Car sharing encouraged for Roger Perrot's funeral

Friday 15 March 2019

With hundreds of people expected to pay their respects to Roger Perrot, those attending his funeral are urged to consider how they'll get there.

The service is being held at St Saviour's Parish Church at midday today, Friday 15 March.

The well respected lawyer passed away earlier this month, less than a year after his beloved partner Caroline Williams.

Mr Perrot was a popular man, known for his intellect and humour, which had been acknowledged during his long legal career and also during his two stints as a States member.

With so many friends, Mr Perrot's funeral is expected to be busy with the States' Traffic and Highways Services team offering advice to those attending. 

They've said there will be parking at Les Buttes and at the top of Le Neuf Chemin Road, but Le Neuf Chemin will be no-entry to vehicles coming up the road at the junction of the Rue a la Terre. The Rue a la Terre will be one-way temporarily from Le Neuf Chemin to La Grande Lande between 10:30 and 15:00.

They've also asked people to consider using the buses or car sharing. 

Mr Perrot's close friend Dick Ridout was among the first to pay tribute to Mr Perrot in the days after his death, with the Ridout family firm, Wheeler Developments, sharing a message on social media, remembering the fun side of the intelligent man.

The former Deputy was known to be a constitutional expert and had been involved in previous calls for Guernsey to move towards full independence, cutting political ties with Westminster entirely. 

He most recently served in the States between 2012 and 2016, being vocal about his frustrations with the way the machinery of Government had changed, meaning progress is often slow. 

Political peer, Deputy Gavin St Pier, led tributes to Mr Perrot from the States, remembering his sense of humour. 

His memories were echoed by others, including fellow lawyer turned politcian Deputy Chris Green, who also said; "he had such a good mind."

Mr Perrot's last political efforts concerned the referendum on island wide voting in 2018. He was on the side of Option C which lended itself to the Guernsey's former Conseiller system with some States members elected island wide and some on a district basis. Mr Perrot had served the States under the previous system of Government as well as under the current system.

As well as his political career, Mr Perrot was an esteemed lawyer, rising to Senior Partner at Ozannes. Former colleagues have remembered him as a kind gentleman who made the time to talk to everyone he could.

He has also been remembered by fellow pupils of his former school, Elizabeth College. The College's Old Elizbethan Association shared a tribute with its members, based on the sentiments of Bruce Parker, a close friend of Mr Perrot's and Chairman of the College Foundation and Gibson Fleming Trust. 

Above: The tribute shared with members of the Old Elizabethan Association. 

Among those paying tribute was photographer Chris George who took the above image of Mr Perrot. He remembered the popular lawyer and politician's "acerbic wit and dry sense of humour".

Mr George also commented at the time, "what a sad weekend it's been", referencing the death of fellow politician Francis Quin, who passed away over the same weekend. 

Pictured top: Roger Perrot. Picture courtesy of Chris George.