SUZANNE Conoops is the head teacher of Plat Douet School and is a member of the Ahier family. Suzanne follows in a long line of Ahiers who have developed education in the Island.

She was born in 1957, the eldest child of Neville and Nanette Ahier (née Morrison). Her father has become well known within the Island as the bookie ‘Honest Nev’. He was the son of Horace John Ahier, a farmer from Trinity, and Dora Buesnel. He was one of ten children.

By modern standards this may seem a large family in which to grow up. However, the family of Neville’s mother, Dora, was even larger. Dora was born in 1909 in St Saviour. Her father was a man named John Gallichan Buesnel, a farmer who was born in Grouville. John married Mary Ann Ching at St Martin’s Church on 28 January 1882. Sadly, Mary Ann died in December 1893.

Three years later John married Mary’s sister, Martha Jane Ching, at St Helier’s registry office on 27 October 1896. It is possible that Martha had moved into the family home after the death of her sister in order to assist with looking after the children, and romance had blossomed. The new couple had more children, and Dora was one of the offspring from this second marriage.

Family legend has it that John Buesnel had 11 children with each wife, making 22 children in total. In the light of this it is perhaps unsurprising that the cause of death given on Mary Ann’s death certificate was exhaustion.

In Suzanne’s direct line of descent on the Ahier side, farming, as it was for many Islanders at the time, was the family profession. Suzanne’s grandfather was a farmer, as was her great-grandfather, Charles George Ahier, and her great-great-grandfather, Peter Ahier.

Interestingly, one of the family professions in Suzanne’s maternal line of descent was fishing – another typical Island job. Suzanne’s mother, Nanette Morrison, was the daughter of Josephine Alice Battrick. Josephine’s father, William Alexander Battrick, ran a fishing business from which Josephine received ‘all the fishing nets and gear in connection with her husband’s fishing business’ in her mother’s will.

Back on the Ahier side of the family, notable ancestors include Suzanne’s great-great-great-grandfather, Philip, who married three times. He outlived two wives before marrying his third, who survived. Confusingly, all of Philip’s wives went by the name of Esther. He married Esther Nancy Perchard in 1810. Then, after her death, he married Suzanne’s great-great-great-grandmother, Esther Le Sueur. After she passed away he married Esther Gaudin in 1833.

Philip was the son of Aaron Ahier. According to family tales, Aaron was a soldier who lost his leg in the West Indies when fighting against France. It was replaced by a wooden leg. It is also said that Aaron was involved in the Battle of Jersey and helped to raise the alarm when the French landed in 1781.

Suzanne has followed in a long tradition of Ahiers by becoming a teacher. Although not directly of her line, Philippe Ahier was one of the early innovators in Island education. He was born in 1752, the son of Philippe Ahier and Mary Gruchy. In the 1780s he was made Regent of St Mannelier School in St Saviour and remained so until his death more than 50 years later in 1832.

During his time at the school he frequently used the Gazette de Jersey to advertise his school. In 1799 the school was advertised as costing 19 guineas a year with a one-guinea entrance fee and an extra guinea for permanent boarders. Ahier is reported to have visited England on a number of occasions in order to recruit pupils.

In 1810 Ahier’s youngest son, J Mitford Ahier, was appointed undermaster of the school. He remained in the post for ten years until he died.

In 1787 John Wesley paid a visit to the Island and remarked about St Mannelier in his Journal. ‘It is a Free School designed to train up children for the University, exceedingly finely situated in a quiet recess surrounded by tall woods.’ However, despite being successful at first, by the end of Philippe’s time in charge St Mannelier was no longer a thriving school and only six pupils remained.

Philippe’s younger brother, George, was also involved in education in the Island. He set up a number of private schools in various places, including St Aubin, St Saviour, St Helier and Trinity. He also later became the headmaster of Grouville School before returning to opening private schools. One of his sons, Charles Ahier, became Greffier to the Royal Court between 1859 and 1861.

Another Ahier from the more recent past who had an impact on education was Philip Ahier. The only child of Philippe Ahier and Jane Le Brun, he was born on 18 April 1887. After graduating from the University of London he become a pupil-teacher at St Paul’s School. His career took in a number of posts on the mainland before retiring to Jersey in September 1950.

He continued to teach at Victoria College, the Jersey Collegiate School, New Street Boys School and St John’s All-Age School. He also indulged his love for history by writing a number of books and papers.

The Ahiers are a family who have given a great deal to the Island in the education sector. The Ahier name is also one of the oldest in Island history, with roots dating back to at least the 15th century. Suzanne has obviously chosen to carry on the family profession of teaching and continues to ensure that a family which has an important Island past is also shaping the future.