Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2006 | Page 24

PROPERTY

High Sheriff’s strong
Island roots

John Hannam talks to the Queen’s
legal representative on the IW …
who also happens to be a third
generation medical professional here.

Peter relaxing at home
in the conservatory
with wife Davinia
Peter Grimaldi, our current
High Sheriff, has a fascinating
story that includes almost 30
years as the Island’s consultant
ear nose and throat surgeon,
a happy family life with his
wife Davinia and their three
daughters, a love of croquet
- and a connection to David
Niven.
He first came to the Island in
1947 when his father, Philip, was
appointed the Island’s consultant
ENT surgeon. Because he followed
in his father’s footsteps, next year
will be the 60th anniversary of a P.
Grimaldi being in this role.
The first Grimaldi family home
was Rose Cottage, Bembridge, which
became a regular viewing spot for
passing coaches. This surprised
the family, until they discovered

24

the reason for the tourists’ interest:
Hollywood legend David Niven had
spent many summers there, when
his mother owned the property.
Peter actually wrote to David
Niven in Switzerland for some
information on the cottage and got
a personal reply. Rose Cottage is
even mentioned in Niven’s wellpublicised book “The Moon’s A
Balloon.”
Peter’s maternal grandfather was
a GP in Ventnor, so it was no real
surprise that followed in the family
health care tradition. Quite recently
a patient of Peter’s told him that he
had been treated by both him and
his father - and been delivered by
his grandfather.
Since 1984, Tyne Hall in Bembridge
has been the Grimaldi family home.

Many years earlier, Peter had
visited the house to attend the High
Sheriff’s party for Denys Peel, the
previous owner. He could never
have anticipated that he would
live there himself one day, and be
honoured with the very same post.
This year he hosted the party.
Peter says he felt privileged to be
nominated by a former High Sheriff,
Anne Springman.
“You have three years to prepare.
If you want to do the job properly,
it does take that amount of time to
get organised. If you wait until the
actual year it’s virtually too late, as it
is soon over,” said Peter.
The office of High Sheriff has
existed in England for over 1000
years, spanning the reign of 40
monarchs. Here on the Island it’s

been just 33 years. We subsequently
obtained County status in 1974.
The High Sheriff is the Queen’s
representative in all matters relating
to law and order.
One of Peter’s main projects is to
help crack down on youth offending,
which is a major concern.
“We are aware that 90% of the
crime here is caused by a very small
proportion of the youth population.
If one can identify who these
potential and actual offenders are
and give them something useful to
do, it might be that we can reduce
youth offending.”
Enough money has been made
via the IW High Sheriff’s Initiative
to run courses for at-risk children,
aged between 13 and 17, at the
Island Youth Water Activity Centre,

Island Life - www.islandlifemagazine.net