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GazetteThe Isle of Wight

Welcome to the second edition of the Gazette – the paper everyone’s talking about

Friday August 15 2008 wightfrog.com/gazette

Gazette

NEWS

ROYAL VISITPrince Philip seesrestored pierPage 7

THE BOOMERANGSThey just keep coming back

Page 5

MARK KINGPlays golf and not his guitar

Pages16-17

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Dame Ellen MacArthur plans a four-month Voyage of Discovery next year when 100 young people in recovery from life threatening illnesses will sail around Britain.

The adventure begins and finishes in Cowes and the sponsor is Skandia, the Southampton-based insurance group.

Dame Ellen said: “I face challenges out on the water but they are challeng-es I choose to do.

“They (the children), on the other

hand, don’t have that luxury. They battle against something harder than many of us could ever imagine and they do it with the biggest smiles on their faces.”

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News

NINE gold stars were carried off by Minghella Ice Cream at the Guild of Fine Foods Great Taste Awards. The family firm triumphed for five sorbets and four ice creams. Li-quorice flavour may have been the most surprising of the award-win-

ners, which also included mince pie and almond, honey and brandy. The winning sorbets were Kir roy-ale, William pear, pink grapefruit, green apple and super sorbet. Since 2002, Minghella has won 53 stars at the awards.

News round-upLovely but dangerous

A TROPICAL portuguese man o’ war jellyfish was reported to have been found on Brooke Beach this week. At least 19 of the poisonous 10-inch sausage-shaped creatures have been found washed up on the main-land.

They were swept here from the Ca-ribbean by unseasonal high winds.

Peter Richardson of the Marine Con-servation Society said: “These are ex-tremely dangerous creatures.

“You need to stay well away from them.”

Eric in class of his ownA TEACHER from Trinity Middle School starred in the first of a new series screened by the BBC’s chil-dren’s channel, CBBC. Eric Wright took part in Help! Teach is Coming to Stay. According to the format of the programme, he was challenged by one of his class pupils, Amelia Collins, to learn a new skill. Pupil

became teacher as Mr Wright, as-sistant RE teacher, learnt to ride a horse. His success meant his class won a day at a water park. Any chil-dren who missed the programme will see it when it is screened in September, when they return to the school in its new incarnation of Christ the King College.

Stripes, camera, actionTV’s Tiger Island has been back to visit The Isle of Wight Zoo for its annual Big Cat Week. The pre-senter of the show, naturalist Nigel Marven, welcomed the newest re-cruit to the zoo, Rambo, the tiger

to the Indian-themed enclosure known as the Pench Exhibit. Two tiger-inspired murals, designed by the children of St Helens and Ni-ton primary schools were also un-veiled.

Cllr lets his hair downCLLR Adrian Coles of Wootton, who with his artographer’s hat on is known as Kolzwerk, has confirmed he will direct Shanklin Freak Show’s first official video. The recent rise in fuel prices has meant the show has had to postpone some mainland gigs, de-

spite a demand to see them. However, the Freak Show has managed to tempt some other acts over to its own show at Ryde Theatre, including Joe Black from Portsmouth, and Global Citizen from London. The evening, says Cllr Coles, promises to be spectacularly freaky.

Band aid for IW actsSOLENT Records, the Island’s lon-gest established record label, is to be relaunched.

It is looking for local bands, of a high standard and with a committed follow-ing.

John Waterman MD of the label, said:

“Providing the act can convince me that their material warrants professional promotion and support and they can show a core market for their music we will put up the costs of manufacturing, digital release, press and radio promo-tion etc.”

Threat to interchangeIW Council may have to drop plans for the multi-million pound devel-opment which has been seven years in the making.

Escalating fuel costs, coupled with the hike in steel prices, have led to a

review of the project. The decision about whether to go ahead will be taken within the next few weeks.

The start of the project was postponed in January this year due to contractual problems.

Ices cannot be licked

Who putlights out?POWER cuts hit more than a thousand homes in Newport this week. HIGH winds are thought to be the cause. A power line may have been struck by debris thrown up by the conditions.

For half an hour 1,200 homes were without power and Southern Electric said the cause was unknown.

Ready for the off: Staff at the Black-sheep Bar and Club Lounge in Union Street, Ryde. Serving tapas-style food with a ‘global influence’ it is aiming for a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, where families are welcome. It also has a members’ only lounge.

Owner Annie Horne, who already has Liberty’s in Union Street, said: “Our aim is to make eating and drinking fun again.”

Friday AUGUST 15 2008 The Isle of Wight Gazette 3


News

Big orders secure jobs

IT WAS Cowes’ week in more ways than one, with the announcement that two companies based in the town had secured lucrative con-tracts

BAE Systems gained a £100million contract to provide the Royal Navy with a new high-tech radar system, creating around 80 jobs, while at GKN, the Island’s biggest private employer, a bumper new con-tract worth up to 1billion dollars was announced.

BAE’s radar system, Artisan 3D, will be fitted to most of the navy surface fleet, and to the new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The medium-range radar system, which has been developed over three-year period, has been pro-duced in partnership with QinetiQ and Roke Manor Research. It can detect an object the size of a ping-

pong ball from up to 20km away.Around 25 extra jobs are expected to be created fol-

lowing GKN’s contract for new business jet engine housings. Most of the work will be carried out on the Island.

The contract covers the design of the housing, or ‘nacelle’, its manufacture and full integration with the engine, with GKN delivering the complete system already mounted into its pod, direct to the Honeywell Engines’ assembly line.

Production deliveries are expected to begin in 2012: deliveries could continue beyond 2027.

The deal is the latest huge positive step forward for GKN, who were forced to make 650 redundancies just six years ago, and were on the brink of quitting the Island.

Forget Crufts, Chips, the ten-year-old border col-lie, has his sights set on the 2009 Wimbledon tennis championships.

Not playing, of course, but as a topnotch ball boy.

He gets plenty of practice at the tennis courts in Northwood Park, Cowes.

He is a familiar sight, keeping pace with the rallies until a wayward shot sends the ball flying high over the fence and out of the court.

Quick as a flash, he is after it, retrieves it and drops it at the

edge of the court.No-one taught him to do it

and Chips, who is a rescue dog who spent the first two years of his life tied up, never tires. He has been known to ‘play’ from four in the afternoon to 10pm.

His owner, Ken Rivers, who is chairman of the Island branch of the RSPCA, said: “Everyone who plays tennis at North-wood knows and loves Chips. Nothing disturbs him, not even other dogs.”

He has been a ‘ballboy’ for eight years.

Fetch it

VentnorstalwartTRIBUTES have been paid to former IW councillor Brenda Lawson, 65, who has died.

She represented Ventnor East from 1998 to 2005, and before that served on South Wight Borough Council from 1991 to 1995.

Cllr Arthur Taylor, IW Council chairman, said: “My colleagues and I are saddened by the news.

“Brenda was a dedi-cated servant during her time with the IW Council and, more recently, with Ventnor Town Council.”

Cllr Lawson leaves her husband, Geoff, son Alan, daughter, Melody, and three grandchildren.

Dependable Chips returns a wayward tennis ball, without interrupting the game.

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News

Hospice newsExhilaratingway to raisecash for EMH

IT takes a lot of bottle to jump from an aircraft, which is not in imminent danger of crashing, but 30 people did it recently to raise money for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

They fell from 12,000ft about Sailsbury airfield and all landed safely.

Most agreed it was an exhilarating experience, even if they did need a bit of nerve to actually jump.

Dan Jones, Tesco Superstore manager was one of them and he said: “I agreed to do the jump at the opening of the new Tesco Extra Store in Ryde, and although I was nervous I had loads of encouragement from all the staff and managers from Tesco.

I really enjoyed it and I’m really happy to support such a great cause.”Great atmosphere

Did you see the 16-seat bike hurtling around Ryde, Sandown, Cowes or Newport? It was quite a sight. Eighteen teams took part over two days, including teams from GKN, Sainsbury’s and Ventnor Rugby Club.

Sue Birch, who organised the event for the hospice, said: “Everyone was brilliant. It was a great atmo-sphere and we all had a great time. We hope we have made quite a lot of money for patient care at the hospice.

“They have to raise such a lot, every bit really helps.” Another £300,000

The Government’s white paper strategy for improv-ing End of Care argues for greater patient choice and dignity. The issue was debated recently on BBC Radio 2’s lunch time phone-in show.

A caller from the Island described the care her husband received from our Hospice@Home team as “caring, compassionate and professional”.

Head of fundraising at the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, David Cheek commented: “Last year we were able to care for 200 families through the Hospice@Home scheme and to care for another 200 we must raise another £300,000.” All that jazz

Dave Shepherd, often called Britain’s Benny Goodman, will be joining the Unity Stompers at Jazz at Arreton Manor on Saturday, August 30.

Castle Jazz Band and Phoenix Jazz make up a great afternoon. Tickets are £10 from County Press Shop, Shanklin News, Arreton Manor and Hospice Fund-raising 528989. There are limited seats so book early.

Country businessesto get shot in arm

THE Island’s strug-gling rural economy is expected to prosper over the next six years from an injection of £2.6million

It can be used to help increase the value of local produce; provide renewable energy, which will reduce businesses’ running costs and to increase profits from tourism.

New enterprises will be encouraged and opportu-nities will be created for existing businesses and communities to work together. Farmers, other growers and those in-volved in tourism sector will all be targeted.

The £2.6million is one of the largest recent grants to be given by South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) under its so-called LEADER programme and Island

organisations are patting themselves on the back for working together to secure such a large sum.

Cllr George Brown, IW Council cabinet member for economy planning and property, said: “I am confident that this money will make a real difference to the Island’s economy. It shows the real benefit of working closely with partners to achieve maximum ben-efits.”

Apart from the council the partners which secured the grant were IW Chamber of Com-merce, Industry and Tourism, the Rural Com-munity Council, the Na-tional Famers’ Union, the Country Landown-ers’ Association and the IW Economic Partner-ship (IWEP).

The IWEP will manage the project. Decisions about which projects should benefit from the

programme will be made by the Local Action Group, whose chairman ,Judi Griffin, said: “This is a wonderful oppor-tunity to address some of the issues that have put rural businesses and communities at a disad-vantage.”

LEADER is part of the Rural Development Programme for England and there is £30 million available for larger rural collaborative projects.

THE five winners of a pair of Ryanair tickets to Edinburgh are: Sadie Maskell, Flat 6, 1 York Avenue, East Cowes; Dennis Sinfield, Village Way, Newport Road, Apse Heath, Sandown; Mrs J. Goodyear, 29 Horsebridge Hill, Newport; Miss Leigh Willis, 49 Player Street, Ryde; Louise Sharpe 35 Osbborne Road, East Cowes.

