IW Gazette 22

Friday May 29 - Thursday June 12 2009If you can, please make a donation to the hospice

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Pleasetake one

IW Festival

guide and site plan

A coastline in crisis?

8

Sandown Pier: a tradition

of funPage 16

In Lifestyle:

Bridal feature

Page 4

IW FESTIVAL organiser John Giddings has unveiled his ‘rout-the-touts’ plan ahead of this year’s music extravaganza at Seaclose Park, Newport.

Mr Giddings is frustrated that in past years ticket touts have exploited music fans arriving on the Island at the last minute by charging well over face value for a ticket.

Now he hopes the get-rich-quick touts will be sent packing penniless. He has told The Gazette he will be holding back up to 1,000 tickets for the event, and they will be available to latecomers at normal prices.

The festival – the eighth of the modern era – takes place from June 12 to 14, with Neil Young, The Prodigy and The Stereophonics among the main stage headline acts.

There is also an array of musical talent in the Big Top, with the likes of McFly, Will Young, Ultravox, Bananarama, Sharon Corr and The Charlatans performing, providing what Mr Giddings believes will be a value-for-money festival to remem-ber.

Mr Giddings said: “We have already sold over 50,000 tickets, and the signs are that it will be a sell-out. However, I plan to hold back 1,000 tickets for the festival days to try to beat the touts.

“It really annoys me that touts, often operating from a house nearby, are able to walk up and down Fairlee Road making money for themselves by selling tickets at over-the-top prices.

“I would rather not sell the tickets

than see them get into the hands of touts so they can make a big profit. I pay for the festival licence, the venue and the policing of the event, but it seems nothing is done to stop the touts. I would urge anyone who is looking for a ticket to ignore them.”

He continued: “Now all I am praying for is good weather, if that is kind to us then it’s all systems go. I think we have an excellent blend this year.”

Mr Giddings has also revealed he intends to keep the world-famous festival up and running for many more years to come, even if the venue has to be changed.

He said: “The IW Council is con-sidering a new deal for the festival, so as far as Seaclose is concerned it is very much up to them. I am very happy where we are, although I have already looked at a couple of alterna-tive sites on the Island just in case.

“I am not prepared to say where, but I can assure everyone it will not be Afton Down. That is just too far out of the way. I have never forgot-ten taking eight hours to walk there for the 1970 festival!”• See pages 4-5 for full festival details, including site map.

Festival plan torout the touts

By Peter White

John Giddings: tickets held back

A CLUB for Islanders with learning disabilities is to re-open its doors after being saved by an IW Council part-nership grant and a donation from Shanklin Rotary Club.

The former Gateway Club, which hosted members at Newport and Ryde, is to be re-launched under its original name of John’s Club, follow-ing the £10,000 grant and the Rotary gift of £3,000, coupled with other small but invaluable donations.

John Phillips, who has vol-untarily run the club for the past 14 years, expressed his

delight at the reprieve, and thanked all those who have supported his efforts to keep the club in existence.

The much-needed revenue allows a new venture for teenagers and adults at John’s Club, while a club for children with learning disabilities is to be run by parents and friends at Ryde under a different banner.

Mr Phillips said: “I am thrilled that we can continue. We now have enough money to keep us going while we look for further funding. It will enable us to run sessions

at St James’ Youth Club in Newport for members between 15 and 24, and then from 24 upwards on Satur-days and Sundays.

“We will also be able to have a Friday club when we shall be travelling with members to different venues around the Island. I would like to thank everyone who has helped, including The Gazette for the fantastic pub-licity you have given us.

“Obviously we could not have gone on without the

Continued on page 2

BEN SOUTHALL was front-page news earlier this month when he won the so-called ‘best job in the world’, being paid £74,000 to act as ‘caretaker’ of a tropical island in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

But what few people know is that Hampshire-born Ben has already had a stint working on a paradise island – the Isle of Wight!

For five years, from 1997 to 2003, Ben worked in the Mumm’s champagne tent during Cowes Week.

Speaking to The Gazette from his sun-kissed ‘workplace’, Hamilton Island, Ben said: “Having worked at Cowes Week I know what it’s like

to take myself away from the hustle and bustle of the main-land and find… the hustle and bustle of the brilliantly chaotic Cowes Week!

“The IW is a pretty similar set-up to that on Hamilton Island really – what I initially assumed was a desert island here actually has its own yacht club, marina and race week so pretty much a home from home – apart from the crystal clear, 24-degree waters of the Coral Sea being slightly differ-ent to those of the Solent!”

Ben is a keen sailor and will be honing his skills with the help of Glenn Bourke, CEO of Hamilton Island and an ex-Volvo Ocean racer.

Ben’s other dream job

Gateway Club is saved

2

Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928gazette newsthe gazette Friday MAY 29 2009

Newsdesk: (01983) 409928Fax: (01983) 404189Email: [email protected]: The Isle of Wight GazetteUnit B18Spithead Business CentreNewport RoadSandownIsle of Wight PO36 9PH

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Published by:The Isle of Wight Gazette LtdEditor: Martin PotterReporters: Jamie White, Peter White, Richard Collins, Justin GladdisNews Editor: Paul Rainford Features Editor: Jo MacaulayDistribution: Isle of Wight Distribution Ltd.Design: Colin Clarke, Dean Chick, Paul Mercer

Supporting the Earl Mountbatten Hospice through your generous donations when

you pick up your free copy.

Issue 22May 29 2009

Contact Details

the gazette

FOR MOST brave souls who tackled Walk the Wight the blisters will have long since healed.

There may be those, however, for whom the mental scars remain – particularly if they

happened to be the walkers follow-ing the man in the ‘mankini’.

This unfortunate piece of barely-there leisurewear, made famous by the comic creation Borat, would have

afforded the near-naked rambler little protection on the rain-lashed slopes of Tennyson Down.

Let’s just hope he had a cagoule in that rucksack. And not one of those see-through ones.

Continued from front page

Council partnership grant and the won-derful donation by the Shanklin Rotary Club, as well as individuals who have given us financial help. However, we still need funding for the future and no do-nation is too small.”

Paul Bakewell, IW Council acting head of community and housing, said: “On behalf on the learning

disability partnership board, we are de-lighted to be able to help secure the future of John’s Club.

“The board, which the council coordi-nates, is made up of over 30 groups and individuals, and its vision is to open doors to a world where all people can keep on learning and growing.

“Each year the board receives funding from the De-partment of Health

which is used to support local groups and I am sure the money that is going to John’s Club will be vital in ensuring the project can serve its members and provide opportunities they may not other-wise have had.

“We wish the club well in its future in developing social activities for people with disabilities and look forward to working with their members in future”.

POLICE are appeal-ing for witnesses after a fight in Bem-bridge left a 55-year-old man with serious head injuries.

Officers were called to the scene, outside the Windmill Inn in Steyne Road, at around 9.25pm on Monday (May 25).

The man, who is from Bembridge, was found collapsed in the road.

He was treated at the scene by am-bulance crews and taken to St Mary’s Hospital in Newport before being flown to Southampton General Hospital.

He had suffered a fractured skull.

A 50-year-old man and 47-year-old woman from Bem-bridge also suffered minor injuries.

Two men from Ryde, aged 24 and 22, were arrested on suspicion of wound-ing with intent and were taken into custody.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det Insp Heelan at Newport CID on 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

HEAVY summer storms have been blamed for a fall in the quality of sea water around the Island.

A survey by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) revealed a drop in standards of water off around half of the Island beaches, compared with last year’s figures.

The figures were based on readings taken last summer when the Island suffered freak weather conditions including flash flooding.

The MCS maintains a combination of unusual circumstances led to the results, including polluted storm water running off farm land and flood water mixed with sewer over-flows running into the sea from swollen rivers.

Thomas Bell, the MCS coastal pollution officer, explained: “The results reflect last summer’s heavy rain which swept water-borne pollutants like raw sewage, petrochemicals and farm waste into rivers and the sea.

“The MCS believes specific counter-pollution measures are required, including new farming practices, investment in sustainable urban drain-age systems, a significant expansion of the sewer system to handle large volumes of storm water and end-of-pipe monitor-ing on combined sewer overflows.”

But provided there are no abnormal weather patterns this summer, the quality of water around the Island should soon be improving.

The list of beaches moni-tored by the MCA for the Island is:

Compton Bay (recom-mended*); Totland Bay (basic pass**); Colwell Bay (recommended); Gurnard (basic pass); Cowes (basic pass); Ryde (basic pass); Ryde East (basic pass); Ryde Spring Vale (basic pass); Seagrove (guideline***); St Helens (guideline); Bembridge (recommended); Whitecliff Bay (guideline); Sandown – Yaverland (recommend-ed); Sandown (recom-

mended); Shanklin (basic pass); Ventnor (recom-mended).

* ‘Recommended’ means that the beach has the highest water quality stan-dard and good treatment of any continuous sewage discharges. ** ‘Basic pass’ means the beach passed EC Mandatory standard for water quality (statutory minimum). *** ‘Guideline’ means good water quality stan-dard only.

Water quality blow for Island beaches

By Peter White

Yaverland got a ‘recommended’ but several Island beaches’ ratings slipped

Man hurt in attack

WORK is underway on the Island on a vital piece of equip-ment for HMS Queen Elizabeth, even though the launch of the first of two new aircraft carriers is still around six years away.

A team at BAe Systems Insyte electromagnetic environment

facility in Cowes are construct-ing a mock-up of a two-island superstructure, separated by 85m of deck.

The structure will be used for mounting equipment, includ-ing communications antennae and aerials for radars and other devices such as the precision ap-proach system to enable aircraft to find the ship.

Work on the unique antennae arrangement will ensure all the systems work without adversely affecting each other, and the mock-up of the superstructure is due to be finished within the next couple of months.

Who was that mankini?

Work starts on carrier mock-up

Gateway Club saved by grant

3

Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928 gazette newsFriday MAY 29 2009 the gazette

AS PART of its drive for greater transparency following criticism of its plans for a new breakwater, Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) is urging the public to come to its annual meeting on June 25.

CHC will seek to use the meeting as an opportunity to outline its dual roles, duties and responsibilities as a statutory harbour authority as well as a commercial provider of facilities and services.

By holding the meeting an-nually, CHC aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to give their views on harbour policy and development plans, includ-ing the breakwater project.

The CHC’s chairman, Jeremy Preston, who will chair the meeting, said: “There is no ques-tion that CHC’s commitment and integrity to manage and develop the harbour is in the interests of all the users and for the wider benefit of the local and Island

community. “The commissioners’ track

record since 2001 has been to be pro-active in managing a professional Trust harbour that is re-investing all financial surplus-es back into harbour develop-ment and the services we offer to all the customers of Cowes Harbour.”

At the meeting, which takes place at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at 7pm, Stuart Mc-Intosh, the harbour master and

chief executive of the harbour commissioners, will also present the 2008 management report in-cluding an overview and update of the CHC’s strategic frame-work, achievements in 2008 and objectives for 2009 including the latest update on the delivery of the outer harbour plan.

There will also be a financial report and this will be followed by an opportunity for the audi-ence to put questions to the com-missioners.

CHC invites public in COWES Harbour Commission has appointed three new harbour commissioners: Claudia Suckling, David Riley and Jeremy Dale.

Claudia Suckling worked for 18 yeas in the City on large-scale infrastructure projects, and as a campaign manager for a Westmin-ster think-tank. She now lives in East Cowes and provides promotional advice to a number of local charities and has close ties to com-mercial river activities.

David Riley is a partner in a firm of ac-countants and a keen racing sailor. He has kept a boat in Cowes for the last 20 years.

Jeremy Dale has been involved within the marine industry for most of his working life, starting out as an apprentice shipwright in the early 1970s. He is now owner of SeaSafe Systems in Cowes.

Commissioners are appointed for three years and, due to the staggered retirement policy, vacancies for commissioners occur each year.

New team

CHC HAS added a new workboat to its fleet.

The 16metre Multi Cat Seaclear was constructed by Hythe-based Southamp-ton Marine Services, and represents the company’s first venture into workboat production.

Seaclear will enter opera-

tion with Kingston Marine Services. It is powered by twin Doosan 230BHP diesel engines, driving 800mm pro-pellers through twin nozzles supplied by Watermota and delivering 8.5 knot services speed with 6 tonnes bollard pull.

Deck equipment consists of

a 30 t/m crane and 10 tonne winch.

This addition to the CHC fleet will specialise in the laying, servicing and recov-ery of moorings and buoyage and is also available for charter to carry out marine contracts including bed lev-elling and marine salvage.

Workboat added to fleet

STUDENTS from Christ the King College in Newport have raised nearly £4,000 by running a talent competition with a difference.

Using the biblical principle of the ‘Talents’, each of the 733 students at the College was given a one pound coin last half term and asked to use the money to come up with a creative and imaginative use of their time and talent for the benefit of others.

Ideas that pupils came up with included spending the coin on a sponge and then using that sponge to wash people’s cars; buying ingredients to make and then sell cakes and sweets; buying

paints for a face painting event; using the money to buy a pair of heavy duty gloves to help neighbours with their gardening; and buying packets of vegetable seeds and selling them on as seedlings.

Some of the students decided to go down the eBay route, with one buying a holiday for 89p and then selling it on for £48.

The highest amount raised by an individual pupil was £180, and the overall total raised was £3773.29.

The money will be shared out amongst the four Houses at the College, with half going to the charities chosen

by each House, and the other half going towards the House Budget and the Friends of Christ the King College to benefit the College as a whole.

Principal Pat Goodhead said: “I am absolutely de-lighted with the amount of money that the students have raised. They have all put in so much effort and really put on their thinking caps to come up with some very innovative ideas to benefit others.”

Charities that benefit from the monies raised will be invited to give further details of their work at College wor-ships.

From left to right: Daniel Sympkins, Ellis O’Connell, Edie Swain, Stewart Webb and Laura Goodhead display some of their fundraising ideas

Christ the King pupils’ Talent for charity

Left: the Multicat Seaclear will be available to charter for marine contracts

4


IW FESTIVAL organiser John Gid-dings insists this year’s festival will be among the best he has staged, and the signs are that the extrava-ganza at Seaclose Park, Newport will be a sell-out.

And Mr Giddings has brushed aside criticism that this year’s production lacks the big-name at-tractions of previous events.

The likes of David Bowie, the Rolling Stones and The Who have been among the headline acts since the Festival was revived in 2002.

This year revellers will be watch-ing Razorlight, The Prodigy and The Stereophonics, with Canadian rocker Neil Young taking centre stage on the final night – an act some critics have claimed appeals more to a cult following than the masses.

“This year there will be entertain-ment for everyone all around the

site. We are all geared up for it so we just need that decent spell of weather, and the long-term forecast is quite encouraging.

“We have more groups this year than ever before, and I think there will be something for everyone. We have rock, pop, indie and dance. We also have an acoustic stage and there will be a few surprise guest appearances from people who will just be picking up a guitar and knocking out a number.”

The main event kicks off on Friday June 12, with hardcore dance act The Prodigy headlining the main stage. Other acts, includ-ing Sneaky Sound System, The Ting Tings, Iglu and Hartly, Pendu-lum and Basement Jaxx, will also be performing live on the Friday

night, making sure that this year’s event gets off to a flyer.

Meanwhile, over in Strawberry Fields, The Big Top will be having a ‘Girls Night Out’ with performers including Ladyhawke, Bananara-ma, Noisettes, Beverley Knight, Eddi Reader, Pixie Lott and Strictly Come Dancing winner Alesha Dixon.

Performing in the Big Top on Saturday night will be pop acts McFly and Will Young, and dance sensation Calvin Harris. The Australian Pink Floyd Show, Ultravox, Mercury Rev, The Rakes, The Maccabees, Jessie Evans, The Operators, The Arcadian Kicks and Deborah Hodgson will also be hoping to whip the crowd into a frenzy.

Over on the Main Stage, The Stereophonics are headlining, along with Razorlight, Maximo Park,

White Lies, The View, The Rifles, The Zombies, Sharon Corr, The Yeah You’s and special guest and festival regular Paolo Nutini.

Neil Young will be closing the Main Stage on Sunday night, along with Pixies, Simple Minds, The Pigeon Detectives, The Script, Goldie Lookin Chain, Judy Collins, Arno Carstens and Papa Do Plenty.

Back over in Strawberry Fields, Tim Burgess is curator for the night’s acts which include The Charlatans, Killing Joke, The Horrors, Black Lips, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Hatcham Social, S.C.U.M, Poppy and the Jezebels.

Strawberry Fields officially opens especially for campers on the Thursday night, where The Human League, Ling meets Queen, The Complete Stone Roses, Florence Rawlings and DJ sets by Rusty

Egan will hopefully be getting everyone in the mood.

The Ray-Ban Rooms, Strongbow Bowtime Bar, Look Magazine’s Pamper Parlour, Hipshaker, The Zebra Bar and Champagne Garden, Guitar Hero, the Carling Local, the Fun Fair, the Bandstand, the Kids Zone, The Kashmir Cafe, and The Hive can also be found in Straw-berry Fields and the Main Arena.

The campsite will open on Thurs-day June 12 at 12pm and stay open until 12pm on Monday June 16. Strawberry Fields will be open for campers only on Thursday June 12 from 6pm-12am. The Festival main arena opens at 2pm on Friday June 13, earlier than usual, with live music starting at 4pm. Organisers are advising people to arrive in the main arena as early as possible to avoid any potential queues at peak time.

Island gets readyBy Jamie White

Neil Young The Pigeon Detectives BananaramaThe Prodigy

IW Festival 2009 site map

5


WHEN, in 1970, Bob Aylott was sent by the Daily Sketch to cover the first Isle of Wight Festival, he knew there would be a few people there.

He just didn’t expect 600,000 to turn up.

“It was just unbelievable,” says Bob. “Everything came to a complete standstill. British Rail said they had transported more than half a million across the Solent, and it certainly felt like it.

“We were the size of a small city; we were a mass of people that no police force in the

world could control. If astro-naut Neil Armstrong had been up there at the time, he’d have seen us from Outer Space.”

Thirty-nine years on, and just in time for this year’s gather-ing at Seaclose Park, Bob has brought out a limited edition book, ‘Isle of Wight Festival 1970 – Six Days That Rocked the World’, which captures the unique atmosphere of that iconic event on Afton Down. The vast crowds, Hendrix in

his pomp, near-naked hippies, bewildered coppers – it’s all here in a stunning collection of images by Bob and five other photographers.

And though the festival is most closely associated with Jimi Hendrix, he wasn’t the highlight for Bob. “I wasn’t that bothered about Hendrix, but The Who were fantastic – they went on for about four hours. The performance they gave at the IW has gone down in rock legend as their best ever.”

Four of the other five photog-

raphers whose work is featured in the book are Island-based.

Ken Beken,the renowned marine photographer from Cowes, captured the big-name stage acts including Hendrix, Free, Tiny Tim and Joan Baez.

Mike Hardy from Seaview was a documentary photog-rapher working for the Daily Telegraph Magazine. He was on the frontline during the bloody battles between hippies and security guards.

Doug White from Cowes, an award-winning amateur photographer, is well known for his reportage-style pictures of the event.

Chris Weston from Yarmouth was a keen amateur photogra-pher who worked as an electri-cian on the site.

A commentary is provided by Peter Daltrey, lead singer of Fairfield Parlour, the band that opened the show.

But will Bob be tempted back to this year’s festival to take a few snaps of The Stereophon-ics, Prodigy and the rest? “I might well come over and give out some leaflets but I don’t think I’ll be going to see any of the acts, I’m afraid. I don’t think I can cope with modern-day festivals – they’re too clini-cal and clean!”• ‘Isle of Wight Festival 1970 – Six Days that Rocked the World’ is available to order direct from the website www.isleofwightfestival1970.com, price £35.

to party!

By Paul Rainford

And how it all began…The aerial shot of the festival scene in 1970, taken by Bob Aylott, gives a sense of the immense scale of the event

Bob Aylott covering the 1970 festival (left) and the photographer today

6

gazettethe gazette Friday MAY 29 2009

Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928

7


A leg up for LeonVECTIS Sunrise Rotary Club presented budding Island athlete Leon Phillips (below, with Vectis Sunrise president, Jeremy Dale) with £240 and a sports bag when he

joined them at breakfast last week. It will help fund his visit to the Island Games in Aland, Finland, although he had already raised the £690 minimum which each con-testant had to raise to be allowed to go. He is currently ranked number one long jumper in the South East Region and ranked 12th in the under-17s category in the country. He was a bronze medal winner in the SEAA Champi-onships held at Lea Valley near London.

Leon’s indoor best is 6. 10 metres, though he has achieved 6.42 metres outdoors. He

combines his weekly training sessions with studying for his GCSEs at Medina High School. Vectis Sunrise Rotarians plan to stay in touch with Leon and wish him all the best with both his sporting career and his GCSEs.

