Islanders say goodbye to an extra special neighbour

Thursday 30 April 2015

Tributes have been pouring in for Colin Taylor - the charity founder and campaigner described as a "man of action" who helped many Islanders in need, who died yesterday.

Mr Taylor died after a long illness at the age of 62, just weeks after being formally honoured for his community work supporting homeless and isolated men with the British Empire Medal at a special ceremony.

The Sanctuary Trust founder was too ill to attend an event at Buckingham House in London, so a special event was arranged in the Island last month, at which he was formally presented with the BEM by Lieutenant Governor, General Sir John McColl.

After his death yesterday the Association of Jersey Charities said: "Good bye Colin Taylor MBE, Chairman of Love Thy Neighbour. A true visionary and a true asset to the voluntary sector here in Jersey, passed away peacefully today. You will be so missed Colin. It was a real pleasure and privilege to have known and worked with you. RIP."

And the chairman of the Sanctuary Trust, Advocate Chris Renouf, has also paid tribute.

He said: "Colin was a man who knew the real meaning of charity, and put it into action. He was a mercurial guy, he acted first and made things work. He cut through the bureaucracy and was a bit of a man of action."

Former States Deputy Sean Power, who worked with Mr Taylor to set up the charity, said that he had made it all happen through sheer force of will.

"What Colin was most proud of was that we had taken hundreds of men, and helped them get their lives back together, and put back together their relationships with their wives and families, and helped them get back into work," he said.

"He was the driver and the leading force. He got things done."

Colin Taylor set up the Sanctuary Trust in 2011 to provide shelter and support for homeless and isolated men because he was concerned that not enough was being done to help people who fell through the cracks. Today, the trust runs two shelters looking after men who need support, helping to house 24 people, and running an outreach service and a weekly soup kitchen at All Saints in The Parade that is open to all.

This time last year he set up Christian charity, Love Thy Neighbour and opened the first almshouse in St Aubin - providing a long-term home for those in need. The charity has also launched a health scheme helping Islanders on low incomes to cover the cost of their trips to the doctor and dentist.