Ryanair winners

Loving fatherA COWES man whose body was found in the River Medina near the Folly Inn at Whippingham, has been described as a loving family man. Nicholas Murray, 45, who had lived in Cowes all his life doing a variety of jobs, leaves three children and two granddaughters He also leaves a twin brother, sister and his mother. His body was found on August 3.

Judi Griffin (Chair of the Local Action Group) at Briddlesford Lodge Farm with her Guernsey herd



News

The Boomerangsthey just keep coming back

THERE was only one place Leonard and Lilian Howard wanted to be to celebrate their dia-mond wedding anniversary, the Isle of Wight.

Because the couple, from Edmonton in London, are the Island’s biggest fans. Astonishingly, they have been here on holiday more than 60 times in the last 55 years.

They first came in 1953, when their daughter was three.

They have returned almost every year since, only missing a couple of summers. They also visited for Christmas, weekend breaks and day trips, as well as the annual family summer holiday.

Mrs Howard, 80, described the holidays as “the best times of our lives”.

Her favourite place is Culver Down with the fan-tastic views of Sandown Bay. She has requested to have her ashes scattered there after her death.

Mr and Mrs Howard warmly recalled family train journeys to Ventnor and walks on St. Boniface Down. They have holidayed with cousins, aunts and uncles who have all enjoyed the Island’s sandy beaches and other attractions.

In recognition of their devotion to the Island, the IW Council hosted a mini reception for them and members of their family gathered for the diamond anniversary.

Council chairman, Cllr Arthur Taylor, gave them a piece of IW Glass and artwork produced here.

He said: “I was delighted to host a reception to recognise Mr and Mrs Howard’s loyalty to the Island. They obviously love the place.”

Mr and Mrs Howard’s daughter, Kim Lipscome, who organised the latest special family holiday, said: “Mum and dad have occasionally travelled abroad but have always re-turned to the Island because they love it and have never been disappointed.”

“I have brought my children for summer holidays. They are grown up now but still have precious memories of the beach and places like Blackgang Chine.

“We have all particularly enjoyed the cliff walk from Sandown to Shanklin and even the beautiful aroma of the rhododendrons.

“This year I brought my granddaughter for her to have the fun we all associate with holidays on the Island.”

The council reception was held at The Carlton Hotel, Sandown, and many of Mr and Mrs Howard’s family of four children, seven grandchildren and three great granddaughters joined them. Some came from America for the celebrations.

Above, memories of more than 60 fabulous holidays on the Isle of Wight.

Family gathering: Below, the family join Mr and Mrs Howard for their anniversary, some of them coming from the US.

Daniel takeshis chances

at The Foyer

DEDICATED Daniel O’Reilly has received the inaugural High Sheriff Award given to young residents at The Foyer, Ryde.

It was presented by Alan Titchmarsh, the high sheriff

The aim of the Foyer is to encourage young people, aged 16 to 25 to reach their full potential through training, employment and living independently.

The High Sheriff Trust has also given the Foyer £800 to reward residents for hard work and extra effort.

Julie Adams, Foyer project manager, said: “Daniel has shown himself to be keen and enthusiastic, getting involved with lots of activities and making the most of the opportunities here.

“We hope that this award will encourage other resi-dents will follow his example.”

Daniel’s achievements since he moved to the Foyer in April includes attended training, taking part in vol-untary activities and involvement in the Foyer news-letter.

His ambition is to become a graphic designer.

Proudest day: Lilian and Leonard Howard, with their card from The Queen congratulating them on their diamond wedding anniversary.

Mystery ofwhy test

results varyAN investigation into why children start so brightly in Island schools and then fall away when they are tested again aged 11, is being un-dertaken by the IW Council.

It follows the results of the national Standard As-sessment Tests (SATS) Key Stage (KS1) 2 which put the Island 149th in England, second from bottom, above the City of London.

Children tested at KS1, when they are seven or eight, were well above the national average.

Cllr Alan Wells, cabinet member for children and young people paid, tribute to the ‘encouraging’ KS1 results.

He added: “But once again it appears the excellent progress made by students at KS1 is not maintained at KS2.”

A report will be given to the council’s policy com-mission for children and school results later this year.

What do you think? Email [email protected]

‘Time team’finds bangle

VOLUNTEERS are assisting professional ar-chaeologists in a five-year project to uncover artefacts from the northern part of the Brading Roman Villa.

The area was originally searched in 1881 and then backfilled.

A bangle, possibly worn by a Roman child has already been found.

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News

Nymphalreadyfixture

A MERMAID sculp-ture by London artist, Jonathon Wylder has been given to the Roy-al Yacht Squadron by Lord Iliffe, club com-modore.

Sitting on the rocks by the club’s new marina, the mermaid looks out over all those who enter Cowes by boat,.

Modelled on and un-veiled by Olympic swimmer Sharon Davies, she is winning many ad-mirers.

The sculpture is a com-memoration not only of the completion of the club’s Jubilee Haven, but also of Lord Grantham, who presided over the club’s first meeting in 1815.

Treat sea with respectA STRICT warning has been issued on the dangers of using poorly-equipped boats around the Island after two teenagers were rescued off Yaverland.

Mark Birch, coxswain and operations manager for Sandown and Shanklin Inshore lifeboat,claimed the boat being used by the two local lads was one of the poorest he had seen and should not have been allowed out on the water.

Now Mr. Birch wants any would-be sailors, either from the Island or on holiday, to treat conditions with the utmost respect and also set out fully prepared, otherwise a tragedy is just waiting to happen.

“People love being out on the sea but, at the same time they should realise just how dangerous it can be and how conditions can suddenly change,” Mr. Birch pointed out. “If people get into difficulty they can suddenly start to panic and then the situation gets a whole lot worse.

“Anyone who goes out in a boat should check they have all the right equipment and do a course in sailing to gain the right qualifications. Some people go out and do not know the first thing about how to use safety equip-ment. They should always have on board life jackets, flares and a good

form of communication such as a vhf radio.

“They should also be able to give us a GPS (global position satellite) reading. The trouble is that the GPS is often not set up properly so we receive a wrong position reading. The more correct in-formation we receive the quicker we can spot anyone in trouble and go to their rescue.”

The latest drama unfolded when the Sandown and Shanklin lifeboat was called out by the Solent Coastguard to a small 14ft day boat with a red top half and small cuddy called Saucy Sue, which had broken down in Sandown Bay.

Mr Birch continued: “There were two teenage people with no safety or survival equipment at all.

“They managed to raise the alarm as one of the lads had a mobile, but even then they were very fortunate because the battery on the phone was only just about working.

“When we found the vessel it was in very poor shape and should not have been on the sea with these young lives on it. We towed the vessel back to Yaverland slipway and helped them on to a trailer and out of the sea.

“We also advised them on their own safety before returning to our station.”

With our vision for public transport on the Island and a network of frequent, simple and direct bus routes, we are now looking to recruit people with enthusiasm and a passion for working with the public, who have good customer service skills, are reliable and highly presentable. You must be over 18 and hold a full UK or EC car driving licence.

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Southern Vectis is an equal opportunities employer.



News

AT 87, the Duke of Edinburgh proved he is still fighting fit when he walked the length of Yar-mouth Pier in light rain to give royal approval to a £450,000 restoration project.

Gribble worms had eaten away at the pier’s wooden piles, which have now been replaced.

The duke unveiled his own inscribed board at the pierhead.

After viewing the restoration, he met the cox’n and crew of Yarmouth lifeboat, the Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer).

Howard Lester, the cox’n of Yarmouth lifeboat, said the duke asked about the boat’s last rescue and crew’s service.

Earlier, on Tuesday last week, the duke visited the Gouldings, Freshwater, owned by IW Council and described as a residential setting where a number of older people live and receive care. He talked to residents and staff.

Another group to get a close-up view of the duke as he arrived at the pier were pupils from Yarmouth Primary School who gave up a day of their school holidays for the royal occasion.

Images by Larry Ellis (01983) 761331

The end of the pier show

The Duke chats to staff and residents at the Gouldings. Image by Michael Dunkason.

Lifeboat crew tells Prince of rescues



Points of view – readers letters

CAN it be true, The County Press, after 124 years as a broadsheet, is downsizing to become a tabloid newspaper?

It follows close on the heels of the launch of the IW Gazette and could happen as soon as the beginning of October.

The County Press is one of the last broadsheets in the country.

For years, many readers have com-plained it is ‘too big’ to read comfort-ably unless you are at a table or put it on the floor.

Eighty-seven per cent of people asked wanted it to be a tabloid.

The paper says it is regularly read by 92 per cent of Islanders, a claim based

on surveys paid for by the County Press.

But in a residents’ telephone survey carried out on behalf of the IW Council in June, 804 people adults were asked if they read the County Press every week and the figure was three in five, or 60 per cent.

The last published audited sales figure for the paper put average sales last De-cember at 36,019 while the average for the last six months of the year was 38,492. At its peak, the paper sold 44,000 copies.

Potential advertisers have already been shown dummy copies of the new tabloid and said it looks like the Mail on Sunday.

CP goes tabloid

Gazette says:

IT took us by surprise. Your reaction to the first edition of the Isle of Wight Gazette was totally overwhelming.

We hoped it would be popular but our telephones rang constantly as readers and advertisers praised the quality of editorial, advertisements and pictures.

Copies flew out of shops all over the Island.It was very gratifying as the Gazette is produced by

a small team who only came together a few weeks before our launch.

We had our false starts, our disappointments and moments of creative tension.

But we did it and we plan to build on what we have achieved already.

Of course, not everyone praised us.There was one curmudgeon who sent three emails,

one of which described the Gazette as cr*p. OK, you are entitled to your opinion but we could not make sense of your other messages.

Looking at the time of night the messages were sent, can we suggest you turn off your computer at 9pm and have earlier nights.

What a welcome

Royal privilegeAT 87 he can be cantankerous and even down-right rude, particularly when dealing with the media.

But after more than 60 years in the spotlight, who can blame the Duke of Edinburgh for sometimes losing his rag and giving as good as he gets?

On his recent visit to the Island he won many admir-ers as he chatted informally to children, pensioners and everyone else lined up to be presented to him.

Forgetting the princes who come here to carouse, the duke is the royal who has done the most to make the Island feel special.

He is 87 but you would not know it.

