Laurie Morgan: a tribute

Monday 22 January 2018

The Bailiff announced the death of former Deputy and Conseiller Laurie Morgan at the start of Friday's States meeting.

Mr Morgan was born in London on 17 December 1930. His career took him from the motor trade, to finance, to the States of Guernsey.

Mr Morgan worked for Shell and locally in the motor trade, before he joined the local office of Ansbacher. He later served as President of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce between 1977 and 1979 and as Vice-Chairman of the Association of Guernsey Banks from 1987 to 1988. 

In his tribute, the Bailiff, Sir Richard Collas, said he recalled Mr Morgan being a spokesperson on behalf of the financial services industry: "We often hear calls for more businessmen to stand for the States and to bring into the government of this island their commercial and professional skills and expertise.  Well, he is one businessman who did exactly that."

Mr Morgan's path to political life was boosted when he joined the Post Office Board as a non-States member in 1982. Later that decade he was elected as a People's Deputy for St Peter Port, in June 1988. In 1991 he was elected to the island-wide role of Conseiller, by the States of Election before being re-elected Conseiller in 1994 in the first island wide election. 

Amongst other roles, he served on the Police Committee (later Home Affairs); the Insurance Authority (later the Social Security Authority), with six years as its President; the Appointments Board and the Island Reception Committee.

Sir Richard Collas continued in his tribute to Mr Morgan: "He will be best remembered for his service on the senior political committee of the day. He was elected a member of the Advisory and Finance Committee in 1991, serving with the late Peter Morgan to whom we paid tribute only last month.

"Laurie was at the helm so to speak when the changes to the machinery of government were introduced and implemented in 2004. The last ever President of Advisory and Finance became the island’s first Chief Minister following the 2004 election in which he was elected a Deputy for St Peter Port South."

Mr Morgan's wife, Wendy, was also a Deputy for St Peter Port and served as Deputy Minister for Education. She was with her husband when he passed away on Thursday 18 January. 

Other Deputies such as Mary Lowe paid tribute to Mr Morgan after his death was announced on Friday. Deputy Lowe had served with Mr Morgan in the States of Guernsey: "It's very sad, he was a lovely man, very gentleman-like and he gave the States so much of his time and effort.

"He always had a great deal of time for others as well - it was an honour to serve as a minister when he was Chief Minister. I have every sympathy for his family, and I have very happy memories of working with him." 

Deputy Peter Roffey was also in the States with Mr Morgan.

"Laurie Morgan had a restrained and gentlemanly style of politics which tended to disguise his undoubted ability to tackle difficult issues and show real resolution in pushing for what he believed was right for Guernsey," he said.

"Never was this better displayed than when, as president of the States’ Insurance Authority, he championed the setting up of Guernsey’s first compulsory Specialist Medical Care Insurance Scheme.  Together with then Health President, Bob Chilcott, he faced down a considerable public backlash in the form of the “my health – my choice” campaign.  His quiet but persuasive manner convinced public meeting after public meeting, as well as the States, that despite the vocal opposition this was a desirable and necessary step forward in Guernsey’s social policy.

"He was certainly proved right. I really, really liked him and my thoughts are with his family."