29th December 2009
St Helier brought to a standstill by 600 mourners
When Jersey artist Ralph Elliott died aged just 47, his funeral procession brought St Helier to a standstill. As reported by the Jersey Evening Post in its obituary of 9 February 2010, “up to 600 mourners attended Ralph’s funeral at St Helier Methodist Centre.”
Elliott was born and raised in Jersey but studied art in London for several years before returning to the island in the 1990s. He staged several exhibitions during his lifetime, establishing his reputation. Following his death, a posthumous exhibition was staged at the Jersey Arts Centre’s Berni Gallery, which included some of his best works from previous shows.
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Other events that occured in December
Elizabeth Castle is bombed into submission
- Forces loyal to King Charles I held out for two months in Elizabeth Castle during the English Civil War, despite heavy bombardment.
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Jersey-born Commissioner of Singapore dies
- Jersey-born Arthur de la Mare was Commissioner of Singapore at the point the country gained its independence from Britain.
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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.
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Jersey elects first woman to States Assembly
- In 1948, Ivy Foster became the first woman elected to serve in Jersey's States Assembly, although she was not the first to try.
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