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You’ve probably watched him on the TV, read his articles, followed him on social media… and now you can hear him on the radio!
After seven years as a reporter for ITV Channel, Gary Burgess has moved away from the television cameras and gone behind the radio desk as Channel 103’s newest breakfast show presenter.
But it’s only a temporary position that he’s taken on for six weeks, after deciding to become a freelance to enjoy the 'pick n mix' adventures that come with it – a decision prompted by another life-changing moment when he married his partner Alan last month.
Following his first week of early starts to entertain islanders on the airwaves, Gary told us five things that do not entertain him…
I know we all love a good moan, and there are days when even an optimist's glass is half empty, but I do think we should all stop and breathe in all that's good about Jersey. The doom and gloom mongers would have you believe this little rock is hell on earth, when in reality it's a beautiful and safe place to live.
Pictured: Gary hopes more people will be more positive about island life.
As the weather improves, let's all make an effort to see the good in this island and talk it up to friends, family and even strangers.
A small number of us will cast our votes in the General Election the week after next, shepherding in the class of 2018 to represent us in the States. The whole political machine is - in my mind - unnecessarily complicated, with Senators, Deputies and Constables but, that aside, it's also a system that encourages indecision.
Pictured: Gary hopes the next States Assembly will have politicians who are not afraid to make difficult decisions, rather than go with the popular vote.
We see major decisions, such as the need to build a new hospital, drag on for months and years, with bills being inevitably racked up along the way. There's a tendency for vocal minorities to hold too much sway, and for decisions to be pushed off course or kicked into the long grass. Those elected need to remember their job is to make the difficult decisions, rather than just popular ones.
I've been on my hobby horse about this one before, but it's a campaign I think warrants more airtime. In a nutshell, if a driver isn't able to correctly navigate the incredibly simple-to-fathom mini roundabout at the top of Beaumont Hill, they should not be allowed to drive.
Pictured: Drivers who can't navigate their way around a roundabout make Gary's blood boil. (Google Maps)
It's harsh, it's regressive, and I think it's necessary. I'm an easy-going guy, but watching ditherers lack the basic understanding of manoeuvring a simple junction makes my blood boil.
Banning the ditherers helps me with my next objective, and that's to reduce the number of vehicles on the island's roads. Rush hour is getting worse by the month, and those peak time queues along the Avenue are now commonplace at other times of day.
Pictured: Gary believe's there is a car obsession in the island, and would like more people - including himself - to use the bus or cycle more to unsnarl roads.
I'm sure the answer involves both carrot and stick, but if we can find a way to convince more of us (including me) to use the bus or go by bike it would be good for our health and wellbeing, unsnarl those roads, and - I suspect - make Jersey a nicer place for everyone.
Oh my word, we love to gossip! I lived in Guernsey for nine years. The rumour mill there is quite extraordinary. The number of times I heard things about myself that were patently untrue was surprising. But it's not much different in Jersey. Rumours gather pace at lightning speed. Rumours about politicians. Rumours about businesses. Rumours about people. And, because rumours are usually more interesting than the truth, they get shared across social media in moments while the boring reality - once it emerges - often fails to see the light of day.
Pictured: Gary says too many facts are getting lost in the current 'fake news' world we are experiencing.
In this 'fake news' world it's one reason why I cherish my trade of journalism. I don't think there's ever been a better time to work in trade whose job is to sort the wheat from the chaff. Yes there's room for so-called citizen journalists, and there are some brilliant blog sites, but they all too often ride roughshod over facts, magnify speculation, and treat opinion as face.
Next time you hear of something that's too good to be true... it probably is!
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