Isle of Wight Observer Issue 60

Observer

11th October 2019

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John Phillips wins Local Hero award

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Two pages of Decadeance pictures

Friday 11th October 2019 Issue No.60

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PASSPORT PARADISE!

Tears of sorrow turn to tears of joy thanks to IW Observer reader

Police appeal after serious crash injuries

Police have launched a fresh appeal for information about a serious road crash which happened in Freshwater. A black Volkswagen Polo and a delivery van collided on Afton Road, on the bend which sits between Military Road and Manor Road, at around 8.20pm last Saturday, October 5.

The 17-year-old Volkswagen driver sustained serious and life-changing injuries. His passenger, a 17-year-old girl, sustained serious injuries. The van driver was uninjured.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting 44190356464.

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Help track down hedgehogs to ensure future wellbeing

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Publisher: IW Observer Ltd. Sales: Carole Dennett, Emma Harper Online editor: Sandy Clarke Photography: Chris Cornford, Marie Louise Business Administration: Jade Honey Regulated by IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor for the Press CIC The IW Observer is a member of IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor of the Press.

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Crossword Answers - P.29

Find Bob, our friendly squirrel!

Find Bob somewhere in this week’s paper and one lucky winner will receive one of five pairs of tickets to LDN Wrestling at Medina Theatre on October 19.

Tell us what page number Bob appears on (not including this). You can e-mail the page number and your name to spotbob@ iwobserver.co.uk or text 07749 591550. Good luck finding Bob this week. The deadline is 5pm on Thursday.

Last week he was on page 29. On 04/10 the winner of the Beer & Buses programmes was Craig Sulley.

News in brief Services cancelled

Reconstruction and resurfacing of Fishbourne Lane by Island Roads has led to the cancellation of overnight ferry services

by Wightlink. The works are scheduled to finish on Friday, November 1. This will lead to your Isle of Wight Observer appearing in shops a little later than usual.

Facebook: @iwobserver

Address: Suite 6, 17 Thomas House , St. Thomas Square, Newport, IW, PO30 1SL

11th October 2019

Paramedics wanted Islanders are being asked to keep an eye out for hedgehogs, to help a new campaign by organised by the Isle of Wight Zoo’s Wildheart Trust and local voluntary hedgehog rescue group ‘Save Our Hedgehogs Isle of Wight’ to see how many of the little spiky animals there are here.

The aim is to not only discover the size of the hedgehog population, but also where they are located. The Wildheart Trust said: “We need you to report any hedgehog sightings so we can build up an accurate picture and create a map. You can send in your sightings by email to: Email: iwnhas@btconnect.com or iwatchwildlife@gmail.com or by post Address: IWNHAS, Unit 16, Prospect Business Centre, Prospect Road, Cowes PO31 7DA. “There is a simple form you can download

and fill in on how to report your hedgehog sighting. Please find the online form on the Isle of Wight Zoo’s website. If you are able to take a picture please feel free, but only if safe to do so. Make sure you do not interfere or disturb them in their habitat.”

The IW Zoo will be holding a Hedgehog Day at the Isle of Wight Zoo on Saturday, October 26. It is a great opportunity to go along and find out what can be done to help our hedgehogs prepare for their winter hibernation and especially how to look out for them on bonfire night.

The aims of Hedgehog Island include providing a safe, permanent home at the Isle of Wight Zoo for rescued hedgehogs that are too disabled to be returned to the wild.

Reunion at The Breeze

Ryde Council seek lottery boost for town’s theatre

Islanders are welcome to join a free event at The Breeze, Island Harbour on Saturday, October 19, for an evening of 60s music to celebrate the former Castle Cafe in Newport reunion, between 7pm - 12pm.

Donations are welcome for Mountbatten Hospice. More details, please contact Dave on (01983) 565834 or Linda on (01983) 822441.

Following a meeting of Ryde Town Council members the Town Council is to submit an Expression of Interest to the Heritage Horizons Fund in respect of Ryde Theatre. If successful, the bid could see the iconic building and the town benefit from in excess of £6 million of lottery money.

Following a proposal from Councillor Tim Wakeley, ward member for Binstead, the Town Council unanimously agreed to submit the Expression of Interest and to take the lead, with the support of the Isle of Wight Council and local community groups, in continuing to explore all options for the future ownership, operations and management of the building.

The Town Council also agreed that adequate resources will need to be in place at the Council to take this initiative forward.

Ryde Mayor, Councillor Michael Lilley, said: “This is an amazing opportunity for the community of Ryde. I cannot wait until the doors finally open in years to come.”

The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service have vacancies for paramedics.

To find details of these and other career opportunities with the local NHS go to jobs.nhs. uk and type Isle of Wight in the search box.

Drugs seized

Neighbourhood police teams seized Class A and Class B drugs this week and made several arrests. Posting pictures of both growing and harvested cannabis plants on Twitter they asked Islander to ‘keep informing us of concerns in your neighbourhood and we will take action’.

Drop-in meeting

A public drop-in event to see proposals for the Crossways development in East Cowes, and to get your questions answered, will be held on Wednesday, October 16 between 4pm and 8pm at the CECAMM Centre in Whippingham Road.

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Mental health services leaving people ‘in limbo’ A long-term user of the IW Council’s mental health day centre services at Ribelou House (pictured above) in Ryde, has claimed the Council is leaving vulnerable people ‘without support or hope’. It follows the decision to close the service at the end of October, which also sees clients in East Cowes, Freshwater and Ventnor.

George Brewer (pictured right) also claims information on the Council’s future plans are being withheld from staff who are ‘banned from speaking to the media’ which has led to morale being ‘very low’ and service users feeling ‘desperately betrayed’.

A Council spokesman confirmed the closures but said current services were outdated and being redesigned to make them more accessible and responsive to people’s needs. He said: “There has been a comprehensive review with the 81 people using the service to ensure alternative provision is in place, if they wish to take it up. A number of the service users are already funded in residential care or supported accommodation, some have indicated

they do not wish to have further ongoing support, and a small number are at present undecided.

“We will continue to offer support to all these people, and a key focus will be the importance of friendship groups and networks which have been a common theme in the reviews.”

However, Mr Brewer said, the only advice he had been given was to go to Aspire, whose funding to offer support services has recently been cut. He had visited but didn’t find it helpful.

Others, he said, had been told to go to John’s Club, whose support is primarily targeted at those with learning difficulties.

He claimed further support was only available through the Community Mental Health (CMH) team, who can make referrals to the Isorropia Foundation, a not-for-profit company who offer a wide range of tailored support services. But four months since he was first referred to the CMH services he is no further forward, as he has had two appointments cancelled at short notice.

He said: “People are being left in limbo. This group can find it difficult to cope. I knew when they were talking about ‘reconfiguring’ the services it would simply mean closure, and that is where we have ended up. They are even talking about removing bus passes, which will make it even more difficult to get to any services that are provided.

It’s just not right.”

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Family enjoys Spanish holiday after passports returned by stranger Tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy for two Newport youngsters following a successful plea in last week’s IW Observer for their missing passports to be returned.

Just days before Jessica Russell, her children Rhiane (14) and Leon (9) and her mother Laura Swallow were due to travel to Spain, she lost the passports and holiday money during a trip into Newport to get some Euros. The money lost included £87 that Leon had saved up all year in anticipation of the trip. A quick-thinking friend Jerome Read, got in touch with the IW Observer and we knew we just had to do what we could to help.

An IW Observer reader found the passports and money, saw our story and took the passports into Newport Police Station.

Usually that would have spelt disaster, as passports handed in to the police would normally be returned to the passport office. But the member of staff manning the desk had also seen the story and arranged for the return of the property to the family.

The family jetted off on Wednesday and spoke to us on Thursday from Barcelona. Laura, aged 51, who had never been abroad before said: “Tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy for the children when they realised that we would be able to go away on holiday after all. The story has rekindled my faith in human kindness.

“The elderly person who found the passports and money didn’t leave their name, but I want them to know that they have made a whole family very happy. We are having such a wonderful time. This is an amazing place and the food is out of this world.

“Leon has just started spending his holiday money. He’s bought a Barcelona (Football Club) hat which he is very proud of. I can’t thank the team at the IW Observer enough. It was because you printed our story that we are having such a wonderful family time together.”

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11th October 2019

Islandwide crackdown on tax Eleven Island cars without vehicle tax were clamped across the Island this week as part of a nationwide clamp down by the DVLA with the support of the police.

A DVLA spokesperson said: “While the vast majority of vehicles on the road are taxed correctly, it is right that we take action against those who don’t tax their vehicles and then drive them - otherwise it wouldn’t be fair to those who do the right thing.

“We don’t need to spot a vehicle on the road to take enforcement action but if we do, wheel clamping is an effective way to make sure that an untaxed vehicle is not driven on the road.

“It’s never been easier to tax your car – it’s just a few clicks to do it online and you can do it 24 hours a day, you can also spread payments across the year by Direct Debit so there really is no excuse. Having your vehicle clamped is expensive and inconvenient. Don’t take the risk – tax it or lose it.”

Further information on taxing a vehicle can be found on GOV.UK

Help for homeless at new winter shelter

By BBC Local Democracy reporter Louise Hill

Victorian Ventnor given modern safety solution

Two homeless people died on the streets of the Isle of Wight last year. According to new figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a third person was believed to have died as they were unaccounted for.

The publication of the figures has coincided with news the Isle of Wight Council is to provide more help for homeless people.

ONS figures show an estimated 726 homeless people in England and Wales died in 2018 — the biggest year on year increase since records began in 2013, and a rise from 597 deaths in 2017.

This winter, the council will provide a new emergency shelter at the former Barton Primary School site in Newport. The shelter, run by the Salvation Army, will provide rough sleepers with a warm, safe place to sleep and hot food. It will also enable the council to speak to homeless people and help find somewhere for them to live.

The council has received financial support from a winter fund set up by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to renovate the site and deliver the service.

Cllr Clare Mosdell, cabinet member for adult social care, public health and housing, said the council was very clear no-one should have to sleep rough.

She said: “Living on the streets is one of the most dangerous, frightening and isolating experiences anyone could face. In previous years, a variety of churches have done a

brilliant job in providing rolling emergency night shelter provision and we pay tribute to all the faith leaders for their compassion and commitment in opening churches for the night.

“However, I believe we should not have to rely on others to fund such a vital service.

“As a council, we have a moral duty of care for our residents and, for that reason, I have worked hard to ensure we can provide what should be a basic human right given to everyone — safe shelter.

