Oldham has a special place in my heart

Photo: Darren Robinson

GUERNSEY government minister Mike O'Hara revisits his home town.

FROM humble roots on Holts Estate to becoming MP for Culture, Leisure and Sport in Guernsey, Mike O’Hara has led an interesting life.

The 59-year-old moved to Guernsey after falling in love with a local girl in 1972 and he’s never looked back.

But Oldham will always hold a special place in Mike’s heart and he makes the journey back to his home town several times a year.

This year is the 65th anniversary of Liberation Day which marks Guernsey’s freedom at the end of the Second World War.

Mike is in charge of the celebrations on May 9 when the sea front will host a series of events.

He spoke to reporter DAWN MARSDEN about his role as an MP, his memories of Oldham and his plans for Liberation Day.

Mike O’Hara moved away from Oldham after meeting his wife-to-be Teresa on a trip to Guernsey in 1972.

It was love at first sight so Mike packed his bags and waved goodbye to his home town.

Fast forward 38 years and Mike is still loving his life in Guernsey and the couple have two children — Danny (34) and Sinead (31) as well as grandson Albie.

Mike was chairman of a school for dyslexic children in Guernsey when he decided he wanted to do more to help people so he got involved with politics and was elected as an MP in 2000.

He is now Minister for Culture, Leisure and Sport with a huge portfolio of responsibilities.
This year, Mike’s main task is organising events for the 65th anniversary of Liberation Day in May.

The day is a national holiday in Guernsey and 25,000 people are expected to take part in the celebrations.

Mike said: “Liberation Day is always a huge event with the entire sea front being closed to host the fun.”

There will be a cavalcade of floats and vehicles from all over the island, a grand ball for the armed forces and a tea dance hosted by Specsavers which has its headquarters on the island.

Welsh opera singer Kathryn Jenkins will visit to lead a war time-style sing-song and there will be a Liberation rock concert.

Mike added: “It really does bring the community together and marks a very important time in Guernsey’s history.”

School children were evacuated from Guernsey in 1940 when German troops invaded with many of the youngsters being taken in by Oldham families.

A special school was set up within Hulme Grammar and another at Hollins Central School. The evacuees became known as The Guernsey Boys.

When the island was liberated five years later, the children returned home but many kept in touch with the families that had taken them in during the war.

Pupils from Hulme Grammar travelled to Guernsey last year to take part in a football match against teams from the island.

Old Guernsey Boys, who are now pensioners, came to the match and watched from the sidelines.

Mike, who expects some Oldhamers to visit Guernsey for Liberation Day, said: “Relations between Guernsey and Lancashire — where many evacuees were sent — have remained very strong.

“Evacuated children have kept in touch with the families that looked after them and remembered the towns and cities they stayed in.

“If you look at property around Guernsey you will see houses with names such as Rochdale or Belle Vue.

“It was a very tough time for parents in Guernsey as they had to send their children away, unsure of where they were going and then they didn’t see them for five years. It is unimaginable.”

Mike says he would recommend life in Guernsey to anyone thanks to the low levels of crime and strong community spirit.

He said: “The weather is certainly nicer than Oldham, that’s for sure!

“It is a very family orientated place. I have now spent more time living in Guernsey than I did in Oldham.

“There are lot of Lancashire people living in Guernsey and I do meet the odd Oldhamer — it’s always nice to hear the accent.

“I often wonder what my life would have been like if I had stayed in Oldham but I don’t think I would move back to Oldham now as my whole life is in Guernsey.

“I love to visit and my wife enjoys coming to Oldham. The people of Guernsey remind me of the people in Oldham an awful lot.

“They are both very genuine and I can see why relations have stayed strong between the two places.

“There is hardly any crime in Guernsey as there are only 65,000 residents on the island.

“I still have family and many friends in Oldham and I love visiting all my favourite pubs when I come back.

It’s always nice to catch up with the town.”