Roger Perrot remembered

Tuesday 05 March 2019

Legal and political powerhouse Roger Perrot has died.

He passed away on Sunday night, peacefully, less than a year after his partner, Caroline Williams, also passed away.

His close friend Dick Ridout was among the first to pay tribute to Mr Perrot, with his 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. 

Very sorry indeed to learn of death of valued former colleague Deputy Roger Perrot. His acerbic wit and dry sense of humour always brought colour to the States of Deliberation and around the Treasury & Resources Department table, including once memorably comparing me to Nkrumah!

— Gavin St Pier (@gavinstpier) March 4, 2019

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.

Have just seen @gavinstpier 's tweet re the sad death of Roger Perrot, and echo his sentiments re Roger's acerbic wit & dry sense of humour. What a sad weekend it's been! #rip pic.twitter.com/VdXlhwDtAC

— Chris George (@GeorgieGuernsey) March 4, 2019

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 commented, "what a sad weekend it's been", referencing the death of fellow politician Francis Quin, who passed away over the weekend too. 

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