“This type of initiative illustrates how the council can make use of its facilities to aid those most in need. For me, it is about building trust and helping people to turn their lives around.”

Ward Cllr Geoff Brodie said: “We used to have a winter homeless shelter at the current Barton Primary School site after Downside Middle School closed in 2011, but that had to close after the winter in 2015 due to the Barton school move.

“I am pleased to see the old Barton school being used for something that is sadly still much needed by those unfortunate enough to be without a roof over their head.”

The Salvation Army has appealed for volunteers to help at the shelter. For further information, call into the Salvation Army hall at Pyle Street, Newport, on Friday, between 11am and 5pm. Alternatively, call Rachel Lee on 812743 or email rachel.lee@ salvationarmy.org.uk

No call for phone boxes

Island Roads say work in Belgrave Road, Ventnor, is seeking to make the road safer while preserving the town’s special character.

They are replacing the section of parapet damaged in a road traffic incident late last year. The challenge has been to come up with a design that complements the surrounding street-scene, that lies in a Conservation Area, but that is strong enough to prevent a similar incident happening again.

A solution, agreed after consultation with

the IW Council’s Conservation Officer, has been to install traditional-looking cast iron bollards reinforced by steel inserts that are far more in keeping with Ventnor’s charm but at the same time will prevent vehicles leaving the road and going over the top of the retaining wall. The original cast iron parapet was too badly damaged to be repaired, but a new one of similar appearance will be installed as a pedestrian restraint.

BT are planning to remove 16 public telephone boxes from locations across the Isle of Wight, ranging from Bembridge to Brighstone and Sandown to Seaview. BT have notified Isle of Wight Council of their plan to get rid of the little-used boxes, and Council officials have approached town and parish councils to carry out a consultation to seek the views of the local community.

They will then decide whether to argue the proposed removals or to agree with the plan of action.

Just 292 calls have been made from the 16 telephone boxes in the past 12 months. The least used was High Street, Godshill with only two calls made, while the box where most calls were made stands in Adelaide Grove, East Cowes. But even then only 42 calls were made from the phone box in a year.

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Pictures by Friends of Freshwater Fire Station

Rescue services praised The parents of the two teenagers injured in the crash in Freshwater have paid tribute to the emergency services who attended the incident including the Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Air Ambulance and staff at St Mary’s Hospital and Southampton’s Specialist Trauma Unit.

The father of the male driver of the car said: “Our son Jos is three weeks off his 18th birthday. Thank you all for your professionalism last night. I truly thought our son was dead when we first arrived.

“Jos was airlifted to Southampton

this morning by the wonderful air ambulance. They are spending some time getting him stable as he has broken both femurs and one is open. Internally all checks are clear. My wife and I are in absolute bits as he is a lovely nipper who wouldn’t hurt anyone. Thank you again to you and all of your colleagues.”

Joanna, the mother of Bryony, sent her thanks and praise to all those who helped her daughter saying: “Can I just express my gratitude as the mother of the female passenger. Amazing, every single one of you! Worst moment of my life ever and you guys were so on the

money. Handled the situation and an hysterical me calmly. I can’t thank you enough “Bryony is doing a lot better. She’s had a rough day yesterday, she has a cannula in and is on a drip. She has three minor fractures but that’s all hopefully. She’s black and blue all over. We were worried about internal bleeding, but she appears to be ok in that respect. Once again I cannot thank you all enough.”

The Friends of Freshwater Fire Station who passed on the messages also sent their hopes for a speedy recovery of the casualties.

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11th October 2019

New St George’s Retail Park is a step closer

A treat for Star Wars fans

By BBC Local Democracy reporter Louise Hill Plans for a new retail and leisure complex at St George’s Park, Newport, rumoured to include a McDonald’s drive-through, Aldi and Wickes, have been recommended for conditional approval.

The Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee is due to meet next Tuesday (Oct 15) to discuss the application, submitted

by South Coast Leisure in November 2018.

Planning officers have recommended the development is granted planning permission, with several conditions attached.

They include conditions that the three retail warehouses only sell certain types of products, one with a garden centre cannot sell clothes and shoes, for example, and the others cannot sell food.

Lighting cannot be installed without the council’s written permission and noise restrictions have been placed on the reversing alarms of delivery vehicles.

Newport and Carisbrooke Parish Council, along with Cycle Wight and 14 residents, objected to the proposed development. They

raised concerns it would compete with town centre shops, and said there were already too many food stores on the Isle of Wight.

However, the application was supported by the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, the Newport (IW) Football Supporters’ Society and 12 residents who welcomed the creation of 200 jobs and said a larger commercial development was needed in the town. The complex would include 289 parking spaces.

Previous plans for a 24-hour gym at the site, run by the Gym Group, have been dropped following news another 24-hour gym was set to open at Coppins Bridge.

The football ground, home to Newport FC, is due to be demolished, and the club relocated to a new stadium, sponsored by WightFibre and called WightFibre Park. The new stadium will be built on land off the Racecourse roundabout in Whippingham.

If conditional permission is granted by the planning committee, building work will have to start in the next three years.

The force will once again be strong as WightFibre announce that following months of negotiation they will be hosting the Island’s Charity Premiere in December for Star Wars IX: 'The Rise of Skywalker', supporting youth charity UKSA. This will be the third time that WightFibre has secured a Star Wars Charity Screening on the Island for UKSA and continues the company’s association with the Star Wars film franchise. The two previous events in 2017 for Star Wars: 'The Last Jedi' and 2015 for Star Wars: 'The Force Awakens' raised over £7,500 for the charity. This year's VIP event, which promises to be even bigger will raise even more through the generosity of all those attending on December 19 when the film is released in the UK. John Irvine, CEO of WightFibre comments:

"Once again, this is real coup. Being able to secure this important charity event for the Island and to support such a great Island based charity as UKSA is really important to us at WightFibre."

The event will see a capacity audience of 292 VIP Guests at Cineworld in Newport attend a VIP Reception with characters from the film franchise before taking their seats for a charity auction and screening of this latest Star Wars blockbuster on its official release.

The film is the third instalment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy and is the final episode of the nine-part Skywalker saga. The film follows the surviving Resistance as they once more face the First Order and Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron's journey continues. With the power and knowledge of generations behind them, the final battle commences.

Badgers delay houses

Swan is rescued in Freshwater

Construction work on six new houses in Medina Avenue has been halted with the discovery that badgers live on the site. An Isle of Wight Council spokesman said: “The site at Medina

Avenue is land owned by the Isle of Wight Council where the former Driver Centre was situated.

We are aware of badger activity in the area, and currently we are working

with ecology professionals to establish what effect, if any, that will have on the plans for the site. No start will be made on the demolition and building works until this is resolved.”

Red Cross seeking more volunteers A female swan was rescued from Freshwater Causeway

by West Wight Pet Lifeline after it flew into a bridge and was then struck by a passing car as it fell into the road. Island Roads called the volunteers out to retrieve the bird which sustained some bruising and cuts under her wing.

The Isle of Wight’s British Red Cross is appealing for emergency response volunteers to join their team to assist those involved in incidents such as floods, fires or even bigger emergencies. Recently they assisted people affected by the partial collapse of a building in Ventnor.

You can find out more at redcross. org.uk/campaigns/emergencyresponse-volunteer

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Chatty Bus launch to help tackle loneliness

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News in brief Support for the bereaved A Dying to Know meeting will be held on Saturday, October 12 from 10am until 2pm at the Parish Centre, Town Lane Newport. The event is being held to support those dealing with bereavement by bringing them together to talk about their feelings and experiences.

Children rescued from skate park

Age Friendly Island and Southern Vectis joined forces to put on a special event as part of the Celebrating Age Festival. They launched a commitment to help reduce loneliness and isolation among local people with a Chatty Bus initiative in Newport.

Susan Cullan from Southern Vectis said: “With one in 10 people going at least one day a week without speaking to anyone, and a third of Britons admitting they deliberately catch the bus to have some human contact, we wanted to help break the ice and get people talking, “Our Chatty Bus was positioned next to Costa Coffee in the town and our team busied themselves talking to anyone and everyone. The initiative is all about engaging

in conversation with our passengers and helping to remove the stigma of talking to strangers.”

Peter and Judy Blanchard from Whippingham came across the bus and agreed that talking to each other is hugely beneficial even if it’s a quick ‘hello’.

Peter said: “Sadly people don’t talk as much as they used to. It’s all about checking your phone these days. I think there is a feeling that you shouldn’t speak to others around you because you don’t know them, which is a shame. We had a great time. In fact, the bus was positioned right next to where my wife and I first met, under the archway, many years ago. I think this is a wonderful initiative.”

Coastal residents suffer

or £11.94 an hour, falling for the first time since 2013 when wages increased yearon-year.

In 2017, full-time workers were earning nearly £16 more a week than in 2018.

Part-time employees were also affected, with their weekly pay dropping by more than £5.

The coastal wage gap has been attributed to the fact people living in coastal areas are more likely to have lowskilled, low-paid, seasonal jobs.

Swim Safe a big success More than 3,000 youngsters will be safer in the sea following a second popular Swim Safe event on Sandown beach this summer. Over July and August 1,300 children took part in a one-hour safety in the water session funded by the RNLI and Swim England. The scheme is supported by the Isle of Wight Council’s Sports Development Unit and Ryde’s Waterfront Trust.

It is planned to repeat the event next year.

Support local bookshops

By BBC Local Democracy reporter Louise Hill Wages on the Isle of Wight have fallen for the first time in six years, leaving Islanders £16 a week worse off.

An analysis of income data, published by the Office for National Statistics and carried out by the BBC, has revealed typical median workers living in coastal areas earned just over £22,000 before tax last year, £1,681 less than those in non-coastal areas.

On the Isle of Wight, fulltime workers earned an average of £480.90 a week,

Freshwater Fire Station sent a crew to rescue two children who climbed onto a metal structure at Freshwater skate park, but were unable to get down. Posting pictures of the rescue on social media the fire service said that they gave safety advice to remind the children of the dangers of scaling fences and other similar structures.

The government said its dedicated Coastal Communities Fund had invested in seaside areas.

However, Isle of Wight Labour chair Julian Critchley said: “These are awful statistics, but everyone on the Island will recognise them.

Essentially, due to the last nine years of Tory austerity, the average Islander has had a real-terms 25 per cent pay cut — that’s an astonishing reduction in our standard of living, unprecedented in modern times."

In advance of the IW Literary Festival, Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has called on Islanders to support local bookshops, saying they offer an experience not available on the internet.

