Ugly scenes at panto
THE oft-used cliche, 'Sark is different' has a positive connotation when applied to this island at Christmas. Contrasted with the frenzy and gaudiness of a festival that elsewhere seemingly begins in early October, Sark's Christmas is a more sedate and traditional affair, as yet unexploited.
THE oft-used cliche, 'Sark is different' has a positive connotation when applied to this island at Christmas. Contrasted with the frenzy and gaudiness of a festival that elsewhere seemingly begins in early October, Sark's Christmas is a more sedate and traditional affair, as yet unexploited.
At night the festive lights that adorn the buildings at the Collenette and up through the Avenue shine without the competition of street lights and neon. There is no heaving and competing throng of people and no traffic noise or exhaust fumes. The mood is relaxed, familiar and friendly.
It could never happen in Oxford Street, but come Christmas Eve the Avenue is alive, as shoppers mix business with pleasure while enjoying the great variety of nibbles and drinks offered by each shop or bank – the home-made mince pies in HSBC were the best ever.
The shoppers spilled out into the road, leaning against walls while sipping cider or mulled wine – a social nuisance in other places, but here part of the festive ambience.
Carol singers slowly made their way from the top of the Avenue to the bottom, this their last call after five evenings already spent singing to almost every house on Sark. The singers hope to have raised more than £1,200, which will be shared between Help the Aged and the Two Sisters charities and a donation towards the purchase of an emergency medical grab-bag for the doctor. Well worth the sore throats and the trudging.
Cinderella was the Sark Theatre Group's precursor to Christmas this year.
It involved an army of volunteers of all ages and although probably purged of topical references, was nevertheless highly entertaining. Traditionally the pantomime has been used as an excuse for island men to cross-dress in public.
Without doubt the two ugly sisters redefined the adjective, although it must be stressed that Dave Cocksedge and Adrian Guille both possess unfair natural advantages.
Catherine Doyle was great as Max the Dog, but the plaudits went to Sarah Cottle, whose performance as Fairy Snow indicated a depth of talent that will be of immense value to Sark.
She has just completed her first term as headmistress of Sark School and with her husband Robert, has enthusiastically involved herself in the community. Does that sound a little bit like a school report?
Families are reunited as the youngsters return from schools and colleges off-island. The hockey club organised the under-38s, aged from nine up to 36, as a team to play the Old Gits – a team of gentle and unassuming island chuffers, aged from 38 to 64.
On a well-prepared surface and using the new goals (courtesy of Sark Sports Club), they fought out an honourable 1-1 draw in front of a crowd whose enthusiasm was invigorated by mulled wine and mince pies. With confidence high, the youngsters went on to triumph in the Boxing Day four-way football tournament.
While on the subject of elite sport, mention must be made of Bronwyn Rogers, who has been accepted as an elite runner in next year's London Marathon and who will be running with first-class athletes.
It means that she does not have to suffer the interminable delay at the start of the race that will befall mere mortals like Matt Joyner and Jason Lewis, who are also participating, on behalf of St John Ambulance. Aiming for a sub-three-hour time, Bronwyn's current training regime sees her doing 10 miles every other day, which must be a lot of fun.
Santa visited the children's party at the Island Hall, delaying his arrival until the hockey had finished for fear of having to play. He brought with him a present for every child. The whole event was organised by the Buffs using money raised by their traditional Christmas raffle, held previously in the Mermaid.
It was enough to also fund the gift of hampers to Sark's elderly which, combined with the generous gift of hampers from the Jersey parish of St Ouen to Sark's procureur of the poor, will hopefully have ensured that nobody went without this Christmas.
The candle service in St Peter's Church on Christmas Eve would suggest that the church remains central to the celebration of Christmas. Overflowing with parents and children, this mayhem was controlled by the Rev. Richard Bellinger, kindly in attendance in the absence of the much-missed Graham Leworthy.
The coughing and spluttering were magically silenced as the lights were dimmed and Silent Night was sung by candlelight. Afterwards the congregation, each with a chocolate sweet, spilled out into the night – Christmas had really begun.
Christmas Day was chilly, bright and calm and as I jogged towards Little Sark, so Richard passed me, taking advantage of the tide to enjoy a dip in Venus Pool before the 11 o'clock service.
As I said, Sark is different.
Happy New Year.
