6th March 1902
Social Security pioneer Cyril Le Marquand is born
The imposing Cyril Le Marquand House, in Union Street, is the home of Jersey’s civil service, and with good reason: the man it was named after was elected to the States Assembly in 1948 and is responsible for setting up the island’s social security system to provide hospital treatment and pensions.
Le Marquand was born in 1902 and spent the Second World War on the mainland where he worked for the Ministry of Food. Upon his return to Jersey, after several years serving in the States, he was given responsibility for the island’s overall finances. He also argued to preserve the island’s autonomy when Britain joined the European Community – later the European Union – and was remembered through the creation of a scholarship upon his death on 27 February 1980.
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Other events that occured in March
Theatre Royal and Opera House burns down
- Fire broke out at Jersey's Theatre Royal and Opera House in March 1899 and 40 minutes later it brought down the roof.
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Jersey rewrites its inheritance laws
- Prior to 2010, Jersey women got a raw deal when their spouses died, being entitled in law to only a third of their husband’s estate.
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States of Jersey authorises construction of the Eastern Railway
- Jersey's Eastern Railway was build in stages after its construction was authorised by the States in March 1871.
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Jersey Railway services restart
- Jersey once had a railway running the length of the south coast, from Corbière to Gorey Pier. It was later amalgamated with its rival.
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