Mervyn Billot
The author's first hand knowledge of farming implements was sparked off when he drove his first tractor on the family farm at the ripe old age of nine years old.
The Billot farm at La Porte had been in the family for many generations and by the 1920s and 1930s it was being operated as a mixed farm growing potatoes and tomatoes and breeding the famous Jersey cow; like many of his contemporaries, Mervyn was expected to work on the farm before school in the morning and in the holidays.
Following his war service in the Royal Navy, Mervyn took advantage of the ex-serviceman's grant scheme to study agriculture at Sparsholt and Agricultural Engineering at Chelsea College. He became a Graduate Member of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers and later a Member, M.I.Ag.E. and an Incorporated Engineer. Before returning to Jersey in 1968 he worked for Bomford Brothers Ltd. of Evesham and Ransomes of Ipswich in the service, development and sales departments. Once in his home island he ran his own engineering business and was invited to Join the Channel Island Group of Professional Engineers. After 40 years in the business, he retired in 1987.
Mervyn won a bi-election in 1983 and entered the States (the Island Parliament) as Deputy for St Saviour. He served two more 3-year terms before he finally retired from active politics in 1990 in order to go long distance cruising. Always keen sailors, Mervyn and his wife, Sheila, left St Helier harbour in 1991 and returned three years later.