Mervyn Peake honoured with blue plaque in Sark
A BLUE plaque was unveiled yesterday in Sark in honour of the life of English writer, artist, poet and illustrator Mervyn Peake.
The blue plaque is the ninth in the Bailiwick of Guernsey and was yesterday unveiled by the Seigneur of Sark Christopher Beaumont at the Gallery Stores, in tribute to Mervyn Peake, who lived in the island.
His son, Fabian Peake, and granddaughter Christian Peake made short speeches about their love for Sark.
Historic sites curator Helen Glencross said an absolutely fantastic gathering had turned out for the unveiling.
‘There was a lovely ceremony today for the unveiling of the plaque with a large crowd outside the Gallery,’ she said.
‘Fabian Peake, Mervyn’s son, spoke fondly of his time in Sark. Then Christian Peake talked about Mervyn and the continued connection the family has with the island.
‘It’s been a wonderful event to recognise Mervyn in Sark and the plaque has been very well received – many of the local residents in attendance remembered Mervyn and his family.’
Mr Peake is best remembered for his writing, in particular the Gormenghast books, but he was also a poet, illustrator and artist, and first went to Sark in 1932 on the invitation of his former English teacher, Eric Drake, who was setting up an artist’s colony in the island.
Mr Peake helped to build the gallery where the blue plaque will now be displayed, and where he had also lived and worked at one time. It was part of the opening exhibition on 30 August 1933.
While on the island, Mr Peake wrote Gormenghast, the second of his Titus books, and Letters from a Lost Uncle.
Guernsey Museums and Galleries’ Blue Plaque scheme is a way to recognise local people who have made an important contribution to the Bailiwick and the wider world, aiming to enhance the awareness of these people and where they lived or worked.