All in a good causeONE Gazette reader did not realise the paper is published, initially, fortnightly. He rushed into a shop and dropped 45p into the hospice collection tin before realising his mistake. When he told the shopkeeper, quick as a flash, the shopkeeper said, you can have the next one for ‘free’.

Frustration leads to drivers taking risks

AT last someone else who is as frustrated as me (Gazette, 01-08-08). I travel every week-day from Wootton to Ventnor and the Hare and Hounds roundabout is a daily trial.

I sit at that roundabout, giving way to all the mo-torists who are indicating right (as if going to Robin Hill), only to find that they are really going straight ahead to Briddlesford Road.

I know Briddlesford Road is slightly offset, or ‘dog-legged’ compared to the approach road but it is still the second exit and, as such, nobody should be signal-ing right. I have seen some near misses as frustrated

waiting motorists decide that everyone must be sig-naling wrongly and they’ve gone ahead only to find that the car was really going to Robin Hill,

It is a potentially dangerous practice and one that should be highlighted publicly and frequently.

Marilyn Legg,Station Road,Wootton Bridge.

PS. Everyone I’ve spoken to has put a donation in for the Hospice so your FREE newspaper is definitely helping the fund. Well done.

Don’t glare at meYOUR correspondent was right to say that there are peculiar driving habits on the Isle of Wight (Gazette, 01-08-08) but missed out one of the most important rules in the Highway Code, which most IW drivers do not appear to have read. Quote:

Rule 188 Mini-roundabouts. Approach these in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles MUST pass round the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so. Remem-ber, there is less space to manoeuvre and less time to signal.

Avoid making U-turns at mini-roundabouts. Beware of others doing this.

If we were approaching a normal roundabout, we would give way to the right. This means vehicles on the roundabout and not approaching it, which has a

broken white line before the roundabout.Why then, do drivers speeding up Binstead Hill,

near Ryde, at 30-40mph and 10 metres or more away from the mini-roundabout at the top of the hill think that they have the right of way over vehicles exiting from Newnham Road?

I use this mini-roundabout several times a week. However, you will find similar drivers who are igno-rant of the rule on any mini-roundabout on the IW.

So, next time I try and pull out from Newnham Road and you have to slow down while approaching the broken white line at the top of Binstead Hill, don’t honk your horn or glare at me, because I am just ob-serving Rule 188 of the Highway Code –

Harrry Pritchard,Whitehouse Road,Newport

Refreshinggood read

WELL done on the first issue of The Isle of Wight Gazette.

What a welcome and refreshing good read it made after years of the very tired and predict-able weekly presentation by the opposition.

No sign of endless pic-tures of groups holding up giant cheques!

No trace of heavy supplements containing brain-numbing details of houses and cars which

very few can now afford and, joy-oh-joy, no re-petitive articles about yobs kicking each others’ heads-in on Friday nights.

Good luck and keep up the good work.

P. G. Wines,Britannia Way,East Cowes.

Searchingfor

wartimememoriesI WOULD be inter-ested to hear from any readers who were in-volved with the Civil Defence Service on the Island during the Second World War.

I would like also to hear from anyone in the fire or ambulance service.

June Elford,11 Castle Street,Newport PO30 INS

“Now let’s face it, as far as rock n roll goes, golf is terminally un-hip. Pleats in trousers and rock n roll are not good bedfellows.” – Level 42 front man Mark King. See page 16

Quote of the week

YOUR comments on articles you read in the Gazette or any other issues to do with the Island are always welcome.

You must include your full postal address although we will not include your house number or name with your published letter. It would also help if you could include a daytime telephone number.

You can email letters to [email protected] or post them to Points of View, Isle of Wight Gazette, 18b Spithead Busi-ness Centre, Newport Road, Sandown PO36 9PH.



News

We received a call from the harbourmaster saying that there were two people drowning in the water. It would have taken me at least two minutes to run down to the water and I probably would have been out of breath. So I jumped on the quad bike and was there in about 20 seconds, saving crucial time.

“

”

A HOLIDAYMAKER owes his life to the courage and skill of lifeguards on Ryde beach.

Two men got into dif-ficulties some 200 to 300 metres off Cornwall Beach. The younger man, 18, was able to get back to shore but the older man, 37, who was face down in the water, was rescued in the nick of time by senior beach life-guard Jason Campbell.

He fought the tide, cur-rents and the struggling swimmer.

The drama began on Monday last week when the Ryde harbourmaster, Dave Brown, spotted the men just after noon.

He alerted Jason and his colleague, Rosie McKee, 20, who is also a senior beach lifeguard. In line with their training, Rosie stayed at the lifeguard HQ and called for ambu-lance assistance.

Jason raced to the the Cornwall slipway on a quad bike. After spotting the men through binocu-lars he began the long swim in choppy condi-tions.

On his way out, he met the younger man begin-ning to swim back to the beach. Being assured he was able make it, Jason kicked out again for the other man.

Jason said: “When I reached him he was unable to do anything. He was horizontal in the water and he appeared to have given up. His head

was below the surface and he was in a bad way,”

“I reached out to him and supported his head above the water. Instinc-tively he tried to grab me which, although a natural reaction for him, made things very difficult.

“I took hold of him and tried to re-assure him. He was too tired and cold to move his legs to help

himself so I just had to swim back to shore with him.

“He kept saying that I had saved his life but I told him that we still had to get back to shore,” said Jason, who is serving his second year as an IW Council beach lifeguard.

Jason made it back most of the way to shore before the Gosport rescue lifeboat arrived. Jason helped the man on board and shortly after he was winched from the lifeboat to the coastguard rescue helicopter and taken to St Mary’s Hospital.

Jason swam to shore where he reassured the 18 year old about the other man’s condition. The teenager, who had swal-lowed a lot of water, was taken to hospital. Both men were discharged the same day.

Jason said: “It was a pretty difficult rescue, partly because of the dis-tance they were from the HQ and partly because how far out they were. Had it not been for the quad bike I do not think I would have been able to get to the man in time.

”It would have taken me two minutes to run down to the water and when I got there I would have been out of breath. On the quad bike it took 20 seconds.”

Praising Jason and Rosie, Stuart Love, IW Council director of envi-ronment and neighbour-hoods, said: “A rescue of this nature requires a tre-mendous amount of skill and determination.”

Harbourmaster Brown said: “Jason did tremen-dously well – there is no doubt in my mind that his actions saved the man’s life.”

The council provides lifeguard cover at Ryde, Ventnor and in Sandown Bay.

These routes were made for walking

A NEW weekend walking festi-val in October will have nearly 50 walks.

It builds on the success of this year’s main IW Walking Festival, also or-ganised by the IW Council, that attract-ed a record number of walkers, around 24,500, in May.

The figure included around 7,000 not just from the UK but from abroad.

Elaine Cesar, IW Council events officer, said: “The walking festival has come a very long way in the ten years we have been holding it.

“It has grown from a festival with just 39 walks to what is now the biggest event of its type in the UK.

“It has become a tremendous means of attracting new visitors and has also brought us plenty of national publicity.”

All in a day’s work Classes to bring out

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They are open to all ages and abilities.

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News

NHS getting better say happy patients

Dr George Thomson

Excellent results

it’s what patients

think about their Island

NHS

“

”

Fort walk not forthe fainthearted

Margaret Pratt

PICNICS were packed and boots were donned but it was only a few doughty adventurers who actually set out on the annual walk to St Helens fort.

The atrocious weather put paid to most people’s plans to do the fort walk, an event which has no official organiser and was started when a group of friends decided to take advantage of the low spring tide which causes the beach to be exposed.

Over the years, numbers have grown, simply by word of mouth. The idea is to wade across and touch the fort, and usually thousands of people make the crossing and have a picnic when they return. Not this year, however.

Between 200 and 300 turned out but, as the weather deteriorated, many turned back, heeding the warning from the coast-guard.

DOCTORS and dentists on the Island are among the best in the country say the people who know...their patients.

A national survey put them in the top 20 per cent of the 25 of the categories judged.

Margaret Pratt, interim chief executive of the Island NHS said: “This is an excellent set of results made all the more pleasing because it represents what patients them-selves think of their local NHS.”

In three areas – information about side effects of medicines, advice about weight and support for long-term conditions – the

Island NHS was rated best in the country.There were only two areas – being told

how long to expect to wait to see a GP after arriving at a surgery and being given a choice about which hospital to be referred to for further treatment – where the Island slipped into the bottom performing 20 per cent.

The results reveal remarkable improve-ment and progress since the last time the commission conducted similar surveys in

2004 and 2005. Then, the Island NHS was among the top

performers in only six and seven categories and in the bottom 20 per cent or seven and five indicators.

Dr George Thomson, Freshwater GP and adviser to the PCT, said: “I am pleased to see many good scores for patients’ experience of care from their general practice.

“We need to maintain this while working on the few areas with less good results.”

Another recent patients’ survey gave St Mary’s Hospital a high satisfactory rating.

By a Gazette reporter

Photo by Ian Flegg



News

A RARE long-case clock reached a record price for a provincial auction room when it sold in Cowes.

It sold for £240,000 to an unnamed British collector - a massive £130,00 more than the previous record.

Warren Riches, auctioneer and valuer at Island Auction Rooms, said: “ There was bidding in the room and on the telephone. We opened at £100,000 going up in bids of £5,000.

“You could sense the excitement, although the room was quiet but there was a big round of applause at the end.”

Bidding took about five minutes.

The year-long clock, made by Daniel Quare, dates from around 1695 and is only one of five to have been made. It has stood in a house in West Wight for 30 years.

Mr Riches said he was delighted the family had faith in him and the sale price was way beyond their expectations, without the costs of a London auction room.

The auction during Cowes Week is re-garded by Island Auction Rooms as its flagship sale of the year and other items made £100,000.

Mr Warren said: “The credit crunch has not hit us.”

Time to celebrate

Above: here’s to a successful Cowes

Week auction.Above left: There were

telephone bidders as well as people bidding

in the room.

Auctioneers Warren Riches and Tim Smith with the Daniel Quare long-case clock, which sold for a provincial record sum.

EXCESSIVE redtape which is putting people off selling their homes should be suspended, said Island MP An-drew Turner.

He said home informa-tion packs (HIPs) have increased the costs of selling homes and people have been deterred from putting their houses on the market speculatively.

This has helped to depress the residential housing market.

Mr Turner said: “All the

Action call by MPto unblock ‘jam’

dithering and uncertainty about whether stamp duty will be suspended has hit

the housing market hard and is adding to the eco-nomic downturn.

“People are waiting for something to happen before they complete on house purchases and HIPs ‘go stale’ after six months and the informa-tion in them needs to be updated.

