Son touched by tributes to his late father
A PERSONAL tribute has been paid by the son of Sark's late Seigneur, Michael Beaumont, for the lasting 'legacy' left to him and the island.
On the day of his father's funeral, Major Christopher Beaumont described the 'very moving' tributes that had been paid.
He has immediately succeeded his father as Seigneur, but said the day was a very personal time for the family and his thoughts would be with his tight-knit family unit.
Major Beaumont was speaking after a special meeting of Chief Pleas during which touching tributes were paid to his father Mr Beaumont, OBE, who died unexpectedly at the age of 88 on Sunday, leaving many islanders still in deep shock.
'I am touched,' he said. 'I know just how much people admired what he has done for the island over the past 40 years.
'No Seigneur has seen quite so much change in their tenure. He has seen major constitutional change and he has left the island in a really good place.'
He said his father had left a fabulous legacy in the process.
The late Mr Beaumont was the 22nd Seigneur and had held the position since inheriting it from his grandmother, Dame Sybil Hathaway, in 1974. He was made an OBE in 2001.
His son described being taken aback when he was told he would immediately succeed his father as Seigneur.
He said he would not be turning his thoughts to his future role in Sark yesterday – it was a time for the family to be together and remember his father.
'The baton is passed straight away,' he said. 'I will pick it up and run with it. But perhaps not today.'
