguese proprietor of the Swan Inn, Joe Gomes.
Since 1983 The Portuguese Association in Guernsey, was affiliated to fourteen similar Associations
in UK and the Channel Islands, and registered with the Secretariat of the Portuguese Communities
in Lisbon.
Portugal joined the EC in 1986. At the time Guernsey recruited a large number of workers from
Madeira for the horticultural and tourism industry. By 1990 the numbers continued to rise as the
Portuguese were allowed to move more freely within Europe, UK and the Channel Islands.
By the year 2000 the community represented 3.3% of the Guernsey population (2,000 people).
Since 2000 both industries have suffered a tremendous decline.
A large number of Portuguese have diversified their employment widely into hospitals, nursing,
domestic services, laundries, shops, gardening, cleaning services, supermarkets, banks, insurance,
and the construction industry. Some are now self-employed. The majority of the second
generation are employed in finance, banking, public servants, public transport drivers, social
services, medicine, law and architecture.
Since being formed the Portuguese Association has played an important roll in providing support to
the community liaising consultation with the Portuguese Consul-General in London and the
Director of the Communities Centre in Madeira.
The Association also had a good relationship with the States Board of Administration, Housing
Authority, Social Security, and the Board of Industry. The Association was also involved with the
Police Public Consultative Group.

June 1979: first meeting in the

Bailiffs Chamber with Sir John
Loveridge, Bailiff of Guernsey, Dr.
Caldas Faria Consul General of
Portugal in London, Francisco Silva
and Joe Gomes founders of the
Portuguese Association.

Important dates for the Community

The Portuguese Community in

Guernsey is just one of many
scattered throughout the world.
The Communities keep in contact
through their governments in
Lisbon, Madeira and Azores.

July 1980: Dr. Manuela de Aguiar

Secretary of State of the
Portuguese Communities visits
Guernsey, with her Secretary and
Consul General of Portugal in
London Dr. Caldas Faria, invited by
the Portuguese Association in
Guernsey.

May 1982: the Bishop of Funchal

Dom Manuel Santana celebrates the
day of Our Lady of Fatima Patron
Saint of Peace at St Josephs
Church, St. Peter Port. Also visited
the Bailiffs Chamber and met Sir
John Loveridge Bailiff of Guernsey.

May 1983: the newly elected

Bishop of Funchal Dom
Teodoro Faria celebrates the
week of Our Lady of Fatima
at St Josephs Church. Also
visited the Bailiffs Chamber
and met Sir Charles Frossard
Bailiff of Guernsey.

July 1984: the first Congress

of the Madeiran Communities
was chaired by the President
of the Portuguese Republic,
General Ramalho Eanes.
There were 120 Delegates
from all four corners of the
world. Guernsey was
represented by Joe Gomes.

March 1989: Virgilio

Teixeira, director of the
Centre of Madeiran
Communities and the
recruitment department of
workers to the local floral
Industry, and his delegation
attended a meeting with the
President of the States Board
of Administration Mr. Roger
Berry and his Secretary.

July 1993: Guernsey's Bailiff

Sir Graham Dorey and Lady
Dorey visited the Island of
Madeira. They were invited
for a state Dinner by Dr.
Alberto Joo Jardim,
President of the Executive
Government of the Region of
Madeira.

September 1996: The fourth

Congress of the Madeiran
Communities. Joe Gomes was
elected as Vice-Counsellor for
the Madeiran Communities for
the UK & CI. In the picture are
Dr. Mario Soares President of
the Portuguese Republic and
delegates from UK and Channel
Islands.

May 1998: Dr Alberto Joo

Jardim and his delegation visit
Guernsey for the first time.
They attended a function
organised by the Portuguese
Association. On the next day
the president and his delegation
were invited to visit the Bailiff's
Chamber following by a
luncheon in a Restaurant in St.
Peter Port.

May 2000: Mr. Jos Lello

Secretary of State of the
Portuguese Communities and
his delegation visited Guernsey
for the first time. They also met
Sir de Vic Carey Bailiff of
Guernsey and attended a
function held at the OGH Hotel
organised by the Portuguese
Association.

January 2003: Guernsey's

Bailiff Sir de Vic Carey and Lady
Carey, visited Madeira on a
private holiday. During their
stay in the Island the Secretary
of the Madeiran Communities
Dr Brazo de Castro, invited the
Bailiff for a luncheon and dinner
attended by the President Dr
Alberto Joo Jardim.