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11th October 2019

Housing plans recommended despite wave of objections

By BBC Local Democracy reporter Louise Hill

New school event planned as Global Challenge ends Many schools across the Island have traditionally spent months planning, rehearsing and fundraising for the regional Rock Challenge, part of a national school dance competition running since 1996.

Pupils were initially disappointed to hear that it would not be going ahead in 2020 due to a lack of funding.

But now the Guildhall Trust in Portsmouth has stepped in to put on its own event for schools across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with the announcement that Dance Live will take place in spring, next year.

Workshops on choreography, digital and graphic design, and costume making will be offered to participating schools, with opportunities for pupils aged from seven to

18 to take part. Dances will be performed in front a giant screen making the digital show part of the performance.

Andy Grays, CEO for the Trust, said: “We have already been contacted by a large number of schools throughout the region and are delighted to announce this completely new and unique event for schools today.

We are really excited to see how pupils will express themselves and utilise modern technology with dance and look forward to working with schools on how performance is changing in the modern world.”

Schools can register to find out further details at portsmouthguildhall.org.uk/getinvolved.

Plans for up to 40 homes in Wootton have been recommended for conditional approval, despite objections from the parish council and more than 120 residents.

The Palmers Farm application is due to go before a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee on Tuesday. It was originally submitted by Peter Rogers in June last year, then revised to remove vehicle access at Brocks Copse Road.

An alternative right of way was added and boundary lines revised.

A housing needs assessment, carried out

by Wootton Bridge Parish Council last year, found 81 additional homes were needed in the area in the next five years.

However, the parish council has objected to the development. It said the development would cause light pollution, impact on the sewerage system and add to the strain on the local GP practice.

A total of 126 letters of objection were received, arguing the development was too big for the village and greenfield sites should not be built on.

After considering the objections, council

officers have recommend the development is approved, subject to 22 conditions, which means building work could not start until further information is provided.

The planning application provides the outline of the development, which includes 14 affordable houses, but no further details to the layout, scale and appearance of the houses. Those details must be submitted and approved by the council in the next three years, if the development is to go ahead.

Becky Wall to begin her next phase of recovery Becky Wall, the young mum left in a coma after a hit and run accident in June, is to be transferred to a specialist unit after funding for the placement was confirmed.

Her family released the following statement, saying: “After quite a long while funding to send Becky to a specialist rehab centre has been given. She once again leaves the Island next week and heads to one of the best neurological rehabilitation centres in the country.

“Becky is doing fantastically and the team at St Mary's have done a fantastic job, and we can’t thank you all enough. Becky is still struggling with her

short-term memory and can get herself confused quite easily. Most basic functions have returned well such as typing on a tablet / phone.

Physically she is doing extremely well with walking now becoming a lot more natural.

“She still has a long road ahead that's going to take her recovery into 2020 and possibly beyond, but as always we are all extremely positive about where Becky will get to by the end of it!”

They also said they would not be giving any views on the outcome of the case against Ben Entwhistle, who was driving a BMW involved in the crash. He pleaded

guilty to three charges of driving while disqualified, three charges of driving with no insurance, a charge of failing to stop at the scene of an accident and also failing to report an accident. He was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison and banned from driving for five years.

The family’s comment was: “Sometimes, it's best to say nothing at all and leave it at that. The case spanned several police forces up and down the country and we would like to thank them for all their work, time and effort they put into this, regardless of the outcome.”

Design a Christmas card to help IW Brainy Bunch The Wight Brainy Bunch charity is inviting entries for their 2019 Christmas Card competition.

All youngsters under 12 years of age can enter, and the winning design will be on display at the Brainy Bunch Christmas Market at Ryde Fire Station on December 7, with packs of cards on sale.

The successful entrant will win a family ticket to see the pantomime Aladdin, at Shanklin Theatre, plus five packs of their printed cards, and a bumper selection box.

Cards should be created on A5 size paper, with name, age and name of their school on

the back, and handed into their school office

by November 22.

The Wight Brainy Bunch was set up by Mark Grimes and his wife Kathryn, from the Isle of Wight, following Marks diagnosis of a brain tumour in February, 2015.

Realising that very little funding is received for research into brain tumours, following Mark’s surgery in April 2015 they embarked on a series of fund-raising events to benefit the Brain Tumour Charity and The Fire Fighters Charity, who supported Mark, as a serving fire fighter, and his family through his recuperation.

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News in brief Gurnard Pines Concert

Men in Sheds bring signs back to life Members of Nettlestone and Seaview Men in Sheds noticed that the beautifully crafted village signs of Seaview, Nettlestone and Pondwell were badly in need of restoration, so they rolled their sleeves up to bring the signs back to life.

Island Roads stepped in to help remove and deliver the heavy wooden signs and local artist Marion Rodrigues offered to restore them. Rob Webb, Shed co-ordinator, said: "Marion’s artwork on the signs is stunning and her attention to detail has highlighted the intricacies of the original wood carving.

Marion has now been invited to join our group as we very much wish to include women."

The Nettlestone and Seaview Shed only formed at the beginning of the year but they have already tackled a number of exceptionally worthwhile local projects including repainting a playground shelter in the local primary school and restoring benches in the area.

Lois Prior, Shed co-ordinator for AgeUK IW, added: "The ethos of the Shed groups (more commonly known as Men’s sheds) is to engage with local residents (men and

women) interested in using their skills, and learning new ones, for the benefit of not only themselves, but also the community they live in. Woodwork, general DIY, art, craft and repair work are some of the activities shed members can take part in.

“There are sheds located within the community right across the country, all with the aim of reducing social isolation by giving people from all walks of life a place to learn, socialise, create and achieve.”

Although there are several Shed groups on the Island this group may be unique as they currently have no workshop or ‘Shed’ to call their own. The group are applying for funding to help with the construction of a shed and are waiting to hear about planning permission for a small workshop area to be located at Seagrove playing fields.

The group would like ask anyone locally who might have usable space that could be used for a temporary home for Nettlestone and Seaview Shed, or who may be interested to join to contact them at netaseashed@gmail. com or call Rob on (01983) 613693.

Call for ‘suitable roads’ to be put in place in Ryde

By BBC Local Democracy reporter Louise Hill A Ryde Town Councillor has called for 'suitable and sustainable roads' to be put in place before the extension to Ryde Business Park on Nicholson Road takes place.

Cllr Philip Jordan, representative for Ryde North West, has called the proposed layout of new roads on Smallbrook Lane 'breathtakingly inadequate'. Plans submitted to the Isle of Wight Council will see new homes, a GP surgery, gym and cafe built as part of the council's regeneration strategy at Nicholson Road.

They also suggest installing a main road at the existing site, by the Royal Mail delivery office, carrying on to Smallbrook Lane. Cllr.

Jordan said: "We cannot continue with the wholesale building developments around this whole area of Ryde without putting into place a suitable and sustainable road infrastructure

to match the increased demand.

“The proposed entry and exit to the development is entirely and breathtakingly inadequate. It does not address the already heavily congested junction with Great Preston Road and Smallbrook Lane and there are no proposals to increase capacity at other junctions.

“Apart from constructing an entry/exit onto Smallbrook Lane, essentially nothing more than a country lane, adding to surrounding traffic problems, no improvements or upgrades to surrounding infrastructure are being proposed. We will see hundreds, if not thousands, of extra vehicle journeys per day in this area, some from very large commercial vehicles. Without proper capacity of road infrastructure it’s simply not sustainable for our community.”

New owner for JR Zone JR Zone, one of the Isle of Wight’s leading indoor activity play zones, is now under new ownership.

New Owner Jon Carter, said: “I’m elated.

JR Zone is a first-rate business with a firstrate team. I’m looking forward to developing what are already exceptional experiences alongside Steve Parker, General Manager, and our amazing colleagues.

“We will continue to offer all the great activities for babies and children of all ages, including adults! Even more exciting times lie ahead. We have already launched our new overnight sleepovers, with more announcements to come!”

Keep up-to-date with their Facebook page facebook.com/jrzone.newport

A concert featuring Island band Blackfoot Daisy is to be held at Gurnard Pines on Saturday, October 19 in aid of local charities Kezi’s Kindness and the Lucie Blackman Trust.

Tickets can be purchased at Gurnard Pines or online at lbtrust.org/blackfooddaisy.

North House wins newcomer award North House in Cowes has been named ‘Newcomer of the Year’ in the 2020 Good Hotel Guide, which describes the establishment as an ‘immaculately run boutique hotel’. The building was formerly Rawlings Hotel in Sun Hill.

Hovertravel extend ‘Great Run’ service Hovertravel has extended its timetable by adding in an extra early service on Sunday, October 20 for The Great South Run.

Estate agent up for award Charlie Panayi, business manager at the Red Squirrel Property Shop in Newport, has been nominated for the Rising Star award at the annual estate agent’s Negotiator Awards for the second year running. He will find out if he is the winner at a gala dinner in London on November 29.

Lost anchor recovered An anchor which became detached from Red Funnel’s Red Eagle car ferry has been recovered from the seabed in an operation directed

by Cowes Harbour Commission. The loss of the anchor caused delays during sailings last week..

An investigation has been launched into the incident

by Red Funnel.

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Water Vole by Tony Wootton

Trust launches major appeal to support wildlife on Island Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has launced a major appeal to support wildlife on the Island, raising funds for an important land purchase in the Eastern Yar. Together, Parsonage Farm and Hill Heath form a rich tapestry of habitats, from ancient woodland and river, to grazed pasture and marshland. By purchasing this land the Trust has an excellent opportunity to give the Island’s nationally important wildlife

the space it needs to thrive.

The sites are adjacent to Martin’s Wood, an existing Wildlife Trust nature reserve, and form part of a wider network of sites managed by the Trust and other conservation bodies. The two pieces of land are perfectly placed to create a flourishing landscape for wildlife. If successful the land purchase would become the largest Wildlife Trust reserve on the Island totalling 124 acres.

Thanks to a generous gift in the will

of a local Island resident, the Trust already has a contribution towards the purchase price. The Trust also has a supporter who will ‘match’ the first £20,000 raised so every pound given will be doubled, but there is an urgent need to raise £245,000 to complete the purchase before the end of November.

To find out more about the appeal, or make a donation please visit hiwwt.org. uk/iowappeal or call (01489) 774408.

Janet’s quality of life improves thanks to dedicated work of NHS Orthotics staff The quality of life for an Island patient living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has been considerably improved thanks to the specialist work of the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Orthotics and Prosthetics Service.

