Michel Couriard

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Michel "Mitch" Couriard MBE (20 December 1953 – 23 October 2015) was a Jersey vingtenier and civil servant.

Order of the British Empire British order of chivalry

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established on 4 June 1917 by King George V and comprises five classes across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two of which make the recipient either a knight if male or dame if female. There is also the related British Empire Medal, whose recipients are affiliated with, but not members of, the order.

Jersey British Crown Dependency

Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey, is a Crown dependency located near the coast of Normandy, France. It is the second closest of the Channel Islands to France, after Alderney.

Honorary Police

There is an Honorary Police force in each of the 12 parishes of Jersey. Members of the Honorary Police are elected by the voters of the parish in which they serve, and are unpaid.

Contents

Biography

He originally qualified as an electrician, but after a number of years of voluntary service with the Jersey Youth Service and took a position at the Department of Education.

He was one of Jersey's torchbearers in the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay. [1] [2] He was painted for the Peoples Choice portrait in 2013 by royal portrait painter Christian Furr [3] Mitch's portrait [4] hangs in the Jersey Heritage Jersey Museum and Art Gallery.

2012 Summer Olympics torch relay

The 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay was run from 19 May until 27 July, prior to the London 2012 Summer Olympics. The torch bearer selection process was announced on 18 May 2011.

Christian Furr painter and artist

Christian Furr is an English painter. In 1995 he was commissioned to officially paint Queen Elizabeth II.

Jersey Heritage independent trust responsible for Jerseys major historic sites, museums, and public archives

Jersey Heritage is an independent trust in Jersey which is responsible for the island's major historic sites, museums, and public archives. It holds collections of artefacts, works of art, documents, specimens, and information relating to Jersey's history, culture, and environment.

On 18 August 2015, Mitch married his second wife Kaye Temple at Southampton Hospital. Couriard died of cancer, aged 61, at the Jersey Hospice on 23 October 2015. [5] [6] His funeral, which was held on 8 November 2015 at the Parish Church of St Helier, attracted hundreds of people.

Parish Church of St Helier church in the parish of Saint Helier, Jersey

The Parish Church of St Helier is the parish church of the parish of Saint Helier, Jersey. It is a Church of England church, one of the twelve 'Ancient Parish Churches' of Jersey, and serves as the Island's civic church and Pro-Cathedral.

Parish Municipality

Couriard was a member of the Honorary Police having been elected to serve as a vingtenier for the Vingtaine du Mont à l'Abbé in Saint Helier, Jersey. [7] He was also president of the Honorary Police Association. [8]

The Vingtaine du Mont à l'Abbé is one of six vingtaines of the Parish of Saint Helier in the Channel Island of Jersey.

Saint Helier Jersey parish

Saint Helier is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel. St Helier has a population of about 33,500, roughly 34.2% of the total population of Jersey, and is the capital of the Island. The urban area of the parish of St Helier makes up most of the largest town in Jersey, although some of the town area is situated in adjacent St Saviour, with suburbs sprawling into St Lawrence and St Clement. The greater part of St Helier is rural.

Couriard's "beat" includes Victoria Avenue, meaning that he is delegated to manage policing for the annual Battle of Flowers held in August - an event that continues to attract crowds of 10,000 or more. As such he was one of the most visible members of the island's Honorary Police.

Jersey Battle of Flowers carnival in the Channel Islands

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Member of the Order of the British Empire

He was awarded membership of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's birthday honours list of June 2002 jointly for his services as a civil servant and his honorary work. [9]

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References

  1. ↑ Mitch's nomination story
  2. ↑ "Olympic torch relay celebrations « This Is Jersey". Thisisjersey.com. 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
  3. ↑ Mitch Couriard and Christian Furr at the Jersey Heritage Museum and Art Gallery in 2013
  4. ↑ Portrait of Mitch Couriard by Christian Furr
  5. ↑ "Jersey's ex-honorary police president Mitch Couriard dies". BBC. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  6. ↑ "Honorary police officer Mitch Couriard dies, aged 61". ITV. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  7. ↑ St Helier Civil Administration Listing
  8. ↑ Honorary Police Association Website
  9. ↑ 2002 Birthday Honours List for Jersey
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