15th December 1994
Jersey-born Commissioner of Singapore dies
Arthur de la Mare was born in St John and educated at Victoria College and Cambridge. After joining the Foreign Service in 1936 he served in both the US and Far East. He was acting vice consul in Seoul before turning 30, ambassador to Afghanistan by the age of 49, then High Commissioner of Singapore and, later, Thailand, between 1968 and 1973.
The posting to Singapore was singularly important as, in that role, he oversaw the country gaining independence from Britain, and the handing over of Britain’s bases in the territory to local forces.
Upon retiring to Jersey in 1991, de la Mere, who was raised speaking Jèrriais, wrote a monthly column in the language for the Jersey Evening Post. He died in 1994.
FREE Jersey history newsletter
Don't miss our weekly update on Jersey's fascinating history. We promise never to sell your data to anyone else, and there's a super-easy unsubscribe link on the bottom of each email so you can leave whenever you want.
Other events that occured in December
Who owns Minquiers, Britain asks International Court
- Britain and France asked the International Court to rule on who was the official owner of Minquiers, the reef close to Jersey.
- Read more…
Jersey holds its first election by secret ballot
- In 1891 Jersey held its first. Centenier election in which elector’s votes were private. The law introducing secret ballots was passed ten months earlier
- Read more…
Christmas Eve plane crash at Jersey Airport
- A plane crashed at Jersey Airport on Christmas Eve when one of its wing tips touched the runway as it came down to land.
- Read more…
Last ever episode of Bergerac is broadcast
- The BBC's long running Jersey-set detective drama series, Bergerac, finally drew to a close on Boxing Day 1991.
- Read more…