SIMON Boas, whose poignant and reflective articles on life following his terminal-cancer diagnosis have touched the lives of thousands of people across the world, was yesterday presented with a prestigious Bailiff’s Silver Seal.
The Islander was already well-known locally as the chief executive of Jersey Overseas Aid and an honorary police officer in Trinity, but has since received national and international recognition for his series of honest, emotional and at times humorous articles documenting his final months of life.
The second of the three pieces, headlined “I’m sorry to have to announce that my cancer situation has developed not necessarily to my advantage” has been read more than 505,000 times on the JEP’s website alone and has been reproduced by several national newspapers and magazines, and shared across the globe.
The articles have received widespread praise, including from many cancer patients, for offering words of comfort during the most difficult of times.
In a ceremony at his home, Mr Boas was yesterday presented with the rarely awarded seal by the Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq.
The citation reads: “The Bailiff’s Silver Seal is awarded to Simon Boas for his contribution to the Island through service to the community and to the betterment of humanity through both his work in Jersey Overseas Aid and by his writings.
“In particular, during a time of great personal challenge, he has continued to offer support and comfort to those in need, both through his internationally recognised work and that of the voluntary positions that he holds.
“Furthermore, the words he has shared with us all, reflecting on the beauty and wonder of life, have inspired hundreds of thousands of people around the world.”
In a statement, Sir Timothy said he was “delighted” to be awarding the seal to someone who has given so much to the Island through his work and his recent articles.
“Simon has shown incredible strength at a time of personal challenge and his recent writings have provided many with great comfort and a sense of pride for the Island he now calls home,” he said.
“The reflections on life he has shared with us since his diagnosis have inspired people around the world and the work he continues to do to the benefit of so many within the community and overseas, even at this difficult time, is to be greatly admired.”
Before yesterday, the Silver Seal was most recently awarded, in 2021, to the late broadcaster and journalist Gary Burgess, who also wrote and spoke extensively about his terminal-cancer diagnosis.
Mr Burgess, who died aged 46 on 1 January 2022, received the award for his “contribution to Island life and the profession of journalism”.
Other recipients include Helmuth Morczinietz, the former Burgermeister of Bad Wurzach, and Mike Wavell and Gonçalo dos Santos, the pair behind the 1998 Friendship Agreement with Madeira.
Commenting on receiving the Silver Seal, Mr Boas said: “I’m so delighted to be honoured with this marvellous award.
“Not only does it recognise the superb organisations with which I’ve been so privileged to work and volunteer, but on a personal level it cements that wonderful feeling of acceptance and welcome which Aurelie [his wife] and I have always felt in Jersey.
“It has been such a pleasure to have made this special Island our home over the past eight years, and a pleasure to have found ways of getting involved in the extraordinary generosity which runs through the veins of Jersey people.
“It may not have been part of the plan that I should die here, but I can’t think of a better soil in which to rest.”
