Gurkhas honour Burma campaign veteran Fred
Saturday 14th May 2011, 10:00AM BST.
A presentation was made to Burma campaign veteran Fred Teers. 0233789
HAVING written a month or so ago about Sark School’s No Talking Day – and managing to upset at least one Chief Pleas member in the process by suggesting that the legislature has held four of those a year since 2008 – head teacher Sarah Cottle told me this week that they raised more than £1,600 (and still rising) simply by keeping quiet.
For 39 pupils and a handful of staff members, that figure in aid of the Red Cross appeal for victims of this year’s natural disasters in New Zealand and Japan is yet another example of the extraordinary spirit of generosity that runs right through this small community.
I said ‘still rising’ because when I spoke to Sarah on Monday of this week, the figure was just over £1,450, yet by the following afternoon it had risen to £1,600 – a splendid effort on the part of all concerned; children, school staff and donors.
As reported earlier in the week, the visit of the Chelsea Pensioners and the Gurkhas on Sark’s Liberation Day – a day later than the other islands – was its customary success. The inclusion of the young Gurkhas gave me and many others the most heart-warming feeling, principally because of the natural courtesy and affection they showed to their elderly fellow visitors.
I watched the pensioners getting on and off carriages and each time there were at least a couple of the serving soldiers there to give assistance. A lovely example of the natural respect these young men show to an older generation.
The visit was also marked by the presentation to Fred Teers – 96 in July and a veteran of the Second World War Burma campaign – by the Gurkhas of a hat badge, which Fred wore with obvious pride for the remainder of the day.
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Rossford de Carteret has resigned his seat as a conseiller. He was one of only five tenants who moved from having a seat by right in the old legislature to being elected to the assembly in the historic 2008 election for 28 conseillers.
His resignation now forces a long-awaited by-election because the Reform Law which changed our system of government provided for one to be held only when there were at least three vacancies.
That has meant that since the resignation of David Pollard in September 2009 and the death of Dr Stephen Henry in November of that year, Chief Pleas has been two members short of its full complement.
But even now, it looks as if the electorate will still have to wait until August at least before the three replacements can take their seats. This is because a by-election can be ordered only after Chief Pleas has made an ordinance ordering such an event and the next meeting is the midsummer one in July.
Without putting too fine a point on it, that sort of situation – both the delay in replacing members and the requirement that the full assembly is involved in the legal process of by-elections – is plainly ludicrous and should be addressed.
The simple way would be to remove the power to order the by-election from the legislature and hand it to the Seneschal’s Court with the stipulation that the court shall make the order within a given interval after the vacancy occurs – say one calendar month.
No doubt someone will have something to say about that and as long as it’s not the familiar ‘Sark is different’ excuse for doing nothing, I’m happy that they do so.
l The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net.
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It’s pretty obvious where Phil sits on the “coupee” between old – “Sark is different” and new “everyone/thing has a price, ‘elf n safety first, sense of humour failure, Sark”, so I had to laugh at this observation:
“A lovely example of the natural respect these young men show to an older generation,”
No one has told our Kev and his gang that, have they?
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Larky
Actually, nobody has needed to say anything at all.
Hospitality & refreshments were laid on.
You are wrong yet again.
What a wonderful web you weave.
What is your point?
I fathom none at all. Just a catalogue of inaccuracies & innuendos.
I think you, as well as anybody else, would be stunned by the welcome, friendliness & enthusiasm everybody is shown by the SEM team.
You like to comment with little validity to back anything up
You make yourself appear very foolish indeed.
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@Paul:
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear… I think I just wet myself.
Having experienced first hand the “SEM team” guarding no man’s land round the wasteland of the vineyards, I suspect you are actually being held prisoner by Kevin, since these messages are plainly so absurd that they must be some sort of coded plea to be rescued.
