FRED TEERS is Sark’s local Ambassador of the Year. The 94-year-old island resident was given the award by Sark’s Chamber of Commerce at its annual dinner and awards ceremony last week.
The overseas Ambassador of the Year is Martin Clunes, whose television documentary series on islands provided a substantial boost to Sark’s tourism industry earlier this year. His citation said that not since Derek Jacobi brought Mr Pye to life on television has Sark received such extraordinarily positive publicity as when he enrolled as Rossford de Carteret’s non-indentured carriage driving apprentice.
The citation continued: ‘We must also thank Martin for his reassuring message to the great British public that Sark trees are indeed made of wood.’
Unfortunately, I missed the awards dinner as I was out of the island – I do not subscribe to the anglicised ‘off island’ expression as I live in Sark, not on it – but I am told that Fred’s award was particularly well received by members and their guests.
Chamber president Peter Tonks said that Fred (pictured) was ‘lured’ to the dinner on the pretence that the Chamber wanted him to recite one of his own pieces of poetry about his adopted island home but after he’d done that he was presented with his award.
His citation referred to his bringing credit to Sark when he represented the island’s branch of the Royal British Legion at the annual service of remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall several years ago.
It continued: ‘His cheerful personality and ability to be positive about all manner of things, and particularly his adopted island home, make him a true island ambassador. He has also decided that it’s time to give his reindeer a rest.’
Brian Mercer, a familiar face to visiting sports men and women was described by Peter Tonks as yet another of Sark’s unsung heroes. His citation referred to the work he carries out preparing the Millennium Field for all manner of sporting events, many of which involve visiting teams, and his keenness in promoting Sark and its facilities as a sporting venue.
General services to the community were recognised in awards to Methodist lay pastor David Hollingsworth and the late Dr Stephen Henry, one of the inaugural conseillers in the new Chief Pleas.
There was a joint award for Business Person of the Year to Julie Mann and Robert Taylour, whose joint efforts, expertise and willingness to take bold and often unpopular measures effectively rescued Sark Shipping in financial terms – the citation said that that in financial terms the company was ‘perilously close to sinking faster than the Titanic’ when they took the helm.
A Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to the Community went to Jennifer Cochrane, who for over 30 years was very much the media’s voice in Sark through her work for the publications for which she wrote as well as those she published.
Another popular recipient was Terry Regan, whose Lifetime Achievement Award for Craftsmanship centred principally on his skill as a stonemason in the renovation of Beauregard Cottage, but also focussed on his willingness to impart his skills to the next generation of craftsmen.
The president’s award – the prerogative of Chamber president Peter Tonks – went jointly to Alex Magell and Kevin Delaney, principally in recognition of the level of inward investment by them and their associates.
There is just room to refer to another event last week – the Sark Drama Group’s cheese and wine evening, which raised more than £600 towards funding future productions. The group’s chairman, Wendy Adams, told me that while there is no panto this year, a very full programme is planned for 2010, including a possible revue or two in the spring, something around Liberation Day and a pantomime next December.
Article posted on 18th December, 2009 - 10.00am
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