Many of you will have seen the very sad news of Sir Jasper’s passing in the national newspapers.
At the age of 96, our younger members and students may be forgiven for asking what role Sir Jasper played in the life of the ACT. On 10 May 1979, standing in for the Governor of the Bank of England (Gordon Richardson) who was out of the country on business, Sir Jasper stepped forward as the ACT’s very first key note speaker. He was then Deputy Governor, and subsequently become the chair of the City Takeover Panel. At the meeting he was awarded our first Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his work during the secondary banking crisis.
We are therefore very sad to lose a long and trusted wise friend, just short of the start of our 35th year. At our 25th anniversary, we reproduced an article from the December 1982 issue of the Treasurer. In this article, Sir Jasper reflected upon the pioneering work of the ACT in those first three years. I am happy to say that if written today, I believe it would express a similar pride of achievement and aspiration for the work of the professional treasurer and the ACT’s pivotal role in helping to develop the treasury profession in the public interest.
Sir Jasper, you did us proud from day one and put down a marker for the emerging treasury profession. The ACT intends to continue to live up to the very high expectations that you set us. We are proud to call you the ACT’s oldest friend.
