Alex Picot Trust has been a part of the Jersey community for over 135 years and our rich local heritage is something we are extremely proud of to this day.
Established in 1885 as a firm of “agents for commission,” our history took shape when Alex E. Picot joined as a trainee in 1901. The firm became Alex E. Picot & Co in 1926 and undertook its first trust work in 1932.
In June 1940, the German Occupation of Jersey disrupted the Island’s way of life, forcing many local businesses to close. Sensing the increasing threat, Alex Picot paid his employees, urging them to “do what you think best”.
Refusing to accept defeat, Alex Picot decided to brave it out and keep the firm afloat, joined by colleague Lilian du Feu, who became the longest-serving team member, dedicating 50 years to the company before retiring.
In the months that followed, while other local businesses unfortunately closed, they made the best of the situation and even sought to expand by hiring a couple of additional employees, including Hedley Luce.
One notable aspect of the work done during the Occupation was the formation of the Jersey Insurance Pool, in which Alex and Hedley played a prominent part. Local insurance policyholders were maintained, and premiums collected, resulting in a sizeable insurance pool ready to be turned over to the appropriate insurance companies. This preserved a feeling of normality on the Island and enhanced the firm’s reputation for trust and reliability.
The Liberation of 1945 brought a very welcome end to the Island’s occupation and set in motion the healing process of Jersey, and of the Picot firm. Alex’s sons Donald and Leslie returned home and took over the firm when Alex died in 1948.
The firm continued to grow as a family-oriented business, with more members of the Picot family joining over the years. Donald’s second eldest son, Anthony, joined in 1957, followed by his third eldest son, Rodney, in 1959. Their cousin, David Picot, became part of the practice in 1976.
With deep gratitude to Alex Picot and his team for their resilience during the Occupation years, we proudly celebrate our heritage on this 80th anniversary of Liberation. Honouring over 100 years of dedicated service to private clients, we look forward to continuing this trusted relationship for generations to come.
You can also read in-depth articles on our story from 1885, here:
