Room named after first female States Greffier

The Mary Newcombe Room was officially opened by the Chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee, Connétable Karen Shenton-Stone

​A room in the States of Jersey building has been officially named after Mary Newcombe, the first female Greffier of the States.

The naming is a part of celebrations to mark 500 years since records of States meetings were first made.

Ms Newcombe joined the States Greffe in 1968 as a committee clerk, producing the official records of the meetings of a number of bodies, including the Policy and Resources Committee which was established in 1989.

She was appointed as Deputy Greffier of the States in 1991 and as the Greffier of the States in 2000.

The Greffier has a legal responsibility to act as keeper of the official records of the States.

'Admiration and respect'

The Mary Newcombe Room was officially opened by the Chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee, Connétable Karen Shenton-Stone.

She said: "I had the opportunity to get to know Miss Newcombe through my late father, who worked with her throughout his political career, as well as in my own right.

"My father spoke about her with much admiration and respect, as did many of his colleagues, and as our own relationship grew, I found her to be a truly inspirational woman.

"The Mary Newcombe Room will be used by the States Greffe team as a place to create content aimed at engaging the public with the work of the Assembly, and it feels very appropriate that a room with such a modern role is named after someone who herself was something of a pioneer at a time when politics was dominated by men."

Two members of Ms Newcombe's family were also present for the dedication, which was held on Monday, Miss Newcombe's birthday.