Deserving of every honour

When the name of the person singled out for that honour was revealed, it will not have come as a great surprise to those who attended the award ceremony.

Indeed, very few Jersey individuals, past or present, have served our community do diligently or so well.

We are, of course, talking about Colin Powell, a man who for three decades was Economic Adviser to the States. To have functioned in that role for so long amounted to a considerable achievement, but it is the quality of the advice that was offered that singles out Mr Powell as a truly remarkable servant, not only of the States but also of the Island and Islanders.

Having assumed his advisory position in 1969, he quickly produced a detailed and authoritative survey of the Jersey economy, which at that time was dominated by tourism. However, with considerable insight, he realised that finance was the sector with a glowing future and went on to play a pivotal part in paving the way for its growth and a major surge in Island prosperity.

When Mr Powell retired as Economic Adviser in 1999, he could have been forgiven for resting on his laurels. Instead, he became chairman of the Jersey Financial Services Commission, serving until 2009, when he retired again.

But the word retired is grossly misleading. He has since continued to serve on international bodies such as the Offshore Group of Banking Supervisors and the OECD Global Forum’s Peer Review Group. And as if such responsibilities were not enough, he has continued to counsel the States as its international adviser.

On the strength of this record – not to mention his work for charity – it is easy to understand why the IoD decided to award the lifetime achievement accolade. But it is impossible to refer to Mr Powell without referring to his personal qualities, as well as his professional accomplishments. He is the personification of modesty and will wear this latest distinction as diffidently as the CBE conferred on him by the Queen.

The pleasure of working effectively has clearly been a major reward for this most loyal of public servants and he might well be embarrassed by this latest round of acclaim. That said, Islanders who know anything of his attainments and his manner will appreciate that he deserves each and every word of praise that he has received.