Michel Couriard

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

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.

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 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
  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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