Feeding the walkers

ROTARIANS supported Walk the Wight by manning checkpoints and food stops at Mer-stone on the flat walk and Carisbrooke on the main walk. Vectis Sunrise manned the food stops providing hot drinks , hot dogs, burgers and bacon rolls. The club raised over £1,500 for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

Bric-a-bracSANDOWN Rotary are holding a bric-a-brac sale at York Road Methodist Church Hall in Sandown on June 6 from 12.30 to 2.30pm in aid of the Romanian children’s visit to the Isle of Wight next year. There will be a cake stall and refreshments. Admission 20p. Call 405471 for details of the stalls.

Shanklin’s new van

SHANKLIN Rotary have just purchased a new van for collecting furniture for their Big Sale in January. Details of col-lections coming soon.

Calling all cooksTHE IW Rotary Good Cooks Challenge is coming soon! Look out for details in the next issue of The Gazette.

Tell us your news!

Heard something interesting or have

a story to tell?

Contact the editorial team on 409928 or email:

[email protected]

No. 8: Quarr AbbeyBy Peter White

Know your WightIsland curiosities explained

TUCKED discreetly in woodland a few hundred yards off the main road between Wootton and Binstead stands the imposing Quarr Abbey, one of the most tranquil spots even on this peaceful Island.

According to the history books, Quarr Abbey dates back nearly 900 years and was originally the home of monks. The original abbey came into being in the 12th century, founded by Baldwin de Rivers, the Earl of Exeter.

But some 400 years later, during the reign of King Henry VIII, came the suppression of monasteries. Between 1536 and 1541 the king disbanded some 825 monasteries, nunneries and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appro-priated their income, disposed of their assets and provided for their former members. Quarr was among those that suffered, with the stone from the original abbey being used for fortifica-tions in Cowes and Yarmouth.

Then just over 100 years ago, the new Quarr Abbey was re-occupied by monks, who initially stayed in Quarr House when Appuldurcombe House became too expensive to run.

Now Quarr Abbey, with its majestic tower and ruins of the original abbey, is surrounded by one of many Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty that have been designated across the Island. It provides the ideal backdrop for a site of such historic importance.

Isle of Wight Rotary ClubsA round up of Island Rotary Club news

Cowes, Royal London Yacht

ClubThursday 7pm

Newport, Conservative Club

Wednesday 1pm

Vectis Sunrise, Riverside Centre,

NewportWednesday 7.30am

Ryde, Yelfs HotelTuesday 6.30pm

Sandown, Conservative

Club, ShanklinTuesday 7.30pm

(fortnightly)

Shanklin, Conservative ClubWednesday 7.30pm

Ventnor, Cricket Club

Monday 7.30pm

West Wight, Sun Inn, HulverstoneTuesday 7.30pm

Rotary Clubs around the IslandMeetings:

8


THE FAILURE to correctly dispose of commercial waste from his Ventnor business has cost a Chinese takeaway owner more than £500 fol-lowing a successful prosecu-tion by IW Council.

Mr Li Xin Liang, who runs The Mandarin at 92 Ventnor High Street, dumped waste including cooking oil containers, plastic wrap-ping and food packaging in woodland off Apse Manor Road near Sandown. Some of the waste was found to be in a stream.

Mr Liang, who represented himself during a hearing at Newport Magistrates Court, was found guilty of an offence under the Envi-ronmental Protection Act (1990).

He was given a fine of

£300, warned about his future conduct, and ordered to pay the council £200 in costs.

The waste was discovered by a member of the public who contacted the council. Environmental health offi-cers investigated the allega-tions and obtained evidence from the site, including photos.

It was also discovered the owners of The Man-darin did not have a waste disposal contract in place for all the waste from the business.

Stuart Love, IW Council director of environment and neighbourhoods, said: “Fly tipping can cause significant harm to the environment. It can pollute water courses and contaminate the land as well as being an eyesore.

“The council will continue to crack down on illegal fly tipping and carry out regular, unannounced visits to businesses to ensure they have correct waste disposal contracts in place.”

Takeaway fined £500THE IW COUNCIL has received a ‘Good Egg Award’ at a ceremony in London, after being recog-nised for its use of cage-free hens.

The ‘Compassion in World Farming’ organisation chose the council for the award, making the local authority one of the first councils in the country to receive one.

Each year, the council orders almost 100,000 eggs that are used in school meals across the Island, each one coming from hens that are not kept in a cage or factory farm.

Keith Woods, IW Council head of

children’s services, said: “We are very happy to receive this recognition alongside some major compa-nies and organisa-tions.

“The council is committed to provid-ing nutritious and healthy meals in schools with eggs as a major ingredient on menus.

“I know parents will be very happy to see that the council is devoted to using cage-free eggs in school dinners and I hope the Island can been seen as a role model for other authorities to follow suit.”

Council’s cage free policy

wins award

PUPILS from Lake Middle School have formed the first junior neighbourhood watch scheme on the Island.

The idea for the project, which involves schoolchildren in years five and six, came from the police community support officer (PCSO) for Lake, Jackie May, who holds regular community meetings at the school.

The children completed a course that enabled them to set up the scheme. This gave them an introduction to the concept of neighbourhood watch and how it sets out to limit the opportunities for crime, help and reassure local residents and encourage closer co-operation within communities and with the police.

PCSO May said: “My sugges-tion to start a junior neighbour-hood watch scheme with school-children was put forward as a way to support their education on being responsible members of society.

“The course broadened interest in neighbourhood watch and challenged the perception that it only involves older people.”

These principles were rein-forced by PCSO May, who gave pupils crime prevention advice including information on safety when travelling on buses, secur-ing and marking personal proper-ty, and protecting mobile phones and bicycles from thieves.

PCSO May added: “The

course gave children and their families more awareness of what they can do together to make a positive contribution to the areas where they live.

“I would like this scheme to en-courage more junior neighbour-

hood watch schemes in schools across the Island.”

Chris Ball, Lake Middle School assistant headteacher, said: “It’s important for pupils to see the police in a role where they’re here to help children, and we

hope to continue this close working liaison with officers.”

Year five pupil Chris Taylor, aged nine, said: “I really enjoyed the experience of the course, learning how to stay safe with our local PCSO.”

Waste from the The Man-darin restaurant, includ-

ing cooking oil containers and plastic wrapping, was

found in woodland off Apse Manor Road

Back row: (left to right): Emily Bowkis; Mrs Sarah Freedman; Madeleine Wicks; Maia Ellwood; Chris Taylor. Front row (left to right): Eleanor Strawson; Michael Russell; Elizabeth Hutchings;

Michaela Langan; PCSO Jackie May

Lake Middle School pupils form junior neighbourhood watch

ALEX CHAMBERS, a year 10 student at Carisbrooke High School, has won a Nintendo Wii in a competition organised by Pabulum Catering to promote healthy eating in schools.

St George’s Day was celebrated in the last weekend of April at an event organised by Cowes Rotary Club where Pabulum had their marquee. Here cooking demonstrations showcased the use of fresh, high-quality Island produce and healthy eating – ‘veg by stealth’ – was the key target message offered to consumers.

Alex’s challenge was to name the exotic fruit on display and there were a great diversity for her to identify: figs, coconut, kiwi, mango, pineapple, asparagus, lychee, aubergine, celeriac, globe artichoke and pak choi. Alex identified all these correctly.

Alex was delighted with her prize. She said: “I am very active in my life and think that what Pabulum are trying to encourage is really important.

“Healthy eating is a key part of life at Carisbrooke and I am thrilled to have won this prize.”

A healthy victory

By Jamie White

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SUPPORTERS and well-wishers gathered this week for the official opening of the new Friends of St Mary’s Hospital shop.

Though it has actually been doing brisk business since its unofficial opening in December, organisers revealed that this was the first chance they had had to properly mark the shop’s move from its old, rather cramped, premises to its new position close to the main entrance of the hospital.

Profits from the shop, which is run by the largely volunteer group, go into a fund that helps the work of the hospital. Since 2000, more than £500,000 has been raised by the Friends in a variety of ways. The Friends also provide a daily trolley service which takes newspapers, magazines and confec-tionery around the wards.

Edward and Gloria Minghella, parents of the late film director Anthony Minghella,

were the guests of honour at the opening ceremony.

Mrs Minghella said: “All the years working quietly and efficiently you have produced this wonderful facility for the people of the Island. That’s the great thing about living on this Island, we are such a wonderful community – give us a job and we do it well.

“Raising half a million pounds in the last nine years is just phenomenal. Many busi-nesses would just love to be able to produce figures like that. But it doesn’t happen by magic, it happens by sheer hard work,” she added.

Margaret Moglione, chairman of the Friends, said: “It has always been a success-ful shop – now it is stupendously successful.”

THE USE of floodlighting to enhance Newport Guildhall’s archi-tectural features has been recognised by the Island branch of the Cam-paign to Protect Rural England.

The group presented IW Council with a ‘Good Lighting Certificate’ at its annual general meeting earlier this month.

The group, which has been compil-ing a register of some of the best and worst lighting installations on the Island, wanted to formally recognise the council’s sympathetic use of lighting to minimise light spill while emphasising the historic building’s architecture.

They have been compiling the list in collaboration with the Vectis Astronomical Society as part of

the ongoing Dark Skies campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the light pollution problem.

Dennis Russell, outgoing chair-man of the CPRE (IW) said: “It was refreshing to come across an effectively lit historic building where no lighting heads are apparent. The group was impressed by the way the required area is effectively illumi-nated without sideways or upward spillage and the overall effect that the council has achieved through a clever use of floodlighting.”

Speaking to The Gazette, the group’s new chairman, John Langley, criticised other lighting installations on the Island, however, as being

major light pollution offenders. “The IW prisons complex lighting

shines up into the sky unnecessarily and can be seen from all over the Island. The athletics track at Fairway in Sandown, which is a council facil-ity, has 18-20 lighting heads lighting up the sky.” he said.

Mr Langley also claims that outside lighting installed at the Lakeside Hotel in Wootton has resulted in the waterfowl leaving the neighbour-ing lake, which is an SSSI (site of special scientific interest).

The CPRE is also unhappy with the lighting at the Westridge golf driving range, which, they say, ignored the recommendations they gave to the council during planning consulta-tions.

By Paul Rainford

By Paul Rainford

Highlights and lowlights

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Hospital shop re-born

ISLAND MP Andrew Turner has attacked the way the Government is presenting its figures on access to NHS dentists, claiming they are misleading.

Mr Turner asked Dawn Pri-marolo, the Minister of State for Public Health, why the way in which access to NHS dentists is shown has changed from the number of individual patients receiving treatment

to the number of treatments received in total.

Mr Turner said: “It seems strange to present this infor-

mation in a way which actu-ally tells you less about how many people have had access to NHS dentists on the Island, not more.

Under the new system, said Mr Turner, an individual could visit a dentist on ten separate occasions for ten fill-ings, and that would count as ten ‘treatments’, even though only one person has had access to that NHS dentist.

Under the original system, they would appear as a single individual having access.

“If services are to be im-proved, the information needs to be presented in a way that does not muddy the waters,” he added. “The figures the minister gave me this week do not reflect what I have been told by Islanders and the new presentation of data only confuses matters.”

THE BREAST Cancer Campaign is looking for runners to take part in the Great North Run in Sep-tember to raise money for its activities.

Those who represent the charity in what is the

country’s biggest half-mar-athon are called ‘Jigsaw Runners’. In 2008, 335 Jigsaw Runners took part in the Great North Run and raised more than £160,000.

TV presenter Angellica Bell will be leading the

Jigsaw Runners at this year’s event, which takes place on Sunday Septem-ber 20 on Tyneside. She said: “I lost a close friend to breast cancer so this is a cause very close to my heart. Breast Cancer Cam-paign has plenty of places available so please show your support for breast cancer research and join me on the exclusive Jigsaw Runners club.”

All runners for the

charity will receive a pro-fessional Ronhill running vest along with support throughout their training and fundraising.

If you would like to apply for a charity place, or if you have your own place through the ballot and would like to run for Breast Cancer Campaign, please call the events team on 020 7749 4107 or email [email protected].

Gloria and Edward Minghella about to reveal the interior of the new hospital shop

Dentist figures misleading – MPNewport’s Guildhall: ‘a clever use of floodlighting’, says CPRE

Great North Runners wanted

TV presenter Angellica Bell: leading the runners

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AFTER ten years of planning, the IW Samaritans have finally moved into their new centre in Newport.

Sited next door to Newport Fire Station, it is hoped that the purpose-built premises will be better able to handle the increasing number of calls made by distressed Islanders.

Rita Harman MBE, who 40 years ago founded the Island’s branch of Samaritans, cut the ceremo-nial ribbon and cake and officially opened the new centre.

Over 60 guests enjoyed cream teas at the ceremony and heard about the Samaritans’ outreach work in Island schools and prisons and of Mrs Harman’s determination to

provide trained and available Island Samaritans to locals in times of desperation. Island MP Andrew Turner and members of the Island’s police force, fire service and NHS mental health team all attended the opening.

The centrally located branch has a discreet side entrance and offers Islanders a drop-in service, enabling them to talk face to face about their suicidal feelings. Additionally, it is hoped that the new centre, which used Island suppliers and contractors wherever possible, will encourage more listening volunteers to join the branch. More Samaritans are needed to train as listeners, to help in the

charity shop and to undertake fund-raising events.

Last year at least 17 Islanders took their own life, and IW Samaritans received over 8,500 contacts via phone, email and in person from people considering that option. More than 60 per cent of the telephone calls the Island branch received were from men.

In the light of the current economic downturn and resulting redundancies on the Island, the service is bracing itself for extra demand in the coming months.

Anyone interested in helping Sa-maritans as a fundraiser, volunteer or shop helper should call 524775.

Rita Harman MBE (centre), founder of IW Samaritans, with Andrew Turner MP and the Samaritans’ new neighbours – members of Newport Fire Station’s Green Watch at the ribbon cutting ceremony

Samaritans’ new HQ THE RAINBOW Club, the Island’s only Down’s syndrome support group, is to hold a sponsored walk in Bembridge to raise money for people with the condition.

The 3km walk, dubbed ‘The Big Step Forward’, kicks off at 11am and takes place in Steyne Park.

Anyone who is interested in taking part should contact Clare Williams on 568601 for more in-formation and sponsorship forms.

Around one in every 1,000 babies born in the UK will have Down’s syndrome, and there are currently around 60,000 people in the UK with the condition.

Visit to The Gambia inspires fundraising

Make a Big Step Forward

A LEADING Island campaigner for the rights of people with autism has welcomed the news that Eng-land’s first Autism Bill has moved another step closer to reality.

Louise Foley, IW branch officer for the National Autistic Society, said the fact that MPs had now backed the Govern-ment’s bill could drive a dramatic improvement in local authority and NHS services for people with the condition.

“We are absolutely delighted to hear that the Government

is prepared to take decisive action to tackle the shocking lack of help which leaves people affect-ed by autism feeling isolated, ignored and often at breaking point,” she said.

“The Autism Bill has passed a major and crucial hurdle on the road to becom-ing law but there’s still some way to go. Autism is a serious, lifelong and dis-abling condition, and without the right support it can have a profound and some-times devastating effect on individuals and families, so we

will keep working with the Government to ensure the Autism Bill can deliver where it is really needed.”

The Autism Bill is being championed through Parliament as a Private Mem-ber’s Bill led by Conservative MP Cheryl Gillan and was drafted by the NAS on behalf of a coalition of 15 other autism charities.

The Bill now awaits its third reading, scheduled for June 19, and with the support of the Gov-ernment is likely to pass to the House of Lords.

Autism Bill welcomed

HAVE you got what it takes to be the face of the IW Festival?

The London-based Zone Models agency has been en-dorsed as the official model scout for this year’s festival, to be held at Seaclose Park in Newport over the weekend June 12-15 (see pages 4-5), and will be looking for the ‘faces of the future’.

Zone Models will be on the lookout for a male and female and the pair selected will receive test shots, a ‘casting consulta-tion’ and other support to help

launch a modelling career. Zone Models’ booking’s direc-

tor Ruth Edwards said: “British music festivals offer a unique opportunity for fashionistas to show off their stuff and we think the IW could prove to be a great talent pool for us to pick from.

“Our eagle-eyed spotters know the kind of qualities that are required to get to the top. So if you think you have what it takes to be the next Kate Moss, Eden Clark or Lily Cole we’ll see you at Seaclose Park!”

Festival faces wanted

A RESIDENTIAL care home in Shanklin is doing its bit to improve the lives of school-children in The Gambia fol-lowing a visit to the African country by its owners.

Tina and Alan Hughes-Thomas, who run the Portland Lodge care home in Landguard Manor Road, visited The Gambia with their daughter Lily and her friend Georgie Elkins in April for a holiday.

Lily and Georgie, however, were keen to find out more about the country, so while they were there Mr and Mrs Hughes-Thomas took them on a trip to a local school, Banyaka Lower Basic School.

“We were amazed how happy the children were even though they had nothing, equipment was at a minimum and they rely on tourists to visit and give them the odd packet of pens or pencils,”

said Mrs Hughes-Thomas.The visit made such an

impression on them all that when they arrived home the family decided to set about fundraising and appealing for school equipment to be sent from the care home to Banyaka school.

The response, said Mrs Hughes-Thomas, has been “fantastic”. Now they are looking for shoe boxes to be donated so that they can

package all the school equip-ment up and send it off to The Gambia. Anyone who has shoe boxes to donate can contact Mrs Hughes-Thomas at [email protected].

Mrs Hughes-Thomas is also running a raffle at Portland Lodge, half the proceeds of which will go to the school-children in The Gambia and half to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice on the Island.

Lily Hughes-Thomas and her friend Georgie Elkins (wearing hat) with some the children in The Gambia who they are now looking to help

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POLICE on the Island are calling on the community to continue supporting a cam-paign to address problems caused by irre-sponsible motorists.

The roads policing unit and safer neigh-bourhoods officers are responding to com-plaints as a part of ‘Operation Castle’, which

relates to speeding motorists and noise nuisance made by drivers using the A3020 Medina Way in Newport and surrounding areas.

Sergeant Paul Bailey of the roads policing unit said: “Advice and warnings from police have been ignored by a reckless minority

of drivers who escalate the risk of serious injuries to innocent road users.

“I would encourage members of the public to continue contacting police in confidence to help identify those responsible for motor-ing offences. Officers on extra patrols are taking a zero tolerance approach to offences detected.”

The police also have the power to seize vehicles from motorists stopped for anti-so-cial and careless driving. Motorists with no driving licence or insurance also face having their vehicles taken away.

Police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) from Newport’s safer neighbourhoods teams, staff from the IW Council’s CCTV control room and road safety team, officials from the Vehicle and Operating Standards Agency (VOSA), and the Crimestoppers charity are all assisting with the operation.

Two CCTV cameras operate in the Medina Way area, and yellow three-sided tri-signs warning of the consequences facing drivers are located near the retail estate car parks where they are known to meet.

Extra patrols since the start of Operation Castle in March have produced the following results:• 11 motorists caught speeding: nine fixed penalty notices and two reports for court summons were issued.• Seven orders were issued to motorists with noisy exhausts, requiring them to have their cars undergo new MOTs.• Four Section 59 warnings were issued to motorists for careless driving.

• Three endorsable fixed penalty notices were issued to motorists with tinted windows that did not comply with Government regu-lations.• Four vehicles were seized where the motor-ists had no insurance.• Police photographed four vehicles where motorists had made modifications without informing their insurers.• One motorist was arrested for driving whilst disqualified.• Twelve motorists took up the option of driver awareness training.

Sergeant Bailey added: “The community in Newport has identified this issue as a priority for the police, and we are responding by de-tecting and disrupting the activities of those who demonstrate a disregard for road safety and the quality of life for local residents. Of-ficers regularly receive reports from people who can hear cars travelling at speed from at least one mile away at night.

“We are committed to continuing these types of operations so motorists understand anti-social driving is not tolerated by com-munities and the police. Officers remain open to further opportunities to meet and speak with groups of motorists to reinforce education and awareness of potential of-fences.”

The roads policing unit has created a dedicated Operation Castle email address for people to contact officers in confidence about those motorists and vehicles that prompt serious concerns or suspicions. The email address is [email protected] or you can call 0845 045 4545.

‘Boy racers’ beware – police

‘SPEED reactive’ signs that light up when approaching motorists are breaking the pre-vailing speed limit are reducing the number of collisions on Island roads according to latest figures released by the IW Council.

Statistics show an 18 per cent reduction in the number of accidents at the sites where the signs are located during 2008, compared to the average of the previous three years.

The average speed of traffic has also reduced at these sites, suggesting that the majority of drivers react when reminded of the speed limit.

IW Council head of highways and trans-port, Peter Hayward, said: “The speed reactive signs are proving to be effective and help to reduce both road collisions and traffic speeds.

“These results are very encouraging and

suggest that installing further signs in areas where we have identified problems is the right thing to do.”

