On Saturday 1st November a sold-out fund-raising celebration dinner, with 150 guests, was held at the OGH Hotel in aid of the Victor Hugo Centre. At the dinner our chair, Larry Malcic, was able to announce that the Centre had received donations and pledges totalling £6.5million towards the creation of the Centre. This amount represents nearly 90 per cent of the build and fit out costs, and approximately 70 per cent of our ultimate fund-raising aims.

The dinner was entitled Victor Hugo Returns, linking the arrival 170 years ago of Victor Hugo in Guernsey to begin his 15 year exile and the unveiling at the dinner of a bust of Victor Hugo as he was in 1855 aged 53.
The Centre had especially commissioned the internationally renowned sculptor and former fashion designer Nicole Farhi CBE MRSS to create the bust, which Farhi has generously donated to the Centre. She was the guest of honour at the dinner, together with her husband, the award-winning playwright Sir David Hare. 

Nicole Farhi said: ‘It seems such a good omen that when I had finished my Miscarriages of Justice exhibition, my next project was Victor Hugo, who was a pioneering advocate for change, and meant so much to me as I was born in France.’
Larry Malcic, in his speech, thanked Nicole for her generous donation to the Centre and added: ‘The funds we have raised so far are a true testament of the support that the Centre has and a recognition of the benefits it will bring to Guernsey for generations to come, educating and informing islanders and an international audience about Victor Hugo and what he inspires in terms of creativity and human advancement.’  

Other honoured guests included the Lieutenant-Governor, His Excellency Sir Richard Cripwell and Lady Cripwell, the Bailiff Sir Richard MacMahon, the Chief Minister, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez and the great-great-grandson of Victor Hugo, Jean-Baptiste Hugo.

During the evening GADOC performed, to great acclaim by the guests, three sets of songs from the musical Les Misérables.

The evening ended with bidding for five specially chosen items, ably auctioned by Martel Maides auctioneer Guy Cooper, which raised over £20,000 for the Centre. 

This dinner marks the high point of what has been a very successful year for the Victor Hugo Centre in which we have gained considerable momentum. This, of course, only comes about through the support of islanders who are keenly aware of the benefits that such a centre will bring, not only in stimulating the creativity and imagination of our young people, but also adding to the cultural and social life of the island, attracting international recognition for the island in terms of visitors and reputational profile, and revitalising a prominent St Peter Port building and harbour front area.    

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