The Story behind the Moignard Liberation Garden
John Henry Moinard was born on 18th March 1921 and grew up in St Lawrence, He left school aged
14, learning his trade as a motor mechanic at St Helier Garages. A talented engineer, he opened
Moignard’s Garage at Bel Royal, aged only 17.
During the Occupation of Jersey, he built a windmill to charge car batteries and to supply electricity to
his garage, where he repaired everything from bicycles to saucepans, even using rubber tyres to sole
shoes as shortages took hold. Following a tip off to the German Occupying Forces for having radio parts
in his possession, he was imprisoned in Newgate Street Prison and then moved on to a prison in France
for six months.
On his return to Jersey he went back to work and, undaunted by his prison experiences, he helped to
prepare and launch a small boat from Bel Royal in which Denis Vibert escaped to the Isle of Wight.
After the Liberation of Jersey in 1945. John further developed Moignard's Garage at Bel Royal and,
following his marriage to Kitty, continued to work there until his retirement in 1985.
When he passed away in 2004. he generously bequeathed “the residue of my personal estate and my
real estate unto the Connétable for the time being of the Parish of St Lawrence with the request that
it be spent on some capital project for the benefit of the Parish, preferably an extension to the Parish
school”.
In 2014 during public consultation as part of the proposed Village Improvement Plan. Parishioners
asked for a Village Garden to be created within the historic Parish centre of St Lawrence and Connétable
Deidre Mezbourian recognised that Mr Moignard's bequest could be used to fund a new and vibrant
public space that could be enjoyed now and by generations to come.
Subsequently, the Education Minister confirmed that an extension was not needed to St Lawrence
Primary School and Mr Moignard’s advocate wrote to the Connétable: "I have no doubt that John would
have been pleased to contribute towards a village garden. He had vivid memories of the Occupation so
the fact that the garden is to be connected to the Liberation would, I believe, further please him”.
The Connétable held a Parish Assembly on Wednesday 17th June 2015, at which she asked for support
for her proposition to create a Village Garden and parking in Field 525, to be known as the “Moignard
Liberation Garden”.
Her proposal included the creation of a public footpath through St Lawrence School grounds and sports
field which would provide safer pedestrian off road access to the school and Three Oaks. Both items
were supported unanimously by the Assembly.
John Henry Moignard has been described by his close friends, Brian and Audrey Moody, as being a “colourful character who enjoyed life'
They are certain that he would be delighted to know that his name will live on in St Lawrence where we have created in John and Kitty's memory, and to celebrate 70 years of Liberation, the Moignard Liberation Garden.