Sergeant Paul Bailey of Hampshire Con-stabulary’s IW roads policing unit said: “A gentle reminder has been offered to motorists by the introduction of these signs.

“The police welcome any reduction in speed which has been a proven link to many collisions. The council’s plans to install further signs shows a real commitment to road safety on the Island.”

The council has said it is continuing with plans to install more signs in areas that have been identified through consultation with the public, town and parish councils and the police. There are also plans to install speed reactive signs to support the new 20mph limits outside Island schools.

Signs making an impact

VENTNOR Lions Club members are becoming expert bag packers.

For the third year running they were able to provide a day’s bag packing service to customers at Sainsbury’s in Newport to raise funds for a good cause.

Having previously raised funds to buy equipment for

Naomi House children’s hospice, this year £660 was raised to pay for a coach full of local children and their carers to visit Paultons Park for a day with all expenses paid.

Lions Club President Chris Cooper said: “We are delight-ed once again with the gener-ous response by Sainsbury’s

shoppers who have enabled deserving local children to enjoy a much needed great day out. Our club members with biceps bulging were flagging towards the end but it was well worth it to see the kids’ faces as they set out. Thanks go to Sainsbury’s and their customers for making this a successful team effort.”

Lions’ share of packing

BEMBRIDGE Village Hall is the venue for a production of ‘The Shell Seekers’, a dramatisation of the novel of the same name by Rosamund Pilcher.

The play, which has been

dramatised by Terence Brady and Charlotte Bingham, follows the trials and tribulations of a family at odds over their expected inheritances, interlaced with a love story.

Last night (May 28) saw the Island premiere of the play, and it continues tonight and tomorrow.

Tickets, at £6, are avail-able from Lane End News in Bembridge or on the door.

Family drama opens in Bembridge

From left to right: Ventnor Lions Peter Noble, Chris Cooper and Wendy Ventress, Sainsbury’s PR ambassador Tanya Blake and Ventnor Lion Val Lockwood

SOME of the most beautiful gardens in Arreton will be opening their gates to the public on June 7 to raise money for charity.

Arreton Manor, Haseley Manor and The Old Vicarage, none of which are normally open to the public, are among at least nine gardens showing off their blooms in aid of St

John’s Ambulance and Relate.

The gardens will be open from 11am to 5pm, with bell ringing at 2.30pm. Other attractions include a garden railway, chipmunks and plant sales. Re-freshments will also be available.

Tickets cost £4 per person or £10 for parents and up to three children.

Arreton gardens open for charity

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• freeze council tax for the first two years of a national Conservative government• implement the planned changes to a two-tier education system on the Island• support the development of ‘suitable’ renewable energy schemes• help residents onto the housing ladder with a homes-for-Islanders scheme• establish an Island Heritage Centre and county library in the Nodehill building (formerly the Seely library)• establish a CCTV network in Island towns• invest £8m in fire service modernization, including new stations and specialist equipment• reject Labour’s regional fire control plans in favour of an Island-based HQ for the fire and ambulance services• upgrade Island roads• invest in pavements, footpaths and cycle routes• continue to fund travel on buses for over-60s and the disabled

• encourage the creation of more commercial activ-ity in rural and outlying areas by enabling farmers to diversify the uses of redundant buildings• develop eco friendly tourism ventures such as walking, cycling and extreme sports• extend Eco Island to include Dinosaur Island and a Centre for Alternative Energy• support the engagement of a third ferry operator to increase competitionpursue the idea of Government subsidies for ferries• retain primary schools• implement a two-tier system of education• reduce school class sizes• retain all secondary schools to be managed by the communities they serve• introduce energy self sufficiency systems into all new public buildings and older buildings where possible• continue to fund concessionary fares• access government funding to provide free swimming for older people• establish a ‘bus run’ to St Mary’s hospital for ap-pointmentsmental health services, especially for younger people• reinstate a direct labour force to carry out year round minor repairs to roads, pavements and cycle ways• restore the 50p fares for young people in education• extend long stay ‘park and ride’ schemes and provide more short stay car parking in towns• extend (wherever possible) 20 mph speed restrictions past schools• seek trunk road status for existing major roads (this will increase government subsidies for Island roads)• offer council mortgages for first time buyershousing for local people on land newly brought into local development plans• use Island builders wherever possible to encourage and enable them to meet housing needs

• limit council tax increases to no more than the maximum allowed by Government – usually the infla-tion rate• only to use council reserves and balances for projects that deliver a public asset, such as a swimming pool or day centre for vulnerable people• choose the council’s own staff before outside consul-tants• reject the current school closure programme and support small schools • fully implement the government’s ‘Reducing Surplus Places Strategy’ and work to reduce the size of our sec-ondary schools• introduce free school meals for all primary and middle school children• ensure that all new housing developments include at least 33 per cent affordable homes, and at least 50 per cent when built on council-owned land.• pursue a flat rate bus fare of £1 for 19- to 59-year-olds, 50p for 5- to 19-year-olds• roll-out a free ‘park & ride’ scheme for Island towns, and ensure buses connect with other public transport links• make car parking more accessible for local shoppers, whilst increasing the costs of long-stay parking and permits (over four hours) • initiate the further development of alternative energy systems based upon local production and supply that are fuel efficient and powered by renewable energy sources• establish annual community and individual carbon emission targets, monitored by local forums in liaison with elected members• offer free swimming in public pools for the over 60s• establish an annual Island-wide cultural and arts festival• abolish the existing environmental and neighbourhood officer scheme and introduce a local community warden scheme in areas of anti-social behaviour• increase resources for CCTV monitoring capacity

It’s make your mind up timeNEXT THURSDAY (June 4) sees a big day in Island democracy, with three separate elections. People will be voting for all 40 members of the IW Council; for members of all the town and parish councils on the Island (with the exception of the four new councils which had elec-tions in May last year); and, on a less local level, for members of the European Parliament in the South East region.

In order to vote, you will need to be registered as an elector. If you returned your registration form last summer then your name should be on the register, but you can check your entry by calling into County Hall, Newport, or by contacting the IW Council on 821000.The elections for the IW Council

will be the first elections held since the Electoral Commission revised

the numbers of councillors on the Island down to 40 from 48. All of the wards will be electing

one member, with a single excep-tion: the ward of Brading, St Helens & Bembridge. This ward, which could be a hotly contested one, not least because of the strength of feeling over the IW Council’s now abandoned plan to close St Helens primary school, will be voting for two councillors.

As a guide to help you decide where to place your cross in the IW Council elections, here are some of the main points from the three main parties’ respective manifestos. There are, of course, independent

candidates running in many of the wards – to find out about their policies, keep an eye out for their literature being pushed through your door.

Lib Dems pledge to… Conservatives pledge to… Labour pledge to…

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Public transport is one of the issues being voted on

BUSTER BARTLETT, who has been a familiar figure on the Island’s political scene for many years, has with-drawn his nomination for the Ventnor West ward in the IW Council elections.

In a statement to The Gazette he said: “It is with regret that I have decided to withdraw my nomination for St Lawrence Ward [sic] from the pending County Council elections. I would like to thank all the residents who have proposed this nomina-tion and encouraged me to stand again at County level.

“I have always taken my elected roles with dedica-tion, commitment and total

honesty irrespective of politi-cal correctness stifling current debate both locally and nationally. I cannot do things ‘by half’. The attendances required today to do the job properly, added to many long evening meetings would prohibit me, especially in the winter months, from attend-ing regularly now I am unable to drive and must rely largely on public transport which can take over one and a half hours from my home to County Hall – when it is running!

“I would then fail my electorate and my own high standards and this would be a wrong thing to do.

“This decision has not

come easy as I have always felt during my 30 elected years as an Independent councillor I always tried to ‘make a difference’ and by being re-elected would do so again.”

Mr Bartlett initially served on South Wight Borough Council before becoming deputy chairman on the then IW County Council for eight years. During the 1980s he had spells as mayor of both South Wight Borough Council and Ventnor Town Council.

He hopes to remain on Ventnor Town Council and still play an active part in local life.

Long-serving Buster pulls out See our lifestyle pullout section for entertainment, food and drink, a bridal guide and much much more...

the gazette Friday MAY 29 200914

Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928gazette feature

SO THE IW Walking Festival it’s finally over, and it’s time to let the blisters heal and put the boots away for a while.

Or is it? The main event may be over for another year but there are plenty of other interesting walks on the Island that provide excellent support acts.

Take, for example, the Histree Trails, a series of walks designed not just for the super-fit. As the name suggests, the Histree series is not all about walking, but taking in the magnificent examples of a host of dif-ferent trees scattered around the Island. Of-ficially launched at Northwood Park, Cowes last August, the walks have since proved hugely popular – or should that be poplar!

We have had the Prince Charles talking to his plants and trees, and even England and Portsmouth FC goalkeeper David James hugging a tree as part of his ‘save the environment’ campaign. So now here’s a real chance for enthusiasts to get up close and personal to some of the Island’s finest species.

The eight Histree Trails were the culmina-tion of almost two years of working with the community and local groups surveying, recording and researching Island trees.

Each trail is accompanied by a leaflet which includes a map, a species identifica-tion key and trail text, and walkers are taken on a tour of some the Island’s finest and most historic trees. There is information on how the trees relate to their local landscape, how

they came to be there, the traditional uses and their natural heritage. As the Histree lit-erature points out: “Every tree tells a story.”

And there some exotic names to go with the trails – the likes of ‘Legends Landscape’, centred on Brading; ‘Groves Gardens’ at Shanklin; ‘Champions and Churchyards’ at Carisbrooke and Newport, and ‘Venerable Oaks’ at Ryde.

If that’s not enough for you to get the boots back on, then why not try ‘Kings and Dragons; Cascading Canopies at Cowes, ‘Poets and Pines’ at Freshwater or ‘Parks and Parasols’ at East Cowes. The trails vary in length and difficulty, from shorter town trails taking in street and park trees, circular rural routes through ancient woodland to the more challenging cross-Island trail. The shortest is around 1.75 miles up to just over 10 miles, with an average around 4.5 miles.

Walkers can explore the wonderful snaking boughs of the dragon tree, the umbrella tree, bound oaks, gnarled old yews and even a tree with a mysterious tree with a ghostly past.

Free copies of the Histree Trail leaflets are available from Island public librar-ies and Tourist Information Centres or for more information see www.histreetrail.com/trails where all eight trails are available as downloads.

So now the walking festival is all over and done, and you thought it is safe to put your feet into a soothing bowl of water, think again. There are trees to be found.

Branch linesIF YOU took part in the IW Walking Festival or maybe even Walked the Wight, perhaps you’re now ready to branch out with one of the Histree Trails. Peter White gets his boots on

Above: a coppiced ancient yew on the ‘Poets and pines’ trail Below: a line of horse chestnuts, also on the ‘Poets and pines’ trail

An ancient oak, part of the ‘Venerable Oaks’ trail

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Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928 gazette feature

Smart thinkingYOU MAY have heard about SmartWater, even seen the video on the IW ferry, but what’s it all about? And how does it actually help fight crime? Peter White got the Island police to assist him with his enquiries

IT’S NOT so long ago that Island house-holders were constantly warned through an advertising campaign: ‘Watch out, there’s a thief about!’

Now the concept has changed somewhat. Along with the arrival of DNA testing and other innovations to cut crime, there is now a stark warning to burglars: Watch out, there’s SmartWater about!

Hampshire and IW Police are among the majority of forces throughout the country who have introduced the use of SmartWater to potential burglary ‘hot spots’ to try to dis-courage property break-ins and subsequent thefts.

But what exactly is SmartWater, and how is it being used to try to further reduce crime on the Island?

I went along to Newport Police Station where Insp Mark Bell heads a dedicated team who were only too pleased to pass on relevant information to Gazette readers in this exclusive interview.

“We initially introduced the spray system to catch burglars, and we have facilities within the station to check people who may be sprayed with it,” says Insp Bell. Indeed, a recent advertising campaign showed a ‘thief’ being sprayed with the system as he opened a kitchen cupboard.

Then, through the use of ultra violet light, it immediately shows whether a suspect has been caught out. And if the villain thinks they can remove it before they are caught, then they better forget it. SmartWater is

virtually impossible to remove from cloth-ing, and it takes around six weeks of normal bathing or showering to remove it from skin.

Insp Bell continues: “The other part of SmartWater use involves people’s property. It comes in a small tube with a brush, similar to nail varnish, and is used by owners to mark any form of property, from wedding rings and jewellery through to much larger items such as televisions.”

The likes of garden tools, lawn mowers and machinery can be coded with yet another type of Smart-Water which includes a micro dot. Al-though a little harder to apply, a microscope can be used to instantly identify a number within the system to find out where it originated.

“If items are stolen and recovered, with the use of a UV light we can and see SmartWa-ter marks. Because each system contains a unique DNA-style code, we can tell exactly

where it has been stolen from,” Insp Bell adds.

“If someone has had their house broken into, we will go round and offer Smart-Water, and give them signs to put up. We have looked at high crime areas of burglary, and have also worked closely with the Pan Neighbourhood Partnership (PNP) in

Newport. You will see SmartWa-ter signs on posts on the Pan Estate, and we have also targeted an area in Wootton where there were a spate of burglaries.”

Since 2003-04 the burglary rate on the Island has dropped by 40 per cent, and

the introduction of SmartWater around 18 months ago will hopefully see further falls. Stickers on windows and doors of houses make it eminently clear that would-be vil-lains are at risk of being caught.

“The system does cost a fair bit of money so obviously we cannot put it into every house on the Island. But there are hundreds of houses out there that have SmartWater as a preventative measure. Generally we look at hot spots or at vulnerable people,” says Insp Bell.

“We are trying to push the message not only as a reassurance to householders, but as a deterrent to burglars. We have this econom-ic downturn and are conscious that certain crimes could go up as a result, and burglary would be one of them.

“We think we are on top of burglaries being committed by drug users to feed their habit, although it is something we will keep an eye on all the time. But primarily it is to get the message out. There is virtually nothing that you cannot mark with it, apart from maybe water and sand!”

SmartWater, produced in Telford, is provided on the Island by the Isle of Wight Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).

On the Pan Estate, residents of the 1,270 homes have been offered SmartWater at a discounted price as part of the close ties between the police, the IW Council and the PNP. Cheryl Snudden, who works for PNP, says: “In the first instance I think people

were not sure of the benefits. We still have some way to go but now it has grown and has been well received on the estate.

“We have done a door-to-door delivery explaining SmartWater, and promoted it through our newsletter. Most people have found it very easy to use and are impressed by it. It is not being targeted on the Pan because we are a ‘hot spot’. We are more the guinea pigs because PNP can give different initiatives a go to see how they work and build confidence in our residents. So when SmartWater came about we thought it would be good to offer it to our community.”

PCSO Tracy Hinde and Insp Mark Bell at Newport police station

SmartWater can be seen under ultra violet light

Expensive personal possessions can be marked



IT’S AS traditional as buckets and spades, kiss-me-quick hats and

fish and chips for anyone who still loves a good old-

fashioned family holiday.That’s why Sandown Pier, where it’s free to enter and there’s entertainment for kids

from eight to 80, remains one of the highlights of any family break here on the Island,.

That, according to current owner Wayne Peak, is exactly how it

should be and how it will remain. Of course there has been major change since

Wayne’s father bought the pier off the local council in the mid-1980s, before handing it down to his son some 15 years ago.

There are no longer boat trips off the end of the pier, and

the costly theatre has long gone. In their place there are fun-for-all

entertainments and sideshows ranging from tenpin bowling to crazy golf and an adventure play area.

“We are always bringing in new ma-chines and attractions. The theatre, which was a finan-

cial burden on everyone, was taken out, and we replaced it with what people want.

The end-of-the-pier show has ended, because basically they are places that cost a lot of money to run,” said Wayne.

“Of course when you come to the seaside you head for the pier. It is a long-established, tradition place that always looks after the whole family, hopefully gives them value for money and all different types of entertain-ment.

“We open 364 days a year – we are closed only on Christmas Day. But to be honest the only time we take money properly is when the school holidays are on because that is obvi-ously when families come down to the Island.

“But we still have a good core of local clients, and we are always trying to put new things on to keep everyone interested. For example there is a book stall every Sunday on the pier, and that is here 52 weeks of the year. It is not just about amusement machines, but entertainment for the whole family, from grandchildren to grandparents.”

The first sight of Sandown Pier came way back in 1876, but due to financial difficulties it did not open for another three years. The newly extended Sandown Pier re-opened in 1895, reaching a length of 875ft (265m) with a new pavilion and steamer landing stage at the head.

In 1918 the pier was sold to Sandown Urban District Council for £2,500. The pier-head pavilion was extended and the Sandown Prize Band, one of the best in the country, became regular performers. The

1,000-seat pavilion arrived in the mid-1930s. The original pavilion at the pier-head re-mained, and was converted for use as a ball-room. The paddle steamer ‘Sandown’ arrived in 1934. She was to become a regular visitor until the outbreak of the Second World War when the pier was sectioned as a defence measure amid threats of a German invasion.

It was given the Royal seal of approval in 1965 when visited by the Queen and Prince Philip, and after major reconstruction the pier was rebranded in 1973 with the official opening by Earl Mountbatten, then Governor of the Island.

In 1989, just a few years after the Peaks took over, a fire in the theatre caused £2million worth of damage, but after sub-stantial repairs the building was re-opened the following summer. The theatre finally closed in late 1990s to make way for the bowling alley and putting course.

Current owner Wayne added: “Piers are all about tradition. We don’t know how many visitors we have each year. We don’t do a head count because it’s free to come on. Who charges to come on to a pier? We are a private enterprise and we like to see people. We don’t want to charge them so they might stay away.

“We have about 300 slot machines, and we are constantly investing in equipment. There is still fishing off the end of the pier, but the boat trips stopped about 12 years ago.”

For Wayne and his staff, there’s certainly no end-of-the-pier show in sight.

Nine hundredTHE GAZETTE continues its look at what visitors and locals can expect from the main attractions this summer. This time Peter White stops off at Sandown Pier, the only remaining entertainment pier on the Island

The pier’s proud boast is that it offers ‘a day’s

fun in one’, with its mix

of traditional amusements

and rides

Phot

os b

y Ja

mie

Whi

te

What adifferencea day makesSee our bridal guideon how to enhanceyour wedding day

Gearing upPreparing for this summer’smusic festivals and events

lifestylegaz

ette

29 May 2009

Sponsored by

the gazette lifestyle Friday May 29 20092

lifestyle comment

Contents Jo MacaulayFeatures Editor

WELL I didn’t Walk The Wight, but this doesn’t mean I won’t. Nobody said I had to do it on the nasty wet rainy day that everyone else did it. Did I forget to mention that I’m a fair weather walker? There will be lots of other fine sunny Sundays this summer and on one of them I intend to walk from Newport to the Needles. I’ll let you know when if you like – we could start the alternative Walk the Wight for slackers who don’t like getting wet. Keeping in touch by mobile phone or Facebook, we could only decide to go at the last minute when the weather looks like staying fine. It could become the alternative underground version of Walk the Wight – don’t forget your bottles of water.

Janet Street Porter said she didn’t like walking in the rain. Actually she said she didn’t like walking with anyone else either and she’s walked alone across miles of wilderness and unknown territory all over the world. Apparently she walked along some of our coastline whilst she was here over the Walk The Wight weekend – safe in the knowledge that you were all walking across the middle I guess.

I don’t know about you but I’m really looking forward to seeing Neil Young at the Isle of Wight Festival in two weeks time. John Giddings is too, so he told me – the interview with him will appear in the next issue of the Isle of Wight Gazette.

Also in our next issue will be an in depth article about how Graham Perks and his staff, and Maureen Cawley and her volunteers, have transformed the Wintergardens in Ventnor into a popular, vibrant and colourful going concern serving the whole community.

ACCORDING to the US statistics office, their national debt is increasing by $3.81 billion dollars per day. The total USA borrowing figure is so large I can’t actually write it here. I only hope this news puts your own borrowings into perspective. Knowing this you have to wonder why everyone got so excited about the election of Barack Obama? Well I know why they were so enthusiastic. When all is lost, you always have hope. Its hope that keeps us voting when we lose faith with the people we supposed were representing us with good faith.

In any case, it’s important to remember that it’s we who really have the power. We occasionally get the chance of voting to remove the crooks and conmen, optimistically replacing them with fresh new faces.

Even if we don’t much like it, most of us are getting used to how things are. We adapt. Now we know which of Britain’s politicians have been on the fiddle. ‘They’re not all bad thou’ say the pundits, as if somehow that makes it OK. It doesn’t. It makes us cross, especially when the rest of us are having it tough. Sadly like one bad copper, they all get tarred with the same brush for awhile when we discover some of them were on the take. It may not be fair, but it’s how it is.