But I fear that whatever you did to deserve your fate was probably so horrible, that hope may be a very long time coming… too bad we cannot your screams about the thunder of earth clearing machinery 8-)
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@Larky
Having just read your post May19 7.01 YOU HAVE MADE MY DAY!!! Shan’t stop CHUCKLING on that one for quite a while. SOOOOO similar to the humour in Roald Dahls’ book “Revolting Rhymes” (written for children of course) but what a HUMOUR!! A Brilliant wit! If he were alive today I would commission him to write on the current situation in Sark in his own inimitable style. That would really bring world wide attention to the Island.
Signed: Sqarking Fag-Butt raving, ranting, venomous, lunatic Lil of Sark. Wow!!Anyone over there got more to add to the list? Now there’s an epitaph for my headstone. Cheers from Oz.
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Just wondering – are all Sark people like those who post comments here. Seems to me to be full of vitriol. Is no-one happy on that little island or is this just the ravings of a mad few.
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@Robbie
Actually, it’s more like the “The Mad One” and his henchpersons.
The vast majority of the people of Sark just want to get on and live their rather unique and delightful lifestyle, and not get sucked into the maelstrom of bitching that swirls around SEM and its tireless propaganda.
Try as they may to justify replacing the generally diffident and functional “Noblesse Oblige” consensus style of feudalism that worked for 450 years, with the entirely more disconcerting and brutal brand of feudalism that money has bought, they aren’t getting very far when they make promises like:
“There will be better opportunities for Islanders to find employment as chefs, waiters and waitresses, receptionists, housekeepers and laundry and maintenance personnel. There will be a growing market for fishermen, farmers, gardeners, market-gardeners, bee-keepers, winemakers, bakers, brewers and jam-makers as well as for shopkeepers, artisans and artists. There will also be openings for skilled managers, accountants, clerks and secretaries – to mention but a few.”
Compound that with a generous all-expenses paid chance to go and tug forelocks on Brecqhou, accompanied by a 21 gun salute (do they have licenses for those canons?) – and you will understand that this situation is beyond parody.
Please continue to watch this space as matters unfold!
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@ Robbie
No Robbie not ALL of Sarks natives are unhappy but there is a LOT of tension there and quite a lot of friction between a number of posters on the subject of Sark.
Perhaps too many of us have caught the bug of vitriol from K. Delaneys’ “Sark Newsletter”, present edition isn’t too too bad. But some OMG!!
Myself, I actually live “Down Under” in Australia but I do have an interest in the current situation in Sark for personal reasons. Don’t worry we’re not REALLY mad, ARE WE FOLKS????? But I have had that levelled at me, but NO WORRIES!!! Water off a Ducks back.
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@Margaret
Since you live in the antipodes, keep an eye open for Kevin when the hole that he has dug for himself and his employers finally breaks through.
As you say, the last Sark News was a restrained studiously green issue – although it made no mention of SEM’s less-than-green Easter incineration of the ancient gorse habitat – presumably to make way for yet more absurd grape vines.
May I suggest that Kev & Co don’t just set out to hug a few bunnies, but go all the way, and try hugging a few polar bears? I am assured that they are even cuddlier!
Toodle pip…
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Forgive me for interrupting the long line of posts about SEM, Kevin, vineyard thugs et al I had to go back and read Phil’s letter again to remind myself of the contents of his newsletter. My only comment is that, in agreement with Phil, it is totally daft to have to wait for months and months to get an election sorted out.
Waiting for a third person to die, fall ill or get fed up with being ignored at C.P’s so resign is a situation that should never have been allowed to happen. Someone drops out – OK – vote someoneback in their place within say six weeks. What is the problem. They seem to be abe to change every other law at the drop of a hat so why not sort this one out as quickly as anchorages in Dixcart, getting stroppy about someone taking off a roof and replacing it with a new one exactly the same, john Donnelly’s excavations etc. etc.
As for the Gurkhas I lived near their barracks years ago in the UK and they are a lovely polite and kind people who are a credit to the British Army. Fred has always had a affinity to them with every good reason.
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@Jay
I think the answer is that the re-election process is enshrined in the rather onerous new constitution, and modifications to that holy of holies is likely to require more process than the “operational” matters you mention.
