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Picture editor bows out after 42 years with island daily

A picture editor has retired after 42 years spent capturing island life for a daily newspaper.

Peter Mourant has left the Jersey Evening Post, the paper he joined as a photographer in November 1975 at the age of 22.

He was appointed chief photographer three years later, and went on to photograph the Queen and other Royal Family members, as well as covering events including the Great Storm of 1987.

Jersey native Peter, pictured, left the JEP yesterday.

Peter Mourant

The 64-year-old told the paper: “It’s been a great career for me because I love taking pictures, I love looking at and choosing pictures and weighing up their various merits, and I love the Island. There are people who I see every day in the office and get on very well with too.

“So it’s a job that, for much of the time, is great fun and we have a lot of laughs.”

During his career, Peter has worked under four editors – Mike Rumfitt, Mike Bisson, Chris Bright and current incumbent Andy Sibcy – who was born the year Peter joined the JEP.

He added: “Chris Bright and Andy Sibcy have valued the importance of photography in the paper and I’ve enjoyed a great working relationship with both of them.

“I also want to pay tribute to all the photographers I’ve worked with. They have all been extremely dedicated to their profession and none more so than Jan Hadley, who was the JEP’s photographic assistant for many, many years and kept us all in line.”

7 comments

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  • April 18, 2018 at 10:15 am
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    that looks like an old NIkon film camera. F1 maybe? Good luck in retirement.

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  • April 18, 2018 at 10:43 am
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    It’s an iconic film camera called the Nikon “F”. It was made famous by war photographer Don McCullen who’s camera took a bullet I believe in the Vietnam war. Whilst called the “F” (not F1, that’s a Canon I think) it was followed by the F2. You’re right though, I should spend more time in the pub…

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  • April 18, 2018 at 11:53 am
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    Don’t be ashamed of knowing your stuff, Disgruntled Toggy. It’s technical knowledge like that, with an artistic eye and good quality equipment, that usually makes for the most memorable and engaging pictures.

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  • April 18, 2018 at 2:01 pm
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    M’learned colleagues are almost technically correct. Canon did the F1 but this gent has a Nikon FTn – aka a Nikon F with a photomic finder attached…. 😉

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  • April 18, 2018 at 3:09 pm
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    As fascinating as these post are, about who knows the most about old cameras, I think you’re probably missing the focus of the article (obviously all ex togs?). Good luck Peter, that was one heck of a career!

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  • April 18, 2018 at 3:42 pm
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    Hi Caxton, I’m a current working tog (just!) not an ex tog! I haven’t missed the focus of the article, just discussing the finer points and obviously wish a fellow photographer/Picture Editor all the best in retirement!

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  • April 18, 2018 at 4:24 pm
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    Current over-worked ‘tog here too! Naturally best wishes to Peter on his retirement.
    Apologies from us simple painters-of-light for offending the blunts with the temerity to wield our dextrous digits over keyboards to create such flowing prose. 😉 (Oh, and always remember – the collective name for us is a whinge :-) )

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