“In the current ‘credit crunch’ buyers are more concerned about obtain-ing finance for their pur-chase than obscure red tape.”

THREE Turner works of art have gone on display at Carisbrooke Castle museum.

The watercolour painting Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight, dating to1828 has been joined on loan by two sketches, one depicting Cowes Harbour and the other a man of war and cutter at sea, probably off Cowes.

They both date to 1827 when Turner was staying at East Cowes Castle as the guest of John Nash, who had commissioned him to paint pictures of the Cowes regatta.

Turner made a number of sketches of shipping around Cowes and he gave these two sketches to a young lady, Harriet Petrie, who was visit-ing Cowes Castle.

Turner rarely signed his work, but, as these were personal gifts, he signed them with his initials.

Funds raised by the Friends of Carisbrooke Castle museum paid for the Turner exhibtion.

Turner’s (not the MP) Island

Have you got news for us ?

Contact the news desk on(01983) 402599 or email

[email protected]

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Old Station Road, Ventnor PO38 1DX



12

News

THANKS to Terry Crow’s determination to help others fight leukaemia as successfully as he has, 90 Isle of Wight cyclists, many dressed as pi-rates and buccaneers, took to the streets of Lon-don to participate in the annual Bikeathon for Leukaemia Research.

When Terry was diagnosed with the illness ten years ago, he was determined to fight back.

Having played football all his life – he now referees the game – he was not one to lie down and give in to illness. So he took his then 11-year-old daughter, Georgia, to the capital to take part in the Leukaemia Research campaign fundraiser.

The following year four others joined them, 19 after that and the total has grown annually until this July he had 90 in his Old Codgers and Young Whippersnap-pers team: Very nearly ten cyclists for each year he has run the event.

Terry said: “It’s a special year for me. Not only is it the tenth anniversary of our taking part but I’m also celebrating my recovery.”

The Bikeathon takes a huge amount of organisation, but Terry seems to take it in his stride. Participants could choose either to ride a route through the city sights or take the scenic route which goes through all the London parks. Both are 26 miles long, so Terry

Capital ride for 90 IW pirates

rewards his cyclists by taking them on a boat trip once they have finished.

“Once we’re on the Thames we sail past a lot of the sights we’ve just cycled through. It’s a way of saying thankyou to them for making the effort.”

“It isn’t a race, it’s a fun event. Those who have done it a few years tend to put a bandana on and stick an earring in, but you don’t have to.”

He is indebted to Phil and Albert Robinson of Seaview Services, for providing the coaches to take the riders to London and to Chris Peck Haulage for the driver and transport for the bikes.

Terry starts the day by loading the bikes on the lorry to catch the early ferry. Once the money has been col-lected, Terry anticipates a total of £6,500 to £10,000 will be raised. The full amount raised by competitors nationwide will be announced in the award ceremony in October, hosted by Gary Lineker.

A spokesperson for the Leukaemia Research Fund said: “Last year we raised over half a million pounds and as 1,000 more cyclists took part this year we’re hoping for quite a bit more.”

As for that 11-year-old daughter who joined her father in that ride ten years ago, she is now living in the US, having won a scholarship to play soccer there.

IT IS over a 100 years since Prin-cess Beatrice, youngest daughter of Queen Victoria and governor of the Island, founded Carisbrooke Castle Museum.

The princess, unlike her other eight siblings, spent most of her life on the

Island and lived for many years in the castle. Her husband, Prince Henry, the previous governor died during the Ashanti wars and Beatrice was widowed for even longer than her mother. Both she and Henry are buried at St Mildred’s Whippingham.

History comes to lifeIf you think of museums

as dull, static places then think again. The local history collection at Carisbrooke continues to multiply and current-ly contains displays as varied as the history of toys, to medieval life, to Civil War weaponry.

A permanent exhibi-tion recounts the history of the castle but new collections are regularly featured.

Recently the museum acquired a painting by J.M.W. Turner and where else on the Island would one have an opportu-nity to see an original example of his work?

In a building that once housed Charles 1 and two of his children, the stairs creak, while thick fortress walls look out across a 1,000-year-old parade ground.

Unlike the castle itself which is administered by English Heritage, the museum is dependent

upon public support for its existence. Volunteers man the desk while a very small and dedi-cated staff provides his-torical research, seeks out funding and often provides muscle when mounting the changing exhibitions. Lectures are a feature of the winter programme.

Entrance to the museum is free but there is a charge to gain admission to the castle. You can always help the museum by becoming a Friend of Carisbrooke Castle Museum. The charge is £10 a year or £8 each for two or more people per household (you must be 16 or over) and access to the museum is then freely available. For details contact: the as-sistant treasurer (mem-bership), The Friends, Carisbrooke Castle Museum, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 1XY. Tel 297082.



13

News

Ellen’s medicine

NO SOONER had Skandia pulled down the sails on its 14-year sponsorship of Cowes Week, than it was announcing another deal, to the delight of the Island’s most famous yachtswoman.

Dame Ellen MacArthur has been given a financial helping hand by Skandia with the charity she set up nearly six years ago for youngsters recovering from cancer and leukaemia.

The Southampton-based insurance group has joined forces with the Ellen MacArthur Trust in an exciting project that will get underway in May next year.

That is when 100 young people in recovery from cancer will sail around Britain as part of the Voyage of Discovery. There will be 20 legs and five children on each leg.

The adventure begins and finishes in Cowes and, during the four-month Voyage of Discovery, the youngsters will visit hospitals and young person’s principal treatment centres across Britain, which have helped them recover from their illnesses.

This is the latest massive step for the Ellen MacAr-thur Trust, which has been running four-day sailing trips from its base in Cowes since 2003. Over the last three years it has quadrupled the number of young people it works with from all over the UK.

Dame Ellen said: “It (the trust) takes young people aged between eight and18 sailing to help them regain their confidence, on their way to recovery from cancer, leukaemia and other serious illness.

“They live on the boats for four days, sleeping, eating and cooking onboard, learning new skills and helping to rebuild their confidence and look to the future.

She added: “I face challenges out on the water, but they are challenges I choose to do.

“They, on the other hand, don’t have that luxury. They battle against something harder than many of us could ever imagine and they do it with the biggest

smiles on their faces. “To me they are truly inspirational and if the Ellen

MacArthur Trust can help them in their battle in any way we will be overjoyed.”

The trust will select the crew for the voyage from the young people who have sailed with it over the last six years. Trust patrons, Dame Ellen and Olympic yachtswoman Shirley Robertson are hoping to join the young people for part of the voyage.

After leaving Cowes, the yacht will head east to Dover; St Catherine’s Dock, London; Ipswich, Hull, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Fort George, Fort William, Largs, Belfast, Isle of Man, Liverpool, Hollyhead, Cardiff, Torquay and Southampton, then Cowes.

Dame Ellen said: “This is an amazing project for the trust. I cannot fully express the impact that the four-day sailing trips have on these young people. So I can only imagine the effects that a voyage around Britain will have.

“In 1995, I sailed around Britain and it is fantastic to see them follow in my footsteps and show them there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

On her official website, Dame Ellen explains how it all began: “During the summer of 2000, some months before the start of the Vendèe Globe round-the-world race, I went sailing in France with a group of children suffering from cancer and leukaemia.

“The trips were organised by the French charity, A Chacuon son Cap, loosely translated as Everyone has a Goal. We laughed so much we had tears in our eyes and the kids were just incredible.

“After working with these incredible children I decided it was time to launch a similar project in the UK in 2003 - the Ellen MacArthur Trust was born.

“These are really special kids. In many ways they are just the same as everyone else - they are interested in the same things as kids their age, they have the same goals in life - but the difference is that they do this with a huge challenge ahead of them.”

Tim Sewell, Skandia UK brand and sponsorship manager, said: “Taking title sponsorship of the Round Britain ‘Voyage of Discovery’ is one sponsorship we’re really happy to be able to announce.

“It provides great opportunities for our staff and fi-nancial advisers to get involved with the trust and the terrific work it does.”

“She was able to have fun and relax for the first time in years. Of all the medicines she had, this one - the trip - was the one that made her better!” - Maxine’s (aged 13) Mum

“When he returned from the trip he had changed for the better, he was less tense, brighter, less moody, pleased and happier.” - Henry’s (aged 16) Mum

“This was a tremendous experience that enabled her to focus more on what she wants. She was inspired by the people she met.” - Parent of Lucy (aged 16 )

“He had very low self-esteem but because of this opportunity he has gained in confi-dence, improved at home and at school and is able to socialise and empathise with others more.” - Parents of Peter (aged 16)

“This was a fantastic opportunity for her, it was beyond her wildest dreams. She came back more mature, more understanding, more confident and more prepared to socia-lise with those in a similar position. Can she go round the world with EMT?” - Fran’s (aged 13) Mum

“He realised there is a lot more to life and he is so proud of his achievements. This was the best trip he’s ever been on, it brought him out of himself” - Parents of Larvell (aged 16)

“He was elated when he came back but even now we see little positive differences in his day to day attitude.” - Dan’s (aged 16) Mum

“She was really happy when she came home, the confidence building and working together had a remarkable effect. She looks back on the trip with real enjoyment.” - Parents of Sam (aged 12)

“We would like to thank you for bringing that sparkle back into our sons eyes and giving him a huge since of achievement” - Parents of Dan (aged 16)

Photo’s by OnEdition.

By Peter White





News

Shanklin’s carnival and regatta merged for the first time this year and, according to John Flemming, regatta chairman, the combination worked well. “Money’s a bit tight, so it made sense. We’re meeting soon to discuss running from midweek to midweek next year – so the same visitors aren’t asked to contribute to all the processions.”

Photos by Dave Ormiston

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News

Golf puts Mark back on course

The smile is back on his face. Mark playing at Sandown and Shanklin Golf Club. Image MARTIN POTTER



16

News

MARK King is a born entertainer. At school in Cowes he was known as ‘Joe’, after his schoolmates dubbed him ‘Joe King’ because of his sharp sense of humour.

In the 30 years since, Mark has fronted one of this country’s most successful pop music bands, Level 42. Formed in the 1980s, the band has sold more than 31 million albums worldwide and has chalked up 20 singles in the UK Top-40 charts.

But despite all the adulation, as well as the continued success that will see a 20-show tour of Britain begin in October, Mark admits that there was a time when he struggled to maintain his smile.

The stark reality was that, although his face and voice were instantly recognisable from London to Las Vegas and Dublin to Dubai, outside the band members and crew, he didn’t really have any friends. No close mates to share a laugh and joke.

