The Earl and Countess of Wessex were in the island on Tuesday. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0801434)

WHAT with the weekend’s Lord’s Taverners extravaganza followed a couple of days later by the visit of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, celebrity-spotters visiting Sark must have thought they were in paradise, in more ways than one.

While some of the Lord’s Taverners regulars from EastEnders couldn’t make it this time – and mainstay Wendy Richards sadly died earlier this year – guests such as Robert Powell and his wife Babs, Frazer Hines and Lorraine Chase were among those who played a part in what is one of the Channel Islands’ biggest annual charity events.

Also there was impressionist and comedian Jon Culshaw, who brought along up his own personal guests – Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, George W Bush and Barack Obama.

Compere Barry Williams conducted the post-lunch auction and that raised more than £30,000 in what seemed to me to be no time at all.

One of the highlights of the day had to be the bidding for what was billed as the ultimate Sark fashion statement – a pair of Elizabeth Perree’s green wellies, donated and modelled by the Little Sark resident herself.

These went for the princely sum of £300 no less – the rate at which money was being thrown at this charity was mind-boggling – while a candlelit dinner for two at Elizabeth’s La Sablonnerie Hotel went for £600.

The top bid went to the prize of a three-night break at the Monaco Grand Prix which went for something in excess of £4,500 – the bidding at the lunch did not reach a previously tabled bid from someone not attending – while a one-week stay for two at the Rickety Bridge Country House in Franschhoek, South Africa, sold for £3,500.

Having visited the Rickety Bridge Vinery, all I can say is that whoever bought that will have a great time.

Franschhoek is a lovely town in a lovely part of the world.

There were a lot of generous souls there or thereabout – both donors and purchasers – and their generosity will bring a lot of pleasure to a lot of people and, as the Lord’s Taverners say of themselves, the money raised will be used ‘giving young people, particularly those with special needs, a sporting chance’.
The Royal Visit was an extremely informal occasion – I could scarcely believe it when I saw the majority of men in the welcoming party tie-less – but informality was the keyword as the Earl and Countess chatted to as many people as they could at La Collinette. They had come up Harbour Hill – as do the majority of our visitors – on the tractor-drawn bus (the toast rack, as it’s affectionately known) and given the sort of lives they lead, it was quite probably the first time Prince Edward and his wife had been on a bus together. I’d be interested if anyone could tell me otherwise.

Both of them seemed genuinely interested in finding out who they were talking to – Sark resident or tourist – and interested also in what the tourists thought of the island. Thankfully, from where I was standing, all the responses were favourable, which was nice to hear. The Earl and Countess seemed to be enjoying themselves as they set off from the Collinette. I hope they had a nice visit. I had to smile as Michelle Perree arrived with her horse and carriage – she, along with Rossford de Carteret and Mick Noel were part of the official wagon train – because she was carrying a small placard carrying her personal objection to the move to make the wearing of hats in Chief Pleas by women Conseillers optional. Although this is being written before Wednesday’s sitting of the legislature, I understand that the proposal may be withdrawn. I hope so because then they’ll be able to concentrate on real issues.

Heaven knows, there are enough of them.

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