September 2006: Bailiff of

Guernsey Sir Geoffrey Rowland
and Lady Rowland visited
Madeira. During their stay they
were invited to visit the Regional
Parliament and attended a state
dinner invited by the President of
the Executive Government of
Madeira Dr. Alberto Joo Jardim.

October 2006: Dr. Brazo de

Castro Secretary for Human
Resources and Madeiran
Communities and his wife visited
Guernsey for the third time.
They attended the Test of
Portugal Dinner held at St. Pierre
Park Hotel organised by the
Portuguese Association and
Events Committee. On the next
day they were invited to visit the
Bailiff's Chamber following by a
luncheon in a Restaurant in St.
Peter Port
Left to right: Mrs de Castro, Gonalo Santos, Dr. Brazo de
Castro, Joo Carlos de Freitas Counsellor of CPM, Vnia
Fernandes Madeiran Singer.

May 2012: Dr Conceico

Estudante Regional Secretary of
Culture, Tourism, Transport and
Madeirian Communities and
Gonalo Santos Director of CCM.
The Secretary visited Guernsey
for the first time, also met Sir
Richard Collas Bailiff of Guernsey
and former Bailiff Sir de Vic
Carey and Sir Peter Walker the
Governor of Guernsey.

July 2000: the Portuguese

Association in Guernsey received an
award from the Regional Government
of Madeira for the relevant services
rendered to the Madeiran Community
in Guernsey.
Also in April 2011: the Association
received an award sponsored by the
Banco Espirito Santo commended for
the services rendered to the
Portuguese Community in Guernsey
presented by the Portuguese singer
Carlos Alberto Moniz at the third Gala
of Jornal as Noticias the event was
held at the Pestana Hotel in London.

June 2009: one of the many successful functions organized by the Portuguese Association Guernsey: from left to right Mrs & Mr Matias
rep for BES bank ,Amado rep for BPI bank, Carmen Vieira C.member G.P.A, Claudia Aguiar Vice- Treasure, Ftima Pires, Nicolle Teixeira
Vice-Secretary, Cindy Gomes, Carlos Aguiar Treasure, Joe Gomes Chairman,Rivelino Rodrigues Vice-President, from far back left Deputy
Francis Quin States deputy- Minister for Home Department, Dr. Jos Macedo Leo Portuguese General- Consul in London, Carlos Costa
Portuguese Honary Consul for Channel Islands, Elvio Pires President for G.P.A, Deputy Rhodrick Matthews.

June 2013: last function organized by the Portuguese Association in Guernsey, held at St.Pierre Park Hotel St Peter Port

April 2014: the Portuguese Association has been dissolved and its funds have been donated to Hope for Guernsey, in the picture: left to
right Becky Simmons, Carlos Aguiar former treasurer, Joe Gomes former Chairman and joint founder of the Portuguese Association, Dr.
Roger Allsopp and Vanessa Marsh from Hope for Guernsey Support of Medical Search.

Unfortunately due to lack of members and motivated people and time they can commit has led to
the disbanding of the Portuguese Association in Guernsey; however the Association's Blog will
remain for the chronology and the Facebook will serve to disseminate news and important
information to the Portuguese Community provided by the former chairman Joe Gomes.
Joe has been asked by the Policy Council of the States of Guernsey to keep and pass important
information to the Portuguese Community in Guernsey. This practice has been going on for a
number of years with the Portuguese Consulates in Jersey, London and the Madeira Regional
Government.
At the moment the Portuguese Community in Guernsey represents 1.8% of Guernsey's population,
around 1,100 people.
The majority of the Portuguese people living in Guernsey feel they have integrated extremely well
with the local society and the way of life.

Historical dates in our neighbour

Island of Jersey

May 9th 2008: visit to Jersey of Dr. Alberto Joo Jardim President of the Regional Government of Madeira to
celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Madeiran Jersey friendship agreement .

May 10th 2008: Dr. Alberto Joo speech in St. Helier constables hall. Those were present; the Governor and
Bailiff of the island, Constable of St. Helier, members of the States of Jersey and guests of the Jersey and
Portuguese society.

The Historical twinning of St Helier with the Madeiran capital of Funchal

April 10th 2012: The Mayor of Funchal, Dr Alburqueque signs a twining charter with St. Helier Constable
Simon Crowcroft in a move which the polititians hope will improve economic and cultural ties between the
Capitals, as well as boosting tourism for both islands.

The former Mayor of Funchal, Dr Miguel Albuquerque

This photo was taken during the Presidents visit to the Island of
Jersey.

is the new President of the Regional Government of Madeira he took office

on April 2015.

For further information about our chronology please visit our Media Links:
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