Methodist lay pastor David Hollingsworth is nearing the completion of the wall painting at Lorraine Nicolle’s shop. (0845488)

STREET art – as distinct from graffiti – is not something usually associated with Sark, principally because other than The Avenue, streets are few and far between.

But while the island may be a little short on streets, it has a tradition of not only producing some extremely talented artists of its own but also of giving a home to those from further afield – the centenary reproduction of Toplis’ beautifully illustrated The Book of Sark which is nearing completion provides ample evidence of that.

Now there is another in our midst – Methodist lay pastor David Hollingsworth, who earlier in the summer asked potter and silversmith Lorraine Nicolle if he could paint the wall of her shop. He explained that it was a way of thanking her – presumably for the time she always has for everyone, not to mention the occasional cup of tea – and he estimates that it will be finished in a week or so.

I know precious little about art, but in common with many in that position I know what I like looking at and this transformation of a dull, grey stretch of cement into something quite lovely certainly comes into that category.

David told me that he had tried to depict the past, present and future of Sark and I just hope that the view through the painted archway illustrates the future because it is a calm and peaceful scene.

There are two figures in the painting and that of Lorraine at her potter’s wheel is instantly recognisable. There is also a horse, carriage and driver and as the painting has developed over the last couple of months or so, I could have sworn that the driver was Ann Rive. Not so, said David.

‘It’s really a composite of three people, one of whom is no longer with us but there is some of Ann in it,’ he said.

Because so few people use the small lane leading to the pottery, even some local residents have no idea what David has been doing. For visitors who are interested in taking a peek, the lane to which I refer is just before the Island Stores on the left going up The Avenue.

It’s well worth a look.

I know that there are a number of Guernsey residents – and perhaps some also from further afield – who are always interested on what is happening at St Peter’s Anglican church.

I am told by the Rev. Richard Bellinger, who has been standing in for Graham Leworthy while the latter makes steady progress after a stroke a year or so ago, that there will be a special service at St Peter’s next month.

It is a thanksgiving service for pets and animals and it will be held on Sunday 4 October at 2.30pm. No doubt there will be a reference during the service, either in song or in prayer, to ‘all creatures great and small’.

While on the subject of animals, it would be nice if more dog owners followed the example of what I believe to be a minority and picked up the mess their pets leave behind. There is a more than adequate number of special dog mess bins around.

It’s Chief Pleas next week and it will be interesting to see if members race through the agenda as they have done since the advent of democratic rule. I’m told that some members prefer matters to be thrashed out prior to public discussion, which seems a pity.

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