I studied fine art at Highlands College in Jersey, then completed my BA honours degree at the Exeter campus of Plymouth University. I did a PGCE and have taught art at St Bede’s Boarding School in England and at Jersey College for Girls.

Currently I am in Sark working as artist in residence at Stocks Hotel, Clos de Dixcart.  The hotel has provided me with a superb studio – guests of the hotel and visitors to Sark are welcome to visit me and watch me work.  Although I will also be out and about sketching and photographing the coastline.  I will be here for the whole of May.” 

To find out more about Virginia please visit:

http://www.contemporaryjerseyartists.com/artists/virginia-colback

He already has a lovely, quiet temperament and we feel sure that he will make a wonderful addition to our rather eclectic collection of horses, ponies and antique carriages. He is about 17hh and the biggest horse we have ever owned. We have had to adapt a few things to fit him and Sark’s farrier has had to order in special shoes as he has the largest feet on Sark!

The Clydesdale breed was developed from Flemish stallions imported to Scotland and crossed with local mares.  The first recorded use of the name “Clydesdale” for the breed was in 1826, and by 1830 a system of hiring stallions had begun that resulted in the spread of Clydesdale horses throughout Scotland and into northern England.   The first breed registry was formed in 1877.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thousands of Clydesdales were exported from Scotland and sent throughout the world, including to Australia and New Zealand, where they became known as “the breed that built Australia”.

Why not ask to meet Ronaldo, our new baby, this summer?

Peter Guille is an independent, self employed, furniture designer/maker, based in Hampshire.  His company is called Bespoke Green Oak.  Peter works with sustainably sourced local English timber to create all sorts of things including: furniture, joinery, outdoor structures, sculptural installations and pieces of art.

Peter is also proud to be a Sarkee and can trace his ancestry back to the original Sark settlers of 1565, when Queen Elizabeth I granted Sark as a fiefdom to a Jersey man called Helier de Carteret.

One of Bespoke Green Oak’s flagship small products is the BGO Natural Bird Box.  These are made from smaller off-cuts of green oak.  We have recently taken delivery of a bird box at Stocks and mounted it on the old east gable of the main building.  The box is currently awaiting its first tenants; which could possibly be a family of Blue Tits who have been seen nesting under some nearby eaves.

Peter’s website can be viewed here.

Join us for a traditional home-made Hot Cross Bun served with a cup of coffee or tea.

Only £2.75 per person. Served every day until Easter Monday!

Traditional roast Sunday lunches

Throughout March we are offering a traditional three-course Sunday roast lunch menu for £12.50 per person.

In addition we have a small selection of exclusive ‘Bin End’ wines that we are offering for just £13 each.  We need to make room in the wine cave for some wonderful new wines and vintages. Limited quantities only, so first come, first served.

Reservations are essential.  Please call +44 (0) 1481 832001 and ask for Kathleen.

Helen Say. Yoga Mistress

As a result of other (worldly) commitments in India, Arianna Palin is no longer able to attend the Ultimate Yoga break at Stocks Hotel. We are delighted to announce however that at Arianna’s request and recommendation we are very fortunate to now have Helen Francoise Say leading the course. Helen has been practicing yoga for 12 years and has studied with many different teachers & styles, (Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyenger, Anusara). Having trained in alignment-based Hatha Yoga at TriYoga in London she has gone onto complete further teacher trainings in the uplifting, flowing style of Anusara Yoga. As an Anusara Inspired teacher she is passionate about sharing yoga with everybody, yoga to benefit all using the Anusara Universal Principles of Alignment & incorporating Shiva/Shakti Tantric philosophy into the classes.

This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to combine the relaxation of Yoga, Stocks and Sark, and ensure they are ready to get the most out of Spring 2012.

Sark Folk festival map

The eight acts confirmed so far include the very popular Kathryn Robert and Sean Lakeman, Spiral Earth’s Best Live Act 2011 - 3 Daft Monkeys, six-woman folk and bluegrass group The Shee and from Western Australia, BAFTA-winning singer-songwriter, Emily Barker.

The full list of acts confirmed so far for the festival are:

- Emily Portman
- Lucy Ward
- Emily Barker
- James Findlay Trio
- 3 Daft Monkeys
- Ewan McLennan
- Sean Lakeman
- Kathryn Roberts
- The Shee

Weekend tickets for the Sark Folk Festival, which is in its third year, sold out before any acts had been announced.

The Festival takes place from 29th June to 1st July, 2012.

Sark diary 2012

We are delighted to provide the ultimate diary for events happening in Sark and at Stocks throughout the year. The details are updated weekly so you will never miss a date or an event in Sark.

We are happy to add the details of any community, club or fund raising event. Please contact us with any details in order that we can add it instantly to the definitive Sark and Stocks diary.

Why not book mark the diary as a favourite page so you can always check out what’s happening on the island.

Love is in the air as Valentine’s day approaches. Can you think of a more romantic way than treating your loved one to a short break in Sark complete with Oysters, Champagne, Chocolates and Red Roses.  We can provide all the ingredients for a truly memorable day… and night!

Call Kathleen today on +44 (0) 1481 832001 and make your reservation whilst we have availability for an occasion not to be forgotten.