Some people delight in bad news. Some people like to see the worst in others. I may not be a politician, but I stick my head above the parapet. I cheerfully voice an opinion on most subjects; I’m a local rent-a-gob. This is my choice. The downside is that like a politician, in return I can be the subject of speculation and gossip. I once lived in a large house with flash cars on the driveway. I was shocked to learn from my very occasional gardener that many West Wight locals thought I was a big time London drug dealer. It amused me at first. People like explanations, if they don’t know what you’re all about, they invent something. And it’s usually nonsense. Wild speculation was obviously more interesting than my boring reality. And it still happens. The other day a journalist friend of mine was told I should be investigated. Quite what this investigation would reveal I didn’t discover. Suffice to say

the citizen urging the probe is anonymous and probably totally convinced of my wrongdoing.

The local elections are almost here. I bet you’re really excited as the hopefuls try and grab both your attention and vote. The choice of candidates may disappoint you, but it is what it is and you could of course have stood yourself. Why didn’t you? (I’m too busy.) Personally I would like to have seen more young people. The selection on offer may seem to you, a choice of the good, the bad and the ugly, mixed in with a few proven incompetents and do-gooders. Some incumbents are hoping you’ll put them back in, to continue the work they really believe in. Some are genuine new faces. I note a few very old faces too, some cruelly dumped last time but wanting one more chance.

It may surprise you to learn that in my experience, these people are all hard working individuals, willing to serve, determined to make things better. We’re right to be a little suspicious of anyone seeking office, but in local politics the pay is terrible, the allowances barely adequate and unlike Westminster, reassuringly tightly controlled. Believe me; unless they seriously lack ambition, they’re not in it for the money.

People who stay in the middle of the road get run over. Whatever else you do on polling day you must get off the fence, stop whingeing and cast your vote for whatever IS available; Blue, Red, Orange, Green, independent, UKIP or BNP. Have your say. Things always need improving. Keep faith that someone you elect may just exceed your expectations this time.

David HolmesDavid is your typical ‘Grumpy Old Man’. In his late 40’s David has been involved in several businesses and was also a local Councillor for a short while. He occasionally appears with Alex (Grumpy 2) on wightFM.

Interview 3

Entertainment 4

Festival Preparation 6

Health & Beauty 8

Wine & Dine 10

Bridal Guide 13

Ladies Day 18

Bembridge Feature 20

Financial & Legal 22

Equestrian 23

Gardening 24

Summer Sports 26

Hospice & June Elford 28

Friday May 29 2009 the gazette lifestyle 3

lifestyle profile

Born to succeedHEAD of Fundraising for St Mary’s Barely Born Appeal, Fiona Collyer (below), is a reticent interviewee because, as she says, it’s all about the appeal and not about her. You’re unlikely to find her splashed across a Southern Vectis bus and yet in just over a year she has co-ordinated the raising of over £125,000 for the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St Mary’s, which is already under construction

And before you get up in arms about the government not providing us with vital medical equipment and facilities, take note that the money the appeal is raising is to support the £1.2 million already in place to build and equip the unit.

“The whole scheme is £1.5 million of which we are raising £300,000. It’s all about providing the nice things that we would like to have that help patients,” she explained. “We are raising money for the extras. We don’t have a play-room with toys for brothers and sisters if daddy wants to come and support mummy with a little one so we’re building an additional playroom. We also want to supply overnight accom-modation for parents, carers and grand-parents. We don’t have a quiet room where parents can come to terms with their situation – it would also be an opportunity for parents to meet others in the same situation.”

“Forty years ago when the unit here was built sick babies would have been taken away from mummy but that’s not fit for

purpose in the 21st century because mothers want their babies as close to them as possible,” said Fiona who is also Business Manager of the Child, Family and Therapy Services Directorate.

“Our knowledge of neonatal care in the 70s was nowhere near what we know now – how important it was for babies to be near their parents. Our unit is out of step with mainland units and the new unit will be 2.2 times the size of the old one. Both the maternity and labour wards will be on the same level as the neonatal unit so that there is transition of care.”

Other members of the directorate involved are Associate Director Gill Kennett, Head of Clinical Services Lisa Reed, General Manager Nikki Turner and Clinical Director and Consultant Paediatrician Dr Christo-pher Magier. “It’s involved everyone in this directorate – Pamela George, sister of the unit, has been phenom-enal as have her nurses in terms of actively going out and fundraising alongside our volunteers, the community, our staff and myself,” said Fiona.

Work on the new unit started on February 9 this year and will hopefully be completed in the autumn although fundrais-ing will continue until the target is reached. “The clinical areas will be finished but all the ‘nice stuff’ will be added as money is raised,” explained Fiona. At the moment there are nine incubators, or ‘cots’ as they’re called, but the new unit will have eleven.

The Barely Born Appeal was launched on

April 21 last year – David Pugh came to the launch and provided a photograph of himself in the unit as a baby as he was born prematurely himself. Un-

fortunately the appeal

launched just before the recession hit but Islanders

have been fundraising their socks off regardless.Some of these include Paul

Drogou who refused birthday presents last year with his sister Marie joining him this year – asking family and friends to donate to the unit instead. Poignantly many of the youngsters who have been patients in the existing unit raised money includ-ing Bradley Tinsley who did a spon-sored ride –“an awfully long way,” according to Fiona. Embroider Me of Ryde donated bibs with the Barely Born logo, one of which is being modelled here by another NICU baby, Sadie Creaser. Andrea Tibbitts made a beautiful teddy bear and raffled him in memory of her grand daughter Marina Luz.

Stickers have been designed with logos such as Born to Ride, Born to Walk and Born to Rock to fit in with fundraising activities. Ever mindful of keeping the appeal fresh the appeal will be launching Trees of Life, an initiative which will cover windows of the new unit with a stunning stencil style design with leaves that you can buy and have engraved with your name of choice.

Fiona admits that she moved to the Island in 2000 with a view to ‘winding down’ after a career in recruitment and

marketing. She hadn’t had any experience of fundraising other than as a school governor in Bristol when she helped raise money for an IT suite.See the Barely Born fundraisers

at the Old Gaffers where they will be selling plants grown at Parkhurst Prison. A new shop in Ryde, ‘Barely Worn’, has recently opened. On the corner of Simeon Street, it sells second hand clothing and equipment for babies and children to age 10 with profits to the appeal.

Further information about the appeal can be found at www.barelyborn.co.uk and if you wish to organise a fundrais-ing event contact the team at [email protected] or phone 552264.


lifestyle entertainment

BEAUTIFULLY crafted cup-cakes from Suzy Keynes were offered to guests at the opening of Teresa Grimaldi’s exhibi-tion ‘The Vacated Works’ in the Michael West Gallery at New-port’s Quay Arts on Saturday May 23. The beautifully crafted edible works of art covered in glitter, seashells and flowers made a wonderful addition to the strange and quirky collection of ‘vacated’ items in the exhibition.

Many may remember the shop that used to sit opposite the main car park in Ventnor, selling ‘antiques and collectables’ including old children’s books and comics. Well here it is again with all of the quirky hand written signs that advertised the ‘closing down’ prices for about

ten years. Teresa and her mother Rose collected many items from the shop when it eventu-ally closed and an ‘homage’ to that very individual emporium is now in residence in the small room off of the gallery – an interview of Captain Hockney who ran it shows on the far wall.

Vacuum moulds in black plastic of the hand puppets that Teresa makes and collects lie across the floor in front of a black puppet show booth in a rather sinister fashion. In the main gallery ‘La Banane’, a Lake cliff top ice cream kiosk that the artist and her sister ran in the 1980s is brought back to life. Make sure you see it all before June 20.

Teresa’s echoes of

things pastHEADLINING the second FolkStation Festival at Havenstreet Station over the weekend of July 10,11, 12 will be ‘Limited Edition’ – a new band formed by the renowned fiddle player Tom Leary. A member of the legendary ‘Feast of Fiddles’, Tom

has worked extensively live and in the studio with many great names from the folk and rock scene, including Fairport Conven-tion, Jethro Tull, Humble Pie, and The Electric Light Orchestra. The acclaimed guitar virtuoso P J Wright joins Tom, plus Graeme

Taylor and Jon Davie - both former members of the ground-breaking early 70s band ‘Gryphon’.

Leading Island musicians performing at this year’s FolkStation include Island singer/songwriter Jamie Griffin from Newport. Other soloists include

Tali Trow, vocalist Elaine Greenwood and singer songwriter Graham Mc-Cullough. The line-up of Smoke and Mirrors reads like a ‘who’s who’ of veteran Island musicians and Wild Oats, Lucid and Last Orders are also on this attractive folk line up.

Folkstation announce headliner


lifestyle entertainment

MayFriday 29th:

X-Directory, The Tap, Avenue Rd,

Sandown

The Wild Oats, Blacksheep Bar,

Union Street, Ryde

Commotion, Ye Olde Village Inn,

Bembridge

Saturday 30th:

Sporting Life, The Tap, Avenue Rd,

Sandown

Beatroot, Black-sheep Bar, Union

Street, Ryde

Sunday 31st:

Ben Barnes, The Tap, Avenue Rd,

Sandown

JuneThursday 4th:

Open Mic Night, The Old Comical,

St Johns Rd, Sandown

Holy Scene, Blacksheep Bar,

Union Street, Ryde

Friday 5th:

The Monitors, The Tap, Avenue Rd,

Sandown

The Kurves, Black-sheep Bar, Union

Street, Ryde

The Mechanics, Ye Olde Village Inn, Bembridge

Innovation, 9.30 - 11.30pm, The Old Comical, St Johns

Rd, Sandown

Saturday 6th:

Sean & Danny, The Tap, Avenue

Rd, Sandown

Cornerstone, 9.30 - 11.30pm,

The Old Comical, St Johns Rd,

Sandown

Sunday 7th:

Ben Barnes, The Tap, Avenue Rd,

Sandown

Thursday 11th:

Open Mic Night, The Old Comical,

St Johns Rd, Sandown

LEO LEISURE Bingo Club is situated at the top of the town at 2 Star Street, Ryde and is the Island’s only licensed bingo club. Man-aging Director Peter Brown has more than 35 years in the business and has the help of his wife Janice and sons Peter and Duncan.

Members of Leo Leisure have enjoyed such treats as Las Vegas Holidays, cruises around the med, trips to Goodwood Races and other bingo clubs. You can win £1000 when you play off every month on the Golden Roll Over, which is played on the first of every month alternating afternoons and evenings.

For the newcomer, there’s Eezee Play Bingo on a Monday evening, which costs £5.99 a session. There’s a free bottle of wine for a party of four. There is also a licensed bar with a wide and varied food menu, with daily specials and some afternoons have a free lunch special.

Leo Leisure also run the Commodore Cinema, which was the Island’s largest when it was built in 1936. It’s currently showing the latest Star Trek movie, Tom Hank’s Blockbuster Angels and Demons along with

Night At The Museum 2. This summer the new Terminator and Transformers movies are set to hit the big screen in Ryde.

For cinema and bingo bookings you should call 562616.

By Justin Gladdis

Bingo and flicks

LATE May is one of my favour-ite times of year at the Isle of Wight Zoo. As the plants erupt into growth it always astounds me how many different shades of green are in Nature’s palette. The heady scent of the date palm flowers fills the air and furry bumble-bees career recklessly from one nectar source to the next. Many wild birds nest here; sparrows in the boxes put up by our maintenance team and swallows in the cool caves of the old fort building. One particularly intrepid pair of bluetits has even set up home in a knot hole in the fence of Nahla the lioness! This year, however, spring’s season of new life has been even more exciting.

For the last few days Liberty, one of our black and white ruffed lemurs, has been diligently gathering pieces of twig and strands of hay and carefully arranging them into a cosy nest in her nightroom. Her partner, Louis, has been looking on with a slightly bemused air as if he would like to help but wasn’t quite sure what he was supposed to do. Louis, bless him, is not the bright-est spark but even he could sense that something quite momentous was soon to occur.

On Sunday morning primate keepers Leigh and Steph began their shift by checking each animal, as normal. As they entered the lemur quarters they were greeted by a series of quiet, high-pitched squeaks. Growling a warning from the door of her nesting box was a proud and protective Liberty. And peeping through her thick fur were two enchanting baby lemurs. The keepers withdrew quickly to avoid disturbing the new mother and gleefully phoned the rest of the team with the exciting news.

Any new babies born at the zoo are welcomed with great enthusiasm, but these two are especially precious. Black and white ruffed lemurs are critically endangered and Louis and Liberty are members of a very important European breeding programme which aims to prevent these beautiful animals from be-coming extinct. In Madagascar, the only place in the world where wild lemurs occur naturally, habitat destruction is threatening over 450 animal species with extinction. Carefully managed breeding programmes are one key part of preserving many endangered species and zoos have a very important role to play. The Isle of Wight Zoo is proud to currently be a participant in managed breeding programmes for six endan-gered species.

The IWZoo Blog

by Tracy Dove

THE STRANGLERS return to the Isle of Wight to play an intimate show at Ryde Theatre on July 9. This is a warm up for their appear-ance at Guilfest on July 10. This year the band have completed a 25 date Euro-pean Tour and four dates in Australia.

In 2008,the band stormed through the UK Festival circuit, performing at T in the Park, V Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Hyde Park, Oxygen and Liverpool Pops. They completed a 30 date sell out UK Tour, culminat-ing in a two night stand at Shepherds Bush Empire.

First forming in 1974 the band’s straight talking approach gave them the

reputation as aggressive and confrontational with their notoriety later embraced by the punk movement of 77. This led to their debut single ‘Grip’ and their legendary first album Rattus Norvegi-cus. This was followed by such hits as ‘Peaches’, ‘No More Heroes’, ‘5 Minutes’, ‘Duchess’, ‘Something Better Change’, ‘Always the Sun’ and their ultimate classic ‘Golden Brown’.

To date the band’s success boasts 24 top 40 singles and 18 top 40 albums. After re-signing to EMI in 2004 their last 2 albums ‘Norfolk Coast’ and ‘Suite XVI’ have been hailed as their best for 20 years, with hit singles ‘Big Thing Coming’ and

‘Long Black Veil’ giving the band the rare accolade of maintaining top 40 hits over 4 decades.

Tickets are available from the box office at The Venue in Lind Street, Ryde between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or at www.iwight.com/theatre-booking or from Sunny Days in Victoria Arcade, Union Street, Ryde. Or from See Tickets on 0871 2200260 www.seetickets.com or Stargreen Box Office 0207 7348932 www.stargreen.com or by post from Home Grown, 2 Munro Terrace, London SW10 ODL – cheques/postal orders to Home Grown Events and please enclose a SAE.

Stranglers to play Ryde

A black and white ruffed lemur


lifestyle festival

ORGANISERS believe thieves are more likely to target tents closer to the actual festival area. As a result you may want to choose a camping spot as far from the action as possible but not too far from other campers. Remember that your tent is prob-ably the same make and colour as 500 others so you might want to make it more recognisable with flags or spray painted stars. Flying a pair of pants on a stick could be an option!

Don’t camp under trees because you don’t want to be struck by lightening or have it fall on you in the night. Don’t pitch up by the path – you have more chance of having stuff stolen or having drunk people fall over you. If you camp too close to the loos it won’t help any hangover and if you’re too far, it won’t help your bowels or your bladder!

One good tip is to get to know your camping neighbours. It can be fun and also a good security measure. It may sound a bit old school and boring but you could always try and get a neighbour-hood watch scheme sorted where you all look out for each other’s safety. I am not sure it is a guar-antee of safety by any means, but it might help. And without stating the obvious, if you padlock your tent, it’s an open invitation to any would be thief

that you may have something valuable inside. Of course, there is no substitute for keeping stuff firmly in your own grip. Carry your cash and cards around with you at all times. When you’re sleeping you might want to split your cash between two different spots, in case one broken into. You might also want to label

your clothes.Please don’t think I am putting

a dampener on your fun but muggings, assaults and sexual assaults do happen, as do tent “slash and grabs”. One good way of reducing your chances of trouble is to stick together. Thieves are less likely to try and rob a whole bunch of you at

once.And if you do, heaven forbid,

come across an intruder in your tent, think carefully before acting. Jumping at the thief may be your initial reaction but it could backfire if they are armed in any way. If you are a victim of crime, contact the on-site police or festival security immediately.

Camping at The Isle of Wight Festival – Dos and Don’ts

WITH the Isle of Wight Festival 2009 at Seaclose Park, Newport just around the corner, there are a number of essential things to run through before you head off to the site for the three-day music extravaganza. I’ve come up with a list of tips on how to make the most of what should be, one of the best experiences of your life.

Firstly, only pack what you can carry. You really don’t want to spend half a day lugging things around. Don’t bring anything of value to the event – that’ll mean leaving all your favou-rite jewellery and new ipod at home. There is always the danger someone will pilfer your precious item or your unsteady hands may accidentally drop your camera into the loos after too much drink.

If you’re down just for the day you will still need to be prepared. Make sure you have plenty of money to cover the essentials, a water bottle to refill at the water

points on site, sunblock, a rain-coat, sensible shoes, a warm top (it is the Isle of Wight after all), your mobile, and a camera (just don’t lose it!).

If you’re camping, a torch will make those night time trips to the toilet so much easier. Don’t bring your most expensive sleep-ing bag – a cheap one will do. If you plan to cook your own food, bring a can opener.

Bring enough clothes for three days – wet clothes are not nice, and is there anything worse than chaffing? And just because it’s a festival, it doesn’t mean you should stink – soap and deodor-ant are a must and wet wipes can come in very handy too.

Don’t forget to put your sexual health first. Always practice the safe sex message and if you do get lucky on site and pull, protect yourself!

And don’t forget your ticket!

Festival checklist before you set offBy Justin Gladdis

Pict

ure

by D

avid

Jon

es

Find out more about the festival

in our news section, pages 4-5


lifestyle festival

GOODYEARS at Unit 6c at Lake Industrial Way is the number one choice for all your essen-tial gear needed for the Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park. They stock a wide range of tents, sleeping bags, airbeds and mats, rucksacks, cooking and camping

equipment and furniture, footwear, socks and other clothing.Ideal for the festivals is the Ventnor pop up tent. Made by Outwell and originally costing £74.99 you can now pick one up for £49.99.

Another great value for money item is the Coleman Tent package. Reduced from £129.99 to £79.99, it fits four people, comes with two sleeping bags and a dry gear bag. You can get sleeping bags for as little as £9.99, doubles for £24.99, single air beds for £10.99 and

doubles for £22.99. Items can be delivered across the Isle of Wight and to the mainland for £4.95, no matter how many items are purchased.Goodyears are family run and have been serving Island and mainland customers since 1995. They stock

most of the major brands includ-ing Vango, Coleman and Lichfield among others. Goodyears are always on the look out for new products and pride themselves on their quality of products and customer care. You can visit www.goodyears.co.uk or call 408181.

By Justin Gladdis

Pop up to Goodyears for tent bargains


lifestyle health & beauty

KYA for some TLC

ON FRIDAY May 15 a launch event for KYA in Ryde saw new owners Yvette Downer and Kathryn Crabb demonstrating treatments and proudly revealing the newly refurbished treatment rooms to clients. There are now seven individually decorated and comfortable treatment rooms along with a relaxation lounge.

Although there are brand new facilities, customers will still be in the same capable and experienced hands as both Yvette and Kathryn were employees of the salon in its previous incarnation as Ryde Skincare, for over six years. Therapists Annabelle Miller and Liz Milton also worked for former owner Lisa Noble.

Since taking over on May 6, Yvette and Kathryn have introduced the new Hydra-tone treatment from market leaders CACI International. One of the latest treatments in non-surgical facials, as the name suggests this treatment hydrates and tones the skin using micro current rollers to ‘push’ col-

lagen, hyaluronic acid and vitamins C and E into the skin. Dehydrated and sun damaged skin is immediately re-hydrated leaving the face softer, radiant and having a more youth-ful appearance.

The treatment is applied using a special transparent mask in two pieces that are placed over the face. The micro current rollers are then rolled over the surface of the mask to ‘push’ the contents into the skin. All you feel is a slight pressure on the face and the lovely cooling sensation of the mask.

Kya is the first salon on the Island to offer this treatment. It has received excellent reviews in Daily Mail, Marie Clare and also showcased on Channel 4’s Ten Years Younger. It takes approximately half an hour and is £30.

The vast range of hands-on body treatments available at the salon include traditional Swedish massage, aromatherapy, hot stone massage and reflexology. Facials other than the range of CACI and CACI Hydratone include hot stone and Dermalogica facials. Other treatments available are waxing, tinting, manicures and pedicures. Kya also have a sunbed facilities or the Fake Bake sunless tan treatments. For more informa-tion about Kya contact them on 01983 565131 or www.kyabeauty.co.uk


lifestyle health & beauty

WHILE most people look forward to summer, for the millions of people in the UK trying to lose weight in time for the season of beaches and bikinis it’s not such a popular time of year!