The Orthotics team at St. Mary’s Hospital have been praised for their commitment, innovation, skill and care in coming up with a solution to enable Janet Ward to regain a better quality of life and give her the confidence to walk again comfortably and safely.

In 2010 Janet was diagnosed with MS, a condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord causing a wide range of symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance. Over the past nine years Janet’s mobility has slowly deteriorated and in 2015 she had a leg brace fitted, but over time her foot started to rotate and so the orthotics team worked with her to provide a splint which stopped the rotation happening.

Three years later Janet’s mobility declined and she began to experience hip pain. The orthotics team suggested a knee-ankle-foot orthosis. A special,

light weight leg brace made from carbon fibre was developed, the first of its kind designed and made at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Eight months on Janet has found the splint life-changing. She said: “I feel much safer at home now, especially when I am on my own. I am much more independent and it is comfortable to wear, even so that I can have a nap in it during the day. When I haven’t got it on

it feels like I have weights on my feet, like the feeling when you walk with a child stood on your feet; it is very tiring without it.”

Christofer Vlahopoulos, Senior Orthotist/Prosthetist, said “I worked closely with our Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician, Dave Frimley, to develop the brace for Janet. We are exceptionally pleased with the result and the impact this has had on Janet’s life.”

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Totland company named leading funeral planners

Totland Bay funeral directors R & P Everson have been named the top funeral planner for South West London and Southern England region at this year’s Funeral Planner of the Year Awards, run by funeral plan provider Golden Charter.

Hosted by writer, broadcaster and former MP Gyles Brandreth, the ceremony took place in central London and highlighted the achievements of independent funeral directors throughout the UK and Ireland.

Bob and Pam Everson said: “This was an enjoyable evening made extra special by our brilliant host, Gyles Brandreth, and it was a complete surprise to receive this award.”

In addition to the Funeral Planner of the Year accolade, the Woodland Trust has dedicated trees on behalf of R & P Everson, which are to be planted at Home Farm, Hampshire and locally in our Headon Lea Natural Burial Ground at Alum Bay in recognition of the company’s achievement.

Brighstone Primary joy as new playhouse built!

Hose Rhodes Dickson are no stranger to houses, but one is a little different. Working with the Brighstone School Association, the new playhouse at the Primary School was a surprise to pupils returning from their summer holidays.

The playhouse had been discussed since the previous house was knocked down two years ago to give more space as the school expanded. Through various fundraising by the BSA and a donation from Hose Rhodes Dickson, a local carpenter completed the project in time for the new school year.

Mrs Fox, headteacher, said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to present

the pupils with their new playhouse. We will shortly be having the whole garden landscaped too, and I know the children can’t wait to start playing here. We are very grateful to the parents and students who have been busy behind the scenes fundraising, and to Hose Rhodes Dickson for their generous donation.”

Tom Buchanan, manager of the Newport branch of Hose Rhodes Dickson, added, “We are happy to be able to support Brighstone Primary School and get involved in such a fun project for the local community. Of all the houses we are involved in, this has certainly been the most enjoyable!”

New multi-million pound homelessness strategy

By BBC Local Democracy reporter Louise Hill As part of a new strategy to tackle homelessness, the Isle of Wight Council is looking for accommodation for homeless families and improving provisions for over 16 year olds.

Tenders for contracts, due to start in April 2020, have been advertised for organisations with relevant experience to bring new provision to the Island.

One contract, worth up to £1.3m, is inviting organisations to support families transitioning from being homeless to living in a home, something which will 'improve outcomes for all Isle of Wight residents' according to the Council.

The family-centred service will help households transition to accommodation as quickly as possible, with a 'realistic view on what is possible' for families to have a choice and control over where they live, making sure the service fits families instead of fitting families to the service.

Pathways are also looking to be established for single homeless people, over the age of 16, including those at risk of rough sleeping, rough sleepers, and those threatened with homelessness.

A provider is being sought to deliver the service, worth £9.24m, which will consist of a rough sleeper outreach offer, supported accommodation and a resettlement support offer.

The contracts will help the council support its aspirations to make homelessness in all forms a rare occurrence — providing the right support at the right time — and making homelessness a brief experience.

A draft of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy has been written with the final report to be bought before cabinet in November by Cllr Clare Mosdell, cabinet member for adult social care, public health and housing needs.

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IW Radio Local Heroes at awards ceremony John Phillips of Ryde’s John’s Club was named Isle of Wight Radio and WightFibre Overall Local Hero, at the annual Local Heroes award ceremony at Cowes Yacht Haven.

John was among the volunteers, sports people, selfless members of our community and those who have overcome huge challenges to change lives on the Isle of Wight, announced by Isle of Wight Radio’s Paul Topping and Georgie Carter.

Bullied at school and having spent time in children’s homes, John has gone on to foster more than 80 children and support hundreds of people through the Ryde charity John’s Club.

The Solent Youth Services sponsored Inspirational Young Person award winner was the courageous and resilient Verity Baird.

Isle of Wight Radio’s Best Neighbour Award (sponsored by Pittis) was won

by Sandown’s Pauline Evans. She does everything and anything to help her neighbours, from their DIY to

gardening. Pauline, and the Medina Food Service Emergency Services Award was handed to Wight Search and Rescue (SAR) which receives no central funding and relies on grants and fundraising.

The Isle of Wight Tourism Ambassador award (sponsored by Beacon Magazine) celebrated Welcome To The Isle of Wight singer Derek Sandy. IW Radio’s Sporting Achievers (sponsored by 1Leisure) competed on the international stage at the Island Games in Gibraltar.

They returned with 34 medals, including 11 golds.

The Customer Service Award (sponsored by WRS Systems) was won

by Vera Mircescu, who ensures people at Mountbatten enjoy their final meals, having created a bespoke ordering service.

Kathryn Grimes took home the PC Consultants Fundraiser Award. In 2015, her husband Mark was diagnosed with a brain tumour. There was no support for someone in his situation, so she set up the Wight Brainy Bunch.

The IFPL sponsored Inspirational Leader was beach soccer’s Luke Kerr, and from knitting hats and scarves, to volunteering at homeless centres, Dot Perrett won the Making a Difference in the Community award (sponsored by Island Roads).

The Fidelity International Lifetime Achievement award was handed to Liz Bell, who set up the Isle of Wight Asthma Swim Group, transforming lives for 35 years.

Isle of Wight Radio could not choose between two amazing Islanders, so both were handed a Volunteer Award (sponsored by Mountbatten). Jackie Ramage, aged 86, volunteers at St Mary’s Hospital cafe, and Hugh Griffiths is involved in cricket and dedicates huge amounts of time to running and maintaining Newclose Cricket Ground.

The Carer award (sponsored by Charmes Care) was given to the team behind Care in the Garden, who used their own money to set up a community group in Wootton.

AONB Partnership Morgan is Sight for hard work pays off Wight’s Friday Girl The Isle of Wight AONB Partnership is a finalist in the Landscape Legacy Awards for their work in achieving UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status for the Isle of Wight and its surrounding seas. The awards celebrate the value of landscape in connecting people, place and nature with the awards ceremony taking place in London on November 28. Joel Bateman of the IW AONB Partnership welcomed the news and said that it was testament to the hard work of many people.

According to the traditional rhyme, ‘Friday’s child is loving and giving’ and Sight for Wight is delighted to welcome a new employee, who will assist the Member Services team working each Friday. Morgan will be the new ‘Girl Friday’ on reception at Millbrooke House in Carisbrooke Road, Newport, the base of the Island’s oldest established independent sight loss charity that provides information, support and services to any Islander affected by sight loss. Morgan is 22 and has been visually impaired since birth; once she has settled into her role she will be working to establish and support a network for younger Islanders suffering from sight loss.

Details of support available can be found on website iwsb. org.uk or call (01983) 522205.

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Ability Dogs 4 Young need new volunteers Getting volunteers to help with the Ability Dogs 4 Young People's charity work has always been on-going, but it is now declaring a ‘mini crisis’. This year it has been harder than usual to find people willing to get involved, and the charity is now very short of volunteer help.

The charity needs suitable volunteer puppy parents and as a result may not be able to fulfil its quota of new puppies this year. Carol Court, charity CEO and a volunteer herself,

said: “We are a small Island charity and we like to take on six new baby puppies each year. The training takes about two years, so if we are not able to find puppy parents for them all, we will not be able to help as many disabled young people in two-years’ time.

Having volunteers is critical to the work of the charity here on the Island."

If you are interested, please get in touch by email to info@abilitydogs4yp.org.uk or phone (01983) 216246.

Foster carers help change children’s lives for better Foster carers are making a positive difference to the lives of Island children. Around 100 foster carers are working to ensure children in care experience the stability and security of a nurturing, loving home.

Debbie Price, the Isle of Wight Council’s new service manager for children in care, is keen to encourage Islanders to consider fostering to enable more youngsters who are unable to live with their birth family to remain on the Island.

She said: “Children's Services would like all children in care in the future to remain on the Island, unless they need to be on the mainland to best meet their needs.

“You don’t need to have fostered before to be a good foster carer, but we would always welcome applications from people with

experience. Children want time, support and encouragement and to be allowed to get it wrong sometimes. It is amazing to see the change in them and their foster carers when they feel settled.”

All foster carers undertake training on the Island to prepare and support them.

They receive regular supervision from the fostering team and children also have their own allocated social worker.

If you are interested in fostering then call 823160 or visit iwight.com/fostering or follow @Isle of Wight fostering and adoption on Facebook.

A recruitment event, where people can learn more about fostering, is being held at 30 High Street, Newport, tomorrow (Sat) from 10am to 1pm.

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Shanklin shop shortlisted for top award A Shanklin shop that stocks everything from fine arts to country wines has been named on the shortlist of retailers in the running to be named Britain’s Best Small Shop of 2019.

Cavanagh & Baker, The Island Made Emporium brings everything in store from within the 25mile radius of the Island. Owners Jack Cavanagh and Adam Baker pride themselves on providing an unparalleled selection of quality products created on the Isle of Wight, with an in depth knowledge and passion for every producer. Described as a 'hyper-local' business, all sales give something back to the local economy and creative community in one way or another. It is also a plastic free business with all bags and wrapping made of paper, and are reusable and compostable.

The Best Small Shops competition is managed by the Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC). The

competition celebrates the commitment and creativity of independent retailers on the UK’s High Streets and the central role they play in their local communities. The winner will be announced at an event at the Houses of Parliament on November 5.

