This Legacy Week (7-13 September), we are celebrating some of the remarkable individuals whose generosity continues to support the work of the Société Jersiaise today.
A legacy gift is far more than a donation. It is a way of ensuring that the people, places, culture and history we care about continue to thrive for future generations. Through thoughtful gifts left to the Société Jersiaise, individuals have helped preserve Jersey’s heritage, support archaeological discovery, and nurture the Island’s artistic talent for decades after their lifetimes.
Here are three inspiring examples of legacies that continue to make a difference today.
Brian Phillipps (1926-2022)
A Passion for Archaeology That Lives On
SJPA/009479: Hamptonne: Brian Phillipps of the Société Jersiaise archaeological section working in a pit discovered outside Hamptonne House. 1991.
Brian Phillipps was one of the Société Jersiaise’s most dedicated members. A skilled field archaeologist, flint expert and enthusiastic volunteer, he spent decades helping to uncover, document and preserve Jersey’s heritage.
His interests extended beyond archaeology. Brian also played a leading role in preserving Jersey’s historic cider apple varieties, helped establish the Jersey Cider Orchard Trust, supported the recreation of a traditional Jersey cider press at Hamptonne, and donated important artefacts to the Société’s collections.
When Brian died in 2022, he ensured that the work he cared about would continue. Through a significant legacy gift to the Société Jersiaise, he funded the provision of a Field Archaeologist for Jersey.
Today, archaeological investigations, new discoveries, research projects and public engagement activities supported by the Société’s Field Archaeologist stand as a lasting testament to Brian’s commitment to Jersey’s past and future.
His passion continues to inspire new generations and contributes to our growing understanding of the Island’s heritage.
Arthur & Emmeline Augusta Barreau
SJPA/006905: Head and shoulders portrait of the artist Arthur Hamptonne Barreau (1879-1922).
SJPA/006892: Portrait of two women: at left Miss Emmeline Augusta Barreau, aunt of the painter A H Barreau.
A Legacy of Art Across the Generations
In 1924, following the untimely death of Jersey artist Arthur Hamptonne Barreau, his aunt, Emmeline Augusta Barreau, made an extraordinary gift to the Société Jersiaise.
She donated her nephew’s £8,000 legacy to create a lasting memorial: the Barreau Art Gallery, a fund to acquire works by Channel Islands artists, and scholarships to support aspiring local art students.
The Gallery opened in January 1925 and quickly became a treasured home for Jersey’s artistic heritage.
What began as one family’s generous gift has continued to benefit Jersey’s cultural life for more than a century. During celebrations marking 100 years of the Barreau Art Fund in 2024, the Société identified 139 Barreau Scholars who had benefited from the scholarship over the years.
The fund continues to support artistic talent today, most recently helping to fund the Vraicq’sie artists’ exhibition at Elizabeth Castle.
More than 100 years later, Emilia Barreau’s generosity continues to inspire, support and enrich the Island’s creative community.
Averil Picot
Photo – Tom Parker
Supporting Jersey’s Artists for More Than 70 Years
Averil Picot understood the importance of creating opportunities for future generations.
In 1955, she established a fund to support aspiring artists from Jersey, helping talented individuals pursue studies and careers in fine art and related creative disciplines.
Today, administered by the Société Jersiaise, the Averil Picot Scholarship continues to provide grants that help students and artists develop their skills, purchase essential materials and advance their creative practice.
For more than seven decades, the scholarship has supported generations of creative talent, demonstrating how a carefully planned legacy can have a profound and lasting impact on Jersey’s cultural life.
Averil Picot’s foresight and generosity remain an inspiration, showing how one person’s gift can continue to open doors for others long into the future.
Leave a Legacy for Future Generations
These stories demonstrate the extraordinary impact that a legacy gift can have. Whether supporting archaeology, heritage conservation, education, collections, research or the arts, every legacy helps ensure that Jersey’s rich history and culture can be protected, studied and shared for generations to come.
If you would like to learn more about leaving a gift to the Société Jersiaise in your Will, please visit our Legacy Giving page:
Leave a Legacy – Société Jersiaise
Together, we can help preserve Jersey’s heritage for the future.