Now the smile is firmly back on the face of a pop legend who turns 50 in a few weeks’ time. And, in this exclusive Gazette interview, he reckons it’s all down to redis-covering himself out on the Shanklin and Sandown Golf Course.

Mark has been playing for the best part of ten years and admits it will take a super-human effort and a bit of good fortune to get any lower than his current 18 handicap. Deep down that doesn’t bother him one bit, just as long as he can occasionally pick up a few bob off his mates in a friendly four-ball competition.

“Winning £2.50 off the lads is as good as an appearance on Top of the Pops,” he laughed. “I just love golf. It’s about time I gave up this music lark, it is seriously hampering my game. I am spending far too much time on stage.”

So how did the passion for golf begin

for the family man who lives only a short distance from the Shanklin and Sandown club?

Mark explained: “The great thing about golf is that as a working musician through the 1980s and 1990s the job was so full-on I never really stepped out of mixing with the guys in the band.

“Suddenly I realised that 15 years had passed and I hadn’t really got any mates outside of what I was doing. So we put the band on ice a bit and a good friend of mine, John Wooldridge, said I should take up golf and invited me to the Shanklin and Sandown club.

“Now let’s face it, as far as rock ‘n’ roll goes, golf is terminally un-hip. Pleats in trousers and rock ‘n’ roll are not good bed-fellows. But for me the game was a revela-tion because, suddenly, I was hanging out with plumbers, decorators, builders and architects. I was playing with guys from every walk of life who I normally wouldn’t meet. It was fantastic, because I met a whole new raft of friends who gave me some kind of life back.”

One of Level 42’s greatest successes was the single Running in the Family from the album of the same name. So, perhaps, it is appropriate that Mark’s wife, Ria, and 11-year-old daughter, Marleigh, have also taken up the game.

He pointed out: “There aren’t too many sports where all the family can get in-volved – I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not!

“My golf isn’t very good. I managed to play off a 16 handicap for about one day but I am now up to 18. I’ve probably got to accept the fact that I am never going to be a single-figure player. But that’s not the issue, it’s all about being in beautiful sur-roundings and enjoying yourself.

For 15 years MARK KING was at the very top of the music business which totally took over his life. Then he realised he did not have any mates outside a very close circle so he took up ‘unhip’ golf and he redis-covered the real world. He spoke to PETER WHITE.

Golf puts Mark back on course

A hole in one!



17

News

“I often think of all the fantastic places I have been around the world with unbelievable golf facilities but I never hit a ball once because I had no one to play with – except perhaps a camel or two in Dubai.”

The ‘pop rebel’ in the Level 42’s lead singer and keyboard player still surfaces now and again, as he flirts with the strict dress code of virtually every golf club.

He joked: “Once I walk out of the clubhouse the rebel in me makes me untuck my shirt. If anyone asks me I just tell them I have to do it because it’s a medical condition, called obesity. I’ll tuck it in if told but, when I bend down to put my ball on the tee, it comes out again.

“The pop business is surreal and playing golf gets you back to reality. Someone asked me if it was hard coming to play after touring with the band and getting adulation on stage. For me it’s not. This is what life is all about, it’s the adulation that’s not real.

“We have grown up in an era when celebrity seems to be the key. It’s this ‘want to be famous’ thing, even if you are not rich, like the people on TV’s Big

Brother for example. “Since I was 21 I have been lucky enough to have

that. But it’s a double-edged sword, it can screw your head up. I have seen so many guys in the busi-ness come off the rails and lose the plot.”

He added: “I think I’ll be playing golf for the rest of my days. It’s also good exercise. Rock ‘n’ roll is staggeringly unhealthy so it’s good for me to be able to wander up what I call cardiac hill – the 12th hole at Shanklin and Sandown!”

Shortly Mark’s golf will be put on hold while Level 42 complete their European tour with shows in Belgium and Italy. With the smile firmly in place, he reckoned: “After those two it’s the UK tour, so perhaps I should to start running up the 12th fairway to get fit.

“We then have a couple of months off, before we start a tour in Holland, Scandinavia and Germany in January. All this music is definitely not helping the golf...a bit of an inconvenience really!”

*Do you have a story for us?Please email your ideas and comments to

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For many would-be popstars Mark is a role model they would like to follow. Here is fronting Level 42 and even today he is a rebel, particularly when it comes to the golf club’s strict dress code.

Left: Mark will never achieve a single-figure handicap player but he enjoys the company and the exercise a round of golf brings, even the 12th at Shanklin and Sandown, which he calls cardiac hill.

Inset: Mark even has his own Level 42 golf balls, which are treasured souvenirs when they are found by other golfers.

Below: He was one of thousands of Islanders to welcome and enjoy the Isle of Wight Gazette.

Waverleytarget foran attack?

THE Waverley, Britain’s last sea-going paddle steamer is preparing to repel boarders.

Officials at the Department of Transport said barri-ers must be put up by the bridge and engine room to avert a terrorists’ attack.

The Waverley is a regular visitor to the Island and a correspondent, writing in The Lookout, the news-letter of The Merchant Mariners of the Wight, com-mented: “I believe the Nanny State is getting out of hand and farcical.”

Zoe hopes to add a zip to

Island tourismTOURISM has a new champion on the Is-land, Zoe Stroud.

She has joined the IW Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry, as group marketing manager and is eager to make a difference.

“This is certainly a varied role and I am excited about the op-portunities we have to work with businesses to promote the Island, as well as promoting busi-nesses themselves,” she said

“I am keen to provide more opportunities for businesses to meet and share information and ideas to market them-selves.”

Zoe joined the chamber after a spell as marketing and customer relations manager at The Needles Park.

Her brief also includes organising major events – such as the popular Cowes Week Summer

Ball, and promoting the IW Lottery.

Zoe was educated on the Island and went to university at Brigh-ton where she gained a degree in tourism man-agement.

She has had a varied career working for radio stations, as well as a spell at IW Tourism, before joining The Needles Park in 2005.

“I’m really looking forward to getting in-volved in Island busi-ness life and making a difference,” she said.

Fancy livinglike a king?

HISTORIC Arreton Manor, which has been owned by eight British monarchs and is men-tioned in the Domesday Book, is for sale with a guide price of £2,500,000.

The eight-bedroomed manor has 4.5 acres of grounds, which includes an intricate knot garden.

Tigers on the wallTV PRESENTER and naturalist, Nigel Marven officially unveiled two wall murals at IW Zoo, Sandown, featuring the zoo’s tigers, as part of Big Cat Week.

They were painted by children aged five to nine, from St Helen’s Primary School and Niton Primary School.

They were organised by the IW Council Family Learning project and the zoo.

Grand Donkey Day Out

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY25 August 2008

RefreshmentsFood Hall•Beer tent by Ventnor Brewery •Speciality tea and coffee•Cream teas•Hog Roast•

EntertainmentLive music by the ever • popular Kelly Burke & Derek SandyRandini the Magician•Childrens entertainments•John Owen Falconry display•Trade, Craft and Charity Stalls•

Entrance: 11am – 6pmTickets: Adult £4, Child £2

Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, Lower Winstone Farm,Wroxall, Isle of WightPO38 3AA

tel: (01983) 852693 web: www.iwdonkey-sanctuary.com email: [email protected]



18

News

Before

After

Bless this house

ST VERONICA’S, one of the oldest houses in Bembridge with a colourful history, is about to take on a new life.

It has had a number of owners, including nuns who, from the 1920s to the 1950s, ran it for unmarried mothers. It is also believed it may have been an or-phanage.

The earliest records are from 1825, in a will written by a boat pilot, William Wallis, who died in 1823.

Now it has become an upmarket B&B establish-ment.

The new family owners are Marc Hodge, 40, his wife, Jo, 37, and their cousin, Theresa Martin, 46.

For months they have been refurbishing St Veroni-ca’s, Lane End. It was gutted so the original parts of the house could be restored. The front and side door have been made from oak and window frames hand-made from oak.

Jo said: “The property has caused quite a stir in Be-mbridge as we have been very careful with our resto-ration and everyone is amazed by the improvements we have achieved.”

Internally, the oak panelling in the reception room and sitting room has been retained. There are four double bedrooms, all en-suite. Baths, showers and furniture are all ‘top end’ fittings.

The trio bought St Veronica’s after many camping holidays on the Island, owning beach huts near the lifeboat station.

Theresa has given up her job working for special needs children and will run the business. Marc has an engineering company on the mainland, while Jo was an air stewardess, who knows excellent customer service is vital.

The B&B will try use Island produce from eggs through to toiletries.

St Veronica’s, is thought to be one of the oldest houses in Bembridge. It is currently being renovated and will open soon as a bed and breakfast but already passers by notice the improve-ments. The Gazette took a look around.

From left to right Theresa Martin with Marc and Joanne Hodge.

They are poets andthey didn’t know it

A GROUP of unlikely poets has been so suc-cessful their work has been published and the book has had a second print run.

Every child and young person at St Catherine’s in Ventnor rose to the challenge and contributed to the Book of Verse.

Last year a small group of English class learners were set the challenge of writing about their favourite things in verse.

The results from the original group were so inspiring others felt encouraged to put their thoughts in writing and within a few months everyone had contributed.

English teacher Heather Whatley explained: “Young people often think poetry is out of their reach or too difficult, so we discussed how poets express their feelings.

“The class then expressed their thoughts in a wide variety of styles, reflecting their individuality.”

Suzanne Hudson, director of development, added: “The poems and thoughts within the collection ex-emplify the feelings and emotions of our children and young people. They deserved to be read and appreci-ated by a wider audience and that is why we pub-lished a book.

St Catherine’s is a national charity working with children and young people with speech, language and communication impairments. Although one in ten – or 1.2 million - children have a communication disability in the UK, the challenges they face are not widely recognised and St Catherine’s works to raise awareness across the UK. The learners at St Cath-erine’s come from the Island and from the mainland.

Price £5, the Book of Verse is available directly from St Catherine’s, call 857209.

All proceeds will support the children and young people at St Catherine’s.

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Weddings

WEDDINGSIsle of Wight

To have your wedding featured in the Isle of Wight Gazette.call (01983) 402599

Griffin & Hoyal GETTING the reception just right meant even more to newlyweds Chris and Paul Griffin than it does to most couples. They were absolutely determined that all the food and drink served at the reception should be produce of the Island.

Paul’s dairy herd at Briddlesford Lodge Farm pro-vided the butter and cream. His sister, Louise, who runs the farm shop, was able to source most of the other ingredients, which ranged from wine from Rosemary Vineyard in Ryde and beer from Ventnor Brewery, to trout from the Island Fish Farm at Lim-erstone, garlic from the Garlic Farm and quails eggs from Littletown Dairy, Wootton.