Jack Cavanagh said: "We have great community support here on the Island.

We are very pleased to have made it so far in such a short space of time".

Housing Associations team up Southern Housing Group and housing association Sovereign have teamed up to support Islanders with selfemployment training sessions that could make potential business ideas a reality.

Run by the Pop-Up Business School,

the free-to-attend workshops will take place every day for one week at the Newclose County Cricket Ground, Newport 10am to 3pm, from October 21 to 25.

With seasonal summer employment on the Island drawing to a close, the

housing association duo are hoping to give those with money-making ideas the support they need to get business dreams up and running.

Anyone can attend the course and you can sign up at popupbusinessschool. co.uk/iow .

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Step into Christmas by taking on the Frosty 5k

Islanders are being invited to Step into Christmas by taking on the UK’s first ever Frosty 5k, hosted by the Isle of Wight branch of Wessex Cancer Trust.

From a snow-covered start line, to a sea of waving snowmen and a giant igloo of icicles, this fun winter run has it all, and it’s heading for Tapnell Farm on Sunday, November 24.

The Isle of Wight will be the first place in the UK to host the event, which is family friendly and features four fun and festive interactive zones. All money raised from the event will go to the IW branch of Wessex Cancer Trust to help Islanders affected by cancer.

The charity’s Community Engagement Manager, Lorraine White, said: “We’re so excited to be the first to host Frosty 5k. If ever there was an event to get you in the festive mood, this has got to be it. It’s a fun winter run for all the family, so it doesn’t matter if you skip, sprint or stroll to the finish line.

“With that in mind, we will be giving runners the option of completing one or two laps of a 2.5km circular course, so it’s not too

gruelling for little legs!

“While taking in the stunning scenery of Tapnell Farm, runners will be transported into a magical winter wonderland, running through a succession of interactive displays, including a cosy log cabin, a 15m corridor of waving snowmen, an icy fog zone and an 8m Arctic igloo lit up by icicles. Come along and join in the festive fun while helping us raise funds for Islanders affected by cancer.”

On the day, there will also be a Winter Village with festive food, Christmas music and a giant snow globe for photos. Runners will also be able to enjoy 10 per cent off entry to Tapnell Farm Park.

Entry to Frosty 5k is now open and you can sign up at wessexcancer.org.uk/frosty5k.

Those who book before October 24 can enjoy 25% off entry by using the code FROSTY25.

For more information, e-mail lorraine. white@wessexcancer.org.uk or call 07785 472863.

Appeal to Islanders to help find 1940s pen-pal Paddy A family is looking for their mother’s pen-pal from the 1940s, or her descendants.

Paddy Young (nee Haggarty) is believed to have retired to the Isle of Wight with her husband Donald, and the Kovavich family would love to share letters exchanged between her and their mother, USA based GeJuan Webber between 1947 and 1951.

It is believed Paddy was her real name and she was born on September 8, 1934 in London. She had a younger brother called John. Her youthful letters reveal that she wanted to become a vet, although it is not known whether she achieved her ambition.

If any IW Observer readers know of her, any living relatives or even where she is buried please contact us on (01983) 214264 or newsdesk@ iwobserver.co.uk and we will put you in touch with Dawn Kovavich, has always wanted to know what happened to her former pen-pal.

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Brading Scarecrow Fun Day and Festival The fourth Brading Scarecrow community event had more than 35 scarecrows entered into the competition.

A Scarecrow Fun day was held at the Brading Youth and Community Centre, with Brading Mayor Richard Hudspith and Isle of Wight Councillor Brian Tyndall attending as targets for the wet sponge throwing event. There were many more activities including Splat the Rat, organised by Brading Men in Sheds, St Helen’s pre-school children’s craft table and Colin the magician. The volunteer catering staff were rushed off their feet serving baps, cakes, tea and coffee.

The winners of the scarecrow competition were Mr Cooper of Nicholas Close in the adult category

with Maribel Glover and Edd Thompson highly commended. Roisin, Jack and Ronan MullinsJacobs won the family category.

St Mary's Primary School won the group category, with 1st Brading Cub Scouts and Brading Bell Ringers highly commended. Max Gibbins won in the three to five age group, Bow Wilson the six to nine group and Iola, Raiya and Isla the 10 to 13 group. Maribel Gover's ‘unrecycled’ scarecrow, made from crips packets and plastic cartons, was voted Champion of Champions by visitors to the free event.

The Mayor Richard Hudspith and Val Drury of Brading Residents’ Association, who coordinated the event, presented the prizes.

The mayor Richard Hudspith gets the wet sponge

Top: Ted and Billy enjoying the display.

Left: Mayor Richard Hudspith presents Bow with her prize for 6 to 9 year age category.

Right: Mayor Richard Hudspith presents Max with his prize for 3-5year age category.

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Harvest Festival boosts Sanctuary The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Harvest Festival took place last Sunday, with members of the public asked to take in food items to donate to the Isle of Wight Foodbank. A competition was run with various classes, including the best and wonkiest baked bread and the best and wonkiest vegetable, with the prize being a donkey adoption of the winner’s choice. There were a number of stall holders displaying their wares as well as a display of farming machinery by the Hunt Forest Group.

Adopting a donkey is one of the best ways to support the work of the Donkey Sanctuary, which is open as a visitor attraction all year round.

Adoption costs £25 per year plus a one-off sign up fee of £1.99.

The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, along with the Isle of Wight Osteoporosis Support Group, will be holding a joint charity auction on Saturday, October 26 at the Newclose Cricket Club, Newport. Viewing is from 6.30pm and the auction will start at 7.30pm. There are many desirable lots donated by local businesses in aid of these two great local causes. You can find out more details by e-mail to fabfundraisers@yahoo.com or call 07926 053263.

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Lady Diana remembered at ceremony A wreath to be laid in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales was handed over to the Boys’ Brigade by Cllr.

Charles Chapman on Sunday (Oct 6), at a meeting which celebrated the 136th anniversary of the founding of the organisation.

Cllr. Chapman is President of the Ryde Branch of the Royal British Legion and the Boy’s Brigade and funded the wreath because the late Princess had such an affinity with children, and he wanted to encourage more of them to get involved with the annual service of Remembrance in November.

Despite its name many branches of the Boys Brigade, one of the largest Christian organisations in the UK, welcomes girls to their meetings.

Cllr.

Chapman said: “It was great to get together with the youngsters at Garfield Road Church on such an important anniversary and I’m very pleased that more young people are getting involved with commemoration events to honour those who fought for our

country.”

The members selected to lay the wreath at the Lind Street Remembrance Service in Ryde on November 10 are Korie and Melody.

They are pictured with Cllr. Chapman and Janet Partridge, Captain of the Boy’s Brigade on the Island.

Appeal after green stone stolen from churchyard

Teenager injured in road crash A road crash involving a car and a delivery van in Afton Road, Freshwater last Saturday night led to a 17-year-old boy being airlifted to Southampton General Hospital with two broken legs.

Emergency services including fire appliances from Newport and Freshwater, a Co-Responder from Freshwater, the Police and the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service worked to free the young man and his female passenger from the wreckage of the car.

They were rushed to St Mary's hospital with non-life threatening injuries, with the boy being transferred to the mainland on Saturday morning.

Male voice choir sings to raise cash for presents

New Trustees for Age UKIW

A concert by the Newchurch Male Voice Choir and their guest artiste, Saxophonist Cameron Tarry, raised over £750 for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Boxes for the Island’s needy. This Appeal goes alongside the care that Salvation Army staff give to people at Christmas, including feeding the homeless on Christmas Day. The Citadel was full as the choir sing a selection of songs. Cameron Tarry captivated the audience with several pieces adapted for the Saxophone. There was also a display by the Salvation Army Timbrels' tambourine group.

Age UK Isle of Wight (Age UKIW) has three new Trustees on their Board of Trustees.

The trio, Alan Thorne, Lorraine Buckman and Robert Robertson, bring decades of experience and expertise in health care regulation, quality management, HR and IT to the local, independent charity.

Age UKIW has been supporting

older Islanders since 1973 and is held in high regard by the thousands of local older people it serves, as well as by local Health and Social Care decision makers. The appointment of these new trustees, with their varied experience and skills, will support and shape the charity’s strategic direction and priorities now and in the future.

Residents in Whitwell are appealing for information after a quantity of stone being used to restore St Mary & St Rhadegund Church was stolen from the churchyard.

The stone was Island green stone, which is no longer quarried, so will be hard to replace. A post on the Whitwell village Facebook page said: “You may all have seen that there has been some extensive works undertaken on the masonry at the church. Unfortunately some of the stone set aside by the builders for re-use has been taken away without permission (a nice way of saying that it’s been nicked).

"It was Island-quarried stone and therefore very hard and potentially

expensive to replace. If you have any information please get in touch. If you took it away thinking that it wasn’t needed, then this would be a good opportunity to put it back...”

An earlier post said : “The police have been informed but there is little that they can do about it so if anyone has seen any suspicious activity or vehicles around the churchyard please inform the Church Warden Ann Harris on 07855060705.

“Please keep an eye out as we believe other things have been taken recently whilst the building work has been carried out, photographs or vehicle registrations would be a great help to the police.”

Car hits wall near school There were no injuries when a car crashed into a wall on Whitesmith Road near Hunnyhill Primary School on Monday.

A Ford C-Max mounted the pavement before colliding with the wall as parents were dropping their children off at school.

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Runners turn out in force for marathon Nearly 120 men and women runners, from the Island and the mainland, lined up for this year’s 63rd Isle of Wight Marathon.

There were several fine performances for local athletes, with Newport’s Gary Marshall second, and Les Cupis of Ryde Harriers fourth in the men’s event, and Rosanna Sexton of Isle of Wight Runners the first woman home. See full story, Back Page

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Iconic bendy-bus arrives for classic Buses and Beer tour The Classic Buses, Beer and Walks weekend is upon us at last.

Over this weekend Islanders will be spotting all manner of buses wending their way along Island roads, but not all of them are vintage vehicles. Some of them are simply future classics, including an ex-London articulated bus, popularly known as a bendy-bus, registered in 2002 and now owned by Martin Clitheroe of the Bromley Bus Preservation Group (BBPG).

This group of around 20 friends all worked on the buses at some time and now own over 100 buses between them. They ‘absolutely love’ the weekend event organised by the Isle of Wight Bus Museum and the local branch of CAMRA, the campaign for real ale.

