Walter Duret Aubin
The elder son of Daniel Aubin and Delphine, nee Duret, Walter was born in St Helier on 30 December 1848.
French education
After early education in Jersey he spent a number of years at the Lycee at Caen, where he decided to pursue a career in medicine. He went to the University of Edinburgh and graduated as a Bachelor of Medicine in 1870.
At the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War he volunteered for service with the International Red Cross Society. He served in Paris throughout the siege and was awarded the Cross of the society in recognition of his services.
In August 1874 he married Marie Cecile Veillet de Vaux, and they had two daughters. After her death in 1882 he married Catherine Francesca Murrow in 1886, and they had a further daughter and son Charles Walter.
After the war he remained in Paris, studying medicine at the leading hospital, at which time he was awarded the Commemorative Medal of the French Republic for his wartime services. He then returned to Jersey as a general practitioner in the early 1870s and built up a large practice, making friends of many of his patients.
He joined the Royal Militia Island of Jersey, initially as surgeon to the West Regiment, rising to the rank of surgeon lieutenant-colonel in both the Militia and the Army Medical Reserve.
Politics
In 1895 he was elected a Deputy for St Helier, topping the poll in the 1898 election. In 1899 he was elected unopposed Jurat, and in 1906 was appointed Lieut-Bailiff. During his years in politics he took a particular interest in the promotion of public health, and was largely responsible for the local Pharmacy Act, among others.
He served as president of the Jersey Medical Association, the General Hospital Committee, the CoOmmittee of the Home for Boys, the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society, the Jersey Humane Society, the Jersey Cycling Club, the Jersey Eisteddfod and the Jersey Swimming Club. He was consultant physician to the Jersey Dispensary.
He died in 1917.