The list goes on and, to Chris’s great satisfaction, everything originated on the Island.

“Each of the tables was named after one of our cows,” said Chris. “The marquee was decorated with sheaves of corn and poppies. It was beautiful.”

They were married at Northwood House, with a blessing at St David’s Church, East Cowes, and enjoyed lovely sunshine. Appropriately, they rode to church on a decorated bale trailer, pulled by a tractor.

Their four-day honeymoon was in the city of Bath.

Above: The bride and groomLeft: A less traditional wedding carriage

Photos supplied

FOR many brides the horse-drawn carriage ride can be all too brief, but Donna Steen, who married Brian Donovan at Godshill Church, recently spent longer in hers than average – thanks to the appalling traffic on the Arreton Road.

She was half an hour late, but that is said to be the bride’s privilege and, fortunately, the rain held off while the carriage was on the road.

Donna, from Godshill, met Brian, from Cork in Ireland, in Australia, while each were taking time

out after university to travel. They welcomed 110 guests to their reception

at Froghill Farm, and friends who came to the evening reception enjoyed a hog roast which was provided by the Island Bacon Company. Music by The Kelsey Project, kept the couple and their guests dancing well into Monday morning but Donna and Brian did eventually tear themselves away to the Seaview Hotel, before flying to hon-eymoon in the Maldives.

Right: The Bride and Groom Below: The horse drawn carriage.Left: The Bride with her sister and brother who is shortly due to return to Afghanistan

Photos by Frances Richardson

Steen & Donovan

Specialists in Leasehold Property& Commercial Estate Management

BSC MANAGEMENT SERVICES

tel: (01983) 531 555 (01983) 555 100



Property

PropertyThe Isle of WightYour FREE guide to: Residential - Commercial - Lettings - New Homes

Gazettewww.wightfrog.com

For more information on the houses and purchaser incentives available please call Peacock Homes IW ltd:

(01983) 852525 or 07976 823222

One look and you’re sure to be hookedIF you buy a property straight from the de-veloper you expect it to be kitted out with fridges, dishwashers and carpets. What you rarely get in a new build is a quality of finish that will last.

Ash Court, in Newport Road, Ventnor, bucks that trend. Oak doors through-out the 10 three-bedroom homes and bathrooms which are fully tiled, are just some aspects of the attention to detail Will Nicholls has poured into his development.

Will said: “We’ve really concentrated on the finish. We were determined to give these homes a really high spec.”

The fitted kitchen/diner includes a tumble dryer as well as other appliances and the master bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom. There is gas central heating and PVUc double glazing through-out. The homes have an NHBC warranty and, all in all, the homes combine the benefits of Victorian dimensions with the airi-ness of a new-build.

The gardens are a perfect size for working people with little time.

Off-street parking is another benefit rare in town. When the houses first went on sale it seemed as if they were all going to be snapped up. Three sold quickly and one is currently under offer. But the downturn in the market has affected even these quality homes and has deterred people from looking around.

“Once people come through the door they’re going to want to buy,”

said Will. “We’ve used quality products and an excellent finish through-out, which people love when they see it.”

Parents will appreci-ate the proximity of the homes to a middle school, as well as the rea-sonable starting prices of just £184,500.

And if that doesn’t get people in to have a look, the innovative cashback incentives should. “We’re considering an offer of £250 a month cashback for six months,” said Will.

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Property

Follow the frog online

www.wightfrog.com

Buying and selling your property on wightfrog.com is easy. Here is a quick guide on how to use the site.

email [email protected]

tel (01983) 409520

Signing up to wightfrog.com• Go onto www.wightfrog.com and

click ‘Buy, sell or rent your property’.

• Click on the green box titled ‘Click here to sell or rent your property’. When that page has loaded click on ‘Sign Up’. This will take you to the sign up screen.

• Type your details in to the boxes, and create a password that is unique to you. Your log in details will be your email address and your password. Then tick the box ‘Unlimited Listings’ and click ‘Complete Sign Up’. You are now ready to start uploading your property.

Adding your property• Click the ‘Add Property’ heading

and type in your property details in the boxes. You can add as much information as you want to in the ‘Property Description’ section, and can upload up to 4 photographs.

• Once you have registered with wightfrog.com each time you log in you can, edit your profile, look at your property, add another property, enquire about advertising, see the properties you have put on your shortlist or logout. All these options will be available once you have logged in.

Searching for a property• Once you have logged on to

wightfrog.com and clicked on ‘Buy, sell or rent your property’, select the ‘Area’ you are looking and the ‘Location’. To search for property for sale click the ‘For Sale’ box, and for rentals click the ‘To Rent’ box. The properties will now appear.

• When the properties appear on the screen simply click on the photo of the property you are interested in to see more details.

• If you have a reference number of a property you are interested in, enter it in the ‘Property Reference Number’ box and click ‘Go’. That property will then appear.

The Internet has made searching for a property much easier over the past few years, and now buying, selling or renting a property is even easier with wightfrog.com.

It’s as easy as that!

The Priory is an exclusive range of luxury apartments in Luccombe, located on the outskirts of Shanklin Old Village. The development has been finished to a very high standard & specification, with a fine eye & attention to detail adding that extra something. The lighting has been designed specifically for each apartment, & the hard wood flooring crafted by hand.

The building is in two phases, with one, two & three bedroom apartments available. Each apartment has access to the landscaped communal garden areas with cliff top views of the sea & Shanklin Bay. Prices start from just £165,000 & there are a variety of purchaser incentives available.

Luccombe – Apartmentsfrom £165,000

Call (01983) 409520 for more information.

The Priory

17 Luxury apartments within an exclusive Island setting.

Situated close to Shanklin Old Village, the house stands in 2.5 acres of private and secluded grounds, with individual points of interest including a stone-built summerhouse, a centuries-old walled garden and a victorian conservatory.

Offering 13 spacious apartments, the majority over two floors in a duplex layout, Shanklin Manor provides the best of both worlds - centuries old heritage combined with contemporary luxury.

*terms and conditions apply, please call for details

For details call (01983) 409520


Property

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Ryde – £132,5002 bedroom mews style house in a tucked away location. Benefits include double glazing & a courtyard garden. tel: 07793 273718

Shanklin – £164,950Spacious older style 2 bedroom semi-detached house with some original features. There is a lawned garden to the front.tel: 07968 876963

Wootton – £179,995Detached bungalow with 2 bedrooms, mature gardens, garage, double glazing & gas fired central heating.

tel: (01983) 526096

Bembridge – £275,000Upgraded 3 bedroom detached prop-erty offered chain free. Gardens to the front & rear, garage & summer house.

tel: (01983) 875974

Ryde – £139,9502 bedroom top floor apartment with allocated parking being offered for sale chain free.

tel: 07796 324610

Ryde- £86,500A well maintained 1 bedroom top floor flat located in Ryde. The property has allocated parking & is offered chain free.tel: (01983) 565856

Lake – £169,950Modernised 3 bedroom semi- detached house with off road parking & a detached garage.

tel: (01983) 404045

Lake – From £130,000Few remaining apartments & cottages. They have videophone entry system, central heating, & allocated parking. Cottages have additional gardens.tel: (01983) 404045

Wootton – £489,000Detached 4 bedroom house with a 2 bedroom annexe. The house has rural views, a double garage, central heating & double glazing. tel: (01983) 884205

Ryde – £334,9503 bedroom detached house with garage & views, being offered for sale chain free. Would consider possible part exchange. tel: 07776 444740

Totland Bay – £220,000Semi-detached 3 storey house with 3 bedrooms plus a study, central heating, double glazing & off road parking. tel: (01983) 756525

Wootton – £245,0004 bedroom detached house situated on a corner plot. Benefits include double glazing & a detached garage. tel: (01983) 884536

Wootton – £117,950An end of terrace one bedroom house with its own private garden & allocated parking area.

tel: 07855 459021

Sandown – £320,000Spacious older style semi-detached house with 6 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, garage & off road parking.

tel: (01983) 408091

Cowes – £225,0004/5 bedroom three storey semi-detached house with off road parking & courtyard garden. In need of some upgrading. tel: 07815 717754

Cowes – £125,000Ground floor 1 bedroom flat with an allocated parking space being offered for sale chain free.

tel: (01983) 291250

Shanklin – £367,500Spacious detached house with 4 bedrooms & 2 reception rooms offered chain free. Will consider a part exchange. tel: (01983) 861370

Tenerife – from £425 per weekGround floor, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, pool side apartment on Fairways Club, Tenerife. Accomodates up to 6 people. tel: (01983) 865165

Tenerife – from £230 per weekFirst floor, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment overlooking the pool. Accomodates up to 4 people. tel: (01983) 865165

Ryde – £299,950Victorian style house with 4 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, utility room, gas central heating & double glazing. Off road parking & garage to the rear. tel: (01983) 811913

Apartments – from £450pcm

An exclusive range of 1 & 2 bedroom apartments available to rent in Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin & Ventnor. Prices from just £450 per calendar month. tel: (01983) 404045

East Cowes- price on application2 bedroom ‘park home’ located on Medina Park. It has gardens, central heating & double glazing. There is an age restriction of 55yrs & over. tel: (01983) 200655

Sandown- £139,950A spacious 2 bedroom split level ground floor maisonette with off road parking. Benefits include rear garden, double glazing & central heating.tel: (01983) 407831

Wootton – £399,950

Call 07815 680469 for more information or to arrange a viewing.

This beautifully presented 4 bedroom detached chalet bungalow is set in a popular residential area of Wootton, and is being offered for sale chain free. The property has just under gone a total refurbishment, & has been finished to the highest standard.

On the ground floor there is a spacious kitchen/ breakfast room, a lounge with doors through to a conservatory, with French style doors out on to the decked area of the rear garden. There are also two bedrooms and a family bathroom. Upstairs on the first floor there are two further bedrooms, one with en-suite facilities.

The bungalow benefits from gas central heating, double glazing, a long sweeping driveway with space for garage, & good sized lawned gardens.

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sell your property for FREE

www.wightfrog.com

All the properties advertised on this page are by private sale of the owner. For more information or to arrange a viewing on a property, call the number on the advert.

Residential Property | Commercial Property | Holiday Lettings | Residential Lettings

To advertise your property For Sale or Rent for FREE log on to wightfrog.com

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News

Have van will travel

LORD Norman Teb-bit once famously said “my father got on his bike and looked for work”.

Here on the Island, Fred Edwards didn’t cycle to work - he has a van - and he calculates he has lived or worked in every county in England, except Cornwall.

