Jersey political campaigner marks 98 years

A Jersey political campaigner will be celebrating his 98th birthday in St Helier, the parish he has lived most of his life, at the town hall.

Emille Collins was born in 1912 in St Helier, lived through the Nazi occupation of Jersey and has been an active political campaigner for most of his life.

He first joined a political party in 1944, the Jersey Democratic Union, where a few brave individuals would meet at a house in Stopford Road, St Helier.

This was during the occupation when political activity was punishable by death.

A Jersey blogging group, known as Team Voice, commissioned a bronze bust of Mr Collins earlier this year to celebrate his life.

In a post at the time they said:

"We have chosen to commission this "one off" portrait because we want him recognised now and by future generations as one of the unsung people who have campaigned so that we all might enjoy the privileges of a democratic society."

Now, as he marks his 98th birthday the Parish of St Helier will be celebrating the life of one of its longest standing residents.

On Tuesday 21 September a small reception will be held at the Town Hall from 1pm where Constable Simon Crowcroft and guests will celebrate his life and unveil the bronze portrait commissioned by Team Voice.

The sculptor of the portrait was Alan Dun who said it was important to celebrate age and experience.

"To meet Emille in his advanced years is truly inspirational. At 97 his acuity and interest in the life of his community and its aspirations is amazing.

"For a sculptor, Emille is a wonderful subject, constantly animated with a mischievous sense of fun, beneath which lies a seriousness perhaps born from the many experiences of a long life.

"The sculpture was modelled in one session for which Emille sat patiently for over two hours, reminiscing about Jersey in past times as well as offering his views on contemporary life."

Emille was born in a house behind the Old England pub in St Helier on 21 September 1912.

He trained as a carpenter after finishing school and remained with the same business until retirement in 1977. He was a member of the local branch of the T&GW Union for woodworkers.

To this day he still has a lively interest in political issues, is 'member number 1' of the Jersey Democratic Alliance and is a regular caller to the BBC Jersey lunchtime phone-in.