TRIBUTES have been paid to a quiet and devoted couple who were killed in Saturday’s explosion.
Ken (72) and Jane Ralph (71), who had been together for over 40 years, were among the victims of the blast at Haut du Mont apartments which claimed the lives of seven others.
Barry Truscott, whose wife was a cousin of Mr Ralph, described the pair as a ‘lovely couple’.
‘They were very quiet people and were a devoted couple who loved their Island and were family orientated. They had two kids of their own and Jane had two kids from a previous relationship,’ he said.
‘Ken was a keen footballer who played for St Paul’s and was also a great cricketer and featured for the Strollers Cricket Club.’
Mr Ralph was also a junior star-school footballer who played in an annual match against Guernsey alongside his future best man, Paddy O’neill, also a Stroller cricketer. The pair were Wolves supporters and Mr Ralph served as Mr O’neill’s best man as well.
Mr Truscott said that Mr Ralph, who attended St Helier Boys’ School, worked for Office Supplies, while Mrs Ralph did ‘office work’. Both were retired.
Islander Graeme Delanoe said that he worked with Mr Ralph at Office Supplies for 13 years.
‘Ken was the service manager at Office Supplies. He had worked there for over 20 years, was really well respected and taught me a lot about the trade,’ he said.
‘Ken was a really nice guy and Jane was a lovely woman. I went to their wedding reception at Hotel Cristina.’
Mr Delanoe said that Mr Ralph was ‘into sport and loved football’.
‘I think we are all just in shock really and absolutely devastated at such sad news,’ he said.
Bob Auffret, who worked with Mr Ralph during his time at the States former Transport and Technical Services Department, now known as the Infrastructure Department, said: ‘Ken was such a nice guy, a true gentleman, and was always up for a chat. He would do anything for you if he could and enjoyed a good joke and laugh.’
Nine Islanders have been named as victims of the tragedy: Peter Bowler (72), Raymond (Raymie) Brown (71), Romeu and Louise De Almeida (67 and 64), Derek and Sylvia Ellis (61 and 73), Ken and Jane Ralph (72 and 71) and Billy Marsden (63).
Listen below to get the latest information on the explosion:
