The late John Jackson, medal-winning shooter and Sark benefactor. (0454861)

ST PETER’S Church was packed earlier this week for the funeral of John Jackson, a shooting medallist at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia, and for many years the proprietor of the island’s largest bicycle-hire business.

Mr Jackson, who was 74 and, with his wife Isabel, would have celebrated 50 years of marriage later this year, had been unwell for some time.

Anglican minister the Rev. Graham Leworthy spoke of Mr Jackson’s contribution to the sport of shooting in Sark and said that it was largely because of him setting up a range in the north of the island and the encouragement he gave to younger sportsmen that Sark had achieved so much success in subsequent Island Games competitions.

A large number of the shooting fraternity came to Sark for the funeral service and Mr Leworthy said that Mr Jackson’s death was a loss to that community.

Mr Jackson had lived here for over half a century, having come originally on a camping holiday after army service, which included a spell in Cyprus at the time of the Eoka troubles.

Mr Leworthy spoke also of Mr Jackson’s generosity during his lifetime – always anonymous – to the Sark community and said that he had provided the funds for two ambulances over the years and had also paid for the large television screen at the new Island Hall

After referring to Mr Jackson’s time as a member of Chief Pleas, Mr Leworthy said: ‘He made a serious contribution to the life of Sark.’

My own dealings with him were sometimes serious but more frequently funny, for he had an often wicked sense of humour. Indeed, at our first meeting – several months after my arrival – he pronounced very loudly in the Island Stores (which he built) that he had seen that I had written ‘your usual rubbish’.

When I’d responded by asking who’d read it to him, he laughed and we got on famously after that.

That’s another of the island’s characters gone, I’m sad to say.

A people’s meeting at the Island Hall. (0638051)

Sark’s first general election is now almost three months away – Chief Pleas meets next month for its last statutory meeting under the present system – and a couple of members have organised a meeting to explain the amount of time likely to be involved in the work of government.

Helen Plummer and Diane Baker have organised the gathering – to be held on 25 September in the Island Hall – and both are at pains to stress that the meeting is not a political one but simply an opportunity for those considering standing for election to hear a little from sitting members about what is involved.

I think it’s an excellent idea and it would do no harm at all for others perhaps not offering themselves for election to understand just how much members – both elected and otherwise, hitherto – actually do for their fellow Sark residents.

With the new composition, the number in the House will be reduced from the theoretical 50 or so at present to 28 conseillers – a figure reached, incidentally, by determining how many tenants and elected deputies actually sat on committees. That was felt to be an appropriate number, providing everyone played a full role in committee work – something which has not happened in the fairly recent past.

Just a diary note now for those who plan things well ahead. I am told that next year’s sheep race meeting will be held on the weekend of 18 and 19 July and not as previously announced.

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