Artists combine to capture beauty

THE timing of Phil Falle's departure to foreign, but certainly not warmer or sunnier climes – to celebrate what I presume to be a significant milestone – was impeccable.

With Michaelmas Chief Pleas looming large, there is a conveyor belt of worthy topics with which to regale the readers in the Bailiwick, but wouldn't they rather hear about what a cracking place Sark is and what a wonderful week we have all enjoyed? The carriages, cafes, shops and restaurants seem to have been as busy these past seven days as in the height of the season, so it came as welcome relief from our reported reliance upon the deposits recovered from discarded cider bottles.

The island's power station rose to meet the challenge of this unseasonable demand and electricity coursed through the grid without so much as a hiccup.

The free visitors' moorings on both sides of the island were occupied, predominantly by Guernsey boats over for the day, but also with a smattering of French and Jersey craft for good measure.

The returning six top international wildlife and landscape artists, part of the Artists for Nature Foundation Sark Project, were lucky, yet again, to see the island at her cuddly best. Rosanne Guille is a well-known and respected Sark artist and organiser of the ANF's Jubilee Project and was quite emphatic in describing the 21 artists who have visited this year as stunned by the unspoilt natural landscape and wildlife they have found. She is sure that many will return and particularly when the project book and film are launched in Sark in spring 2012.

Denis Clavreul, an acclaimed French artist and best known for his travel journals, held an exhibition at la Maison Rouge Gallery, where supporters of the project were treated to a viewing of his sketches and watercolours.

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Rosanne is one of four new members elected to Chief Pleas in our recent by-election. One facet to living on a small island is the very short lifespan of secrets, but without doubt the best kept is the identity of the constable's new assistant, the vingtenier. At Wednesday's Chief Pleas the new constable, Joanne Godwin, revealed that to be Adrian Guille. Joanne replaces Matt Joyner, who, for someone so young, carried out his two years of office with a strong sense of responsibility and maturity.

Hopefully the new conseillers will bring some much-needed passion to the chamber and, rather than worrying about how their peers and the Sark Newsletter might judge them, will argue for what is best and proper for the island.

Tucked into the agenda at point number nine was the small matter of Sark's budget and taxation: it is a subject that should dominate the proceedings of any legislative assembly, being the primary reason for democracy's development in the first place. Let's hope that my fears are unfounded and the meeting ran on well into the afternoon as conseillers picked away at the proposed spending and tax suggestions.

In the meantime, Phil Falle will next week report on the outcome of the Belarus (Freezing of funds) ordinance debate.