Guernsey
"Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear)

Words by: George Deighton
Music by: Domencio Santangelo
Adopted: 1911

Guernsey is a Crown dependency of the United Kingdom located in the English Channel off the cost of France; together with Jersey, they are known as the Channel Islands.

George Deighton wrote "Guernsey Dear" in 1911, after coming to the island to live, and asked Domencio Santangelo to set it to music. He soon composed the romantic waltz tune which was given the name "Sarnia Cherie", and was first performed in November of that year, in the theatre Deighton managed.

Over the years the demand for Sarnia Cherie steadily grew, especially among local people who sent copies to friends and relatives settled overseas. Its popularity increased during and after the last years of the war when the nostalgic tune stirred patriotic feelings and was adopted by expatriates as the Guernsey national anthem.

See also: United Kingdom.