“But slimmers needn’t despair,” says Jo Stubbs, one of the six Slimming World Con-sultants based here on the Island, “there’s still plenty of time to drop a dress size for summer, or even more! And in fact, the combination of great value fresh summer produce, healthy barbecues and warmer weather so you can get outside and active, make summer the best time of year to start a slimming campaign.”

To help slimmers get off to a flying start, Slim-ming World, the UK’s favourite slimming club, is offering a ‘Summer Sizzler’ special this May Bank Holiday. From 23 May to 12 June, anyone who signs up to a 12 week Countdown will get two weeks free (that’s 12 weeks for the price of 10), plus they’ll get a copy of Slimming World’s delicious summer recipe collection Simply Summer, worth £4.50, absolutely free.

“The countdown to summer starts here! There’s still plenty of time to get in shape for summer. Anyone who joins Slimming World at the end of May and tries our fabulous and filling new Extra Easy eating plan could easily lose a stone by the end of July,” said Jo.

The special offer is available to Slimming World’s 300,000 current members in its 6,000 groups across the UK to help them

stay on track throughout the summer, and new members wanting to kick-start their weight-loss ready for the warmer months.

Jo , who runs groups at both Bembridge and Cowes says: “Summer should be a time to enjoy yourself but many people feel uncomfortable in the heat and self-conscious about wearing slinky tops, shorts and dresses. On top of that there are lots of social occasions such as picnics and barbe-cues that leave them worrying about piling on the pounds. The idea of travelling in a tight aeroplane seat and sitting on a beach or

around a swimming pool can fill people with fear too.”

“Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan

encourages members to fill up on foods such as

pasta, rice, potatoes, eggs and lean meat and fish, and fruit and vegetables so they needn’t ever feel hungry and can still enjoy lots of summery treats. The

plan is so flexible it fits around any occasion,

from holidays to summer parties, and every week at

group my members share recipes and tips to help each other through any poten-tial pitfalls.”

For a taste of a slimmer summer try out these delicious chicken kebabs – you’ll find 50 recipes like this in the Simply Summer recipe collection.

4 x 142g/5oz chicken breasts, skinless and bone-less2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed2 tbsp freshly chopped coriander1 tbsp ground coriander2 tsp ground cumin½ tsp chilli powder3 tbsp lemon juice2 tbsp very low fat natural yogurtsalt and freshly ground

black pepper2 red peppers and 2 green peppers, deseeded and roughly choppedfine ribbons of carrot and cucumber, to serve

1. Roughly chop the chicken and place in a bowl. Mix the garlic with the herbs, spices, lemon juice, yogurt and season-ing, stir into the chicken and leave to marinate for at

least 30 minutes, preferably overnight.2. Mix the pepper pieces into the chicken and then thread the chicken and peppers alternately onto eight skewers.3. Place the skewers under a hot grill and cook for 7-8 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve hot with a carrot and cucumber salad.

Still time to ‘sizzle’ this summer!

For more information or to join call Jo on 07982 881109. She can always put you in touch with one of Slimming World’s other Consultants here on the Island at a Group near you.

Chicken and pepper kebabs Serves 4


lifestyle wine & dine

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Then contact our marketing team on 402599

Tell us your news!Heard something interesting or have a story to tell?

Contact the editorial team on 409928 or email: [email protected]



LEGENDS in Shanklin may have legends of the silver screen adorning its walls but is legends of the kitchen kind that new chef Darren Matthews is more used to rubbing shoulders with in his career. Training under the likes of Marco Pierre White at the Canteen and Anthony Worrall-Thompson, the newly released summer menu should be a hit with locals and holiday makers alike.

Dishes include a crisp salad of smoked duck with raspberry, beetroot and crispy fried lovage or you might opt for slow braised lamb shanks set upon a bed of light olive pomme puree coated in minted red currant glaze. Many dishes are available as either a light bite or main course size portion.

Have you ever had a fish finger sandwich? At Legends the fish fingers are home made as well

as the tartar sauce. And pan seared rump steak sandwich is served with home made sweet onion jam. Darren also makes all the mayonnaises and dress-ings.

“We try to use local products as much as possible from our suppliers Carisbrooke Cuisine,” said Darren who also trained under Terry Laybourne at 21 Queens Street in his home city of Newcastle and at the Vermont with Jonathan Brown and Steve Waites.

Under the ownership of Lisa Webb, the quaint cottage style restaurant with its movie themed interior also has a large terrace garden with parasols and a conservatory with daily papers. Legends is open from 10am till 10pm throughout the summer. They have a good range of wines and a great cocktail menu and WiFi is available to customers

Legendary dining



THE ORIGINAL Phil’s Diner opened at the top of the town in Newport last Saturday, May 23, and Marilyn Monroe was driving around Newport in a black Chevy to adver-tise the arrival of this wonderful new American style diner.You have to see the diner to believe its authenticity and the food is the real deal. American steak burgers, spicy chicken wings, chilli con carne with nachos and fat frankfurter hot dogs. All burgers are served with a choice of eight different toppings, such as bacon and egg or ‘sloppy Joes’ and accompanied by fries or spicy curly fries and unlimited salad from the salad bar. Waitresses are dressed as cheerleaders in red and white costumes.Partners Phil Sandercock and Dawne Rawlings-Cawtheray sampled all of the burgers in Newport before deciding to produce their own using fresh finely chopped steak from Hamiltons Fine Foods. The beef in burgers is usually bound together using egg but Phil uses fresh double cream and all burgers are made to order. Veggie burgers and vegetable chilli are also on the menu.The diner also serves authentic American breakfast cereals such as Lucky Charms, Apple Jacks and Captain Crunch. Root beer is imported from A &W, the original American manufacturers and they also do coke floats and ice cream

sodas and authentic American des-serts such as Mississippi mud pie.Teas, coffees and soft drinks include milkshakes made with ice-cream and they are applying for a licence to offer bottled beers and wines and to open in the evenings. At present opening hours are Monday to Friday from 7.30am till 4.30pm, Saturday from 9.30am till 4.30pm and Sunday from 10am till 3pm.Also in traditional American style Phil offers a challenge – if you can

eat four quarter pound steak burgers with all the extras (toppings, fries and salad) you win a free Original Phil’s Diner T-shirt.“I’m really excited about this new venture,” said Phil who does all of the cooking and also did the origi-nal refurbishment on the building. Dawne, who is also an interior designer, came on board to help run the business and it was her daughter Sophia who played Marilyn Monroe for the opening day.

Fill up at Phil’s Diner


lifestyle bridal

The wedding of Louise Cant & James Whitewood

MARRIED at St Paul’s Church in Staplers, Newport on Saturday May 2 were Louise Cant and James Whitewood. The groom is the son of Ken and Janet Whitewood who live in Stoke on Trent, although formerly from the Island, and the bride is the daughter of Michael and Elaine Cant from Newport.

The bride wore a strapless ivory full-length dress with beaded back-laced bodice and was attended by ten bridesmaids led by maid of honour Heidi Kissick and three pageboys. Bridesmaids were Rebecca Cant (cousin of bride), Jody Scott, Lauren Hollis, Helen Vernon, Katie Hogan (bride’s niece), Chloe Hewitt and the couple’s three daughters Megan,

Courtney and Candis White-wood. Pageboys were the bride’s three nephews Reece Cant and Lewis and Ben Hogan. Best man was Ricky Rolfe.

The bridegroom is an elec-trician with Network Rail and the bride is a self-em-ployed beautician in Stoke on Trent where the couple now live.

The bride travelled from her parent’s home to the church, and the couple arrived at the reception at Languard Manor, in a horse drawn carriage from Regent Carriages of Shanklin. A honeymoon will be spent in Egypt.

• Photographs by James Mark Harris of Chic Photog-raphy.


lifestyle bridal

WEST WIGHT DISCOThe soundtrack to your party

All kinds of music for every event

All Island coverageCall Kelvin now to avoid disappointment

0800 118 [email protected] www.westwightdisco.co.uk

FOR WEDDING photographs with a real wow factor you must see Mike Grossmith of MG Images’ coffee table wedding books. Printed in Italy and designed by you, with Mike’s help, from all of the images he takes at your wedding, you will treasure one of these stunning books forever.

A refreshing change from conven-tional albums, the pages are made up from the photographic prints themselves rather than of mounted photographs as they are in traditional albums. A double spread will open with no visible join or binding and lie flat on a table. For a particularly individual touch the front cover image/s can be printed on to metal or soft silk, or you can opt for tradi-tional embossed leather.

You might choose an A3 or A4 size for your personal wedding memento and smaller A5 or A6 versions can be ordered for parents and friends. These books have been especially popular in the US and Europe and are designed just for you with each individual couple in mind. Extra prints and a DVD of your prints can also be ordered too.

Excerpts from speeches might be printed alongside the speechmaker’s photograph or wedding readings might be included in the relevant area of the book. Faded out photo-graphs in the background can add to

the ambience. Drafts of the finished book can be sent to you by email for proofing.

Mike Grossmith began his profes-sional career as a photographer after fulfilling a lifelong ambition to move to the Island in 2006, although as a keen photographer he had previ-ously photographed the weddings of friends and family. He works from home and can visit you with ex-

amples of the books for you to view and discuss.

You could just have photographs of the ceremony or Mike can be with you for the whole day from prepara-tion onwards as he was with Nick and Karen Cottis, the couple featured in these photographs. The couple were married last July at All Saints Church in Gurnard followed by a reception at Gurnard Pines.

Pages of memories


lifestyle bridal

Views made for vows

STUNNING views of Shanklin and Sandown Bay and Culver Cliff beyond are the backdrop to your wedding at the Bourne Hall Hotel in Luc-combe. This summer you can even be married in the grounds under a gazebo if you wish.

This lovely old Victorian hotel is set in three acres of mature grounds, often with wildlife such as squirrels playing on the lawns. On the terrace overlooking the bay you could sip cham-pagne and take canapés whilst receiving your guests.

Alternatively you could have a red carpet laid across the porch for your arrival and as you walk into the grand hall you sink into the deep red carpets that run throughout the ground floor. The drawing room, with magnificent views of the bay, is li-censed for 60 guests or if you would like a more intimate ceremony, the

smaller bar room can ac-commodate 25.

But for a larger wedding the green themed Cameron Room overlooking the garden and bay beyond will hold 100 guests. A concealed door from this room leads down a cream draped tunnel to the large permanent marquee, which is able to accom-modate 120 guests. You might like to have your wedding breakfast in the Cameron Room and then move through to the marquee for your evening party.

If you require a toast-master for your wedding Bourne Hall highly recom-mend Peter Tautz who has worked with the hotel for many years. You might also like to take advantage of the leisure facilities and beauty treatments at the hotel for your hen night. There are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an infra-red sauna, a steam cabinet, small gym and

Jacuzzi and a wide range of massages and facials on offer along with make up, manicures and pedicures.

The Lady Osborne Suite is popular as a bridal suite with its spiral staircase to the four poster bed. Under

new ownership since last year, the hotel has under-gone much refurbishment and offers three pack-ages for weddings. See the facilities and more at the Wedding Fair here on Sunday July 12.


lifestyle bridal

The wedding of Rebekka Eide & Jamie Harwood

Let everyone see your

special day.Put your

wedding in The Gazette.Call Jo on

402599

JAMES HARWOOD and Rebekka Eide chose to be married at the top of Floyen Mountain, over-looking Bergen in Norway, with a reception on the harbour in the city

below.The bride wore

a strapless ivory dress made by a local Norwegian designer and brides-maids were Kate Harwood (groom’s sister), Åse Jeanette Børtveit, Elisabeth

Gulowsen and Benedicte Lan-geland. Best man was Martin Shaw who James grew up with.

The bride is the daughter of Trygve and Olaug Eide who live near Bergen and Rebekka is student at Bergen University. The bridegroom is the son of Tony and June Harwood, who live at Binstead,

and the groom is a teacher at Ryde High School. The couple met in Paris when they were both working for a computer games company.

A honeymoon was spent in Florida and the couple will make their home in Ryde.

• Photographs are by Jason Mark Harris of Chic Pho-tography.


lifestyle bridal

ALBERT COTTAGE Hotel at East Cowes is now a very popular location for that special day for your wedding or civil partnership. This lovely his-toric building set in two acres of grounds was once part of the Osborne House Estate and home of Princess Beatrice. This is cer-tainly worth considering when planning your day.

The delightful ten bedroom hotel has an elegantly designed bar and restaurant which over-looks a large terrace and lawns. This outside space gives ample opportunity to expand the venue with a marquee if the 80-seater restaurant is not large enough for your needs and could be ideal for an evening function with a dance floor and music.

The food at Albert Cottage is renowned for its high quality and as well as the many choices available on the menu. The head chef and his team are always happy to accommodate any

particular favourite dish should this not be on the menu. Why not try out some of the delicious food one evening or Sunday lunchtime and get a feeling of the relaxing atmosphere. Sunday lunch is a particularly popular time to try the succulent roasts or fresh fish dishes.

The ceremony itself can be held in one of three rooms at this hotel according to the size of party and your preference. There is a good choice with each of these rooms having a different style and outlook.

The superior room at Albert Cottage is the bridal suite, which is included with the cost of the wedding. It is a large wonderful tastefully decorated and fabulous place to spend the first night of your married life together.

For further information on Albert Cottage visit the web site on www.albertcottage.com or call 01983 299309

Victorian ambience at Albert Cottage


lifestyle ladies day

BELLY DANCING, fashion and cosmet-ics will be the order of the day at Cowes Yacht Haven on Saturday June 6, as a special ‘Ladies Day’ takes place for charity. The event, which is being held in aid of CLIC Sargent, the children’s cancer charity, will feature a mixture of live entertainment and demonstrations as well as up to 40 stalls of jewellery, art, cosmetics, flowers and much more. Visitors will be able to watch belly dancing demonstrations, a catwalk show featuring designer clothes and can try out beauty treatments.

The event is the brainchild of East Cowes resident Emma Muncaster who decided to organise the Ladies’ Day after hearing of the vital work of CLIC Sargent. The 28 year

old said: “A lot of my friends had signed up to do a trek in Thai-land for CLIC Sargent and through that I heard a lot about the support the charity gives to children and their families. I really wanted to take part in the trek but as a mum of two with three jobs it was just impossible for me to do. Instead I decided to do my own thing for the charity and started organising the Ladies’ Day. It’s the first time I’ve ever organised anything of this scale and it has been difficult, but it’ll be worth it when I raise the money.”

Mrs Muncaster, who cares for elderly people with visual impairment, added: “CLIC Sargent is a really important cause for me because I have two children of my own and would like to think that if ever my children were ill the charity would be there to support them.”

The Ladies’ Day will be a Cowes Yacht Haven’s Events Centre from 10am till 4pm and entry is free. There will be fashion shows throughout the day, featuring top brand clothes from island stores Visual Impact and Generation, and Now and Then Dress Hire. There will be an instant win

raffle and the first 50 ladies through the door on the day will receive a complimen-tary goodie bag. Nicola Amy, Events As-sistant at Cowes Yacht Haven, said: “What Emma has taken on in the name of charity is applaudable. It’s no mean feat organising something as big as this and we’re delighted that she has put in so much work to bring Cowes Yacht Haven its first-ever Ladies Day. We hope that it will become an annual event here at Cowes Yacht Haven and we can continue to raise lots of money for charity together.”

• For more information on tickets or to book an exhibition stand call 07890 970828 or e-mail [email protected].

Something for the ladies


lifestyle ladies day

Ladies Day Timetable10.00am Ladies Day 2009 opens with goody bags for the first 50 ladies11.00am Level Hair and Beauty of Ryde will do a demonstration of Minx nails, the new trend as seen on Lady Ga Ga and Beyonce Knowles12.00pm Fashion Show by Generation and Visual Impact

12.30pm Now and Then dress hire show1.00pm Talk by Lynn from Usborne Books2.00pm Talk by Doctor Detox3.00pm Final fashion show of the day by Generation and Visual Impact4.00pm End of Ladies Day 2009

Belly Dancing throughout the dayParking is free at Cowes Yacht Haven

for all visitors to Ladies Day

THE HIGH Street Outlet opens in Union Street, Ryde on Wednesday May 27 and promises to bring huge savings on high street names, many of which are not usually available on the Island. The shop offers ladies wear in sizes 6-24 and a limited selection of menswear.

Emme Webb from The High Street

Outlet said: “We are very excited about opening the new shop, especial-ly at a time when many are feeling the pinch. We carry stock from many of the top end retail outlets not on the Island at hugely discounted prices. We are sure that as the word spreads people will travel from all over the Island to check our latest stock and

really hope that we will help to revive Ryde’s shopping experience.”

The shop has something for every-one and for all ages. At the moment there are lots of pretty prom style dresses in stock, and whilst they’re not one-offs, only a few of each item are ever ordered. For further details contact - Emme Webb 01983 564954

Recession busting shop opens in Ryde


lifestyle bembridge

Back toBeautiful Bembridge


lifestyle bembridge

PEOPLE tend to think of Bembridge as being slightly detached from the rest of the Island but you may not realise that it was practically separated from the larger part of the Island by a stretch of water. When the East Yar used to flood a boat was needed to row over to the peninsula until 1388 when Sir William Russell drained the Southern half of Brading Haven.

Even at the beginning of the 19th century access to Bembridge was difficult as there were strong currents across the mouth of the harbour. Access would only be in fair weather when you would take a ‘horse boat’ to Bembridge at low tide.

Nowadays the harbour is known for its eye-catching house boats – some have even been restaurants and hotels. The harbour is also a safe mooring for many more modern vessels and watersports are popular around the mouth of the harbour. It has two yacht clubs: the Bembridge Sailing Club and the Brading Haven Yacht Club.

The beaches are ideal for crabbing and searching for sea life, with the rocky Bem-

bridge Ledges leading out from the sandy beaches. All the beaches have cafes ad/or pubs within easy reach for leisurely lunches in the sunshine.

Bembridge is almost self sufficient in terms of its businesses and services and even has its own airport. Known also for its well heeled second home owning residents, the village has an upmarket feel with its gallery, deli, florist and interiors shops catering to these weekend and summer visitors – you may even spot the odd celebrity in the area.

The area is also home to several camping and caravanning holiday camps, predomi-nantly between the airport and the coast. Caravan ownership on these sites has become more popular in recent years with people taking a caravan as their second home from home.

Catering for all of these visitors and the locals are an excellent range of pubs and restaurants, a leisure club, a bank, two supermarkets, hair salons, a pharmacy, estate agents, a petrol station, three churches, a greengrocer and even an undertaker.

Lifeboat View Cafe

Come and enjoy delicious fresh crab & lobster.

Enjoy the amazing views across the solent.

Open 10 am Licensed

Lane End Road, Bembridge PO

35 5TB

Tel 01983 875568

The village that thinks it’s a town


lifestyle legal and financial

ESTATE AGENTS are reporting increased levels of activity in the housing market and a slight in-crease in sales. Lenders are beginning to relax the lending criteria and are making more funds avail-able to buyers. The change is slight but it is there so, perhaps now is the time to consider buying

The market is certainly a buyers market, and, as such, it is in your favour

if you are considering a purchase. There are ways however that you can improve your chances of getting that property at the price you want. So let us look at some ways by which you can improve

your chances.Obviously the first one is

the deposit. The more you can put down the easier it will be to borrow addi-tional funds, particularly as lenders are still very twitchy. It may be prudent first to obtain an agree-ment in principle with the lender, as this will enable you to know the extent of the funds available to you before you make an offer.

Once you are ready to make an offer do not divulge to anyone the funds you have available.

All the seller and his agent need to know is that you have the funds avail-able and you are ready to proceed. If it is known that you are in a position to pay more, then you may be encouraged to do so.

Plan as far in advance as possible. Lenders are taking longer to process applications now than before the ‘Credit Crunch’. Remember that it is all a game, probably the biggest one you will ever play, and, for the time being, you are holding the ball.

To buy or not to buy? If that is the question then what is the answer?

By Tim Benton

Starting our new finance section we have a look at the procedure of divorce from Olga Rodionova, who has worked for Bolitho Way Solicitors since February 1998. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and specialises in separation and divorce cases.

YOU may be surprised to know that these days the procedure in undefended divorce cases is quite straightforward. For the divorce itself it is rare for either party to appear in court and in most cases everything is dealt with “on paper”.

In order to get a divorce you need to have been married for more than twelve months. You will also need to show that the marriage has ir-retrievably broken down. However, this needs to be proved by one of five facts, adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion for two years, two years separation with consent, and five years separation. In my experience, most parties appear to issue proceedings based upon unreasonable behaviour.

Presuming that one of these facts exist divorce proceedings are started by a petition being prepared and filed at court. This is then served upon the other party by the court, through the post. The other party then has 14 days to return a form called an Acknowledgment of Service to the court. When this is received, the petitioning party then swears an Affidavit, which confirms the truth of the contents of the petition. It confirms that the petitioner find it intolerable to live with the other party and is accom-panied by a request that the court consider all of the circumstances.

