Tributes paid to 'Guernsey great' Rodney Collenette
GUERNSEY has lost one of its great inspirational characters, as one of the men credited with saving St James died last week.
Rodney Collenette, a former deputy, constable, douzenier, president of La Societe Guernesiaise, and successful businessman, died at the age of 87 last Thursday.
Though he will perhaps be best remembered for leading the campaign during the early 1980s, alongside his friend Richard de la Rue, to stop the then-derelict St James being turned into a police station, and instead be remodelled into the concert hall that serves the island today.
Mr de la Rue said he would be greatly missed and remembered him as a principled man with a great sense of justice.
‘He was full of energy and vigour. He was passionate about everything he did. He loved his island; he loved his people; he doted on his family; and loved his home in Vale.
‘I’ve always thought of him as being more Ebenezer Le Page than Ebenezer Le Page.’
Married to his wife Liz for 60 years, Mr Collenette was the proud father of three sons and had five grandchildren.
He was a great contributor to the local arts scene and was renowned for his on-stage comic alter ego.
‘He had a tremendous sense of humour,’ said Mr de la Rue.
‘That really won him many friends, especially with his cabaret act. He didn’t have to say anything, and people were just collapsing with laughter.
'He would tell stories and lots of old jokes, which were wonderfully told, and just had us all in fits.’
Mr Collenette served as a deputy for the Vale from 2000 to 2003, when he stepped down due to ill health. Peter Roffey served alongside him, having first met him during the campaign to save St James.
‘Rodney and Richard got together with architect George Bramall and came up with the alternative idea of restoring the building for use as a concert hall,’ said Deputy Roffey.
‘They convinced the States, and raised the money required, and the rest is history.
‘His style of politics was always principled but at the same time restrained and fundamentally kind. He was a real gentleman of the assembly.’
Mr Collenette served for more than 30 years on the Vale douzaine and was also one of the founders of accountancy firm Collenette Jones, where two of his sons are still directors.
‘It was typical of him that his focus was always very much on helping smaller local firms with their books,’ said Mr Roffey.
‘Even though he could possibly have been more profitable had he taken his business in another direction.’
He became president of La Societe in 2011 for a three-year term but also served on its council for almost 20 years.
Current president Trevor Bourgaize said he would be remembered for his sage financial advice and again for his sense of fun.
‘He was very entertaining and every so often he would treat council meetings to the Romeo and Juliet balcony scene in Guernesiaise,’ said Mr Bourgaize.
‘He loved his island and believed strongly in the work that we do.’
His funeral is to be held at the Town Church on Thursday 7 November.
