Lord Bach is new to Sark but not totally unfamiliar with it. (0719890)

IT is always nice to start this column with some good news and I’m delighted to say that Sark’s Anglican minister, the Rev. Graham Leworthy, was finally discharged from hospital in Guernsey a week ago – five months almost to the day since he suffered a stroke.

I’m told – and he may well guess who told me – that he is now convalescing in Guernsey and I’m sure everyone here hopes that he continues to make progress and that it won’t be too long before he’s back with us, doing all that he does at St Peter’s Church and, when time permits, spending time in his art studio being an artist who happens also to be a minister, as he succinctly puts it.

Talking of those who’ve been in hospital, young Cameron Nigbur is now at his first home in Sark after having arrived somewhat unexpectedly while parents David and Lisa were in Guernsey, where Lisa was having a routine scan.

I saw this happy young family the other day – two proud parents and a buggy containing what looked like a very small but nonetheless very content little person.

While this might upset some of the purists, I happen to believe that this young man will be entitled to call himself a true Sarkee – despite having been born away from these shores.

The reason I say that is because Cameron was born at Moores Hotel and, as most people over here are aware, that is affectionately known by this island’s residents as the Sark Embassy in Guernsey.

Given that embassies are treated by host governments as the embassy’s own country’s soil, doesn’t it therefore follow that Cameron Nigbur is a Sarkee?

Lord Bach, the parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Justice Ministry, popped over to Sark last week and, having chatted to him for about three minutes, I got the impression that he actually wanted to come here.

I say that for several reasons, the first of which is that he came to Sark despite having had the trip postponed for a day because it was blowing a bit. Additionally, he had actually met the Chief Pleas Committee he was due to have talks with – General Purposes and Advisory – in Guernsey because they were there for talks with Guernsey politicians.

The fact that he came and spent time chatting to other Chief Pleas members is to his credit, as is the fact that he appeared to be better briefed – not to mention a good deal nicer – than some other distinguished visitors who have received this island’s traditional hospitality.

Indeed, he expressed the hope to me that he would be given the opportunity to return and spend a little longer here.

Lord Bach’s visit was his first but he told me that he had heard a good deal about the island from friends who have been coming to Sark for 35 to 40 years.

Hopefully, he will be in situ in his ministerial office long enough to learn more about Sark and how it works and will be able to be of considerable help to the island.

Every small community, and Sark is no exception, needs as many friends as it can muster, particularly those in high places.

• The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net.

Lord Bach is new to Sark but not totally unfamiliar with it. (0719890)

IT is always nice to start this column with some good news and I’m delighted to say that Sark’s Anglican minister, the Rev. Graham Leworthy, was finally discharged from hospital in Guernsey a week ago – five months almost to the day since he suffered a stroke.

I’m told – and he may well guess who told me – that he is now convalescing in Guernsey and I’m sure everyone here hopes that he continues to make progress and that it won’t be too long before he’s back with us, doing all that he does at St Peter’s Church and, when time permits, spending time in his art studio being an artist who happens also to be a minister, as he succinctly puts it.

Talking of those who’ve been in hospital, young Cameron Nigbur is now at his first home in Sark after having arrived somewhat unexpectedly while parents David and Lisa were in Guernsey, where Lisa was having a routine scan.

I saw this happy young family the other day – two proud parents and a buggy containing what looked like a very small but nonetheless very content little person.

While this might upset some of the purists, I happen to believe that this young man will be entitled to call himself a true Sarkee – despite having been born away from these shores.

The reason I say that is because Cameron was born at Moores Hotel and, as most people over here are aware, that is affectionately known by this island’s residents as the Sark Embassy in Guernsey.

Given that embassies are treated by host governments as the embassy’s own country’s soil, doesn’t it therefore follow that Cameron Nigbur is a Sarkee?

Lord Bach, the parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Justice Ministry, popped over to Sark last week and, having chatted to him for about three minutes, I got the impression that he actually wanted to come here.

I say that for several reasons, the first of which is that he came to Sark despite having had the trip postponed for a day because it was blowing a bit. Additionally, he had actually met the Chief Pleas Committee he was due to have talks with – General Purposes and Advisory – in Guernsey because they were there for talks with Guernsey politicians.

The fact that he came and spent time chatting to other Chief Pleas members is to his credit, as is the fact that he appeared to be better briefed – not to mention a good deal nicer – than some other distinguished visitors who have received this island’s traditional hospitality.

Indeed, he expressed the hope to me that he would be given the opportunity to return and spend a little longer here.

Lord Bach’s visit was his first but he told me that he had heard a good deal about the island from friends who have been coming to Sark for 35 to 40 years.

Hopefully, he will be in situ in his ministerial office long enough to learn more about Sark and how it works and will be able to be of considerable help to the island.

Every small community, and Sark is no exception, needs as many friends as it can muster, particularly those in high places.