If it is satisfied with the papers the court sets a date for pronounce-ment of Decree Nisi. Both parties receive notification of the date from the court. Once six weeks and one day have passed from the date of the Decree Nisi, the petitioning party may apply to the court for the Decree Absolute by completing a simple form and paying the appro-priate fee. Sometimes it is sensible to delay applying immediately for the Decree Absolute, where for example financial issues have not been resolved. If one of the parties to the divorce applies for the Decree Absolute before finances are sorted out and the other party dies there may be a loss of financial benefit.

If the petitioning party does not apply for the Decree Absolute then four and a half months after the Decree Nisi the other party may apply to the court for a Decree Absolute.

To avoid any pitfalls I suggest you take these steps: Firstly, should you live at the same property ensure that you live separate and apart. Do not share meals together, cook or clean for each other. Obviously you should be sleeping separately! The judge will need to be satisfied that you are living separate lives.

Obtain the original marriage cer-tificate. The certificate will need to

be filed with the court upon issuing your divorce petition. Ensure that you take a copy, just in case the judge raises any queries regarding the wording of the particulars of marriage upon your petition. Please note – amendments to divorce peti-tions once they have been issued become expensive. The Court’s fee for an amended petition is £50.00!

If possible discuss divorce proceedings with your partner and agree who will issue a petition. I appreciate that many of you may experience that the lines of com-munication are limited but agreeing the particulars and who pays for the proceedings may avoid unneces-sary costs of defended or cross petitions.

Locate your spouse!Sounds silly but knowing your

spouse’s whereabouts is very important. You are required to insert your spouse’s address upon the petition and your spouse must be served with the paperwork. Dif-ficulties with service can increase your costs considerably. If you consider that your spouse may place his/her head in the sand once they read the divorce petition, provide your representative with a photograph and details of his/her

likely whereabouts. You may need to have your spouse personally served, this could increase your costs by £300.00!

How much will a divorce cost?

The court’s fee to issue a divorce petition is currently £300.00 and the Decree Absolute fee is £50.00. Expect to pay legal costs of between £800 and £1500 for the divorce. This does not include the costs of resolving your financial claims upon divorce. Many firms will require funds on account of costs between £250 to £1,000.

Can I get Help with Legal Fees?

The Legal Services Commission is responsible for The Commu-nity Legal Service, which funds non-criminal (civil) cases. These funded services are only available from solicitors or advice agencies who are contracted with the Legal Services Commission.

To be eligible for Legal Help, which covers the divorce proceed-ings, your capital and income have to be below the limits set by

the Legal Services Commission. Your capital must be under £8,000 unless it can be excluded as it is the subject matter of dispute. In the average case, the matrimo-nial home is generally the subject matter of dispute. In relation to your income, your monthly dispos-able income after permitted deduc-tions must not exceed £698.00 per month.

The Decree AbsoluteBy this stage many of you have

mixed feelings. In cases of long marriage, there is sadness and to others relief! The pronouncement of Decree Absolute means you are divorced but all is not over from your marriage – you must resolve your financial claims. Now that is another story……

Please see next issue’s article for guidance upon settling your finan-cial claims following divorce.

Divorce – the facts


lifestyle horses

ALLENDALE Equestrian Centre are proud to announce that they will be holding their first BHS (British Horse Society) Stage 1 examination on 16 September 09. Allendale Equestrian Centre are the only BHS approved ‘Where To Train Centre’ on the Island and it will be the first time ever that BHS Stage examinations will be held here. Previously those wanting to take profes-sional examinations in the horse industry would have to travel to the mainland.

The British Horse Society (BHS) is the UK’s leading and most influential equine charity working hard for every horse and rider in the areas of educa-tion, welfare, safety on the roads, access and rights of way. The BHS sets and improves standards of riding establishments, training and equestrian qualifications.

If you are interested in doing your examination at Allendale you will need to be a member of the British Horse Society and pay the examination fee (directly to the BHS). For details on joining the BHS and registering to sit the examination, please contact the BHS Examinations Office on 01926 707835 or speak directly to Lynn Mills at Allendale Eques-trian Centre on 01983 840258.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer BHS Stage exams to the Island community, which are arguably the most prestigious examinations in the equine industry,” said Lynn Mills. The

exam is open to all those wishing to pursue a career in the horse industry or just to fulfil a personal goal. Minimum age is 16. To do the exam it is not necessary to train

at Allendal although training is offered and there are currently six students from Allendale taking the exam is September. There are still six places available for those who

feel they have reached the standard and wish to enrol.

British Horse Society (BHS) Examinations were developed as a benchmark of competence for the

equine industry in the 1920s and nowadays British Horse Society qualifications are recognised and respected throughout the UK and overseas.

Take your BHS exams with Allendale


lifestyle gardening

YOU’RE in for a real treat if you visit David Rosewarne’s garden at 9 Spencer Road in Ryde over the weekend of June 6 and 7, when it will be open to the public through the National Gardens Scheme. Hidden behind a high wall, this oasis of palms and secret niches is just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Ryde High Street.

Both David and Magie Gray worked for many years as textile designers supplying their beauti-ful fabric designs to companies such as Liberties, Osborne and Little, Laura Ashley, Ralph

Lauren and Missoni. David moved into garden design a couple of years before the couple and their family moved to the Island in 2002. “When you’re fabric designing you’re trying to create volume, movement and pattern and gardening is like a three or four dimensional version of textile design,” he explained. Steps from the house culmi-nate in a terrace with views of the Solent – an old candelabra stands on the attractively worn table where the family some-times dine in the summer. Not the yellow brick road, but the

Ryde’s secret garden opens its gatesred brick pathway winds its way through the different areas of the garden – “A spine from which everything spins off,” as David explained.

As you move throughout the garden you discover the little touches that make it so indi-vidual. Shells placed along the back of steps, a wall of old broken red flowerpots that have been inhabited by succulents, the hidden pathway through the tunnel of greenery and the pond with dragon and damsel flies.

In the summer of 2002 David designed and built a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, ‘A Garden For All Seasons,’ which won a silver medal. One of the benches from that garden can be spied near the pond – “an homage to composting,” as David calls it because he adds the dried stems, long leaves and flower heads as they die to the amazing sculpture of dried veg-

etation, which forms an arbour above the seat.

The two large Cordyline Australis palms were David’s first plantings. “They immedi-ately provided an umbrella or shield which creates volume beneath it,” said David who added bamboos to provide further screens. Taking the lower leaves from the canes provided room for planting such as the purple scabias and red California poppies near to the pond. A large cardoon stands guard over the pond – its flower heads from last year will eventually join the seat arbour.

David admits to a preference for foliage and has designed the garden to be beautiful all year round – and it’s certainly stunning at the moment. Open between 1pm and 5pm on both days, entrance is £2.50 for adults with children free and afternoon teas and cakes will be available.


lifestyle gardening

Toby’s gardening tipsBy Toby Beasley, head gardener, Osborne House

WE HAVE just started to undertake one of the biggest jobs of our gardening year at Osborne; changing the bedding on the terraces. Throughout June we will be taking out the spent wallflowers, polyanthus and tulips to be replaced with a display of pink, white and yellow summer bedding.

Bedding is a long winded job but when you consider we will be planting out around 20,000 plants the task can seem extra daunting. However, we do have some tricks up our sleeves to make this task a bit easier.

There are no short cuts to the first stage, ripping out the old plants and bulbs needs to be done thoroughly. Use a fork to loosen everything up and make sure you don’t snap tulips or daffodils when you dig them out. Bulbs are very hard to spot in the soil once they have snapped off and will show up as ‘rouges’ in your new display the following spring.

By thoroughly forking through the soil when you take the old plants out the next stage is a bit easier, digging! We have 51 beds to dig over and we will add fresh compost to half of them. This is spread over the surface three inches deep and then forked in to increase the soils water holding capacity. We are just about to go into the driest part of the year (the last 2 summers don’t count) so the plants will benefit from any soil improvement.

Next make sure the beds are raked level as any undulations will show up especially if shorter growing plants are used but the next step is the rewarding part, planting. We

certainly get a lot of practise when planting 20,000 plants and our technique is to make as small a hole as is necessary to plant the plant. After the beds have been dug over the soil is generally light and fluffed up so this enables us to scoop aside a small planting pocket in order to put the plant in. This is a very fast technique which also does a perfectly good

job. It also creates very little disturbance to plants that have just been put in.

Finally once you have planted the edging and the ‘dot’ plants remember bedding is just like painting a floor. Start in the middle and work to the outside, you might just be part of the display if you do it the other way around!

Do you want to show the Island your garden? Then we want to hear

from you!

Call Jo on 01983 402599 & have your green fingers displayed in The Gazette

Nigel Brown digging out tulips

FORMER hotelier and local businessman, Peter Sorensen has gone back to his roots by starting up a new gardening and landscaping company, Island Garden Services.

Peter holds a City and Guilds qualification in horticulture and had 25 years experience running nurser-ies as well as a successful building and groundworks company on the mainland, before moving back to the Island in 2000, where he kept his hand in with managing the extensive mature gardens and grounds in his hotel until its sale last year. After taking a year off, he started up Island Garden Services because he wanted to return to working with the soil. “I wanted to put my knowl-edge, experience and passion to good use, doing a job I love,” said Peter.

He brings with him a unique skill set which is reflected in the wide range of specialist services offered – everything from general gardening and lawn mowing to block paving and fencing. The company’s fair pricing policy means that rates are reasonable. The work is guaranteed and all of the materials are purchased from reputable stockists. “I only buy quality materials,” said Peter. “That way I can ensure that I get the very best result for each job.” The growing

customer base ranges from Freshwater to Shanklin and the work is still pouring in, much of it via word of mouth.

IGS is fully insured and Peter has carried out all of the relevant risk assess-ments. He only operates clean, well-maintained ma-chinery and equipment and all the staff are uniformed. He feels it is important to operate as safely as possible and that a key factor in the continuing success of IGS is that he is a reliable contrac-tor who takes care of his customers and their gardens and property. All of this means that homeowners and businesses can be confident that they are getting quality work from a professional who actually enjoys his job.

Island Garden Services offers a complete value-for-money service for all your

gardening needs. For further information, please call 01983 530242 or visit the website www.islandgarden-services.com

Local man returns to his roots


lifestyle summer sports

IT’S BEEN a busy few weeks for Pelican Racing.

The high performance, three-man keelboat racing charter company has set up home at Cowes Yacht Haven. And to celebrate, a launch party was held on 19th April, which organisers are hailing as a great success.

Warm sunshine and a good breeze resulted in a great morning’s racing.

The first was won by Director Ash Holmes as his crew made their way up to South Brable and then enjoyed a downwind run back to Gurnard North Cardinal.

The second saw Simon Davies triumph as he made his way up Prince Consort North

Cardinal before looping around Gurnard and onto the finish. The crews then headed back to Cowes Yacht Haven for a barbecue.

As a result of the busy launch, Pelican Racing has increased its fleet from 7 to 13 boats.

There was also a special treat for visitors to the yacht haven as the Pelican Racing Rib featured on the Suzuki stand at the RIB-X show on the 9th and 10th May.

Pelican Racing has entered 13 boats for the 2009 Round the Island Race.

Last year, the Pelican Racing team took

second place and is vowing to get more SB3’s out and sailing in the world famous event which covers 58 miles.

With Inca-x, Pelican Racing will be running their new GPS tracking and video streaming software for the occasion. It means you can watch online as the fleet moves around the Island and check the images as they go.

You can become a Championship Member and charter a Laser SB3 for the JP Morgan Round The Race for less than £1000.

You are asked to call 0845 658 6578 for more details.

Pelican Racing has also become an RYA Recognised Training Centre. It allows them to provide people with the full range of RYA Keelboat courses, Day Skipper, Yachtmaster theory courses and Powerboat courses level 1 to advanced.

By Justin Gladdis

Round the Island with Pelican

ISLE OF WIGHT Cricket has been taken to the next level; fol-lowing the opening last Autumn of Newclose County Cricket Ground. Costing almost £1.7 million to build and situated along Newport’s Blackwater Road, it’s home to the Island’s representative sides and is the result of four years hard work by a team of enthusiasts, headed by cricket lover and businessman, Brian Gardener. It also means the Isle of Wight is the only minor county to have its own ground.

Macaire Associates had designed the project while Crown Park set about the task

of building the facility. Brian Gardener provided a large part of the initial funding; with support from the England and Wales Cricket Board grant funding was secured from the National Sports Foundation.

The venue held its first 2009 dinner launch with Mark Gar-raway, the former Ventnor and Hampshire wicket keeper who is currently a technical analyst for England.

At the end of July Hampshire will be playing a Twenty 20 contest against a Newclose Invi-

By Justin Gladdis

Island’s County ground

tational XI. If you become a friend of

Newclose County Cricket Ground, you will receive a number of benefits as well as the satisfaction of backing one of the biggest sporting develop-ments on the Island in recent times. As a life friend, you will receive a pass, which will entitle you and your partner to a lifetime’s entry to all matches at the NCCG. The only excep-tions would be the occasional

matches against high profile or professional opposition. Your name will be included in all match programmes and fixture cards and you will receive exclusive booking rights to all dinners and functions held at the ground. Life membership costs £200. There is also the option of becoming an annual friend. You are asked to fill out a member-ship form on the club’s official website www.newclose-cricket.co.uk

Above and left: The recently opened Newclose County Cricket Ground, both inside and out


lifestyle summer sports

Osborne Golf Club was founded in 1904 and is in the grounds of Osborne House Estate with panoramic views of the Solent. At 6,400 yards from the white tees this nine-hole golf course is the longest on the Island and it is outstandingly beautiful.The course is essentially a parkland course with several woods and copses and hun-dreds of mature trees. The greens are watered but are firm in the summer. Red squirrels can often be spied on the course – particularly between the ninth green and the

clubhouse.The clubhouse has recently been extended and refurbished and is fully licensed withcatering facilities and can be hired privately for special events. There are also chang-ing rooms, showers and a pro shop. Only five minutes from the Red Funnel terminal and 15 minutes from Wightlink, visitors are always welcome. For more details and an interactive map of the course see www.osbornegolfclub.co.uk

OSBORNE GOLF CLUB

Sandown and Shanklin Golf Club is 109 years old and is proud of its history and traditions. The 6000 yard course is built on well-drained heathland and the 5th and 13th holes are said to be two of the best on the south coast of England.There are three types of membership – Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. Level 1 allows 12 rounds of golf at any time, seven days a week and eligibility for all open and mid-week competitions.

SHANKLIN & SANDOWN GOLF CLUBLevel 2 allows unlimited golf Monday to Friday and members can introduce guests to the course with entry fee due in full on acceptance. Level 3 membership allows unlimited golf and a member may introduce guests and again the entry fee is due in full on acceptance. Recently, the club has brought in a Saturday “roll up”. It’s mainly for newer members to the club with start times between 12 and 1pm. For more details call 403217 or www.ssgolfclub.co.uk

Founded in 1896, Newport Golf Club is set on the top of the St George’s Down with spectacular views of the Isle of Wight and Southampton and Portsmouth.It’s hailed as “A golfers course” – designed for golfers by golfers and has nine challeng-ing holes, so a perfect tee off is essential. Indeed, an anonymous visitor who said he had a par on the 5th described Newport Golf Club as:

“A gem set in a precious part of England”.The course is set out to make you think about every shot and you’ll want to play again and again, regardless of your handi-cap. After your game you can retire to the clubhouse for a pint and a meal, to allow you to reflect on a day well spent.Come and try our new 3 hole practise course for beginners, driving range with tuition. All clubs supplied.

N e w p o r t G o l f C l u b


lifestyle hospice

Hospice News

Hospice Fundraising: Telephone - 528989

Earl Mountbatten Hospice - Newport

HUGE Hospice Thanks for Walk the Wight

HEAD of Fundraising David Cheek described “Walk the Wight 2009” as ‘stunning’ this week as stories of heroic determination to finish the walk in appalling weather conditions emerged.

Around nine and a half thousand of the registered walkers braved the winds and rain to take part on the full, half and flat walks.

David commented “It was a tremendous effort by everyone - the walkers, supporters, sponsors ~ everybody was marvellous”

How to Pay in Your Sponsor Money... Now that the walk is over all the sponsor

money can be collected and paid to the Hospice. A paying-in slip was included in all walkers packs and these can be used for paying into any branch of the HSBC bank. Sponsor forms with the sponsors name and postcode should also be handed in at the same time. Alternatively cheques, again with the sponsor forms, can be sent to the Hospice. Walkers can also pay their money and their forms into either of the Newport

branches of the Hospice charity shops. Finally, walkers can bring their money and their forms directly to the hospice fundraising office itself.

Last year “Walk the Wight” raised a staggering £352,000. Each year the Island’s Hospice has to raise a minimum of £2.2 million to provide the services needed to care for Islanders with a range of terminal illnesses.

Blooming Day Planned for Barton Manor

SUNDAY June 7 promises to be a blooming success for the Island’s Hospice as Barton Manor very kindly hosts an open day with the theme “Flowers, Gardens and Local Produce”

The event is open to the public from 10am to 4pm and entry is £3. As well as numerous stalls, visitors can enjoy the gift shop, café and live music.

The other Barton Manor open days this year are:

Sunday July 19: Traditional Fete. If you would like to have a stall for this event please call the fundraising office on 528989

Sunday September 20: The theme for this open day is “Fashion and Beauty” If you would like to have a stall for this event, and your business fits in with the theme, the hospice fundraising team would like to hear from you. Last year’s Fashion and Beauty day was very successful and we hope to repeat this again this year.

Sunday October 18 is our Christmas Fayre...it’s never too early to start planning! To book your place please call the fundraising team. 528989.

Parachute Jump Places for June 27

A VERY limited number of places remain available for the latest Hospice Parachute Tandem Jump taking place on Saturday

June 27. The jump takes place at Salisbury Airfield and a coach is available from the Island organised by the Hospice, courtesy of Southern Vectis.

The minimum amount to be raised by each jumper is £365 which also covers the cost of the jump - but only a £100 deposit would be required before the date of the jump. Anyone interested in taking part should call the Hospice on 528989 as soon as possible.

For anyone interested in taking part in a parachute jump or other ‘adventurous’ type of fundraising in the future there is an open meeting at the hospice on Thursday June 25 at 7pm.

To book your place to learn about the possibility of fundraising trips to China and Paris amongst others please book your place by calling 528989.

Tea Parties in June

TEA parties are taking place across the Island in June to raise money for the Island’s hospice. If you could hold a tea party for us please phone the fundraising department on 528989 and we can help you arrange your party and print your invitations.

WHEN times are tough, nostalgia makes us feel good. It helps us to change our present by using the past, not as it happened, but as we would like to remember it. We view the past as cosy and safe when everything seemed happier, simpler and better.

And the big businesses know how to press the right button – look at the latest Premier Foods’ ad. They’ve got the famous Hovis boy (remember him climbing a cobbled street) racing through 100 years of British history but it still makes us think of bread fresh from the oven.

Old is the new new, it’s the advertising style marketers adopt in a crisis. This “yearning for the past” has prompted the makers of Cheerios and Cocoa Puffs to use designs on its cereal boxes last seen in the Sixties. And jingles are back, slogans are being recycled, like Diet Coke “just for the taste of it” from the Eighties.

Sadly, it’s “last orders” for the tegestologists, the people who collect beer mats. The Katz Group which supplies Kronenbourg and Stella Artois and has manufactured coasters since 1716 (beer mats go back to Saxon times when they were placed over drinks to stop insects falling in) has gone bankrupt. A spokesman said the company had been hit by falling beer sales.

But there are rumours that OAPs are turning into binge drinkers as a result of the dramatic cuts in their pensions and seeing the interest on their savings dropping from 5 per cent to 0.5 per cent. Statistics show that three million pensioners, nearly one in four, are below the poverty line of £151 a week.

Why don’t they get a job if they need the cash? Because under the government’s age-discrimination legislation there is a compulsory retirement age of 65 though

pensioner MPs and other senior citizens can occupy highly paid ministerial jobs. Seems there’s one rule for them and another for ordinary people.

And there’s the recent decision by the European Court of Justice to uphold our compulsory retirement age and to reject the pensioners’ campaign for the right to work after sixty-five. And this at a time when we’re being told to keep our minds active if we don’t want to go doolally – wonder who worked that one out?

Enough gloom, two weeks ago I went to Newtown Estuary to hear a nightingale sing. Not Berkeley Square but a hedgerow in a grassy lane where the bird’s song was unlike any other bird music I’d heard in this country, exquisite and sheer magic. Pemo Brunet, the National Trust guide, interpreted its song as, “Hey, guys I’m up, come and get me.” At five in the morning?

June Elford June Elford is a book and feature writer who lives below the castle in Carisbrooke with her cat. She enjoys gardening and Scottish dancing.