This particular bus is no stranger to island roads, being once owned by Southern Vectis, part of the Go Ahead Group, and was used to transport passengers for the Isle of Wight Festival. It was then painted in the white, pink and grey livery of Bournemouth University and used on the mainland until finally becoming surplus to requirements in 2016.

Martin, who’s partner works for Southern Vectis, persuaded the company to hand it over into his tender care and it now resides in a barn close to the M25.

Martin said: “London Transport had around 600 bendybuses which were finally taken out of service in 2011. Many were scrapped, some found their way to Malta and there are still a few in use in towns around the country, but this is the only one preserved in museum quality condition.”

The BBPG always bring down buses for the beer and buses weekend, this year they have four and they make a ‘busman’s holiday’ of the event, taking over Chale Bay Farm, enabling them to enjoy the other great draw of the weekend - the beer!

Obviously the weekend is spent ferrying passengers around the Island, so unlike most participants they have a ‘dry’ weekend.

Martin added: “This is the event of the year for us. We have an absolutely wonderful time. We catch up with friends and our buses get to do what they are designed to do, which is carry passengers out to enjoy themselves.”

Do say Hi to Martin if you’re lucky enough to get on his bendy-bus, but don’t be surprised if you’re still talking buses with him some time later. He’s a real public service vehicle fan.

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Doreen is crowned Island Asian Queen Doreen Cuaresma from Birmingham was crowned Asian Queen IW 2019 at The Lakeside Park Hotel in Wootton, also winning the category of Best in National Costume.

Accepting the title she said: “This kind of competition is already a form of empowerment for us women, because this is the opportunity for us to showcase our beauty and talents. Gone are the days when women are only given very limited opportunity to protect their welfare, wellbeing and safety”.

She was crowned by last year’s winner Rosalie Lorrison. Novie Scott from Norwich was crowned as Tourism Queen, Lani Birocski from Liverpool crowned as Royalty

Queen and Best in Gown was Flor Umandap from North London who became Equals Charity Queen IW 2019.

Best in Talent was awarded to Joy Juntilla who performed a Hula Hoop Combo. She was also crowned Princess IW 2019.

Ryde Town Councillor Raj Patel, who invited the IW Observer to the event described it as a brilliant evening.

The annual charity event is organised by Asian Group IW under the leadership of Aireen Gauntlett. Proceeds this year will go to Equals Isle of Wight who support equality and diversity across the Island, and offer friendship groups for men and women of ethnic backgrounds.

If you could you like the IW Observer to photograph your event then please call us on 01983 214264

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LOCAL EVENTS ACROSS THE ISLAND

With

11th October 2019

Jade Honey

Bobby set to Crush ’em in!

Back in the days of Variety, Music Hall and TV light entertainment shows there were pianists who became real stars. These included Charlie Kunz, Semprini, Russ Conway and Joe ‘Piano’ Henderson. Back in 1972, Bobby Crush won Opportunity Knocks six times and became the last of the real star pianists. He was just 17 and within a year he was starring at the London Palladium with Jack Jones. Now he’s heading to Shanklin Theatre on Sunday, October 13, as the star guest in the Magnificent Music Hall, to demonstrate his piano skills.

Bobby always enjoys working on the Isle of Wight. In the summer of 1980 he undertook a series of Sunday Concerts at the now defunct Sandown Pier Pavilion Theatre. He has also appeared many times at Warner’s Bembridge Coast Hotel.

During his long career Bobby has always been prepared to diversify.

Many of his fans could not believe it when he played Dr Frank-nFurter in the Rocky Horror Show.

The average age of his audience suddenly halved.

“I well remember a particular night in Lewisham when a lot of older ladies turned up expecting to me to play the piano. They had quite a shock when I came on in fishnet stockings, a basque, six inch stilettos, Tina Turner wig and a feather bower.

“They weren’t there for the second half.” said Bobby.

Over the years he’s had several huge selling albums and is a regular visitor to Australia and New Zealand where they love his piano concerts.

Last year Bobby was one of nine veteran British performers who appeared in the hit television series Last Laugh In Las Vegas.

Others in that series included Cannon and Ball, Bernie Clifton, Kenny Lynch and Su Pollard.

All the artists in the Shanklin Theatre show, the Magnificent Music Hall, were seen in the popular television series the Good Old Days. Among the other performers will be the ever-popular Jan Hunt, once of Crackerjack fame. The show starts at 4pm.

Fearfully good fun at Newport Roman Villa Frightfully fun things are happening this October half term at Newport Roman Villa, with a range of craft activities to keep the little monsters occupied.

The Villa at Cypress Road, Newport, will be open for three days for various activities and for visitors to see the remains, Roman bath suite and the garden!

On Wednesday, October 23, from 10.30am to 3pm, Newport Roman Villa are giving the younger Islanders a chance to create their own unique puppet toy, inspired by Roman toys and games.

During the second day, Monday, October 28 between 10.30am and 3pm, visitors will be able to make their own working catapult which they can take home. They will also find out some historical facts including how the Romans used these machines in

warfare.

The final day on Wednesday, October 30 is ‘Mixed-Up Monsters Clay Day’ where children can be inspired by mythical beasts and make their own clay monsters to take home!

As well as the craft activities, there will be a different photo hunt on each day to help with exploring the villa and will enable visitors to collect the foul facts on Roman life and find more revolting revelations about life in Roman times!

No booking is required, the entry fee is £1 each activity day and includes admission and all activities.

For more information, call (01983) 823433, email: museums@iow.gov.uk or visit: iwight.com/museums These events are organised by the Isle of Wight Council’s Heritage Service.

Hallowe’en ‘Hocus Pocus’ Age UK Isle of Wight are inviting all Islanders to grab some popcorn and celebrate Hallowe’en with them at an exclusive screening of the 90s Cult Classic ‘Hocus Pocus’ this October.

The screening of the spooky family comedy ‘Hocus Pocus’ (rated PG) is showing for one night only in the deluxe screen at Cineworld Cinemas Newport on Sunday, October 27 at 4.30pm.

The story begins in 1693 when three sisters, Winifred, Mary and Sarah are executed for practising witchcraft but not before their living book of spells revealed to them a curse to bring the three back from the dead. 300 years later, teenager Max Dennison decides to light the candle in order to show off to his irritating kid sister Dani and his girlfriend Alison. Now, the three witches are back and ready for a night of fun, magic and horror in the modern Salem on Hallowe’en.

For a donation of £10 each for Adults (14 years and over); £5 each for Children (Under 14 years); £25 for a Family Ticket (2 Adults and 2 Children) you will receive admission into our exclusive screening and a

fun filled Hallowe’en pack!

Admission can be secured now via the Age UKIW website ageukiw.org. uk, through Facebook @AgeUKIW, or by calling the fundraising department on (01983) 301343.

Elisha Leachman, Fundraising Manager at Age UKIW, said: “We’re really excited to offer Islanders the chance to see this Hallowe’en classic on the big screen, and hope that many will join us at our spooktacular to help raise vital funds for their local charity. This is for one night only, so book now to avoid disappointment!

“All of the profits raised go to our ‘No One Should Have No One’ Campaign. 100% stays on the Island to support the most vulnerable older people in our communities.

“We as a local, independent charity, are incredibly grateful to everyone who supports us and are looking forward to welcoming everyone there.”

The Age UKIW spooktacular screening is kindly supported by: Lancaster’s Estate Agents, Wheelers Solicitors, The Storeroom and Medina Construction.

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Entertainment 25

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THEATRE, LOCAL EVENTS & CINEMA Chitty Chitty’s Flying Visit Join the Island Savoyards this October half term at Shanklin Theatre on a fantastic adventure with an out-of-this-world car that flies through the air and sails the seas.

Based on the beloved 1968 film version of Ian Fleming’s children’s book, and featuring an unforgettable score by The Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is one family-friendly

blockbuster that audiences will find “Truly Scrumptious”.

For tickets and information, please visit: shanklintheatre.com October 24 - 27 @ 7.30pm Shanklin Theatre, Shanklin, PO37 6AJ

Letz Zep at Strings Letz Zep are not an exercise in nostalgia but a heart rendering cry against complacency and forgetfulness.

Making their welcome return to the Island’s Premier Live Music venue on November 9, Letz Zep recreate the sights and sounds of Led Zeppelin at their best.

Popular with both the public and promoters alike, Letz Zep have performed

at over 50 major festivals worldwide, many as headline act! Head down to Strings for a fun night & a show you don’t want to miss!

November 9 @ 7.30pm Strings Bar & Venue Newport, PO30 1LL £15 - seetickets.com

‘The Zombie Love In’ House Party!

After a rocking launch night in April, the Good Vibes House Party are back for their last gig of the year. And it’s a Hallowe’en House Party like no other!

First seen on the Sugar Skulls Stage at Bestival, ‘The Zombie Love In’ comes to town on October 19 at Strings in Newport. Covering all bases when it comes to ‘90s dance music, plus a few

remixes, mash ups, and special guest DJs, attendees will have a night to remember at this house party! For more details, visit: goodvibeshouseparty.com October 19 Strings Bar & Venue Newport, PO30 1LL

The Ghost Runner’s coming The Ghost Runner is a 5km fun run through Parkhurst Forest taking place on November 1.

Staged after dark, runners will follow a well marked, offroad course lit by a head torch, with one or two Hallowe’en themed surprises! Walking is acceptable! Fancy dress is encouraged and prizes will be awarded for the best costumes! Entry fee

includes a bite to eat, with proceeds going to Wight Aid. Entry open now at gpsport.org November 1 @ 7pm Forest Road, Newport, PO30 5NQ From £5 - gpsport.org

WHAT’S ON AT THE CINEMA?

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Local Events

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DECADeANCE glitters with Hollywood theme The annual DECADeANCE night, held to raise funds for Mountbatten Hospice, was another party to remember. The red carpet was rolled out to welcome eager guests to an amazing Hollywood themed evening with plenty of glamour and glitz all night long. This year the event was held on October 5, earlier than its usual end of November slot due to the availability of Cowes Yacht Haven.

But the crowds still turned up to party the night away, and Tony Martin, the Island DJ who organises the fundraiser now in its 11th year, described it as a ‘fantastic night with

the dance floor rammed from start to finish’.

Last year the evening raised a record amount for the vital work of the Island’s only hospice, an amazing £12,751, with this year’s total to be announced shortly. Regular DECADeANCE party-goers know that the best way to raise money for a good cause is to do it while you’re dressed to the nines and having fun. Next year why not join them?

Photos from the evening are priced at just £3 and are available from www.stevecollins.net/DECADeANCE with all proceeds to the hospice.

