Golden weekend ahead for island

OLYMPIC gold medallist Carl Hester comes home to Sark this weekend, along with his double-gold-winning team colleague Charlotte Dujardin.

For Carl it will be an emotional return for a number of reasons, not least because at 11am on Sunday he will officially open the island's Horse and Pet Show – an event where almost 40 years ago he first shone as a horseman.

They will be accompanied by a host of friends and colleagues, including fellow dressage rider Richard Davison, who made his fourth appearance at an Olympic Games in London earlier this month.

Although the three-day visit is essentially a private one – a post-Olympic wind-down is how it has been described to me – Carl will be guest of honour at a vin d'honneur at the Island Hall on Saturday afternoon to which all Sark residents have been invited.

No doubt there will also be a few picture opportunities, particularly if Carl happens to pass by the gold-painted post box outside the Gallery Stores in The Avenue. Having passed there a few times in the last 10 days, I have to say thanks to Guernsey Post for a master stroke.

It really has delighted the tourists I've seen near it and I've yet to hear a comment from a Sark resident that is anything but complimentary.

As to the Horse and Pet Show, Carl and his colleagues will be there for about an hour or so before lunch but even without their welcome presence, regular visitors to this event will know there are few more enjoyable and relaxing ways of spending a day.

Certainly worth a visit.

*

Last weekend was a busy one with the annual St Peter's Church Fair on Saturday afternoon.

It provided its organisers and helpers with yet another opportunity to persuade visitors to The Vicarage garden to part with as much money as possible in the shortest period of time.

During my walk around the stalls and sideshows I saw June Carre looking a little pensive – reflecting no doubt on the fact that 2012 marks the first year in 17 that she hasn't organised the event. After that sort of stint, she deserves a little respite.

I also spotted Pam Cocksedge trying not to look like a dog with two tails, but admitting that being at Greenwich when grandson Carl Hester won a gold medal made her as proud a granny as anyone could be.

I also saw Seneschal Reg Guille trying to persuade his deputy, Jeremy La Trobe-Bateman, that it was actually possible to get a small ball into a hole in the form of a clown's mouth, despite the fact that, to this casual observer at least, it was about as easy as getting toothpaste back into the tube – a feat which, I am assured, is not impossible but extremely difficult.

It was a nice way to spend an hour or so and I am told that more than £3,000 was raised.

The following morning the annual Sea Service was held at Creux Harbour. It is an event that provides Sark residents and guests the opportunity to give thanks for those who, whatever their function, maintain the island's maritime links with the rest of the world.

It does us all no harm at all to reflect upon the service all these people – be they passenger and cargo crew or members of the emergency services – give to this small community.

* The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net.