New Commons Council president is elected

New VCC president André Quevâtre at Rosemary Henry's retirement ceremony

The Vale Commons Council has a new president following long-serving member Rosemary Henry's decision to stand down after more than 30 years dedicated service to the council and helping to maintain L'Ancresse Common.

Mr Quevâtre's appointment as Ms Henry's successor was confirmed by the council at its first meeting of 2026, when Nigel Leale was elected as vice president and new member and Vale douzenier Terry Ashworth was welcomed to the team. 

At an earlier meeting, Mr Quevâtre paid tribute to Ms Henry's near-31 years' membership of the council, which is responsible under ancient Ordinances for the management of L'Ancresse Common, the largest area of land available for recreation and open to the public, comprising approximately 740 vergees or more than 300 acres.

He said that her knowledge of the Commons and the way the council and the law worked was unrivalled and he hoped the council could draw on it after her retirement.

Ms Henry said that she would be happy to help as required and acknowledged that much of what made the Commons and the council work wasn't written down and "was in her head", but would happily be made freely available if required!

On behalf of council members and Les Habitànts du Clos du Valle – as people living within the area of Guernsey north of the Braye du Valle are known – Mr Quevâtre presented Ms Henry with a particularly appropriate gift – a silver loophole tower modelled on those on the Common and which is used in the VCC's official logo.