THE island has received a glowing review from a distinguished travel writer.

Sam Lewis, who writes for The Times, said many are tipping it as the ‘next big thing’ for those who wish to take an alternative short break.

The reviewer also heaped praise on the Braye Beach Hotel and spoke of Queen Victoria’s fondness for the island.

‘Alderney seems to have retained much of what the UK has lost,’ wrote Lewis.

‘Few residents bother to lock their homes or cars (crime is still such a rarity); there’s no traffic (the speed limit is 35mph); taxes are low (there’s no VAT, inheritance of capital gain tax); and many wild things (from children to chickens and the rather unusual blond hedgehog) run freely in the streets and wild across the land.’

Visit www.timesonline.co.uk for more.

It is the second time in 12 months that nobody has stood for election to the States, so perhaps no one should be unduly shocked. However, a re-run of the 2007 by-election attracted four candidates, so it’s perhaps a little odd that not one of the defeated three decided to stand this time around.

Despite no one coming forward, this result is perhaps the lesser of two evils. Had only one person stood, he or she would have been elected unopposed and that would have given them absolutely no mandate but afforded them the chance to help run the island as they see fit.

Maybe it should be pointed out that being an Alderney States member is not an easy task.

For starters, there is no civil service to rely on and teams of advisers don’t emerge to help manipulate any quote or press statement.

Furthermore, spin doctors don’t rally round when there’s bad publicity to be taken care of and there is only a small reward in the form of remuneration.

However, the opportunity to serve the island and improve it for the people who live and visit here is often enough to entice a field of candidates.

Let’s hope, for the sake of democracy, that a rearranged by-election attracts at least two nominations.

On board the Commandant Fourcault on the penultimate day of the Elizabethan wreck expedition. (0595819)

Finally, I’d like to thank Mensun Bound and his team of divers for allowing me onboard Commandant Fourcault last week.

It was the penultimate day of the Elizabethan wreck expedition and I was invited aboard to cover the raising of a 400-year-old cannon.

It was hoisted on to the ship shortly before 4.30pm but not before a few hiccups earlier in the day.

Firstly our rib, a powered dinghy, broke down just a few hundred metres from the ship, which was anchored off Corblets Bay.

Then it looked as if poor conditions would rob the hungry press pack, which included a crew from the BBC’s Timewatch programme, of any action to report on.

Thankfully, everything turned out all right.

The weather improved at just the right moment for Mensun and his team, who all deserved a stroke of luck for their wonderful hospitality and endless enthusiasm.