FORMER Senator Ralph Vibert, OBE, who has died aged 97, will be remembered as the chief architect of Jersey’s unique relationship with the European Union and a States Member of extraordinary stature who did much to shape
the Island’s fortunes through the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
A distinguished politician, lawyer and churchman who might have risen to become Bailiff had events taken a slightly different turn, he had a keen mind which served the Island well at a crucial turning point in its fortunes. He was president of the Constitutional and Common Market Committee during the delicate negotiations which ensured the Island’s independence following Britain’s entry into what was then called the European Economic Community and is now the European Union.
Born at First Tower in 1911, the eldest son of Thomas and Florence Vibert, who ran Martello Stores, Ralph Vibert showed early signs of the intellectual prowess which was to distinguish him in later life.
From Mrs Le Brun’s school at First Tower he won a St Mannelier open scholarship to Victoria College, where he became head prefect in 1930, as well as captain of football. However, having failed the Oxford entrance examination – because, he was sure, he chose to study classics rather than the modern languages at which he excelled – he began work in Hill Street as private secretary to the Attorney General of the day, Alexander Coutanche, who later became Bailiff and was then ennobled as Lord Coutanche in recognition of his leadership during the Occupation.
Bent on progress in spite of having missed a university education, Mr Vibert read for his Bar examinations in the evenings after work. He was sworn in as an Advocate in 1934 to begin a career which was soon to be interrupted by the Second World War, during which he served as an instructor with the Special Operations Executive in England and India, retiring with the rank of major.
After war service he was appointed Solicitor General for Jersey in 1948 and might have followed his former employer to the office of Bailiff, but he resigned in June 1955 after disagreements with the Attorney-General of the day, Cecil Harrison. He then retuned to private law practice in partnership with his brother, Advocate Vivian Vibert. His other brother, Denis, will be remembered for a daring escape from occupied Jersey in an eight-foot boat which he navigated to the English south coast.
Ralph Vibert’s political career began in 1957, when he was elected a Deputy for St Brelade, the parish to which he had moved with his wife Muriel (née Le Gros), whom he had married in 1939, and their children. They eventually made their home at La Fontaine in Route du Francfief, the house in which his wife had been brought up.
He became a Senator in 1959 and remained in that office until his retirement from politics in 1987. Until his retirement from the law in 1974, he was both Advocate and politician, never believing that the role of a Jersey Deputy or Senator amounted to a full-time job.
A man of firm religious convictions whose political judgment became internationally valued, as well as playing a major part in shaping affairs at home, Senator Vibert was president of the Defence Committee for many years, but went on to lead three important and complex committees simultaneously. These were ConCom – through which he secured special terms for the Channel Islands from what was then the Common Market – Legislation and Establishment.
And it was to Senator Vibert that the States Assembly turned in a time of crisis when, following the death in office of Senator Cyril Le Marquand, the Island was left without a ‘chancellor’ to guide its economy. Senator Le Marquand had been president of the Finance and Economics Committee for 23 years, building Jersey’s financial well-being and reputation, and there was a clear need for stability and continuity.
Several names were put forward, but in the end Senator Vibert, who had become Father of the House and its most senior Member, was elected unopposed to this highly influential position in Island politics, reflecting the trust placed in him by his colleagues in the States and the Island at large.
His statesmanship and contributions to political life at home and overseas had already been recognised in 1977, when he was made an OBE. When Members voted, they were no doubt conscious that the Senator had already served successfully as president of Defence, Legislation, Constitution and Common Market, Industrial Relations, and Establishment. It was also fitting that he eventually became president of the Policy and Resources Committee – a post that was once the most powerful in Island government.
As president of Defence he was proud to see the introduction of a traffic rule, the filter-in turn, which can be considered as one of the great successes of Island traffic management. He also played a major behind-the-scenes role in preventing the closure of the Jersey Motor Transport, the Island’s bus company before the advent of Connex.
In the aftermath of the Falklands War in 1982 he successfully proposed that Jersey should donate £5 million to help in the regeneration of the Falklands, arguing that the South Atlantic community had much in common with Jersey, both places having suffered enemy occupation. He was, however, less successful in saying that the Island’s defence contribution, requested by the UK Home Secretary in 1984, should be funding for a minesweeper, the States ultimately opting for the creation of the Jersey Field Squadron.
When president of Finance and Economics, he also found time to chair the Working Party on Need, meeting recipients of welfare in person to assess whether payments were being pitched at the correct level. Meanwhile, his extensive travelling, much of it under the auspices of the Moral Rearmament movement, the Christian revivalist organisation founded by Frank Buchman, included active involvement in trying to solve the problems of Southern Africa. He also played a part in the processes leading to the creation of Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia.
A noted orator and debater, Mr Vibert also took an active part in church and community affairs. He was for many years secretary to the Jersey Decanal Synod, he served as president of the Jersey Council of Churches and his community work included the chairmanship of the funding trustees of the Communicare Centre.
He and his first wife Muriel, who predeceased him, had a son, John, and four daughters, Mary, Susan, Katherine and Marguerite. He remarried in 2000 to Christine (née Heslop), to whom, with all other members of Mr Vibert’s family and many friends, the JEP extends its sympathy.nextpage
Left: With his brother Bob (on the left) in the Dogra Regiment in 1944