While tradesmen on the

Island are notoriously territorial – a plumber in Freshwater will not work in Newport and an elec-trician in Cowes thinks Ryde is a foreign country – Fred has criss-crossed the country to work.

He explained: “For 20-odd years I worked in the shopfitting business and the job has taken me all over the place, from Carlisle to Clacton and from Newcastle to Newport.

“That is Newcastle upon Tyne and Newcastle-under-Lyme to the New-ports of Pembroke and Norfolk as well as our own Newport. Probably via Newport Pagnell.”

He said when he decided to come and live on the Island it was not before doing a great deal

of research into the alter-natives.

Fred, who lives near

Arreton, said: “As a younger man I loved trav-elling around the country and seeing places that, otherwise, would only be names on a map.

“But, as I got a bit older, all that time on the road began to get a bit tiresome. I decided to look for something more settled after the last four contracts I was given were in Brighton, Norwich, Bristol and Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides.

Now, with his, wife, Sue he runs a home-delivered fish and fine foods busi-ness.

“The great advantage is that the farthest call I make is Totland, unless one of my customers decides to move to Pen-zance!”

South Wight—Monday 18th AugustGatcombe (Church) 0945 —1005Chillerton (Village Hall) 1015 —1035Chale Green (Chale Green Stores) 1050 —1115Chale (Wight Mouse) 1125 —1145Niton (High Street) 1155 —1225Niton Undercliffe (Buddle Inn) 1235 —1255St Lawrence (Village Hall) 1400 —1420Whitwell (White Horse) 1430 —1500Rookley (Co-Op) 1510 —1540Newport (St Thomas’ Square) 1555 —1640

Back of the Wight—Tuesday 19th AugustShorwell (Crown) 1000—1020Limerstone (Farm) 1030—1050Brighstone (Three Bishops) 1100—1140Hulverstone (The Sun) 1150—1210Brook (Seely Hall) 1220—1240Freshwater Bay (Albion Hotel) 1255—1320Totland (Broadway) 1415—1435Freshwater (Moa Place) 1445—1515Yarmouth (Square) 1530—1615

East Wight—Wednesday 20th AugustBrading (Bullring) 1000—1030Bembridge (Lane End Shops) 1040—1110Bembridge (Village Hall) 1120—1150St Helens (Pavilion) 1200—1225Nettlestone (Roadside Inn) 1235—1300Seaview (Post Office) 1405—1425Westridge (Tesco) 1440—1530Oakfield (High Street) 1540—1600Havenstreet (White Hart) 1610—1630

Arreton Valley—Thursday 28th AugustArreton (Post Office) 0945—1010Newchurch (Pointer Inn) 1020—1055Winford (Forest Road/Forest Way) 1100—1120Apse Heath (Car Park) 1125—1155Sandown (Library) 1205—1245Lake (Spar) 1350—1420Lake (Morrisons) 1430—1520Newport (St James’ Square) 1545—1635

West Wight—Friday 29th AugustGunville (Shop) 0945—1005Shalfleet (Post Office) 1015—1045

Ningwood (Horse and Groom) 1055—1115Newbridge (opp former Post Office) 1125—1155Calbourne (Sun Inn) 1205—1220Carisbrooke (Central Car Park) 1320—1345Carisbrooke (Wellington Rd Shops) 1350—1415Newport (Sainsbury’s) 1425—1525

North East Wight —Monday 1st SeptemberEast Cowes (Somerfield) 0950—1030Whippingham (Community Centre) 1040—1100Wootton (Tesco) 1110—1145Binstead (Post Office) 1155—1215Haylands (Lake Huron) 1325—1355Ryde (Somerfield) 1400—1500Ryde (Monkton Street Shops) 1510—1530Elmfield (Post Office) 1540—1610

South Wight —Tuesday 2nd SeptemberPan (Shops) 0945—1025Merstone (Bus Stop) 1040—1100

Godshill (Loaves and Fishes) 1110—1145Sandford (Methodist Church) 1155—1215Wroxall (Spar) 1225—1255Lowtherville (Shop) 1400—1425Ventnor (High Street Car Park) 1435—1505Shanklin (Boots) 1520—1550Shanklin (Somerfield) 1600—1640

Medina Valley—Wednesday 3rd SeptemberHunnyhill (Hunnyhill Stores) 0945—1010Parkhurst (Camp Hill Officers’ Club) 1015—1035Northwood (N’wood Stores nr. WI Hall) 1045—1105Cowes (Mill Hill Road Co-Op) 1115—1150Cowes (Terminus Road Co-op) 1200—1250Gurnard (Near the clock) 1400—1430Rew Street (Pond) 1440—1500Porchfield (Sportsman’s Rest) 1510—1530Newtown (St Michael’s Church) 1540—1600

Isle of Wight Garlic Festival 16th & 17th August

ANDREW Turner, the Island’s MP, will soon be out and about around the Island with his annual Summer Surgery. Islanders will have the opportunity to talk to Andrew Turner MP about any local or national issues over the next three weeks.

His annual summer surgery will take him to every corner of the Island.Mr Turner said: “Many people use this as an opportunity to raise issues that they don’t

feel merits a special trip to my surgery in Newport, or just to ‘get something off their chests’

“If you have something you want to raise, no appointment is necessary – just turn up and tell me about it. I will also be at the Garlic Festival on this weekend, Saturday 16 and Sunday, August 17

Premier Ford lent Mr Turner a vehicle that can be used as a surgery for privacy or if the weather is inclement.

Island M.P. hits the streets



News

Advertisment Feature

One reader and their guest will have the chance to sit down to a meal from the Island Life Chef of the Year. The Isle of Wight Gazette and the Royal Hotel, Ventnor, have teamed up to offer readers the chance to win a six-course meal for two and a night’s accommodation at a gourmet weekend on November 14-15. The Royal Hotel is the only hotel on the Island to boast 4-star status, as well as two prestigious AA rosettes, awarded to chef Alan Staley and his team. Each of his dishes feature fresh local pro-duce and are beautifully presented. He said: “The food we serve is not over-compli-cated. We just get good products like the local fish – seabass or Dover Sole, and nine out of ten times serve it simply with fresh vegetables. That’s what people enjoy – not too much messing around.”

The lucky winners will be greeted with a glass of champagne on arrival, before sitting down to a six-course meal, including a half bottle of red wine and a half bottle of white. Dessert wine will be served with pudding, followed by coffee.Breakfast will be served in the morning. During their stay they can enjoy the sumptuous surroundings of the grounds set among the hilly cliffs of the Victorian town of Ventnor. They can wander through the gardens which have been tended by the gardener of the nearby Botanical Gardens. The prize will be awarded to the first correct entry opened after the closing date, Friday 22nd August.

photos:Alan Staley pictured with his

Island Life ‘Chef of the Year 2007’ award.



News

SAFETY will be a priority when IW Council in-troduces a car-sharing scheme for residents.

A do’s and dont’s of things to do will be published on a website where people can register their interest and link with those making similar journeys.

The advice will be based on 1,204 schemes, involv-ing 264,313 members, already operating in the UK.

• Avoid exchanging home addresses with travelling companions before you meet them in a public place.

• Tell a family member or friend who you will be travelling with, when and to where.

• Show each other your IDs, passports, student cards or driving licence, so you know that you are travel-ling with the right person.

• You are not obliged to go ahead with any lift share.

• It is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure the driver has all the legal documents.

• It is suggested the driver and passengers split the cost of fuel.

• The Association of British Insurers said car sharing does not affect members’ insurance provided a profit is not made.

The Island share-a-car scheme will introduce people to each other who regularly drive to the same place at the same time, taking the same route.

Simple rules for people sharing cars

THERE has been a military mindshift from tracks to wheels for fighting vehicles, according to Jane’s Defence Weekly

Broadly, a wheeled vehicle can take itself to war while a tracked one needs a transporter.

When it gets there, lots of big wheels still give pretty good mobility.

This shift was clear at the recent Defence Vehicle Dynamics show at Millbrook in Bedfordshire.

The annual opportunity to tear round the site’s im-pressive off-roads tracks on anything from trail bikes to tanks was dominated by 6x6 and 8x8 drive trains.

The Ministry of Defence took the opportunity to announce orders for more fighting vehicles, all of them wheeled.

Army changes direction



News



News

Green, green grass of home

The kids all seem really taken by what we are doing.

A SMALL corner of Ryde is more attrac-tive thanks, partly, to the efforts of a group of children.

They helped to plant dozens of shrubs and flowers in two plots of land in Preston Close.

It was organised by the Safer Neighbourhoods’ team, of which IW

Council is a partner.Mick Halliday, of Safer

Neighbourhoods, said: “The kids all seem really taken by what we are doing. They seem to be really enjoying it.

“A few of them have said that they will keep the plants watered and make sure it stays tidy.”

Cllr Alan Wells, IW

Council Cabinet member for children and young people, said: “This is a great way to get the community involved in brightening and improv-ing their neighbourhood.

“With the school holidays in full swing, some young people may be looking for something to do and what better

way than to be outdoors getting physical while knowing that the work they’re doing will benefit everyone in their area.”

The idea came from community support officer Harry Dea. Medina Housing con-tributed money for plants and the council gave wood chippings.

“ ”

More to lifeFORTY curious youngsters have dis-covered there is more to life than hanging around street corners.

Aged nine to 15, they heard a DJ, played foot-ball and volleyball and discussed health issues such as obesity, smoking and drug/alcohol miss-use.

It was the first of a summer series of events at Bishop Lovett School, Ryde, organised by NHS staff, police, IW Council and the National Asso-ciation for Crime and Re-settlement of Offenders (NACRO).

Paul Walshe of NACRO said: “It was a great success. They were engaging them in some-thing positive whilst at the same time educating and raising awareness health issues relevant to them.”

The sessions are held every Thursday, except August 28, from 6 to 8pm.

News desk402599



News

”

We spent the first year clearing it of brambles and couch grass.

We all help, my wife complains she is an ‘allotment widow’

THE popularity of allotments has rocketed re-cently and waiting lists for plots can be as long as five to seven years. They used to suffer from the image of men with flat caps growing vegeta-bles, today it’s trendy to grow your own organic and not pay organic prices.

Allotments are very much a British thing and were first introduced into England around 1831. The IW Council has sites throughout the Island and there are parish council allotments in Niton, Brading and Totland. Plots are measured in rods — a rod is about 5ö yards — and, if you’re wondering what is a rod, the term is derived from the length of the stick a me-dieval ploughman used on his oxen.

