15th February 1903

Joshua Falle, Jurat of the Royal Court, dies

Had Joshua Falle lived another year, he would have given 40 years’ service to the Jersey States in various capacities. He was elected a Deputy in 1864 and, subsequently, mayor of St Helier. In 1874 he was elected jurat. Falle’s eye was always on tradition and the preservation of Jersey’s culture and autonomy from the mainland.

Despite this, his son, Bertram Falle, 1st Baron Portsea, was elected the member of Parliament for Portsmouth in 1910, after qualifying to practice law in Paris and serving in the Egyptian courts. Bertram never forgot where his roots lay, though, and upon his death a bequest of £17,000 was made – the Lord Portsea Gift Fund – to support Channel Islanders needing training or equipment for the furtherance of their careers.