Photos from the evening are priced at just £3 and are available from www.stevecollins.net/DECADeANCE with all proceeds to the hospice.

11th October 2019

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Local Events

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Mixed reaction to cancer care at St Mary’s hospital

By BBC Local Democracy reporter Louise Hill Cancer patients on the Isle of Wight have ranked St Mary’s treatment as outstanding in two areas, but below the national average in nine others.

In the National Patient Survey 2018, looking at cancer patients’ experience in hospitals, designed to monitor national progress and drive local improvements, 187 Isle of Wight patients gave their feedback on the care they had received at St Mary’s. They gave the Isle of Wight NHS Trust an average score of 8.7 out of 10.

The trust was rated outstanding in two areas; patients were given the name of the clinical nurse specialist who would support them through their treatment and told about access to free prescriptions. However, there were nine areas in which the trust fell below the national average, compared with only two in 2017.

They included patients being told about the side effects of treatment, their overall trust in the doctors who treated them, which was 15 per cent lower than the national average, and the nurses who looked after them.

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has since said an action plan will be developed, led by the consultant lead cancer nurse. The results follow the Care Quality Commission’s findings that the medical care patients received was inadequate.

Time to reflect on happiness at latest Island Guide movement Festival of the Mind makes ‘plastic promise’

Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers across the Island have joined #PlasticPromise, the biggest ever girl-led campaign to tackle plastic pollution, launched by Girlguiding.

New Girlguiding research reveals 88 per cent of girls and young women aged seven to 21 say it’s urgent we all do more to protect the environment.

An estimated 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are thrown away in the UK every year.

That’s almost 5,000 a minute, or seven million per day.

Around 15 million plastic bottles are littered, landfilled or incinerated every day.

Island unit members joined Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers and volunteers from across the UK during a week of action. They made a #PlasticPromise, committing to a simple but meaningful lifestyle change to help reduce single-use plastic.

Girls asked their friends, family, politicians and the public to join them and make a #PlasticPromise. Anyone can make a #PlasticPromise by visiting plasticpromises.co.uk.

Promises include using re-uasable coffee cups and finding alternatives to cling film.

Wootton Rainbows and Brownies completed a Litter-Pick at Wootton Recreation Ground and other units as well as making plastic sculptures discussed protecting the planet.

Make your #PlasticPromise by visiting plasticpromises. co.uk or join the conversation on social media and share your #PlasticPromise @Girlguiding.

Save Our NHS welcome visiting guest speakers IOW Save Our NHS welcomed two guest speakers to the public screening of Peter Bach’s film, Sell Off -The abolition of Our NHS. The film is said to provide evidence of undercover attempts to privatise the NHS over the last 30 years.

Following the film, retired GP and author of ‘The Deceit Syndrome’ Dr Paul Hobday, and Dr Bob Gill, who is a practicing GP, gave the audience their views on the history and future of the NHS.

The Riverside Centre, Newport was the venue for the second successful Isle of Wight Festival for the Mind, organised by local company Wight to be Happy.

The festival is a day dedicated to all things that will make you smile or feel happy and well, and even the weather got the message, with the sun setting the scene for happiness all around.

The aim of the event is to bring people together to talk about what makes them feel happy, to try out different activities for free and, hopefully, to discover a new sense of wellbeing and happiness.

Supported by a number of parish councils and the Wight Aid Foundation, attendees enjoyed a wide range of free taster workshops which included drumming for recovery, heal yourself with self-hypnosis and practical mindfulness in a manic world. Inner creativity was sparked by sessions which included mosaic art, art for wellbeing and mindful breadmaking. After all that effort there was an opportunity to chill out with hypno relax or, for the ladies, a free 20-minute massage session.

A number of stall-holders added to the general positive vibe and delicious food was on offer to give sustenance to the body as well as the mind.

Who could resist the appeal of a day designed to make you feel better about yourself, your life and your surroundings?

Whether you attended or not, why not carry on the spirit of the event and take a few moments out your busy day to think about the good things in your life and be thankful for them?

11th October 2019

11th October 2019

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Puzzles

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11th October 2019

Bay School pupils’ work in community is recognised by all The Bay School in Sandown have held a special assembly to recognise the school’s Community Kids group. Community Kids is an after-school club of 16 children who volunteer to work on various projects.

The Group has been running for nine years and is supervised

by Bill Wyke, Tracey Peace, Nicola Taylor and Mrs Holmes. Mr Duncan Mills, the Schools Executive Head Teacher outlined the purpose and work of the group.

Mrs Christen Jackson of the Sandown Green Town Volunteers presented awards to the Community Kids for helping with the Sandown in Bloom Competition. Cllr Ian Ward then presented a banner he had bought them to use on parades and display on work sites.

Cllr Ward said: “It is brilliant to see young people being engendered with such community spirit which they will hopefully take with them into adulthood becoming positive contributors to our community.”

Become a Bayologist for free!

There is the opportunity to go along to Dinosaur Isle on Sunday (Oct 13) and become a Bayologist for free. To celebrate National Biology and Earth Science Week the Bay science team at Arc, Artecology and the National Poo Museum are holding a free workshop for all the family as part of the Discovery Bay project.

Visitors can explore 100 million years of Sandown Bay wildlife from ammonites and iguanodons to cuttlefish and goldeneye.

There will be lots of hands-on ways to learn more about science and local wildlife upstairs at Dinosaur Isle in Sandown. You will be able to use powerful microscopes, sieve for life in the soil, fire up the mighty bug hoover, dip for pondlife and fill up the wildlife aquarium, and if that’s not enough you can marvel at

the mole-in-a-jar.

Ian Boyd from the museum said: "Sandown Bay’s coastal waters are marine protected areas, the towering sand and chalk cliffs and ancient woodlands are Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and its marshes and wetlands are Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. Add to these accolades the nationally important Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designations that frame its setting and its extraordinarily rich environment, for wildlife and for people, and now all recognised by this year’s brilliant UNESCO Biosphere designation."

The session runs from 10.30am to 4pm.

Entry to the education room is free but normal pricing applies for entry to Dinosaur Isle Museum.

More surgeries to merge New parking regime in The amalgamation of more GP surgeries is on the cards following the creation of Newport Health Centre with the merger of Carisbrooke Health Centre and Dower House.

Two more mergers are planned for next year, between Ventnor Medical Centre and Grove House Surgery, Ventnor, and between Shanklin Medical Centre and Sandown Health Centre. Health bosses at the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group who plan and purchase local health services said the move would ensure services were sustainable in the long term.

Newport could mean fines A new car parking regime has been introduced at the Riverside Centre in Newport because centre users were unable to park due to others abusing the system. If you have a legitimate reason to park you can enter your registration number on an ipad in reception and you will not receive a parking ticket. If you do not register your vehicle there is now a £100 fine in place. There is a 20-minutes grace period to allow pick-up and drop-off.

Pier fault not ferry funny!

Faults with the new contactless system to access Ryde Pier led to many passengers missing their ferry last Sunday. Queues formed as the system wouldn’t allow payment and prevented vehicle access. Wightlink apologised and confirmed that it has now been fixed. The cost of paying cash to drive up the pier rose from £1 to £2. However yesterday (Thursday) Wightlink’s CEO Keith Greenfield said: ‘Listening to feedback, Wightlink has harmonised the charge to £1.30 by both contactless card and cash. However payment by exact coins is required as the cash machine is unable to give change.”

11th October 2019

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Letters

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Holmesy!

The David Holmes Column

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Island Soapbox

Send your letters into us newsdesk@iwobserver.co.uk or post them to us IW Observer, Suite 6, 17 St.Thomas Square, Newport, IW, PO30 1SL

Boy wonder Pugh committed us to the school fiasco and the PFI Why not put flats above supermarkets?

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in these letters are not those held by the IW Observer or its staff.

They belong to the author and the author alone - Letters must be no longer than 250 words please.

Dear Editor, The council is required to build almost 10,000 homes over the next fifteen years. There are challenges to that figure, but there will be many houses (and flats) built whatever the outcome. It is very difficult to find suitable sites, and many proposals are on greenfields either in Newport or elsewhere.

Meanwhile it is proposed that large superstores are built on St George’s - the former football pitch. This application includes a 19,000 sq ft food store and five

other stores of between 7,500 and 25,000 sq ft. Many people don’t want yet more out-oftown shopping centres; they just want our historic town centres to thrive!

However, if the application succeeds, why not add three or four levels of flats above the car park, relatively near to the centre of Newport? There is no reason why the accommodation should not be reasonably priced; in fact it could be a condition for developers being given approval for their schemes. Andrew Turner - Newport

Will Costa support hospital?

Despite the driving wind and rain, night after night, these tough hardworking men graft to get the job done. Inevitably, the nearest neighbours’ sleep is disturbed by their nocturnal racket, heavy lorries and tarmac machines make lots of noise, especially those beep, beep, beep reversing alarms.

People, sleeping fitfully, should be able to take comfort from the knowledge that progress is being made, but not this time.

No-one is happy, not those sleep deprived residents, pedestrians or Island drivers, because the people in charge of it, Island Roads have created another mystery. With so many of our roads and pavements still in a dismal state, why spend the past four weeks closing and extensively resurfacing a perfectly serviceable Council car park in Yarmouth?

It’s incomprehensible, for seven long years, each month we’ve paid Island Roads millions of pounds; I calculate almost £140 million so far. I liken it to a bad mortgage, we’ve coughed-up for a half-built house and we don’t seem to be getting quite what was promised.

So have we been had, and if so, by whom? Many people understood that the approaching seven-year contract marker point should mean the entire job is substantially complete, instead they’ve slowed things down, and some of the work done is crackingup again. It makes me wonder how Island Roads managed to win yet more council work, the St Mary’s roundabout contract is another £9 million of additional construction.

Surely, they’re not using the same people and equipment we’re already paying for to complete it?

There’s little evidence of Council supervision or expertise on show, or am I missing something?

Island Roads owner is VincI, a global construction giant, whose principal objective is clearly to maximise profits, they’re exceptionally good at it too. From the start, former journalist Mike Starke

was a fierce critic of the whole enterprise, calling it an expensive white elephant. He alleged County Hall had secret files detailing the real agreement between the parties.

Who knows? ‘Commercial confidentiality’ is usually the excuse to keep these council secrets, but the PFI was signed years ago and lasts another 23 years. Some of us won’t be around when it ends, our demise occurring sooner than the scheduled contract termination date, 2043.

