David Kirch
Sir David Roderick Kirch, KBE (29 July 1936 – 28 February 2026) was a British businessman, collector and philanthropist.[1]
Collecting
[edit]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
[edit]
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
[edit]Kirch lived in Jersey from 1973.[9] He died on 28 February 2026, aged 89.[10]
References
[edit]
- ↑ "BBC News - Jersey businessman to leave £100m to island's elderly". Bbc.co.uk. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ↑ "BBC News - Zeppelin items sold at auction in Sussex". Bbc.co.uk. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ↑ "Exclusively English - Largest Collection of Provincial Banknotes to Come on to the Market". CoinWeek. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Europe | Jersey | Millionaire's £100 for over-70s". BBC News. 17 November 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- 1 2 "BBC News - Jersey developer tops Sunday Times Giving List". Bbc.co.uk. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ↑ "No. 60534". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2013. p. 27.
- ↑ "Queen's birthday honours list 2013: Commonwealth | UK news | guardian.co.uk". London: Guardian. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "David Kirch increases Jersey elderly voucher amount". BBC News. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ↑ Philanthropist Sir David Kirch KBE passes away aged 89