The Gazette with your help has so far raised £19,647for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice



feet of fun

Sandown Pier first opened for business in 1879 and was sold to the town council in 1918. It is now in private hands once again



FOR MOST of us, the words ‘climate change’ probably conjure up images of alarming events in faraway places: cracking polar ice caps, hurricanes and increasingly arid desert lands.

However, the effects of weird weather are being felt much closer to home: right here on the Island.

That, at least, is the view of Dr Robin McInnes, a St Lawrence-based geolo-gist who has become a world expert in the science of coastal risk management.

Last month Dr McInnes published an updated edition his ‘Coastal Risk Manage-ment: A Non-Technical Guide’, an overview of the current nature and scale of coastal risks and how they might be managed.

The guide was written by Dr McInnes on behalf of SCOPAC (the Standing Conference on Problems Associated with the Coastline), a partnership comprising local authorities, the Environment Agency, Natural England and other key organisations with a vested interest in the successful management of coastal risks along 435 miles of the coastline of central southern England that stretches from Lyme Regis in Dorset to Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex – including, of course, the Island.

Established in 1986, SCOPAC was the first of a number of regional coastal groups that

were created with a view to encouraging a co-ordinated approach along the coastline so that the activities of one local authority do not conflict with those of its neighbours.

There is no doubt in the minds of Dr McInnes and his colleagues that something troubling is happening in the world’s weather systems. “People in our group can see clear evidence of climate and coastal change so we feel it’s something that’s with us now and has to be addressed,” says Dr McInnes. “What’s causing it is a secondary issue.”

According to Dr McInnes, the main issue on the Island in terms of coastal risk is flood-ing, as sea levels begin to rise. And the two area of greatest concern are Cowes and Yar-mouth, and both of those are likely to require attention in the next few years.

“If you drive along the quay in Yarmouth sometimes the water’s up to the edge of the quay, and it has experienced flooding inci-dents in recent years. When you look at the sea level predictions, if we have a one metre sea level rise in the next 100 years, on top of that if you get certain weather conditions, low pressure in the Solent, for example, that can push the sea levels up another metre as well.”

Dr McInnes also believes that the impacts of extreme storms in the Solent have perhaps been underestimated in the past. “There is

evidence of more unsettled weather patterns – that’s one of the impacts of climate change. If you bring those two factors together, the Island’s northern coastline has a particular vulnerability because it’s low-lying.”

In Yarmouth, Dr McInnes thinks that the answer could be to raise the land levels around the quay, and possibly to build an earth embankment around the Yar estuary.

In Cowes, Dr McInnes foresees a sub-stantial upgrading of the sea wall from the floating bridge to the Royal Yacht Squadron becoming necessary, though he admits that this will be far from easy. “These things can be done but obviously the Cowes frontage is quite complex with a lot of historic build-ings.”

The other big coastal risk problem facing the Island is, of course, landslip. As a former borough surveyor for the old South Wight Borough Council Dr McInnes is all too fa-miliar with the geological problems posed by the Ventnor/Undercliff area. And it is climate change that is making the problem worse, he believes.

“The climate scenario is for drier summers and wetter winters. There’s a prediction of a significant increase in winter rainfall, up by as much as 30 per cent in the next 80 years. Much of the Island has clay soils and if you get the drying out you get the cracks that allow the easier ingress of winter rainfall.”

It is this extra ingress of water into the fragile geology of the Undercliff that makes landslips more likely to happen.

The solution in Ventnor, says Dr McInnes, is for “quite substantial drainage works” in a central location. But there’s a problem:

“Drainage is an issue that falls between various government departments and we at SCOPAC have been lobbying for Defra to be given total responsibility for everything to do with coastal issues, and that includes erosion flooding but also ground instability.”

Further round the coast, at Blackgang, the age-old problem of the incredible shrinking Island continues, says Dr McInnes. “The most rapid rates of erosion are at Blackgang because it faces the south west and you get the full impact of the south westerly storms from across the Atlantic. In bad winters the rains can be up to six metres a year and over the last 150 years there’s been a retreat of up to 300 metres.”

A coastline inEVEN if there may be argument as to what’s causing it, most experts agree that climate change is happening. So what do increasingly erratic weather patterns and rising sea levels mean for the Island? Paul Rainford talks to a man who knows

The Eastern Yar estuary is prone to flooding and a raising of the land levels around the quay may become necessary, believes Dr McInnes

Dr McInnes (right) with Andrew Turner



The IW Shoreline Management PlanTHE IW COUNCIL is updating the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) for the coastline of the Island, review-ing the original plan published in 1997. The process will involve public participation as the plan develops in 2009 and 2010

Responsibility for management of the Island’s coastal defences against erosion and sea flooding is shared between the IW Council and the Environment Agency. The Shoreline Management Plan is the means by which these organisations determine the best way to look after the coast in a sustainable way for the next 100 years. It is prepared using guidelines set down by Defra, the government department with responsibility for setting national policy for defence of the coastline.

Erosion rates around the south-west of the Island work out at about half a metre a year. That may sound bad but Dr McInnes predicts that it’s going to get worse. “We can expect these rates to increase with climate change because with sea level rise the beaches get steepened and bigger waves attack the coast. These rates are spasmodic, however. You get a serious storm event and you may lose several metres and then nothing much will happen for the next two or three years.”

So is Dr McInnes worried about his St Lawrence home sliding into the sea? Not a bit of it. “The area was mapped about 15 years ago in quite a sophisticated way, with the map divided into hazard areas rated green, brown and red, with green being the safest. This has been enormously helpful for local residents because from an insurance perspective insurance companies are able to use these kind of maps. Thankfully, I live in a green area.”

crisis?

Ventnor (above) is notorious for landslip, and the problem has been exacerbated in recent years by a pattern of wetter winters and drier summers. The historic nature of Cowes seafront (below) makes an upgrading of the sea wall difficult


Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928gazette property

34 STAPLERS ROAD, NEWPORT - £169,500• 70 Ft Garden • Patio • Three Bedrooms • Workshop

• Conservatory • Cloakroom

A Semi-detached house which benefits from 3 bedrooms, conservatory, living room, large kitchen diner, cloakroom,

garden, patio & workshop. Located close to Newportwith multiplex cinema, swimming pool, extensive

facilities and amenities.

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16 LOWER FURRLONG, BRADING - £157,000• Off Road Parking • Garden • Double Glazed• Village Location • Chain Free • Cloakroom

A semi detached house comprising two Bedrooms, Kitchen, Living Room,Cloakroom, Shower Room, Garden and Off

Road Parking. Located in the historic town of Brading the property is within a short walk of the Downs, Brading

village and train station.

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Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928 gazette property

25 WHITESMITH ROAD, NEWPORT - £178,000• Three Bedrooms • Garden • Sun Room • Patio

• Shower Room • Off Road Parking

A spacious Semi-detached Family Home, convenient for Newport and Cowes with Three Bedrooms, Three Reception

Rooms, Ample Parking, & Gardens. Located close to Parkhurst Forest & near to walks on the Medina River.

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FLAT 7, OAKLEIGH COURT, RYDE - £130,000• Two Bedrooms • Master En-Suite • Long Lease

• Parking • Close To Beach • Fitted Kitchen

Oakleigh Court is a modern apartment block constructed in 1997. Flat 7 is on the top floor with views over the garden

& woodland. Located within walking distance of Ryde Esplanade with six miles of beautiful sandy beaches which

are one of the Islands safest places to swim.

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Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928gazette property


Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928 gazette motoring

the only one of its kind to meet the latest Thatcham TQA accred-itation too, and for owners who insure through Suzuki’s own

scheme at Express Insurance, a further 3 per cent discount on their insurance premium is avail-able.

The system is also applicable to non registered off-road ma-chines too.

ISLE OF WIGHT Motorcycles has ex-panded its biggest ever finance campaigns this month, offering no less than 14 Suzuki models available from the Newport show-room with 0 per cent APR finance.

With a vast choice of models and a low deposit of just £500 and low payments, customers have the best of both worlds. Available in the promotion, with just a £500 deposit are the GSX-R600 and 750 models, all Bandit 1250 models, V-Strom 650 vari-ants, as well as the GSX650F, SV650 Sport and DR125SM. As well as the interest free offer, Suzuki authorised dealers are able to offer bespoke finance terms to suit individual customer requirements, with special low rate offers too.

Models included in the promotion are: GSX-R750, GSX-R600 Bruce Anstey, GSX-R600, Bandit 1250SA Grand Touring, Bandit 1250 SAZ, Bandit 1250SA, Bandit 1250 Streetfighter, Bandit 1250, V-Strom 650A Grand Touring, V-Strom 650A, V-Strom 650X, GSX650F, SV650 Sport, DR125SM.

For added peace of mind for Suzuki owners, Suzuki GB has launched a new security marking system for motorcycles and scooters in conjunction with makers Retainagroup, offering an easy to apply and permanent anti-theft solution for all Suzuki owners.

Available through Isle of Wight Motor-cycles, with a one-off fitted retail price of just £49 inc VAT (with no annual member-ship fee), the Retainagroup system enables anyone to check a bike’s identity, making it the most effective system of its type on the market.

With a 24 hour telephone number pro-vided for vehicle checks, anyone can check a bike’s identity, be it the police or potential buyers of a used machine.

Receiving data from the Police National Computer on a daily basis, the system is also

Isle of Wight Motorcycles launches interest free finance offer on 14 models

Advertising feature


Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928gazette motoring

IN RECENT years Peugeot has led the way in producing stylish and attractive con-vertibles with, it is claimed, one in four coupe convert-ibles bought worldwide being the work of the French manufacturer. And the new 308cc certainly looks like maintaining that trend.

The model I took out was the GT 1.6 litre THP with 150bhp in a striking Nera black metallic with impres-sive Vintage integral leather. It has a top speed of 134mph and can do 0-60mph in just over 10 seconds.

It takes around 20 seconds to convert this car from a hard top to a sleek-looking convertible, as the roof elec-tronically folds down into the boot, still leaving around 266 litres of boot space. (There is 465 litres of space available with the roof up.)

On the outside, the rear end also features new clusters of LED lights, following the edge of the boot lid, and a unique spoiler. There are also two new rear diffusers

built into the lower bumper giving that extra edge of sportiness.

The 308cc follows on from the popular 307cc, but this time there are no minor flaws to be found anywhere, as far as I could see. Inside, the build quality stands out, with leather everywhere. It seems Peugeot have put extra emphasis on improving the quality, and it shows. The most noticeable new innova-tion is the so-called ‘airwave scarf’, which blows warm air around your neck so you can enjoy driving around with the roof down even in cold weather – what a great idea!

In the 308cc, there is just about enough room for four people, unlike its predeces-sors the 206cc and the 207cc, and there is noticeable comfort and space with the roof up or down.

The dash has a gentle slope towards the large wind-screen, and there is a leather-trimmed steering wheel and metallic gear lever knob and pedals, which add to the sporty look. Air-condition-

ing, CD player, alloy wheels and

the electronic folding roof all come as stan-

dard.The ride is a lot smoother

than I imagined. The steering is responsive and grips the corners well. Acceleration is good and is boosted at around 3,000rpm when the turbo kicks in. Suspension is good and you feel in control at all times.

There is a choice of both petrol and diesel engines in the range, with Sport, SE and GT versions available.

Its closest rival currently on the market would be the Ford Focus CC, but after sampling the delights the 308cc has to offer I would certainly conclude that once again Peugeot are onto a winner. Let’s just hope we have a decent summer this year so the top can come off on a regular basis!

Prices for the 308cc start at £19,495 for the Sport version and, as an incentive, Staddle-stones Peugeot are offering a six-month free leisure mem-bership at Bembridge Coast Hotel. For more information call 872121

Convertible proves a winner

THE GOVERNMENT’S car scrappage scheme is proving to be a success at several of the Island’s garages, with customers able to save a minimum of £2,000 on a new car when they trade in a vehicle that is ten years old or more.

The aim of the scheme is to kick-start the motor industry and encourage consumers to buy new cars and also to introduce more lower-emission cars onto the roads.

The initiative started on Monday May 18 and runs until February 2010, or until the Government’s pot of £300 million runs out.

The scheme gives cus-tomers £2,000 towards the purchase of a new car or van when they scrap a car of ten years old or more, with £1,000 being provided by the Government and £1,000 from the manufacturer.

Keith Ashdown, manager of Hale Common Suzuki near Arreton, is delighted the scheme has been set up. “The scrappage scheme has really taken off and we have been getting a lot of interest from people looking to trade their old cars in for new ones.

“I think we needed some-thing to kick-start the motor

industry, and this certainly seems to be working, and I think it’s a great idea.

“Considering the way the economy is, it has been a good year for us so far and April was the best month we have had for some time. We reckon we had an extra ten orders for new cars we normally wouldn’t have had thanks to the scrappage scheme.

“All of our new cars can be used in the scheme, and we can still offer 0 per cent finance, and the £2,000 can be used towards a deposit on a new vehicle.”

Harwoods Renault has also reported high interest in the

scrappage scheme.Sales director Paul Hunt,

said: “Showroom traffic has risen dramatically with many customers wanting to find out more about the scheme.

“As well as offering the obligatory £1,000 to par-ticipate in the government scheme, which in total gives £2,000 to consumers scrap-ping their cars, there are now even bigger incentives on the Clio Extreme, New Mégane Hatch Extreme and New Grand Scénic Extreme.

“Only 300,000 car buyers can benefit across the UK, so we are urging motorists with older cars to come and see us as soon as possible.”The build quality of the interior stands out, with generous use of leather

By Jamie White

‘Scrappage’ takes off

Keith Ashdown with his scrappage ‘demonstrator’

By Jamie White


Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928 gazette motoring

26

Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928gazette recruitmentthe gazette Friday MAY 29 2009

wightFM Media GroupThis rapidly expanding media group is lookingfor two highly motivated and skilled marketing/

sales executives to take this inspiring company to the next level

Call wightFM on 402599

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Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928gazette business news

A SHANKLIN B&B has become the first accommodation provider on the Island to win a national award for its commitment to green tourism.

Bedford Lodge, in the Old Village, has achieved a Silver grading in the awards run by the Green Tourism Business Scheme, which was established in 1997 and now has more than 2,000 members across the UK. The only other business on the Island that has been recognised by the scheme is Brading Roman Villa.

The B&B is owned and run by Karena Barton, who took over the business in 2007, after a career in TV produc-tion in London, working on programmes such as Animal Hospital.

‘We have worked hard to raise awareness of green issues on the Island as well as among our guests,” says Karena. “We are being increasingly asked where our food comes from and what products we buy, so it matters more and more to people. It was the Island’s natural beauty that made me determined to set up business here and it’s important to me that we do our bit to keep it that way.”

Karena has introduced a range of measures that have built up the green credentials of her busi-ness, including: compost bins (five in total); using refillable containers for soap, shower gel, sugar and jams; collecting eggs from her own free-range chick-ens; and supporting local wildlife

organisations.“I tried to bring those general

things into the way I lived when I was in London in the way that everybody does now with all their different recycling bins and so on,” she says.

“But it’s not just about compost bins; we’ve looked at the way we do lots of things. We had an old fax machine that chewed up more paper than it printed on and just as we were about to buy a new one, we switched to an Internet version instead. All our faxes now arrive by e-mail. It was so easy to set up and we make real financial savings, with the added bonus of no more spam.”

With the recent demise of the Island’s own green busi-ness awards scheme, the Green Island Awards, Karena felt it was important to get national recognition. “Embracing national initiatives increases not only an individual’s profile but also that of the Island. It all helps to keep the Island at the forefront of prospective visitors’ minds. And because I came from London I was very keen on having a nationally recognised award that people from the mainland would give credit to.”

She is now hoping that more Island tourism businesses will follow her lead and go for a green award. “If more of the Island could be marketed as eco-friendly, then possibly that might draw more people in, especially from different parts of Europe.”

THE WORLDS of business and the environment have moved a step closer on the Island thanks to a new partnership between the IW Chamber of Commerce and the East Cowes-based environmental charity Gift to Nature.

The Isle of Wight Lottery – a subsidiary of the Chamber – has become a key funding partner for Gift to Nature, which seeks to conserve parcels of public land both to encourage the formation of natural habi-tats and to improve public access.

Businesses now have the opportunity to invest in the environment through Gift to Nature – and at the same time make a state-ment about their green credentials to clients and customers. A package of benefits to help achieve this includes a 50 per cent dis-count to Chamber members on their first year’s mem-bership of Gift to Nature.

Kevin Smith, chief execu-tive of the Chamber, said:

“You can’t treat business and the environment as two separate things, and we are keen to encourage good en-vironmental practice which contributes to the vision of Eco Island.”

Samantha Buck, project manager for the organisa-tion, said: “This funding will make a real difference to us. We want to estab-lish links with many more businesses, and step up our

work to protect and pre-serve the Island’s environ-ment, which is one of the main reasons people come to live and take holidays here.”

The Chamber’s support takes the form of an annual grant of £5,000 from the IW Lottery.

For more information, and to sign up to Gift to Nature, go to www.gifttonature.org.uk, or call 200074.

IW CHAMBER members Gary and Deborah Hall have just been accepted as Approved Traders for their separate businesses in the IW Council’s Buy with Confidence scheme.

Deborah Hall, who runs Beresford’s Male Grooming in Cowes, has become

the first gentlemen’s hairdresser to be accepted as an ap-proved trader, while Gary Hall, who operates The Plaza Ice Cream Parlour in Cowes together with its Plaza Classic ice cream vans, has become the Island’s first ice cream vendor to be of-

ficially approved by the IW Council.

• The Plaza Classic ice cream vans raised £545 for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice earlier this month by supplying much appreciated ice creams to par-ticipants in Walk the Wight.

NEW figures from Busi-ness Link in Hampshire and the IW show that business has boomed for the advisory service as the recession has taken hold.

Business Link in the South East’s 2008-09 review reveals that en-quiries in the Hampshire/IW area in January 2009 were nearly 70 per cent higher than in January 2008, as businesses sought advice on how to cope in straitened times.

In total, more than 29,000 businesses in the Hampshire/IW area turned to Business Link for advice and support during 2008-09.

Of these, 778 were would-be entrepreneurs looking to launch a business.

Across the region, 3,667 companies had a free Business Review with an experienced Business Link Adviser.

Green first for Shanklin B&B

Gary and Deborah move into Council traders’ Hall of fame

Business Link boom

Karena Barton, owner of Bedford Lodge,

hopes that other Island tourism businesses will

follow her lead

Left to right: Steve Porter, president of the IW Chamber of Commerce; Samantha Buck, project manager, Gift to Nature; and Kevin Smith, chief

executive, IW Chamber

Chamber gets back to nature


Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928 gazette sport

VENTNOR’S unbeaten start to the season came to an end on when Burridge inflicted a seven wicket defeat in a high scoring Southern Electric Premier League encounter at Steephill.

The homeside were put in to bat first, with Mark Fletch-er (29) and Matt Compton (19) and Martin Blackman (32) making useful contribu-tions before Neil Westhorpe took centre stage. The left hander, who has more than 3,000 Southern League runs to his name, held the innings together, cracking some glorious shots in an unbeaten 108, as the Islanders totalled a challenging 247-7 from their 50 overs.

Ventnor made an early breakthrough after tea when Charlie Freeston trapped Burridge skipper Rick Ankers leg before without scoring. However, that initial success brought Iain Brunnschweiler and Greg Lamb together and from that point the former Hampshire pair took complete charge to effectively win the match for the visitors. Both played superbly, Brunnschweiler making 76 and Lamb a splendid 107 before David Beven dismissed them in quick succession. Kenway (27) and Hitchings (23) scored the 47 runs required without further loss to clinch an emphatic win.

Ventnor will hope to return to winning ways when they travel to Rowledge tomorrow (Saturday May 30).

* * *Ventnor bowed out of the

National Club Championship after a battling performance against Havant. Hampshire’s most successful club side, with a fine record in the NCC in recent years, lost eight wickets chasing 187 and got over the line with one over remaining in a tight finish.

Danny Briggs, back from Hampshire first team duty in the Friends Provident Trophy, hit 10 fours in a terrific knock of 72 but Neil Westhorpe (29) apart, the rest of an under strength batting line up failed to impress as the home side restricted the Islanders to 186-8 from 45 overs.

The Havant reply had reached 106-2 (Mark Allen 2-37) when Ian Hilsum dismissed the former Hamp-shire batsman Lawrence Prittipaul for 24, courtesy of a sharp stumping by Mark Whyte. Ian Hilsum, Briggs and skipper Charlie Freeston then made further break-throughs as the current Southern League champions slipped to 151-7. However, a knock of 32 from Gareth Ransley proved crucial and although David Beven took an eighth wicket, Havant edged home in the 44th over.

* * * Ventnor’s second team put

the previous week’s reverse behind them to record a seven wicket win at Bram-shaw II.

Chasing a total of 141, young James Cheek proved the match winner with a fine knock of 60 as the visitors won with plenty of overs to spare.

* * * In a match where an

extraordinary 666 runs were scored, Ventnor’s third team lost by 43 runs to Godshill in the Harwood’s League at Rookley.

