From John de Carteret.
WE recently saw the sad loss of John Le Marquand, a man obsessed with political victory through simple democracy.

‘Politics are fun but can be very tough. They call for tenacity in the face of cold aridity. Simple but not easy.’ John used these words in a letter to me when I did not seek re-election in December 1984.
I first met John in the very early 1970s trying to heckle him from the audience in Senatorial hustings. His oratory was sensational, his timing perfect, and he carried a file with every subject likely to arise in question time. This file was the reward of weeks of research by him, countless hours and factually perfect.

When I was first elected as a Deputy I became his apprentice, serving under his presidency on Public Works. He was without doubt the master statesman in the art of politics, with the self-taught first-class honours degree in his inside pocket.

I served alongside John on Public Works and Housing and a number of other committees of inquiry. Throughout that time he was both totally committed and his keen mind and stubbornness, coupled to his meticulous research and preparation, were second to none.

When trying to grasp the subject and following different scenarios, especially in the company of paid experts or consultants, he was like an investigating journalist or a George Carman, QC – charming, and then, within a second, ruthless and intolerant. He demanded positive results and 100% success when Jersey and its people were to benefit.

I well remember getting phone calls from him at home on occasions at 2 am when he was finishing on his typewriter his speech for Tuesday’s debate. In debates, while brilliant as a president bringing propositions for his committee, he was at his peak and most effective in opposition.

He was in total ageement with his cousin Cyril. They both did not mind strong or tough chief officers. They loathed weak politicians and equally had no respect for weak presidents of committees or badly prepared propositions to the States Assembly.

John was a political operator, resilient and crafty. For example, on Housing he insisted on electric central heating while I fought hard to go ahead with a revolutionary system, namely district heating. This worked well at that time and was well established in Europe, although not in the UK.

John knew this well. We had terrible rows, banging tables, shouting, the worst confrontations you can imagine. One committee meeting lasted three and a half hours and we never even began the agenda.
Finally, it was decided that I was to be given a blank cheque to research and justify my heating proposal, and he would be away for two weeks on leave.

I worked night and day, visiting Germany and the UK, confirming my previous months of solid work to get my proposal through, and making the case so strong that it could not be refuted, even by John.
So the day came, and the committee met, with John as president in the chair. The third item on the agenda was my proposal. I sat with ten files, 15 reports and a 90-minute speech prepared – bombproof.

John moved to item three on the agenda with the words: ‘I can see that Senator de Carteret has done his job and I am sure that the committee will support him, so we shall take that as a decision to go ahead.’
He then immediately moved to item four on the agenda. My contribution was: ‘Thank you, Mr President.’
He had not only spiked my hour of glory but totally outmanoeuvred me while still giving me everything I wanted.

John was in many ways a man ahead of his time. He immersed himself in his subject. To use his words: ‘I stick to basic fundamental principles.’ He liked total commitment and enthusiasm for the subject and could often be most dangerous and effective when unprepared and going off the cuff – from the heart, so to speak.
I would not go as far as to say that we shall not see the like again. Times have changed greatly. While John stuck to his principles, he was progressive, and today we do have – yes, in much smaller numbers – the odd two or three aspiring statesmen with the same commitment, enthusiasm and energy.

It should be paramount in the public’s mind that the long-term presence of experienced politicians is essential if the bureaucracy, strong chief officers and large States departments are to be accountable for their responsibilities and actions.

I last saw John Le Marquand just six weeks ago by chance at the General Hospital, and, along with two fellow patients, we pulled his leg and teased him. He still had that famous smile and great sense of humour which we all remembered so well. All in all, a thoroughly good egg, a real gentleman politician.
Olivet,
Rue de la Presse,
St Peter.