Milnes Laboratory

The Milnes Laboratory or ‘science block’ was opened in 1958 when demand for science teaching  became so great that lessons could no longer be accommodated in the cramped Ozanne Laboratory; more modern facilities were desperately needed, too. The building  was funded from the 1963 ‘Quatercentenary’ appeal plus a grant from the UK’s Industrial Fund. It was officially opened by the vice-chancellor of Southampton University, Dr David James. The building is named after the Rev WHG (Henry) Milnes, MC, OBE, MA.

Milnes was Principal throughout the College’s exile period in Derbyshire during the island’s German occupation. When the Channel Islands were liberated, he successfully re-established the College on its return home to Guernsey in 1945. In The Great War, Milnes was a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when his skilful flying enabled his gunner to destroy attacking German aircraft in the air. On his retirement, he was appointed OBE.