As Guernsey’s leading building contractor Rihoy & Son plays an active role in the local community. As well as sponsoring grass-roots football and making donations to worthy causes, the construction firm can often be seen lending a helping hand around the Bailiwick.
This summer Rihoy & Son responded to an ‘SOS call’ from the Guernsey branch of the British Red Cross. Bad weather threatened the success of their annual summer fête and they were shorthanded for the event set-up, which included a large marquee and stalls.
Rihoy & Son responded to a last-minute call for help and sent four employees along to the grounds of Government House. The team had the large marquee set up in the nick of time, just as a hailstorm hit. Their hard work literally saved the day as the tea tent is the fête’s primary fundraising source.
The tables, chairs and stalls were also set up by Rihoy & Son’s men, who were back the next day to take it all down and return the items across the island.
‘We simply couldn’t have done it without them. They were incredibly efficient and their hard work saved everything from getting soaked in the storm,’ says Jane Moorshead, charity coordinator at the British Red Cross, Guernsey branch.
The event raised £8,500, all of which will be benefit local people in need this winter.
More Rihoy & Son manpower was given to help the construction of the new playground at Saumarez Park. Over the course of a week, four builders put in the foundations for the rock fort, children’s swings and giraffe swing and the team also erected the swings themselves.
In addition, the tradesmen helped out the specialist team who had travelled from Norway to construct the huge pirate ship, which is sure to be a big hit with children once the playground is opened later this month.
The pirate ship is 95ft long and 20ft high, with frames, nets, chutes and poles for climbing. This, along with the swings, lighthouse, slides, climbing boulders, rotary supernova and a new zip wire, makes up phase one of the building project.
‘This has been a big community effort, with lots of organisations and individuals helping out,’ Says Gavin Rihoy. ‘We were delighted to be able to do our bit and contribute to what will be a superb facility for the children of Guernsey.’
Sarah Winsall, one of the directors of the Saumarez Park Playground Appeal, agrees: ‘Without the contribution of contractors like Rihoy & Son we would have found it very hard to reach this stage of the project. Having manpower given to us is as important as financial contributions and we’re lucky to have so many community-minded businesses on the island.’
Posted: 15 September 2014