Select a region
Broadcaster and journalist Gary Burgess died on New Year's Day.
Gary was 46. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer in November 2020, and died this weekend at Jersey Hospice.
He is survived by his husband, Alan - in 2018, they became the first couple in Jersey to convert their civil partnership into marriage.
In a statement published today, Alan thanked well-wishers for "the positivity, warmth and support" which the couple received following Gary's diagnosis with terminal cancer in November 2020:
"I have to say thank you to the many well-wishers, be they friends, family, colleagues, ex-colleagues, viewers, radio listeners, blog readers or complete strangers, who have sent us their love and kind words since Gary received his terminal diagnosis in November 2020. At times we have both found the volume of messages to be almost overwhelming, but we were always thankful for the positivity, warmth and support shown to us both.
"I expect there will be many tributes made to Gary in the coming hours and days and I want to keep my words about him now as simple as I can. Through his career in journalism and broadcasting, Gary would have seen every variation of words describing someone's strength and bravery, their wit and humour, their kindness and generosity, their stubbornness and determination, their sense of mischief and their joy in life's simple pleasures. So, in an attempt to avoid cliché, I am just going to misquote a line of dialogue from the final episode of The West Wing, being one of Gary's favourite programmes and something said with love and pride by one spouse to the other.
"You did a lot of good, Gary. A lot of good."
Pictured: Gary Burgess with his husband, Alan.
Gary Burgess moved to Guernsey from Blackpool in 2003, and was a broadcaster at Island FM and BBC Radio Guernsey. He then moved into television with ITV, initially working from Guernsey and then, since 2012, from Jersey.
He also had a radio show on Channel 103 in Jersey and wrote a column for the Jersey Evening Post.
He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1999. A tumour was surgically removed and cancer which had spread to his chest and lungs required chemotherapy.
In 2015 and 2016, he had tumours surgically removed from his lungs.
In 2019, a new cluster of tumours was discovered in a lung and in his chest. He underwent three months of aggressive chemotherapy as part of a clinical trial.
In July 2020, a new tumour was discovered in a lung, and in October of that year further tumours were discovered. At this point, it was agreed that medical support should move from curative to palliative care.
Mr Burgess retired from full-time broadcasting in August 2021.
So sorry to hear of the passing of @GaryBurgessCI. His courage, wit and good humour were an inspiration to many. He will be greatly missed, my thoughts are with his family and friends.
— John Le Fondre (@John_Le_Fondre) January 2, 2022
The same month, he was awarded the Bailiff’s Silver Seal in recognition of his "contribution to island life".
The honour is given to those who have made a special contribution to the island, with previous recipients including the former Burgermeister of Bad Wurzach, and the pair behind the 1998 Friendship Agreement with Madeira, Mike Wavell and Gonçalo dos Santos.
Pictured: Gary was awarded the Bailiff’s Silver Seal in recognition of his "contribution to island life".
Macmillan Jersey also dedicated a room at their cancer support and wellbeing centre - The Oasis - in Gary's name.
33,625 was raised by generous Islanders earlier this year thanks to a fundraising page set up by Helen Clackett. Initially going to Gary himself – he later requested the funds go to Macmillan Jersey to continue providing cancer care in Jersey.
Before he died on New Year's Day, Gary wrote a message which he asked to be released following his death.
"I've had the best life. I've had the luckiest life," wrote Mr Burgess.
"I met my soul mate and the love of my life who went on to become my husband.
"I got to work with some of the most amazing people in newsrooms and studios doing the job I absolutely adore.
"And I've been able to share my own relatively short time on this planet surrounded by friends and loved ones who have enriched my life in ways they may never truly understand.
"Every person in my life has, in their own way, helped me live my best life.
That'll do."
Funeral arrangements, including a public service, will be announced shortly.
Bailiwick Express would like to extend its sincere condolences to Alan and to all of Gary's family.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.