One of the areas earmarked for harnessing tidal power is Derrible Bay. (0726376)

WHEN commenting last week on the recent visit of Justice Department minister Lord Bach, I referred to him coming to Sark despite having already met the island’s General Purposes and Advisory Committee in Guernsey, who happened to be over there meeting politicians from that island.

I have a feeling it was the minister himself who told me that but if that was the case then we were both mistaken because General Purposes and Advisory was actually holding talks relating to renewable energy which, in Sark’s case, almost certainly means utilising tidal power to generate electricity.

I am grateful to the GP & A member who put me right, not only for correcting the error but also for the reassuring news that, despite the departure of Roger Olsen from the Sark political scene, this crucial issue has not been placed firmly on the back boiler.

No doubt the details of the Guernsey meeting will emerge in the fullness of time, unless they are commercially sensitive, but anything which will lead ultimately to a reduction in the cost of electricity for Sark residents – at present just two kilowatts costs in excess of £1 – will be met with universal approval here.

That figure illustrates just how important this subject is to Sark and despite the other pressing matters General Purposes and Advisory have on what must be a huge agenda, it’s good to know that they are taking this matter seriously.

Last November I wrote about the shop notice-boards fulfilling part of the function of a daily newspaper and illustrated this by referring to the considerable amount of money raised for very worthy causes by Rosemary Aldridge making and selling ‘Rosemary’s Preserves’ at the Post Office.

When that was written, Mrs Aldridge had just handed over £1,000 to the Professor Saint Medical Fund and £739 to be shared between the island’s fire and ambulance services, the Red Cross, Sark School, the music society and Floral Sark – the latter of which does so much to maintain and enhance Sark’s natural beauty.

Sadly, Mrs Aldridge died last week and not only has the island lost one of its many largely unsung fundraisers but also a very gracious lady whose courtesy and cheerful demeanour – even when she was ill – not only served as an example to many but were also reminiscent of a bygone age, when such things were the norm.

Occasionally, she commented about this column and while I’d like to think that most of those remarks were favourable, even when they were not, they were invariably accompanied by a most wonderful smile. She will be missed.

I had to go away a couple of Saturdays ago – it was Valentine’s Day – and I could not help contrasting the relatively small number of people who got off the Bon Marin as it arrived in Sark with the comparatively large crowd I saw as we arrived in Guernsey who were waiting to get on the Herm Trident.

The number of suitcases being taken on board suggested that most of those queuing were staying overnight and, it followed, had responded to what looked to be yet another excellent Herm marketing initiative.

While I readily acknowledge that such things are easier for Herm, simply because that island deals with its carrier on a one to one basis, it should not be rocket science for hoteliers, restaurateurs and guest-house proprietors to put together attractive packages with Sark Shipping in order to attract out of season business.

It seems to me to be an(other) opportunity missed.

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