Michel Couriard

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

Biography

He trained and initially worked as an electrician. After several years of voluntary service with the Jersey Youth Service, he later took up a post with the Department of Education.

He was one of Jersey's torchbearers in the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay.[1][2]

In 2013, he sat for the People's Choice portrait by royal portrait painter Christian Furr.[3][4] The portrait is displayed at the Jersey Heritage Jersey Museum and Art Gallery.

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

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]

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.

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]

References

  1. ^ "Mitch's nomination story". Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Olympic torch relay celebrations « This Is Jersey". Thisisjersey.com. 15 July 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ [1] Mitch Couriard and Christian Furr at the Jersey Heritage Museum and Art Gallery in 2013
  4. ^ [2] 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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