Another Famous Guernsey Son

Sir Donald Banks
Donald Banks was born in Guernsey and educated at Elizabeth College. He had a distinguished military career in WW1 and in WW2 was Director General of the innovative Petroleum Warfare dept.

Sir Donald was concerned with the welfare of his fellow islanders exiled as a result of the German occupation of the Channel Islands, and was in constant touch with the Home Office and Civil Servants responsible for the welfare of evacueesHe was instrumental in the founding of the Guernsey Society in 1943, as well as the publication of Nos Iles by the Channel Islands Study Group, following a Symposium in Oxford in 1944 

But his peacetime career was in the Civil Service where he became the first Director General of the Post Office in 1934, where he was responsible for the introduction of the emergency service '999', as well as the speaking clock ('TIM'). He was knighted in the New Years’ Honours List of 1935.

When I was first told Sir Donald’s story I was told he was born above the shop which is now the mobile phone shop of Airtel Vodaphone which I thought was so appropriate for a man so involved with early innovations in the telephone industry. But when I checked the information I found that he was actually born at 43 High Street which is the building next door that is now Schuh. Airtel Vodaphone is at No 45. Much as I don’t like to let the truth stand in the way of a good story I have to tell this one correctly because a Blue Plaque will soon be put on the building; hopefully the correct building!