Wikipedia

David Kirch

Sir David Roderick Kirch, KBE (29 July 1936 – 28 February 2026) was a British businessman, collector and philanthropist.[1]

Kirch in 1993, portrait by Allan Warren

Collecting

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Over his lifetime Kirch built up and subsequently sold what was probably the world's largest collection of Zeppelin memorabilia,[2] and a collection of provincial bank notes said to be "the most extensive selection of iconic and historical notes of this series ever assembled" by Barnaby Faull, Head of Spink's Banknotes department.[3]

In later years, he sold off items from his various collections and donated the funds to his charitable trust.[4]

Philanthropy

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Government House, Jersey, 14 June 2013: Sir David Kirch is congratulated by the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey on the announcement of the award of a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours list 2013

In 2006, Kirch celebrated his 70th birthday by announcing his plans to give everyone in Jersey, aged 70 or over, £100 in vouchers to spend in the island's Co-op supermarkets.[5] He has continued to give away around £1 million, along the same lines, each year since 2006.

In 2012, Kirch announced his plans to leave his fortune, of approximately £100m, to the David Kirch Charitable Trust.[6]

In 2013, he appeared at the top of The Sunday Times Giving List,[6] and was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for "services as a philanthropist to senior citizens of Jersey".[7][8]

Personal life and death

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Kirch lived in Jersey from 1973.[9] He died on 28 February 2026, aged 89.[10]

References

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  1. ↑ "BBC News - Jersey businessman to leave £100m to island's elderly". Bbc.co.uk. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "BBC News - Zeppelin items sold at auction in Sussex". Bbc.co.uk. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Exclusively English - Largest Collection of Provincial Banknotes to Come on to the Market". CoinWeek. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  4. ↑ Machin, Helen (1 April 2013). "What price for these rare bank notes from historic Tamworth?". This is Tamworth. Archived from the original on 17 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "Europe | Jersey | Millionaire's £100 for over-70s". BBC News. 17 November 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  6. 1 2 "BBC News - Jersey developer tops Sunday Times Giving List". Bbc.co.uk. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "No. 60534". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2013. p. 27.
  8. ↑ "Queen's birthday honours list 2013: Commonwealth | UK news | guardian.co.uk". London: Guardian. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "David Kirch increases Jersey elderly voucher amount". BBC News. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Philanthropist Sir David Kirch KBE passes away aged 89
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