"Man of many talons" elected as Jersey's newest Jurat

Thursday 02 February 2023

A retired civil servant and Mont Orgueil Castle's former falcon handler has been elected as Jersey's newest Jurat.

Michael Brain Paul Entwistle, a retired civil servant, received 54 of the 102 votes cast by the electoral college.

His election follows the retirement of Jurat Collette Crill.

Mr Entwistle is perhaps best known as the former the handler for Sovereign, the resident Falcon at Mont Orgueil castle. Advocate Mark Boothman, who proposed Mr Entwistle for the role, said in his speech: "As an experienced Falconer, he has an eagle eye for detail and is a man of many talons."  

The three nominations for the Jurat position included Advocate Alison Brown, Michael Berry, a chief operating officer by profession, and Mr Entwistle.

Mr Entwistle began his career working in the NHS and Jersey's Health Department, before moving on to health service management, chairing the Health and Social Services Ethics Committee and serving as a member of Jersey Hospice's Ethics committee. 

Pictured: Jurat Collette Crill recently retired as Jurat and Lieutenant Bailiff. (Antonio Olmos)

He took on an international relations role in the Chief Minister's Department in 2003. In this role, he negotiated the gift by the Crown of the seabed and foreshore surrounding Jersey - the largest land transaction in the island's history. 

Outside of his professional career, he has chaired Jersey's Duke of Edinburgh Award committee, undertaken a part-time teaching role at Highland's College, and is the Honorary Chairof the Jersey Referendum Commission. 

Before commencing the election, the Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq was obliged to inform the college of the criminal record of the nominees. The only offence on record was Mr Entwistle's "extremely aged" conviction of speeding in a 30mph zone in 1975. 

LISTEN...

Express sat down with retired Jurat and Lieutenant Bailiff Collette Crill to discuss diversity on the Royal Court bench, the importance of having women in positions of power, some of her most memorable moments in the role, and how she plans to spend her free time for the Bailiwick Podcast.

You can listen to the interview below or via your favourite podcast provider...