Graeme Palmer’s fine knock of 132, Phil Mew’s 80 and Dave Tillbrook’s 57 enabled the home team to reach an enormous 354-3 from their allotted overs.

Mark Price, who hit his second successive ton, with a splendid 107, led Ventnor’s reply. Despite his efforts and those of Joe Cotton (40) Andy White (36) and a league best 45 from Marcus Toms, Ventnor’s valiant response ended short of the huge target.

* * * The Cricket Society’s

annual visit to Steephill, sponsored by Blue Heaven Productions, brought them a 92 run win after they scored a total of 180. Ventnor could only manage 88 in reply.

Ventnor’s luck runs out as Burridge class shows

ON SUNDAY June 7, an Old England side takes on the IW U17s at Newclose County Cricket Ground.

Former England stars such as Derek Randall, John Lever and Clive Radley will be starring for the Old England team.

Past England stars turn out

NEWCLOSE County Cricket Ground in Newport is proving popular with batsmen, as four players hit centuries in the space of seven days.

Andy White scored 110 not out for Ventnor 3rds as they beat Shanklin by 118 runs in the Harwood Renault IW Division 2b league game.

Then, four days later, Rizwan Baig scored 103 retired for Bahrain against the IW 1st XI in their 131-run victory, while Mo-hammed Asraaf scored 90 in the same innings.

Ventnor 3rds batsman were then at it again, with both Mark Price and J Cotton

scoring 106 not out in a total of 236 for 0, seeing their side home to a comfortable 117 run victory against Cowes Centurions in Division 2b of the Harwood Renault League.

For more information about Newclose visit www.newclose-cricket.co.uk.

Centurions run riot at Newclose

THE LASHINGS World XI return to Ventnor Cricket Club for the sixth successive season on Sunday August 23. The ever-popular fixture attracted a record crowd last season and the club look forward to welcom-ing some new additions to the line-up this year, including Graeme Hick, Ian Harvey, Jason Gillespie and Saqlain Mushtaq.

The action starts at 2.30pm. For further details you can contact Graeme Burnett on 07764 405023.

Lashings XI head for Ventnor

Action from Northwood v Brading in the Harwoods Renault IW League 1, with Sam Doble batting for the visitors. Northwood went on to record a comfortable victory

after scoring 259 runs from 45 overs, with Williams top-scoring on 49. Brading could only manage 92 in reply, with A. Goldsmith taking 4-20 for the home side.

SOLENT Middle School have won the IW Schools’ under-13 indoor cricket competi-tion, beating Christ the King in the final by 30 runs.

Solent reached the final at the expense of Bishop Lovett in a very competitive semi-final. Solent were helped to 79-1 (Robert Bolwell 20 not out) with a generous helping of wides. Solent did return the compliment and with George Niemiec making 18 not out and Harry Bradley making 14, Bishop Lovett threatened but eventually fell short on 70-2.

Christ the King’s path to the final was more comfortable. Their total of 88-5 owed every-

thing to a fine innings of 50 not out, with five 6s, by Billy Hancock. He then took 3-5 as Sandham were bowled out for 41.

In the final, Solent batted first, and Robert Bolwell (25) and Matt Gane (27) took early control. But with Hancock’s deceptive spin and Christ the King’s fine fielding, Solent were contained to 85-2 in ten overs.

However, Christ the King’s reply ran into early trouble, a run out and wickets for James Ivory and Ben Duggan put Solent in control. Hancock resisted with 19 before being caught off Daniel Bell, meaning Solent ran out comfortable winners.

Solent Middle triumphTicket prices are £10 to the general public and £7 to members of Newclose CCG. The event is free to U16s. For more information you can email [email protected]

Newclose will also be staging a charity game in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice on Sunday July 5.

Several former international stars, county cricketers and other celebrities will be taking part in the 40-over-a-side game, which will start at 2pm.

Mike Scott, general manager at Newclose, said: “We hope to announce the names of those taking part in the near future, and we are anticipating a number of big names will be here. It promises to be a real fun day, while raising money for such a worthy cause.”

Spectators are invited to attend a pre-match buffet lunch, at a cost of £25 per head, which will start at 12noon, while admission just for the game is £10. Further details can be obtained from the Newclose County Cricket Ground, Blackwater Road, Newport.


Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928gazette sport

YOUNGSTERS from across the Island and the mainland came together to play in Ryde Mead Tennis Club’s spring mini-tennis tournament. Players from Ryde Mead, Ryde Lawn, Ventnor, Portsmouth Academy and Lymington Tennis Clubs were all involved, and played some highly competitive stuff.

In the mini-red age group players continued to show improving levels of play. Following the group stages, the semi-finals were made

up of Ryde Mead players Jevon Dry, Lacey Matthews, Dexter Collins and Portsmouth’s Jackie Ezuko. Lacey, having come through a tough group, beat Dexter in one semi-final, while Jevon played some magnificent tennis to beat Jackie. The final was a tight contest, but Jevon continued his fine form to come through 10-7, 10-9. A special mention should go to Dexter Collins, who competed in the afternoon having completed Walk the Wight

in the morning!The mini-orange age group was hampered

by poor weather, but continued through in tough conditions. Mirsha Hobbs of Lyming-ton dominated group A, sweeping past ev-eryone to secure a place in the final. Group B was a closer battle with Joe Newnham (Ryde Mead) and Elias Ahmed (Ryde Mead), fight-ing it out for a place in the final. Joe came through in a close decider, only to come up

against Mirsha in the final, Mirsha running out a 4-0, 4-1 victor.

The mini-green age group saw a smaller entry, however the quality remained good. Mirsha continued her fantastic form and showed a great deal of ability to raise her game against older players. Mirsha won every match in the afternoon, dropping only two games along the way to secure her second win of the day.

Jevon’s mini-red magic!

Left: mini-red finalists Jevon Dry and Lacey Matthews. Right: mini-orange finalists Mirsha Hobbs and Joe Newnham

THE WIGHTLINK Islanders crashed out of the National League Knockout Cup, despite beating the Plymouth Devils, after failing to turn around their first leg deficit.

The home side produced a spar-kling performance against their mainland counterparts in a highly en-tertaining battle at the Wave 105FM stadium, but couldn’t pull back the 34-point margin.

The Islanders took the lead at the end of heat six, in a race that saw both home riders Ben Hopwood and Tom Brown force their way to the front by producing breathtaking overtaking manoeuvres.

And it was the Islanders that domi-nated the match and were the more solid of the two sides, and never looked in danger of losing as they ran out 46-44 winners.

Speaking afterwards, joint team manager Kevin Shepherd said: “Realistically, pulling back those 34 points from the away leg was never going to be on, but we were so very determined to win here on our home circuit and by doing so I think our youngsters proved that they are developing into a good side.”

Bank Holiday Monday saw the Wightlink Islanders travel to South Wales to take on the Newport Hornets.

In a tense battle, the Islanders matched their Welsh counterparts race by race, and going in to the final heat, the scores stood at 43-41 in Newport’s favour.

Unbeaten Tom Brown and skipper Nick Simmons, who had dropped just one point at that stage in the race, incredibly both failed to finish the race.

In a bizarre last heat, Tom Brown

came to grief on the first lap as he and Grant Tregoning battled for position, the race was stopped and referee Ronnie Allan unbelievably chose to exclude Tom from the re-run. Captain Nick Simmons had his rear chain snap, ending his race abruptly as he was thrown from his machine at speed, but he was unin-jured and walked away with nothing more than bruised pride.

Joint manager Kevin Shepherd found it very hard to believe that his team had failed to gain a single point from the match at the home of the Hornets, as it finished 48-41.

“With us going into heat 15 only two points down and Tom and Nick in the race for us, I really thought that they could grab a maximum

points from the match, but quite amazingly it all went horribly wrong as both fell in separate incidents,” he said.

The Wightlink Islanders were in action just 24 hours later hosting the Mildenhall Fen Tigers at the Wave 105FM stadium.

In front of a large crowd the Island-ers dominated from the start, as Ben Hopwood raced to victory in heat one in a new National League record time of 70.1 seconds.

After the first nine heats the rampant home side had dropped a mere five points in total and were leading by 40-14, and continued their fine display as they roared to a comprehensive victory against their Suffolk opponents, winning 58-34.

ISLAND yachtsman Brian Thompson joined fellow com-petitors and crowds of over 120,000 people in Les Sables d’Olonne in France, at a spectac-ular Vendée Globe prize-giving ceremony (below left).

The occasion saw all 30 skip-pers who competed in the race reunited for the first time since they set out on their epic non-stop, solo, round-the-world yacht voyage, on November 9 last year.

Speaking from the event, Brian said: “It has been an incredible evening and a wonderful way to mark the end of the race. For many of the skippers, including myself, completing the race has fulfilled a lifelong ambition and is the culmination of many years of hard work.

“My thanks goes out to ev-eryone who has supported me, and in particular my family and Andrew Pindar, without whom we would have never made it to the start line. I am especially proud to have sailed around the world in honour of His Majesty

the King of Bahrain, as we look to new and exciting challenges with the Kingdom.”

Projected on two giant screens, spectators enjoyed a stun-ning light and sound show and relived some of the extraordinary moments of the three-month race. One-by-one, the skippers were invited to collect their trophies and share their special moments from the race.

This latest edition of the Vendée Globe, which takes place every four years, has been heralded one of the toughest yet, with sailors pushing themselves and their boats to the limit. Brian was one of just 11 of the original 30 skippers, to complete the race, finishing in fifth place, after 98 days at sea.

The celebrations drew to a close with the presentation to race winner Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia), who, after an incred-ible comeback, won the race for a second time. The date of the next Vendée Globe has been an-nounced for October 21, 2012.

Mixed fortunes for IslandersBrian joins crowds at Vendée ceremony

Nick Simmons in action against Mildenhall Fen Tigers

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Send your news to [email protected] or tel. (01983) 409928 gazette sport

FORMER Ryder Cup star Steve Richardson is among a host of top players taking part in Shank-lin and Sandown Golf Club’s prestigious ProAm tournament on Wednesday, June 3.

Richardson, who is attached to Lee on Solent GC will be joined by defending champion Andrew Cloke from Sherfield Oaks for the event, which is run by Hampshire PGA and sponsored by Island Waste.

Home attention will centre on Ally Mellor, who is still attached to SSGC, but was playing on the Asian and Challenge Tours recently until he lost his sponsor-ship due to the recession, and had to return to this country.

Mellor is seeking new spon-sorship to resume his profes-sional career in earnest, while for SSGC assistant James Mitchell it will be his first ‘home’ ProAm.

SSGC professional Peter Hammond along with Adrian Nobbs, Gary Hoffman and Mark Bell will be defending the team title in an event that attracts players from all over the south of England.

SSGC’s Musgrave Cup, a Medal competition, was won by perfect conditions by Elliott Jones with a stunning nett 60.

As a result Elliott, who was playing off a handicap of 16, was promptly cut by 2.7 strokes.

Matt Holbrook (21 h’cap) had to settle for runners-up spot with a nett 64, which would normally have been good enough for victory. Third place went to Fred Sillwood (12) with a nett 65.

* * *DUE TO difficult weather condi-tions at Freshwater Bay GC entries were low and scoring was accordingly high. Kasey Tuckey won the midweek stableford with 39 points off of his nine handicap ahead of Dennis Smith (19) on 36 with Gordon Day (15) third on 35 holding off Rob Jackson on count back.

In the Monthly Medal Stephen Cooke took the honours scoring a net 78 playing off of 12, ahead of his father Gary (14) on 84.

The ever popular Fristab away day was staged at Southampton Municipal and was comprehen-sively won by Richard Leppard with 38 points ahead of Keith Wright on 36 and a host of players on 35. A total of £55 was raised for the Captain’s Charity mainly on fines for players not wearing the appro-priate tie!

Top players set to turn out for Island ProAm tournament

Above: Ally MellorBelow: Peter Hammond

Sev Mouletin (left) and Claire Gale

A NEW swimming project has been created for children in Ryde by two Island volunteers.

The Ryde Cormorants Swim-ming Project is led by Sev Mouletin and Claire Gale, and is aimed at children aged nine and over who can already swim but want to improve their technique and stamina beyond a basic level.

Sev and Claire received support from the IW Council Sports Unit and Leisure Servic-es, which helped secure funding from ‘Sport Hampshire and Isle of Wight’, who provided advice and guidance about turning the swimming project into a reality.

The pair used the funding to obtain their Swimming Teachers Association Level 2 coaching certificates to help get the project off the ground.

Emma Matthews, IW Council

sports development officer, said: “Sev and Claire have shown real commitment to the project and we were really pleased to be able to support them in getting the project off the ground. Ryde Cormorants is a great way for young people to progress their swimming skills and keep fit.”

Claire Gale added: “Many children just learn the basics. We wanted to provide an opportunity for local children to keep them swimming, improve their strokes and learn new skills such as starts and turns.”

The project takes place on Sat-urdays between 5pm and 6.30pm at the Waterside Pool in Ryde. For more information please contact Claire Gale on 01983 615878 or [email protected]

Kids’ swim project

ANOTHER great turnout of cadets proved very useful in the race training at the Brading Haven Yacht Club. In light but ideal conditions, 13 dinghies finished the training with a race against the adults in the confines of Bembridge Harbour, with Gordon Osborne as race officer.

Barry Dyer, ably assisted by Jessie Coleman, sailed extremely well in a Scow, earning a well-deserved win on corrected time of 126 seconds ahead of Keith Gentleman in second place, with Tim Mitchell a close third in a Topper.

On the second day, with Graham Sutton oversee-ing the race, Giles Easter pulled off a fine win in his Europe on corrected time, just missing line honours by 18 seconds. Gareth Jones was hot on his heels to make a second place in his Solo, with the Wayfarer of Gordon Osborne and David Cotchin in third.

The Slow Handicap had David Earee leading the pack in his wooden Scow to make both line and corrected time honours with Francesca Morgan in second place in a Scow. Robin Lobb sailed a great race to earn a very

close third.The Bank Holiday special

Governors Trophy Race was run by Ian Jefferies, who had the difficult task of setting a course in the breeze, but he succeeded admirably.

The Contenders led the field for the first part of the race until the wind dropped even further, when the Wayfarers took over until the second round. Then it was the turn of the Europes, with an exciting win by Chris Wilkinson. Giles Easter followed Chris home to gain a second place with the Wayfarer of Roger and Gill Herbert finishing third.

Haven success for Dyer and Coleman

HOLIDAYS and injury led to a depleted team from the Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club competing at BTC Rowing Club Regatta, held at western shore, but they still returned to the Island with two wins to their credit.

In the men’s senior pairs a new format of Russell Page, racing in this event for the first time this season, with current H&D Champion Ian Hayden, dominated the race winning by four lengths to claim a third championship point. The win extended the club’s unbeaten run, and put them well on the way to defending the championship title.

Ryde also continued their domination this season in the men’s senior sculls events with Mike Jenner winning

comfortably to claim his first point of the season and close the gap on Ryde’s Nick Pike, who was not in attendance. Ian Hayden, having recently returned from injury, also competed in the men’s senior sculling event, finishing in third place proving he is nearly back to his best and ready to challenge for the title as well.

The men’s junior senior crew of Florian Behrle, Callum Lowe, Tim Wiggins and Tom Clark with Bryony Reeve coxing contested a very competitive race, finish-ing second to Island rivals Shanklin. Florian and Callum then went on to compete in the men’s novice sculls finishing fifth and seventh respectively in their final. Tom Clark was scheduled to compete in the men’s junior

sculls, but with the Regatta running late and the risk of running out of water, the starters were unable to wait for him to reach the start of his event which was the race after the junior senior final. He arrived on the line a full minute after the other scull-ers had started and although bravely giving chase, he had given himself far too much to do.

The men’s novice crew of John Gedling, Donnatt Debrecan, Curtis Lowe and James Cleary with Dale Buckett coxing produced a much improved perfor-mance, finishing third in their heat to claim a place in their first novice final – where admittedly they found the going much tougher, finishing sixth after a spirited row.

AFTER a delayed start, Newport U9s beat Rew Valley U9s in an enter-taining cup final match at East Cowes Vics’ Beatrice Avenue stadium.

The youngsters made a lively start to the game, and it didn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken, as Newport stormed through to take the lead, quickly followed by a second. Newport made it

3-0 inside nine minutes despite the best efforts of Rew Valley’s Jake Fergu-son, Antony Kettell, Baggy Silman and Declan Clarke battling well in midfield.

After the five minute half time break, both teams once again started strongly, but it was Newport who put the ball in the net, despite some good tacklng by Callum Steele and Travis Steptoe, making

it 4-0. Harry Wintersgill and Jack Croad tried to get a breakthrough for Rew Valley, but on this occasion it just wasn’t to be. Mason Black in the Rew Valley goal made a string of fine saves, but was helpless as a strong Newport team made it a final score of 5-0.

Shania Steele, who has supported Rew Valley throughout the season, said: “The team have only

been established since September of last year and to make it to the final was a tremendous effort by everyone involved.

“Newport are a brilliant side, but Rew Valley can hold their heads up high after giving it their all. All I can say is look out Newport we will get you next time, and thanks very much for the well fought game.”

Rew Valley U9s go down fighting

Double victory for Ryde

By Jamie White


sportthe gazetteSend your sports news to [email protected]

AN ART student who won a competition to design the Island Games logo for 2011 is hoping she can draw on her badminton skills after being selected for this year’s Island Games in Aland, near Sweden.

Vicky Law (left), a second-year graphic arts student at the Winchester School of Art, had her design selected from over 50 entries, and as a result got to meet Lord Coe at the 2012 Olympic Games site in London.

But before her logo design is used in 2011, the 24-year-old travels to Aland to represent the Island in June and July as part of the IW badminton squad.

“I first got into badminton playing in an after school club at Nodehill Middle School when I was 11. My first taste of league badminton was when I was at Carisbrooke High School with Whitecroft. I played there for a few years, and the club was very sup-

portive for young players. I moved up from division four to division two in no time at all,” said Vicky.

“I played for a number of Island clubs for another year or two, before I started university in October 2007. I have since been involved with a league in Winchester.

“Then the Island county team contacted me a few months ago to join their team. I have learnt a lot from my experiences against Cornwall, Somerset and Devon. This then led to the proposal and my enthusiasm to compete in the Island games this year.”

Vicky added: “After my encounter with Lord Coe in November of last year, I was asked in several interviews if I was competing in the Island Games. I can now finally say

‘yes I am!’ It makes me very proud to be representing the Island and I hope we can put on a good show in Aland.”

Vicky is holding an event on June 5 at Nodehill Middle School, starting at 6pm, to try and raise money to towards funding the trip to the Games and future events, and wants to get everybody involved.

The evening will involve a sports quiz, live music, Nintendo Wii wars and a sports prize raffle.

Students at Nodehill Middle School also took part in a sport-inspired art competi-tion organized by Vicky, from which the top six entries have been selected. These top six pieces are currently being dis-played digitally in the Quay Arts café in Newport over the next few weeks. The overall winner will be announced at the fundraising event and will

receive a voucher for Sports Direct worth £25.

“I want to involve Nodehill in this fundraising event, as they have really supported me over the years. Other members of the Games squad have all been involved in the fundraising, and many will be assisting me to raise money to help pay for the team’s fees.

“There will be a raffle taking place on the evening as well. I have had a lot of support from Medina Leisure Centre and Sports Direct who have donated some fantastic prizes including footballs, water bottles and umbrellas.

“The money raised is for a good community cause in the lead up to 2011. It will be a great chance for the Island to make a difference in what the games can do for a commu-nity,” said Vicky.• Everyone is welcome to join in the fundraising evening on June 5 at Nodehill Middle School at 6pm. Admission is £2 on the door.

By Jamie White

Logo winner Vicky sets sights on Games glory

THE WIGHTLINK Raiders ice hockey team have announced British forward Danny Hughes (right) as their first signing for the new season.

The 25-year-old returns to the Raiders after a spell in 2007, and is hoping he can re-capture

the form he showed on the Island when he joined from Bracknell.

The former junior international is sure to be a big hit, having racked up 65 points in 76 games for the Raiders in the English

Premier League last time around.

Danny is the first signing for head coach Jeremy Cornish, and he is delighted Danny has agreed to return. “We are looking to bring in some real quality to this year’s squad and Danny was one of the first on

my list to get back from last year. He can put the puck in the net and we are looking forward to him being a leader on the ice this year.

“Danny plays a very clean game having only logged six penalty minutes in the last two seasons with the team.

He skates well and has very good speed,” said Jeremy.

Further announce-ments are expected soon as work continues behind the scenes to build an exciting squad for the new season in the English National League.

Raiders snap up goal ace HughesBy Jamie White

“I was asked in several interviews if I was

competing in the Island Games. I can now

finally say ‘yes I am!”

IW Gazette 22

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Transcript of IW Gazette 22