Lifesaving rehab charity founder among MBE awardees

Saturday 28 December 2019

A former Jurat, a man who dedicated himself to disability charities after his granddaughter was born with Down's Syndrome, and a rehab charity founder in his 70s who recently rescued a struggling sea swimmer have all been recognised in the Queen's New Year Honours List.

Frank Laine, who set up the Silkworth Charity Group, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) alongside Stewart Mourant of Jersey Mencap and Les Amis. Former Jurat and Deputy Geoffrey Grime, meanwhile, was made an Officer.

Mr Laine gained his MBE for "services to the community" through his involvement with the charity, which aims to rehabilitate islanders with drug and alcohol addiction, and the Shelter Trust, which helps homeless islanders.

Pictured: Frank Laine receiving his Silver Jersey Humane Society medal from the Governor, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton.

It comes after he was recently awarded a Silver Jersey Humane Society medal at Government House for jumping into the sea at St. Brelade's Bay to rescue a woman struggling with hypothermia earlier this year.

He was the first person to receive it from the charity, which aims to recognise “individual acts of gallantry, courage and self-sacrifice in saving or attempting to save life”, since 1996.

At the time, his daughter, Catherine Laine, described him as an "unsung hero", adding that he "never puts himself in the spotlight" despite having founded such an important charity.

Former farmer Stewart Mourant joined the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his work as Chairman of two local disability charities.

Pictured: Mr Mourant is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Les Amis.

Mr Mourant joined the committee of Mencap over 25 years ago, shortly after one of his granddaughters was born with Down Syndrome. He became Chairman of Mencap and during this time was involved with the activities of Les Amis before joining the charity’s Board of Directors. 

Mr Mourant also supported several other local charities, as well as the Parish of St. Helier, where he held the role of Procurer de Bien Public for six years.

“I’m very proud to have been the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Les Amis for so many years and to now be the Chairman of the Board of Trustees," Mr Mourant is quoted as saying on the Les Amis website.

"It’s a vibrant and successful charity that brings a world of difference to people with learning difficulties and their families.”

Pictured: Mr Grime was a Royal Court Jurat for five years.

Geoffrey Grime has also been recognised in the New Year's Honours with an OBE "for services to the community".

A Chartered Accountant, Mr Grime served as Deputy for St. Mary between 2002 and 2005. He was Chairman of Jersey Electricity for 10 years until he retired in February.

In 2014, he was elected as a Jurat to the Royal Court, a role he retired from earlier this year.