You are not, by any chance, hankering back to the Bad Old Days, BB, when common sense process was not subject to careful review by some off-island jobsworth, are you?
Mind you, if one of the conseillers had been taken out by a falling roof, a wayward excavation or falling overboard in Dixcart Bay, then maybe two birds could have been killed with one stone? So to speak…
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Fred Teers,
I hope that I shan’t be embarrassing you too much, but I have to say you have a most beautiful smile and I can well see that you would make a wonderful ambassador for Sark in fact the VERY BEST may I say.
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Hello “Larky”
Yes indeed I live in the antipodes of Oz.
Thank you for the warning that some undesirable characters are tunnelling through to our shores. I shall be waiting on the edge of their exit hole with my 2 pet Salt Water Crocs which I have kept relatively hungry, they will be only too happy to dine on those you mentioned (and a number of others listed in my Black Book) to satisfy their rumbling tums. Then perhaps we can all go home and as the fairy tale says Live Happy Ever After!!!!
Toodle-Pip to you too Larky. Keep AT IT! so to speak.
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Margaret:
I think I have uncovered some earth shattering news. I believe that everything going on in the name of Brecqhou and SEM is in fact dramatic performance art! And that the vineyards are in fact an “installation”.
Has anyone ever seen Gilbert and George in the same room and Freddie and Dave? No? Well then, there’s your proof…
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Margaret Le Page
Do you think your funny with your poor attempt at wit?.
I dont believe you have genuine concerns over sark? you just want to come on hear and show everyone how clever you are with your sarcastic humour which you obviously think is funny.
Your just boring and childish.
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@”bcb”
Thank you for that, 2 more descriptive words to add to my epitaph. No Worries!! My concern for Sark is extremely genuine and if you haven’t got the gist of ALL my posts yet, may I say you are another to add to my list of some who have their heads well and truely stuck in the sand of La Bette, beware the high tides there!!
I would also suggest to you that you go to night school to learn correct spelling. Another suggestion for you, each of my posts has my name at the beginning, if you find them boring and childish, why bother to read them???
Cheers from Oz!!
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P.S. to my most recent comment which was referring to “bcb”s comment.
If you are a child then you have my deepest apologies and yes my wit will never be on a par with Roald Dahls’ that’s for sure. So please ignore my ANY of my posts. They are of NO INTEREST to you.
ALL my posts are for ADULTS preferably???
However if you are NOT A CHILD I withdraw my apologies.
Cheers from Oz!
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@”bcb”
Having just discovered on other threads, that you are supposedly ADULT??? I WITHDRAW my earlier (silly me!) apologies to you.
Cheers from Oz!
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Margaret Le Page and Larky are pathetically dull individuals. They are here to do nothing other than wind up others with there worthless rabble. Neither have a valid point to make. Best to ignore the pair of them. I have read most comments. What can be said other than lame trolls? Do not feed there appetites. Sad individuals.
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Margaret you are so unbelievably stupid. La Bette is a rocky platform that is a naturist area on Guernsey. Gosh you are an irritating waste of space. Troll somewhere else with your salt water crocs. You bore everybody.
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Oooooooooops!!!!!
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Margaret Le Page
Thanks for the advice. I have been to night school and corrected my spelling, look.
here
here
here.
Actually i dont like this stupid childish sarcastic wit i`ll leave that to you as your soooo good at it.
And three posts directed straight at me so quickly after mine. Hmm did i touch a nerve?.
Just for the record my job (which i`m good at) does not require me to be very good at spelling, thank God eh.
I heven`t said anywhere which side of the fence i am on regarding Sark but just because someone has a different opinioin to yours it doesn`t mean they have their head stuck in the sand.
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Another Margaret Le P rambling blog.
If Oz is really so boring – and Sark so fascinating you feel the need to comment on everything that happens there – then why don’t you actually live there, love?
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Oh dear. bcb and Observant appear to have been possessed by the soul of Paul. Or may be they are doing his illiterate bidding in return for being bought several pints of snakebite in the Mermaid?
An exorcism seems in order!
