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A chance find on a beach in East Sussex, followed by some detective work with the help of Express, has reunited a brass name plate from a much-loved Sark boat with the family that built her.
One of the last remaining Sark-built boats Non Pareil was wrecked on rocks after breaking her mooring in September.
It ended a legacy of island tours that had lasted for more than 40 years.
During the October Half Term, Amy Ross Russell and her daughter Emmy were staying with friend Julian Dickens on the beach front at Camber, East Sussex.
Pictured: Amy Ross Russell and her daughter Emmy with their special find.
"It's magical as you are right on the beachfront and see the whole coastline from every corner," said Amy.
"It was mid/late morning, high tide and the waves were crashing, but the sun was breaking through grey clouds. The water was so close and just looked so inviting I couldn't resist.
"I'm a keen open water swimmer, although by no means regular. I find being in water outside so therapeutic. I never go looking for debris though- and I've never found anything exciting before."
Pictured: The Non Pareil was a wooden boat originally built in Sark over 40 years ago which completed an estimated 6,000 trips around the island before it sank in September 2023.
Emmy (5) was keen to come too, and thought about swimming so togged up, but in the end she watched her mum swimming in the large waves.
Amy said: "She stayed on the shoreline and as we walked back together we caught sight of a gold patch on a piece of wood, along the shoreline.
"We picked it up and looked at the writing and were intrigued, assuming it must have come from a boat along the coastline."
Pictured: The driftwood crossed the Channel from Sark to Camber in East Sussex, more than 170 miles (OpenStreetMap).
They left the find at their friend's house who, after finding it on their sundeck, set about discovering where it had come from.
Mr Dickens found an Express article and the Guernsey team put them in touch with the Guille family to arrange for the brass plaque to be sent back to Sark.
"We couldn't believe it when we got their message, what a magical story and so wonderful to be able to reunite the family."
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