Funeral for 'inspirational' aid worker Simon Boas

The funeral service took place at Holy Trinity Parish Church

The funeral of "inspirational" aid worker Simon Boas has been held in Jersey.

The executive director of Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA) was diagnosed with throat cancer in September and died earlier this month, aged 47.

Mr Boas moved to the island in 2016, joining the JOA after a career in international development with a focus on the Middle East.

His funeral service took place at Holy Trinity Parish Church, with family and friends paying their respects to him and saying he had had a "life well lived, fully and joyously".

After being diagnosed with throat cancer in 2023, Mr Boas wrote several articles about his illness and wrote a book called A Beginner's Guide to Dying.

JOA chairman and colleague Carolyn Labey previously said Mr Boas became an inspiration for millions around the world after sharing his diagnosis and his approach on life and death.

His coffin was carried into the busy church to a funeral hymn based on the poem Crossing the Bar by Lord Tennyson.

The remainder of the service featured hymns, readings, poetry, and a solo cello performance.

Mr Boas's friend James paid homage to his "an absurdist view of life"

During the service, Mr Boas's childhood friend, James Elliot, paid homage to "how extraordinarily well read he was" and how he was "blessed with an absurdist view of life".

He said: "It's fitting that, at the end, Simon was rightly recognised by a wider audience for committing himself to public service, aid work and more generally working to help others - which was encapsulated here on Jersey.

"Together with Aurélie [his wife], he became an honorary policeman, he's been a Samaritan since 2019 and chaired the Jersey Heritage Trust.

"In May, he was awarded the Bailiff's Silver Seal for his inspirational contribution to the island through voluntary work, and, latterly, his sharing of his final journey through his writings.

"He also claimed to be the undisputed Scrabble champion of the island, although I have not been able to verify this."

Those in the pews were also invited by the Reverend Canon Geoff Houghton, the Vice Dean of Jersey, to turn to each other and share stories of Mr Boas that "made them laugh".

Mr Boas's cortege left Holy Trinity Parish Church to the song Wonderful Life by Black for a private burial.