Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard: Tributes pour in after death of Jersey politician
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Chief minister John Le Fondré said he was "deeply saddened" by the news
Tributes have poured in after it was announced a Jersey politician has died.
Connétable Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard passed away on Friday morning at Jersey's General Hospital.
Bailiff Timothy Le Cocq said she was a "real character", a "friend to so many" and "held a special place in islanders' hearts".
Ms Le Sueur-Rennard was the Connétable of St Saviour and was first elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2014 and 2018.
Mr Le Cocq said: "Sadie was a real character, who expressed her thoughts in a forthright way.
"She was a champion of her parish and of the island and traditional Jersey values in the assembly and elsewhere.
"She was a friend to so many and held a special place in islanders' hearts for her singing of the much-loved essential island song, 'Beautiful Jersey', on many a Liberation Day."
He added: "I will miss her as will so many Jersey people and my thoughts go out to her family at this time."
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The Connétable's family have asked members of the public for privacy at this time.
Chief minister John Le Fondré said he was "deeply saddened" by the news.
He said: "She was an iconic figure not just in the States Assembly and her Parish of St Saviour but across our island.
"Her deep love for her parishioners and our island was clear, as was her passion for Jersey's heritage and its people.
"She was utterly charming and possessed a keen wit which always brought a smile to those around her. My thoughts are with her loved ones and all her many friends at this sad time."
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Government, public and parish buildings have been asked to fly Jersey flags at half-mast from 08:00 BST on Saturday 9 April until sunset on the day of the funeral, which is yet to be announced.
Union flags will remain at full mast.
Thoughts from BBC Jersey's political reporter Freddie Miller
Sadie was St Saviour through and through. Over the years, she was involved in pretty much everything to do with the parish.
A stalwart of local amateur theatre, she was well-known as a talented singer, and for dressing in a bonnet to sing Beautiful Jersey on Liberation Day.
Her passion for country music took her frequently to the United States of America, where she was given the keys to the city of Nashville and made an honorary citizen of the State of Tennessee.
She continued to work as a dairy farmer after her election in 2011 as Constable - a role in which she became known for her heartfelt speeches, and for occasionally referring to the Bailiff as "my love".
After she announced she would be standing down this summer, the parish had started to contemplate life without Sadie at its head.
Now, the whole island has to consider a future without her at its heart.
'Advocate for the vulnerable'
St Saviour deputy Jess Perchard said the parish had "lost its mother".
She said she had know Ms Le Sueur-Rennard for more than 20 years.
"When I was a child, we performed at the Opera House together as mother and daughter on stage," she said.
"She was a force of nature then, being firm but incredibly protective of her 'stage children', and that very much sets the tone for our relationship in politics.
"She was a stalwart of Jersey life, always putting her parishioners front and centre of her political thinking. She cared deeply about St Saviour, her Jersey heritage and has been an advocate for the vulnerable, particularly more senior citizens, throughout her public service.
"Always ready to challenge injustice, and to fiercely protect her beloved island, Sadie never held back from making her voice heard.
"It's a trait that has been a huge source of strength and inspiration for others and one that I know is appreciated by her colleagues. She will be sorely missed and fondly remembered."
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