Guernsey's Captain Le Lacheur Inspires Costa Rica Coffee Trade Film
A feature film proposal highlights Captain William Le Lacheur’s key role in launching Costa Rica’s coffee trade, celebrating Guernsey’s historic ties and cross-Atlantic collaboration.
In Guernsey, a potential feature film is taking shape around one of the island’s most enduring legends, Captain William Le Lacheur. The project aims to tell how his efforts helped Costa Rica develop its coffee industry and forge a lasting friendship between two nations.
New film focus and fundraising
Producer José Palma outlined that the narrative will center on Le Lacheur’s impact in Costa Rica and the collaboration between the two countries, emphasizing how Guernsey-built ships once connected London, Guernsey, and Costa Rica on a bustling trade route.
Palma also joined a fundraising drive led by The Guernsey Society to restore Le Lacheur’s memorial headstone in London’s Highgate Cemetery, noting the memorial’s deteriorating condition and the need for about £20,000 in restoration costs.
Le Lacheur’s enduring legacy
Palma highlighted how Le Lacheur’s Guernsey ships carried trade, ideas, and cultural exchange during the 1800s, years before coffee became a cornerstone of Costa Rica’s sovereignty. He noted that Le Lacheur’s efforts helped Costa Rican families and the export of coffee, which became central to the country’s independence.
The Guernsey Society underlined that Le Lacheur’s memorial is a vital cultural link, emphasizing the island’s duty to preserve this history for future generations. Keith Le Page, the society’s chair, described Le Lacheur as a visionary whose enterprise helped shape another nation’s future.
Officials say the Costa Rican connection to Guernsey’s history is a story still worth telling—one that reveals how small communities can influence global trade and identity.
Key Takeaways
- Le Lacheur’s work linked Guernsey and Costa Rica through shipping, commerce, and cultural exchange in the 19th century.
- The film project aims to highlight the Costa Rican perspective and the broader regional impact of his efforts.
- The Guernsey Society is fundraising to restore Le Lacheur’s Highgate Cemetery memorial, a key heritage link.
- Publicly funded history projects in Guernsey emphasize the island’s role in international trade and coffee’s emergence.
Expert comment
Dr. Elena Morales, a Costa Rican historian, notes that Le Lacheur’s work helped shape a pivotal era in Central American trade, demonstrating the power of cross-border diplomacy. His story offers a lens into how individual acts can influence national identity.
Summary
The proposed feature film reframes a Guernsey tale as a transatlantic narrative about trade, diplomacy, and coffee diplomacy. By centering Costa Rica’s narrative, the project seeks to illuminate a forgotten chapter of history and foster renewed appreciation for Guernsey’s heritage. The ongoing fundraising for Le Lacheur’s memorial underscores the island’s commitment to preserving its international legacy.
Key insight: Le Lacheur’s pioneering trade work bridged Guernsey and Costa Rica, helping shape a coffee empire and enduring cultural ties. BBC News
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