DR Michael Marks, who was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, was modest enough to express great surprise on having been singled out for the award.

It will, however, have come as no surprise to the many Islanders who have known for many years about his selfless work on behalf of others.

Some of that work was carried out in Jersey when Dr Marks, concerned about the plight of drug addicts, undertook specialist training to introduce a methodone programme and drug treatment clinics.

But it has been among the poorest and most deprived people of Africa that he has laboured long and hard to improve medical care and to provide invaluable equipment and supplies.

Dr Marks is a co-founder of the Bush Hospital Foundation, an Island-registered charity, but he has also been associated with Jersey’s Overseas Aid team and is an adviser to Direct Relief International. Now based in South Africa to be closer to the heart of the problems he addresses, he devotes massive amounts of his time to identifying locations where assistance is most urgently needed.

Dr Marks richly deserved his award in the Honours List, but we should remember – as he would no doubt wish us to – that he is far from alone in his efforts to improve the lot of others in communities less developed than our own.

A great many Islanders attempt to make a difference by fund-raising at a distance; many others choose to travel to Africa and other parts of the globe to involve themselves directly in aid programmes.

This willingness to consider the fortunes of others and to make self-denying efforts to improve matters is one of the most appealing and praiseworthy features of the Island character.

As has been remarked so often in the past, even when this trait does not manifest itself in active participation in overseas aids projects, it is responsible for Islanders showing such remarkable willingness to dig deep into their pockets and give generously whenever a worthwhile cause is identified.

Long may this concern for the less fortunate continue.