Isabel Perchard with son-in-law David Pollard at Mon Plaisir Stores, which shuts tomorrow after 82 years as one of Sark’s best-known shops. (0745997)

MORE than 80 years of Sark history comes to an end tomorrow when Mon Plaisir Stores closes its doors for the last time.

Isabel and Frank Perchard and their daughter and son-in-law Karen and David Pollard have all decided that it’s time to call it a day on a business that was started by Isabel’s aunt, Mazel Baker, in 1927.

Far from feeling too sad about the decision, the family all agree that they are happy to move on to something new. When I spoke to Isabel and David – Frank was carting cargo from that day’s boat and Karen was at work as a classroom assistant at Sark School – both were at pains to impress upon me how much they wanted to express their thanks for their customers’ loyalty.

‘We have had such loyal customers and we are grateful to all of them,’ said Isabel. ‘Among them are people who’ve bought things from us all their lives. Until she died, “Granny” Alice de Carteret was one of them.’

Isabel took over the shop – which sits on the family’s tenement opposite the Methodist chapel – 47 years ago and her husband started deliveries (as well as both working on the family farm) two years later. In recent years, her daughter and son-in-law became more and more involved in the business and they oversaw its transition from a shop with the traditional counter in front of all the goods and produce (along with a bench for waiting customers to sit on) to the walk-in and walk-around store it became.

But Isabel and Frank also remained involved and for many residents were regular sights – Frank driving the tractor and Isabel riding shotgun, so to speak – as they travelled to homes all over the island when they were delivering orders.

However, the shop became equally well known to many thousands of visitors over the years, some of whom were no doubt doing what we did before we came to live here and pausing for a cool drink or perhaps nothing more than a rest for weary legs at those very convenient tables and chairs on the grass in front of the shop.

Indeed, since we moved here, my grandchildren have without exception all made what they called ‘the sweetie shop’ – so named because Mon Plaisir retained the practice of keeping sweets in traditional glass jars long after most other outlets had stopped – one of their first ports of call after their arrival.

Sadly, after tomorrow the sweetie shop will be no more. I haven’t plucked up the courage to tell them yet. In common with many other residents, as well as lots of visitors, I will miss this little shop.

I have said more than once that Sark children are a bright and self-sufficient lot and, as if further evidence was needed, the newspaper they produced – the Sark Herald – that was published in the Guernsey Press last week was once again a credit to them and their school’s staff.

I have read it cover to cover and – I’m being serious here – Sark’s Tourism Committee could do worse than send a copy to everyone who enquires about coming to the island this year.

It’s full of news and suggestions for things to do and is a splendid advertisement for Sark at a time when, for one reason or another, the island could do with all the good publicity it can get.Many congratulations to everyone involved.

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