The many and varied memorials in the cemetery opposite St Peter’s Anglican Church in Sark. An edict signed by douzaine chairman Conseiller Edric Baker now requires islanders to seek permission before having one put up. (0835197)

NEW rules requiring consent for memorials in Sark’s cemeteries have been introduced. An undated notice recently placed in island notice boxes and signed by douzaine chairman Conseiller Edric Baker states that it is now a requirement that anyone wishing to erect any type of memorial in any of the cemeteries must first apply to the douzaine.

Unless I’ve missed it – and this applies to other residents to whom I have spoken – the matter has never been put to the public for discussion, let alone debated by Chief Pleas.

Having walked around the cemeteries since reading the edict, I have to say that nothing I have seen seems inappropriate and the memorials themselves are many and varied and not dissimilar to the sort of stones in cemeteries elsewhere.

Perhaps an issue has arisen in which someone has expressed a wish to place a memorial that is wholly inappropriate and that is the reason for the douzaine issuing its ‘requirement’.

However, no reason or explanation has been given in Conseiller Baker’s somewhat terse notice. Hopefully, one of our newly-elected democratic government will ask for an explanation at the forthcoming Michaelmas meeting of the legislature.

In the meantime, those who wished to be remembered with an epitaph such as ‘a constant thorn in the side of Sark’s establishment’ written on their headstone had better hang on until this bit of bureaucratic nonsense – which hitherto Sark prides itself in not having – is sorted out.

So much for the sort of open government many were hoping would be part of the much-heralded democracy under which we are now ruled.

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Although the school holidays are now all but over, there is still enough happening in Sark to tempt those who either want or need a day or more away.

Tomorrow week – 12 September – sees the annual Celebration of the Sea at Michelle Perree’s domain at the north end of the island.

The 12-hour event – noon to midnight – promises a day and evening of music and fun and I am told that live music from bands and groups from the UK, France, Guernsey and Jersey is expected as well as food cooked by some of Sark’s top chefs.

That day also sees the annual Sark 10 and this year is the 28th in which the race has been run.

Apart from the main 10-mile run, which takes in most of the circumference of ‘big’ Sark but also includes crossing La Coupee into Little Sark, as well as the Dixcart Valley woods, there is also a 5km run as well as shorter races for youngsters.

Further information about entering can be found at sarkee.com.

The start time for the 10-mile run is 12.15pm.

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Some weeks ago I wrote about the Win a Million Pennies (£10,000 for those without calculators or mental arithmetic skills) and Sark Carnival Committee chairman Puffin Taylour told me this week that after a bit of a slow start, ticket sales are now picking up nicely.

The draw will take place at the end of January and tickets are £25 each.

Further information can be obtained by emailing Christine Audrain, the draw promoter, at audrain@cwgsy.net and I’m sure she’ll be happy to oblige.

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