Sark marks Liberation with rededication of final window in church

A memorial window to the Sark servicemen who died in the First World War was rededicated yesterday as part of the island's Liberation Day commemorations.

At a short but moving ceremony in St Peter's Church, enhanced by the presence of Chelsea Pensioners, a cheque for £6,000 - the cost of refurbishing the stained glass window on the church's north side - was handed over to churchwardens Wendy Adams and Peter Carre.

The presentation was made by Lt-Col Reg Guille, who explained that the money was raised following an appeal by the island's ex-servicemen and women and included donations from overseas friends of Sark and former island residents.

In another small but significant departure from the island's generally low-key Liberation Day celebrations - Sark was liberated from five years of German occupation on May 10 1945, a day later than the other Channel Islands - visiting piper Bill Jenkins played a lament and later laid a wreath on the grave of Nanette Hamon, the young child who was killed when she stepped on a German land mine during the Occupation.