To cut down the time waiting for a plot, you might be able to share with someone who can no longer manage a whole allotment. IW Council rents range from £16 to £31 per year depending on the size of the plot but if you are willing to take on one overgrown with brambles, nettles and weeds, there is no charge for the first year. All allotment holders are required to sign a contract.

It requires commitment and a lot of hard work as Dr Richard Knight and his wife, Wendy, discovered.

Dr Knight said: “We were on the waiting list for five years,” and spent the first year clearing it of brambles and couch grass.”

Now they grow onions, runner beans, leeks, Swiss chard, sweet corn and garlic for their family.

“I like the physical side, especially the digging,” he said “and the other allotment growers are always on hand to give advice.”

Terry Askew is secretary of the Alvington Road Leisure Garden Association, Carisbrooke, the only site under the old Medina Borough Council to take

up the council’s offer in 1988 to form a self-help as-sociation. Members cleared the site, maintained the boundaries and planted apple, pear, plum and green-gage trees and, in 2004, the association was awarded a certificate of excellence by South and South East in Bloom, sponsored by Southern Water.

Twenty tenants rent the plots bordered by mani-cured grass paths, there are clumps of nettles and a buddleia bush to encourage butterflies and the wild-life includes partridges and a resident pheasant called Captain Jack — last year one of his ‘wives’ nested in Terry’s shallots.

The association is affiliated to the National Society of Allotments and the members’ fees cover the cost of insurance against public liability and also water rates. Terry is looking after an extra plot while the owner is away for a year in Australia.

“We all help, my wife complains she is an ‘allot-ment widow’,” he said.

Tucked behind a big hedge in St. Helens is a piece of land that was given to the people of the village in perpetuity by Mary Edmunds in memory of her father, Sir Harry Baldwin.

Brian Williams, chairman of the Harry Baldwin Memorial Allotments Association, said two 87-year-old gardeners have been working their plot for 25 years and he has 17 names on the waiting list.

There’s an old-world feel about allotments but there’s also a new breed of plot holders, younger couples are joining the retirees to grow vegetables that taste like the real thing. Call it ‘trendy’, but owning an allotment is a relaxing, sociable way to garden. For more information contact the National Allotment Register www.allotmentregister.co.uk

National Society of Allotments www.nsalg.org.uk

COUNCILS on the Island are being urged to create more allotments where there is a need.

One suggestion is that new housing developments should include allotment space, so-called planning gain.

The suggestion comes from, the Footprint Trust, an Island charity promoting a sustainable environment.

National Allotment Week runs from August 11 to 17.

As with most parts of the UK, the Island has a waiting list for allotments.

The trust has praised the IW Council and Ventnor Town Council for their plans to create new allotment space.

Afterschool gardening clubs for parents and chil-dren to grow-their-own is another idea promoted by the Footprint Trust.

“Ray Harrington-Vail, of the trust, said: “Garden-ing is an ideal way to keep fit and to produce healthy, fresh food. It reduces foodmiles and children learn so much from it.”

A third idea is an Adopt-a-Garden scheme through which people looking for a growing space are matched with those who can no longer look after their gardens.

Ray said the scheme was looking for more would-be gardeners and those who join are offered a free waterbutt, donated by Southern Water.”

By June Elford

Growing in popularity

“”

“”

Dr. Richard Knight. He has a county council allotment in Millers Lane, Carisbrooke

Alvington Road Garden Association. From left to right, back row: Dave Briggs, Peter Staple (chairman), Terry Askew, Neil Campbell. Front row: Rosie Pearce and Helen Campbell.

Photographs by Terence Mitchell

Call for more IW allotments

Caravan Holiday Homes for Sale from £19,995 On a family friendly park with pools and great facilities.Come and see for yourself tel: (01983) 872671

Whitecliff Bay Holiday ParkHillway Road, Bembridge, Isle of Wight PO38 5PL



News

KAT and the Kittens led children in an en-ergetic dance routine as part of a how-to-be-healthy day at Love Lane Primary School, Cowes.

Open to people of all

ages, more than 20 or-ganisations took part of-fering all sorts of advice from oral health, to stop-ping smoking, how to do more physical activity and healthy eating.

It was organised by

Medina Housing Asso-ciation in conjunction with the IW Chamber health outreach team.

The team’s ‘screening bus’, provided health checks for the over 40s.

Cowes Library did a

Rhyme Time session for pre-school children and adults were treated to Indian head massages.

Yasmin White, resi-dent involvement manager for Medina Housing, said: “Healthy living, healthy eating and healthy finances are important issues at the moment, particularly with the ‘credit crunch’, so we are pleased to be able to offer residents a marketplace where they can find out all they need to know to save money and get healthy.”

Healthy and wealthy day

Main photo: Kat and the Kittens put the children through their paces.Left: The health screening bus.

Success comes in threes, or so it proved for Karen Ledger at the New Forest Show last week, with three wins.

Karen, based in Whitwell, had gained second place with both her cob and hunter at the Royal International Horse Show. On Tuesday this week she and her hunter Noble Clover won the am-ateurs and the heavyweight hunter

class. She won the reserve cham-pion rosette, and with Howzat, a lightweight cob, she came first in the working cob class.

The New Forest Show finished with a competition for registered New Forest ponies, the Knigh-swood Challenge. Having jumped against the clock, the eight winners go through to the next round to team up with a professional, for

a pairs round. Beaulieu Bandaide, owned by Jackie Gallop and ridden by Jodie Bircham, reached the final and were paired with Welsh rider Sian Price, who has ridden for Great Britain.

After finishing fourth they were met in the collecting ring by Lady Belinda Montague, who had bred Beaulieu Bandaide eleven years ago.

Howzat helps Karen tohat-trick in New Forest

Karen Ledger competing on the Island earlier this year.



Sport

TACKLING winds gusting to over 20 knots in a 60ft yacht was a challeng-ing new experience for Sandown and Shanklin Rugby Club players.

They took to the water in a class-0 boat, Venom, during Cowes Week as part of their pre-season training.

Coach Graham Thomas explained: “The idea was to take on a different challenging

experience and build on teamwork for the coming season.”

“It certainly proved to be just that with squally conditions and winds gusting to over 20 knots.”

The event was sponsored by Triangle Cables, which has it’s UK headquarters in Ryde, and Windward Sailing of Cowes.

Full training at 7pm on Tuesday and

Thursday evenings moves to the club’s grounds in, The Fairway, Sandown, after a successful few weeks of fun workouts on Ryde sands.

Anyone wishing to join the training, players new to the club, or past players will be welcomed at the clubhouse or contact first team captain Jo Rees on 0781 608 2580.

Squad in a squall

Apologies to Saints’fans who face hike

The new sports pavilion at St Helens is scheduled to be up and running in September.

The pavilion, on the village’s famous green, is being funded with a £117,000 grant from the Football Foundation, a further £50,000 from Biffaward, and donations from villagers.

It will become the home for St Helens cricket club and Blue Star football club, and will be managed by the St Helens Sports Association, which will also make it available.

SAINTS football club fans on the Island have found they have to pay even more to watch their favourite team unless they fancy a long walk.

For the past few seasons, supporters travelling across for home matches have been able to hop on a free bus service at the Red Jet Ferry Terminal to travel to St Mary’s, with the return journey avail-able after the games.

However, as a part of the major cost-cutting ex-ercise at Saints, who only just avoided relegation to League One last season, the free buses have now been suspended. That means a half-hour walk each way for the die-hard fans or the expense of a bus or taxi ride.

Michael Wilde, Saints chairman said: “We deeply regret having to take these measures but unfortunately they have been forced upon us by the financial situation we find ourselves in.

“That means we now have to take some un-pleasant and unpalatable actions to get the finances back on track. We know this will impact on sup-porter amenity. There is no point trying to pretend otherwise and we apolo-gise to all those fans who

are affected.”Saints kick off the new

campaign at last season’s FA Cup finalists Cardiff, with their first home game against relegated Birmingham City on Sunday (August 16).

New home for St Helen’s cricket and football clubs.

Picture by Peter White

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Sport

Polo for the massesAMBITIOUS plans are well under way for a polo club to be formed on the Island.

Harry Harrison, a top polo player and the man behind the scheme, hopes the game will be played near Arreton, beginning in April.

Although polo is often regarded as a sport for the rich and famous, the aim is to make it readily avail-able for any Islander who has horse-riding skills and fancies taking it up.

The parents of Harry’s partner, Caroline, live on the Island and he wants it to become very much part of the local scene. The team currently consists of members of the Hurlingham Polo Association – the sport’s gov-erning body - who have relocated to the Island.

He explained: “The goal will be to provide lessons, coaching and chukkas that are accessible for all, and to foster the development of polo in the Island. Chukkas are friendly practice games, often played by a mix of players and learners.

“They are designed to develop the skills of the horse and rider. Polo ponies are highly trained and therefore very easy to manage and learn to ride on. This makes a newcomer to the sport able to ride the horses with confidence fairly quickly.

“Players work as a team to score goals, using their left hands to hold the reins and steer their horses while the right hand wields a mallet.

Harry Harrison, hopes the game will be played on land near Arreton

“Professional players can be moving at up to 40 miles per hour and this is a full contact sport.

“Polo is unique in that amateurs and professional compete alongside each, apart from internationals and a handful of all-pro fixtures.

“Polo is often a great balance between the winter hunting season, as the game is played primarily during the summer months.

“The IW Club is, however, consid-ering the installation of an arena that could be used for various equine dis-

ciplines as well as winter chukkas and training.”

Another idea being considered is a beach polo tournament, similar to the one recently staged at the Dorset mil-lionaires’ resort of Sandbanks.

Negotiations are already under way for playing fields near Arreton.

*Information and updates can be found on the club’s website www.iowpolo.com while potential players or officials should contact Harry Harrison on [email protected].

A RECORD crowd of more than 1,300 at Ventnor Cricket Club’s Steephill ground was hoping history would repeat itself for the game against the Lashings World XI on Sun-day.

Last year the Island club pulled off a shock win but the visitors were ready for revenge.

An innings of 121 from Sri Lankan Aravinda de Silva, soon brought everyone back to reality.

He hit 13 fours and 2 sixes in his 85 ball innings,

The Lashing reached 255-3 from 35 overs.

Ventnor suffered an early blow when Tom Friend departed for 12. Ventnor’s top-order bore the brunt of some genuinely quick bowling from Pakistan’s Mo-hammed Akram

Phil Baldwin’s excellent knock of 40 deferred Lashings’ victory. The home team reached 180 all out.

Thanks to Ventnor.play-cricket.com for information.

IW Gazette 2

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