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Larky
This has nothing to do with paul and i haven`t got a clue who he is.
I was commenting on the pathetic sarcastic posts of that woman who obviously thinks she is so clever and witty with her words.
And judgeing by your last post i can only assume your an alias of M Le Page?.
And if thats the way she speaks to people i`m sure it won`t be long before the Aussie`s cant wait to see the back of her.
She is nothing more than some clever cloggs who likes to use a lot of words to say very little.
Best rant i`ve had in ages
Thanks for helping me with that :)
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bcb
I would like to clear up a few points with you if you don’t mind.
1. There is NO connection between Larky and myself! We do have 1 thing in common the future of Sarks’ (as a whole) well being.
2. None of my comments (whether they be pathetic sarcasm, etc.etc.) are not to prove whether I’m a clever clogs with words or like to see my comments on any of these threads (In fact I grow quite weary of them as Ebenezer Le Page would say.)
3. One thing I would ask of you please, just become more aware of what is actually happening on Sark and has been happening there for quite a long time. Years in fact.
4. My reputation and ego is of the least importance to me when weighed against the importance of (again) Sarks’ reputation and future. And that in fact is how deeply I feel about the place.
Cheers from Oz! (Another beautiful Island)
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@The lot of you
Whatever the debate here explores in terms of personalities and insults, the key issue remains that Sark has been maintained as something special and different for a very long time by people who have the best interests of all concerned (which includes their own interests, of course) in mind, and that there are now obvious commercial interests in conflict with the underlying principles that keep Sark “different”. Is Sark a better place when long established family hoteliers and landowners take the pragmatic option, and are willing to escape the war of attrition being waged on reputations?
It is ironic that after 450 years of peaceful feudal rule – which could only ever be kept working through the application of consensus, respect, community and cooperation – money is assumed to be all that matters.
The term “democracy” has been worn out through over use and abuse; but when this “democracy” delivered the decision of the people, Kevin Delaney poignantly described the original election result as a ” commercial suicide note” – and promptly shut down the businesses in SEM’s remit.
His vision of a future of serving SEM’s hospitality empire is not universally welcomed and to criticise anyone involved in “tax efficiency” is woefully hypocritical.
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@ Larky
My apologies for coming in on the end of your excellent and eloquent comment, and who on earth should be ashamed of eloquence?
Just 1 more point for “bcb” to mull over, if your ego was slightly bruised by a couple of my comments directed at you, try walking in a number of peoples’ shoes on Sark receiving week in and week out, for at least 4 years character assasinations plus full page ads. in the Guernsey Press.
As for “observant” well one can only surmise that “he” is the Yeti discovered in the Swiss Alps and locked away and eventually found freedom by beating his head against the door. Golly Gosh that must have hurt.
@To You All
Has this ever occurred to you, that had Sark not been a 0% Tax Haven there would have been none of the current dissention happening today.
Sark has been used and abused by many individuals trying to get rich quick signing off on as many directorship forms as possible and then opting out of the Island, unfortunately a number of these individuals are still in situ there. Sad to say. (and I’m certainly not including Seigneur Beaumont in that statement).
My apologies go to Phil Falle for posting here after his excellent article I have no wish to detract from that.
Cheers from Oz!
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@ Venus Pool
Your point about itinerant abusers taking advantage of the tax jurisdiction is well made; but some of us are working very hard on alternative and worthwhile futures for Sark and its inhabitants that don’t solely involve service SEM hospitality premises or picking grapes.
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@Larky
Or even more boring, treading the grapes. Which there is no modern technology that can replace that best method of making the wine in extracting the juice.
Cheers.
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Again @Larky
Point taken. So I shall b+&&*r off and mind my own business. I have only 1 more point to make and that is that SEM and K.Delaney & Co. + a number of others, should never have been allowed to get a foothold in Sark in the first place. The past 2 decades in the history of Sark will certainly not go down well in its’ future history, and I for one curl up in shame that I have any connections to the Island through 200 years of antecedants buried there, may they R.I.P.
However Good Luck in your endeavours.
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