Dave Brehaut, pictured far left in January last year with son-in-law David Nigbur and daughter Lisamarie following the early birth of their baby, Cameron David. Mr Brehaut’s death has shocked and saddened islanders. (0707692)

SARK’S close community has been stunned by the unexpected death a week ago of David Brehaut.

Dave, a building contractor who was only 50 years old, was taken ill last week and flown to Southampton, where he died on Friday.

He leaves a partner, Fiona, a daughter, Lisamarie – who with her husband David has a young son, Cameron – and two teenage sons, David and Jason.

When news of his death spread, the mood in Sark was as sombre as I have known it and in a poignant gesture that reflected that mood, the flag at the Bel Air Inn was at half mast throughout last weekend.

I did not know him well but vividly recall his evident pride and pleasure when I saw him not that many months ago pushing little grandson Cameron in a buggy not long after the little lad came home to Sark after his premature birth.

Everyone to whom I have spoken has told me of the pride he had in all his family. They were all regular participants in the cavalcade of floats in the days when Sark held its annual water carnival.

He will be sadly missed, not only by his extended family – which included, through his partner Fiona, the Guille and de Carteret families – but also by the wider community and we shall all mourn his sad and untimely death.

Sark’s reputation for thinking of others has been further enhanced – as if that was possible – by its response to the Haiti earthquake disaster.

As soon as the scale of the tragedy became apparent, a decision was made by Seigneur Michael Beaumont and Seneschal Reg Guille that a specific appeal would not be launched but residents would be asked to donate through the British Red Cross as it was felt that monies raised would be put to immediate use through this particular charity.

Red Cross co-ordinator Zoe Adams told me of the effort made by residents to raise money. For example, more than £620 was raised at a coffee morning, the children at Sark School placed coins worth £270 on a map of the stricken Caribbean island, a race night at the Island Hall organised by hall managers Sandra Williams and Sharon Boerenbeker along with members of the emergency services garnered a further £588, while a fun night at the Mermaid Tavern put on by Michelle Perree’s Simply Sark team has so far raised well over £1,000 – and that total is still increasing.

Zoe said that in addition, more than £1,200 has been given either by donations direct to her or placed in the collection tins that are in many of Sark’s business premises – a total of not that far off £4,000, which represents a truly outstanding effort from a community of just 600 people, and particularly so when there are very many other demands on time and money.

While on the subject of giving, the tens of thousands of pounds raised for the island’s principal charity – the Professor Saint Medical Trust – will be handed over next month at the annual cheque presentation night.

Carnival committee chairman Puffin Taylour – still in a state of shock, I suspect, from the success of the Win a Million Pennies draw – told me that it will be at the Island Hall on Saturday 13 March.

That particular event is as important as all the others run by the committee for it is there that they raise the ‘kitty’ which will kick-start the 2010 appeal. It includes a ‘guess the amount raised’ competition, the presentation itself and a two-course dinner.

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