GOVERNMENT House turned back the years yesterday when four previous Lieutenant-Governors returned to the Island.

General Sir Peter Whiteley, Air Marshal Sir John Sutton, General Sir Michael Wilkes and Air Chief Marshal Sir John Cheshire were welcomed to the residence that they had all known as home by the current occupant, Lieutenant-Governor Lieutenant-General Andrew Ridgway.

It is thought to be the first time that anyone has arranged such an event and the four previous Governors all paid tribute to General Ridgway and the Bailiff for organising it.

‘This is a unique occasion,’ said Gen Ridgway. ‘Often these men don’t have time to visit the Island, so it was great to bring them all here together.’ With nearly 25 collective years of service among the five men present, including Gen Ridgway, there was much discussion about how much the Island had changed since each of their terms of office.

Pictured: Gen Sir Michael Wilkes and Lady Wilkes, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Cheshire and Lady Cheshire, Gen Andrew Ridgway and Mrs Ridgway, Gen Sir Peter Whiteley and Lady Whiteley, and Air Marshal Sir John Sutton and Lady Sutton