- Two medical professionals and one charity honoured at Queen’s Birthday Levée
- 550 Islanders attended the free event at Government House on Friday night
- See a gallery of pictures from the event below
AN ISLAND charity and two Jersey medical professionals were recognised at the Queen’s Official Birthday Levée at Government House.
After a day of heavy rain, the clouds cleared and the sun shone right on cue at 6 pm on Friday, enabling the 550 Islanders who attended to enjoy the annual event in bright sunlight, although the ground was still damp underfoot.
In welcoming his guests after they had been entertained by La Ronde Concert Band, the Lieutenant-Governor, General Sir John McColl, likened guests’ determination to attend to the ‘Dunkirk spirit’ of carrying on regardless.
The monarch’s official birthday is celebrated in June in the British Isles and throughout the Commonwealth with the Queen’s Birthday Honours, and in London with Trooping the Colour.
This year, two members of Jersey’s medical profession – doctor Gari Purcell-Jones and dentist Jurat Paul Liddiard – were made Members of the Order of the British Empire.
Dr Purcell-Jones attended to be congratulated in person by Sir John.
As Jurat Liddiard was out of the Island, his son Tim and daughter Nicola Hollis represented him.
Mr Liddiard said: ‘When the Lieutenant-Governor read out a list of what father had done, it struck home to me just how busy he has been in the last few years – and he shows no signs of slowing down.’
Jersey charity Age Concern also received an honour – the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – which is the highest recognition for voluntary work in the British Isles.
Sir John paid tribute to the Queen, saying that this was a special and happy year for her.
Not only had she become a grandmother again with the birth of Princess Charlotte, but in September she will become the longest-ever reigning British monarch.
The 1781 Jersey Militia fired a 21-gun birthday salute and the evening concluded with the Band of the Island of Jersey Beating Retreat.
