TRIBUTES have been paid to Neville Ahier after the well-known bookmaker, who was one of the Island’s great characters and was particularly renowned in horse-racing and football circles, died this week aged 88.
“Honest Nev” was a fixture at race meetings at Les Landes, where he presided over sessions of crown and anchor, while his stall for the popular dice game was also regularly seen at cattle shows and parish fetes.
Bunny Roberts, honorary president of Jersey Race Club, said Mr Ahier’s death marked “the absolute end of an era”.
“He was an absolute bedrock around the course, every time you saw him drive up in his green van. He was a friend to everybody and will be greatly missed,” she said.
“Neville and his family have been huge supporters of Jersey racing and I hope the people who supported him on crown and anchor will keep the stall going – they must.”
Brought up on a farm in Trinity, Mr Ahier rode and kept horses for much of his life, and ran a betting shop in St John for 11 years until he closed it in 2011.
Constable Andy Jehan said: “Neville was a popular figure in and around St John’s Village when he ran his bookies here.
“People would come from all around the Island, especially for the Grand National and for local elections – he was a fun local character who loved his sport and his island.”
Mr Ahier was also involved in football for many years, playing initially for Trinity and then moving to St Martin, where he was involved for several decades as player, referee and club official.
Jon Welsh, non-executive director of the Jersey FA, said: “Neville was one of the characters of local football and of Jersey life.
“He was a stalwart representative for St Martin – he was always very robust in defending his club, but in a very jovial spirit.
“I remember him in his wellington boots and flat cap running the line at Beuvelande for St Martin juniors in the pouring rain – he did so much for his club in whatever role was needed.”
