As it Happened: Jersey and Guernsey Live

A strike by ramp staff working at Jersey Airport for services company Swissport will start at 05:30 BST on Saturday.

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Quote Message: Industrial action by our Ramp staff is due to take place tomorrow and we have contingency plans in place so that no disruption to passengers is expected. from Spokesman Swissport

Industrial action by our Ramp staff is due to take place tomorrow and we have contingency plans in place so that no disruption to passengers is expected.

BBC Radio Jersey reporter, Mike Weir, has been following HRH Prince Edward around the island on day two of his visit to the Channel Islands.

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Scores of the island's students got to meet him. 

But it was mainly a celebration of their efforts in achieving Duke of Edinburgh's (DofE) Awards in the scheme set up by Prince Edward's father, Prince Phillip.

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The trip culminated in the presentation of six Gold DofE Awards to six very pleased young islanders.

Prince Edward wished thanked them for their contribution to a scheme that's now been challenging young people to push themselves further and harder for 60 years.

A Guernsey deputy has spoken out against a possible u-turn to scrap 11+ education.

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In March States members agreed to turn to a three school system. But the committee for Education, Sport and Culture announced yesterday it will debated again in November.

"This confusion and lack of clarity about what to do has meant that, in terms of structuring the future of secondary education, the first few months of this term have been wasted, which is unacceptable," says Deputy Matt Fallaize 

The nominations for the Vale by election have closed and four people have put themselves forward to take over the seat in the States of Guernsey.

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The by-election was called after Dave Jones died in July and will take place on 19 October.

The candidates are: Neil Inder, Garry Collins, Richard Lowe and Simon De La Mare and will hold the seat until the next election in 2020.

Jersey Reds and Nottingham will both be hoping to get back to winning ways tonight, with the Reds boosted by the return of captain James Freeman. 

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Sam Katz stood out in pre-season and gets his league debut tonight at fly-half.

It should be a wonderful atmosphere at St Peter for the first night game under the newly upgraded floodlights. 

Kick off is at 19:45 with live commentary on BBC Radio Jersey.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer.

Dr Lesley Dick, the former Executive Director of the European Association of Zoos (2008-2014), has been chosen from an international shortlist for the role, which begins in October.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustCopyright: Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

"The search was extensive and attracted interest from around the world. Trustees were unanimous in their decision to appoint Lesley. She displayed the crucial mix of qualifications and experience", said Phillip Callow, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Durrell Wildlife Park in Trinity was founded by the late Gerald Durrell tosave species from extinction.

BBC Introducing in Guernsey launched exactly eight years ago with its first two-hour show of new music from around the islands.

That first show featured an interview with About An Hour, who were playing the following month's Rock of Ages show at Guernsey's Performing Arts Centre.

Since then BBC Introducing Guernsey has taken bands and musicians to Abbey Road and Maida Vale Studios, and seen performers grace the BBC Introducing Stage at both Glastonbury and the Reading & Leeds Festivals.

You can hear our next show tomorrow 22:00, and if you're making music in the island's, you can upload it for a chance of getting heard not just in Guernsey, but around the rest of the international BBC Music network.

Guernsey's hockey players are ready for one of their biggest tests when they play in the EH Cup for the first time.

Peter CareyCopyright: Peter Carey

The island side, who have reached the final of the EH Trophy in each of the last five seasons, and won the title in two of the past three years, travel to play Sevenoaks, who are in the second tier of the English hockey league system.

"It's really time for us to step up and have that challenge at the top level," Guernsey coach Andy Whalley said. "We don't play in a league, so we don't have that week in, week out ability to progress through the leagues and go higher up, the only way for us to do it is to enter the higher-level competition"

The sun is shining... and the dolphins have gone for a swim near Elizabeth Castle in St Helier.

Robert VineyCopyright: Robert Viney

BBC Radio Jersey listener, Robert Viney, sent us this amazing picture for our Local Live page.

Happy Friday!

Tonight on the show i'm combining two of my favourite things: David Bowie and art!

I've been speaking to local artist, Iain Alexander, who is selling Bowie-inspired art at the Jersey Hospice charity auction.

Tune in from 16:00 - 19:00 on BBC Radio Jersey.

A tax on health care in Jersey could be avoided, says a scrutiny panel.

The council of ministers new spending plan wants to cover rising health costs by charging people extra from their monthly income.

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But the Corporate Services panel says the States could save £35m a year by taking money back from departments which are not fully staffed.

"Departments have an average vacancy rate of 13% of jobs - and are still getting paid for positions which aren't occupied", says Deputy John Le Fondre. 

The Air Accident Investigation Branch has investigated the flight from Jersey to Guernsey on 26 January and its report said there were a number of issues.

HRH the Earl of Wessex has unveiled a plaque at St James Youth Centre in front of a crowd of 100 people. 

He had a tour around the Jersey Youth Arts Radio Station and met a drama group.

The top headlines on BBC Radio Guernsey:

• Financial regulators in Jersey and Guernsey are investigating how investors in the Channel Islands were caught out by an investment fund that's collapsed
• The family of Guernsey woman, Sarah Groves - who was found dead on a houseboat in Kashmir - has responded to a court verdict that has cleared two men over the death of a British teenager in Goa
• Mark Le Tissier's been named as the new Chairman of Guernsey Football Club

Here is a fun Friday fact for you to muse over... 

"Last ditch" talks are being held at Jersey Airport this afternoon to try and stop a 24 hour walkout by ground handling staff. 

Swissport ramp staff are due to strike tomorrow over an ongoing pay dispute on, what Jersey Airport says will be, a busy day for passengers. 

Jersey AirportCopyright: Jersey Airport

The union Unite wants new pay terms to reflect the company's "financial recovery." Representative, Nick Corbel, says a revised offer from Swissport has been "turned down" and if talks fail the walk out will go ahead.

"Contingency plans are in place to ensure all operations and passenger services remain unaffected", says Swissport. Check-in and ground staff are not involved in the dispute.

People in Jersey are taking part in the island's first ever plankathon.

We are LIVE from St Helier covering the event on BBC Radio Jersey's Charlie McArdle show.

Tomorrow night BBC Introducing Guernsey is back with two hours of new music from around the Bailiwick.

Following a busy summer, Citizen-X will be in session, we'll have a look back at the Vale Earth Fair, and we'll have a look ahead to some great new music being released in the coming weeks, including The Secret Smiles, Brunt, Burning At Both Ends and more.

That's all on BBC Introducing Guernsey with me Tom Girard, tomorrow at 20:00.

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