Island's first female doctor remembered with plaque

News imageBBC Four girls in year 9 and 10 stand in front of a white external wall with glass windows. There is a blue plaque on the wall behind them reading 'Dr Amelia Le Pelley' in white writing. Three of the girls have a forest green blazer on, all are wearing white shirts and smiling at the camera. BBC
The Ladies' College students Tabitha, Jeannie, Flora and Lily have been working to get the plaque in place for two years

Following a two-year campaign, four students have shared their excitement for the unveiling of a plaque commemorating Guernsey's first female doctor.

Dr Amelia Le Pelley attended the Ladies College in the 1880s, which was then located at what is now Queens Road Medical Practice, before completing a medical degree in London and returning to the island to practice in 1899.

Year 9 student Tabitha, and year 10 students Jeannie, Flora and Lily started the application process for the plaque in 2024 as part of a school history club.

The plaque is the 20th to be installed and head of culture and heritage services Helen Glencross welcomed other nominations for the blue plaque scheme.

News imageA blue ceramic plaque, whith a gold and red crest at the bottom, hangs on a white wall, on it in white writing reads "Guernsey Museums: Dr Amelia Le Pelley: 1869 - 1937: Guernsey's first practising female doctor Educated here at The Ladies' College."
Archive records show Dr Amelia Le Pelley lived in St Peters, and left the island eventually to work in Nottingham

Flora said knowing Le Pelley went to the same school as them was "inspiring".

"Even though opportunities for women were less than they are today, she helped us break barriers down for the island," she said.

Lily added they had learnt some fascinating information in their research.

"She's got quite a lot of rich heritage - her paternal grandfather was the seigneur of Sark and her maternal grandfather was a bailiff in Guernsey," she said.

Jeannie said it would have been great to ask the trailblazing woman some questions.

"To know what school was like for her, and what the teachers thought of her ambitions, and how she was perceived by local people in Guernsey," she said.

Tabitha added she would like to ask her about medicine as she would like to study it in the future: "I just find that really inspiring."

The plaque is due to be officially unveiled by Deputy Bailiff Jessica Roland at a public event at 13:00 BST.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.