With limited exceptions, we’re all agreed, many of our roads and pavements are awful, and it seems they won’t ever be renewed.

The Floating bridge fiasco is another embarrassment and that was definitely the fault of the previous (Independent) council who commissioned it. You might think the current lot would cheerfully explain the catalogue of failure in detail, ideally naming some names too!

The Island’s PFI scheme was originally worth £800 million but was reduced to £730 million, after the then Council, led by boy wonder David Pugh, committed us to it.

Yes, he of the schools reorganisation fiasco!

No-one ever adequately explained how we would get all our roads rebuilt and upgraded (as planned) for £70 million less than was budgeted for and it’s about time they did.

Forget political embarrassment about broken promises, in plain English please IW council, Captain Bob, or even Mr Pugh, we deserve to know what’s really going on and when (if ever) will we see the job actually done?

The St Mary’s r o u n d a b o u t scheme is now underway, along with various other utility roadworks on all the alternative routes; it’s genius eh, but who is responsible?

I s l a n d e r s are inconvenienced and irritated, some sit in those pointless jams asking ourselves why, when Ryde House residents with learning disabilities were given 7 days’ notice to quit (thankfully with a stay of execution for the time being), the council is doling-out a whopping £9 million on a pointless roundabout upgrade?

I despair!

“many of our roads and pavements are awful,”

Dear Editor, I was both amazed and dismayed to read about the removal of the Friends of St Mary's Hospital cafe in the foyer of the hospital. The cafe, through the work of the volunteers, has raised a substantial amount of money for the hospital over 18 years, and yet the NHS Trust have decided to now place it in a dark corner somewhere else. Those coming to the hospital use the shop and the cafe in the foyer and do not wish to be overcharged by a

commercial company such as Costa.

The volunteers have worked tirelessly to achieve the 1 million pounds over 18 years and it seems a strange decision for the Trust to make. I am curious as to whether the replacement company will be an establishment that is going to also raise money for the hospital or whether it is a purely lucrative placement for that company to raise money for its own pockets?

J Phelan, Ryde

Check the coffins in Ryde!

Dear Editor, An intrepid clerk should check the coffins of the Ryde Council elders. Because they are either prematurely at rest, or wilfully ignoring a clear and present danger. Specifically, by doing nothing after repeated public warnings concerning the need for a painted cycle lane, from Ryde lifeboat station to the Boathouse

pub. Maybe we should employ Greta Thunberg to wake the Old Ones with a ‘How very dare you’ speech. Just long just enough for them to extract their collective digits, and get the job done. Their job, to ensure pubic safety. Before a grandma, beloved pet or toddler is knocked down.

Adam Webb, Ryde

Holmsey missing the point Dear Editor, David Holmes offers no regret for what he wrote about Greta Thunberg (September 20), he says 'I get it'. It's perfectly fine to express an opinion on a subject for which you have doubts or profoundly disagree. What is unacceptable it to diss Greta as a ranting young girl who should 'go back to school', that's just insulting the person, not the subject.

I suggest he missed the point. Greta was angry at the UN World leaders and politicians who talk the talk, but have failed to walk the walk. Many countries have made promises to reduce CO2, but fail to keep them or set targets so far ahead as to be meaningless.

Germany and Greece still burn vast amount of coal and lignite to power their economies.

France consumes a higher percentage of

nuclear energy, but that has legacy issues.

The UK is getting better, coming late to the party.

To be ‘carbon neutral’ requires everyone to reduce the amount of Hydrocarbons (fossil fuels) burnt. The average diesel car needs 1.1kw per mile, (petrol 1.3kw). National statistics say the average UK driver covers 7,000 mile per year, that’s 7,700kwh per household (1 car), enough to heat one average home.

Buying an electric car doesn't solve the CO2 problem – the car still eats-up the same energy (1.1kw/mile). How that energy is produced is key and the UK doesn’t have sufficient low carbon energy reserve to power this revolution, that's the lie - selling us clean cars, powered by dirty fuel.

Colin Greene, Cowes

People and friends matter most Dear Editor Don’t you just love David Holmes, telling Greta Thunberg to ‘lighten up and get back to school’? Yes, perhaps her performance at the United Nations was a little emotional and angry, but sometimes that’s appropriate, and whose speech do you remember, Greta’s or Trump’s?

The world’s economic model of ever increasing materialistic growth is broken. We simply can’t survive consuming more and more needless stuff. Did Russia, China and the

US respond to the Climate Crisis in the UN? No. Let’s be very clear, if you genuinely care about our planet, and life on it, then it’s down to every individual. We need to all respond, not simply rely on our hapless Governments to solve mankind’s problems.

So be happy with what you’ve got. Invest your time and money in people not physical ephemera. More and more stuff does not make you happier; people, and the love of genuine friends does.

Hans Bromwich, Cowes

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Sport

Freya and Niamh row to fine win on River Itchen

Observer

By Peter White

Fixtures & match officials for tomorrow (Sat) (Kick-off 2pm unless stated) Ken Morris Junior A Cup Sponsored by the Harwoods Renault First round: Brading Town Reserves v Yarmouth & Calbourne Dale Smith Hampshire Saturday Vase Northwood St Johns v Renegades First - Arron Tree Harwoods Renault Division One Bembridge v Carisbrooke United - Keyson Colebrook Cowes Sports Reserves v Sandown - Jamie Saltzer East Cowes Sports v Binstead & COB - John Hopkinson Pan Sports v Shanklin (1.30pm) - Ali Taylor Ryde Saints v Whitecroft & Barton Sports - Dave Jukes Ventnor v Brading Town (1.30pm) - Matt Sainsbury West Wight v Northwood St Johns - Andy Jones Division Two AFC Wootton v Niton Community - Andy Doncaster East Cowes Vics Reserves v Oakfield (1.30pm) - Chris Cass Newport Reserves v Newchurch - Ian Gordon Osborne Coburg v Adgestone (1.30pm) - Andy King Seaview v Vectis - Steve Raybould Combination One Binstead & COB v Shanklin - Ben Orton Carisbrooke United v East Cowes Sports - no referee Oakfield v West Wight - Stephen Todd Sandown v Ryde Saints - Arron Tree Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Seaview - Richard Mcfarlane Combination Two Niton Community v Newchurch (3.45pm) - Chris Cass Osborne Coburg v Vectis (3.45pm) - Andy King Pan Sports v AFC Wootton (3.45pm) - Ali Taylor Ryde Saints “A” v Yarmouth & Calbourne - no referee Ventnor v Bembridge (3.45pm) - Matt Sainsbury

FA Vase fixtures tomorrow (Sat) FA Vase: First round proper (Kick off 3pm) Longlevens v Cowes Sports Newport v Bridgwater Town Warminster Town v East Cowes Vics

Several Hants FA Cup ties cancelled Several Hampshire FA Cup ties involving Island teams were cancelled due to clubs either not being able to make trips to and from the mainland, or not being able to raise a team. The games called off were: Hampshire FA Trophy Ryde Saints v Sway - Sway FC - Ryde Saints walk-over Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Ventnor - Whitecroft & Barton Sports walk-over Hampshire FA Vase: East Cowes Vics Reserves v Vectis - Vectis walk-over Harvest Home v Ventnor Reserves - Harvest Home walk-over Newchurch v Chineham - Newchurch walk-over

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Pictured: Ryde’s winning J16 Girls Double team of Freya Drage and Niamh Edwards

Ryde Rowing Club competed in the Itchen Imperial Rowing Club’s Junior Sprint Regatta on the River Itchen, Southampton. Success came for the Wightlink-sponsored club in the Girls’ J16 Double Sculls event where Freya Drage and Niamh Edwards won in some style.

They then competed again with Poppy Starkey and Emily Davies, with Cameron Adams coxing, in the Girls’ J16 fours event where the they finished in second place, the same result that Poppy and Emily had in their Girls’ J15 Double Sculls.

A boys’ J16 coxed four, consisting of Harry Jones, Seb McKeown, Paddy Kearney and Charlie Woolford with Cameron Adams coxing once again, finished third in their heat, just failing to make the final. This four then split into two double sculls to compete in the Boys’ J16 event with Harry and Charlie finishing in second place and Paddy and Seb finishing third. Harry Jones also competed in the Boys’ J15 single sculls where he finished second in his heat, failing to make the final.

Dan Sanderson also competed in a single scull, the Boys’ J12/J13 events where he finished in third place, and he then teamed up with Frankie Leftley in the Boys’ J12/J13 double sculls event where they finished second in their heat.

Ryde Golf Club Ladies Captain’s Day Waltzing Stableford: 1, Julia Fauvel, Sue Harrison and Pauline Kilty 53 points (ocb); 2, Lynne Backshall, Judi Matthews and Lesley Whitter 53 (ocb); 3, Marian Johnston, Rosie Walshe and Lyn Brown 53.

Newport Golf Club Nine-Hole Stableford: 1, Simon Groundsell (28) 22 points.

Thursday Stableford: 1, Jaimie Currie (14) 42 points; 2, Mark King (8) 37; 3, Rex Ringer (11) 32.

Jack Hiscock Greensome Medal Pairs: 1, Michell Powers and James Bradley 63 net; 2, Paul Gunnell and Adam Wilson 65.2; 3, Tim Exell, Theo Mitchell 65.8.

Sunday Medal: 1, Paul Rassmussen (9) 69 net; 2, Andy Wheeler (5) 71; 3, George Ringer (7) 72.

Shanklin and Sandown Golf Club England Medal: 1, Catherine Bachelor 74; 2, Kate Palfrey 76.

Ladies Vets Trophy: 1, Debbie Berry 76; 2, Connie Huntington 78.

Ladies Summer Eclectic, Silver Division: 1, Dawn Hodge 54.5; 2, Debbie Berry 61.5. Bronze Division: 1, Anna Garriock 58.75; 2, Hazel Smith 59.25.

Open Stableford: 1, Alex Messing 43; 2, John Moorman 40; 3, Lawrence Tolfrey 37.

Open Stableford, Division 1: 1, Joe Green 41; 2, Shawn Ford 40; 3, Derek Brown 40; 4, Ben Guy 40. Division 2: 1, Alan Fisher 42; 2, James Garriock 40; 3, Bill Smith 39.

Monthly Medal, Gross: 1, George Foreman 72. Division 1: 1, Peter Brooke 68; 2, Keith Taylor 68; 3, George Foreman 70. Division 2: 1, Doug Stephen 75; 2, Stef Brochocki 76.

Cowes & District Snooker League 340 298 356 308 324 472

132 26 -48 48 -26 -132

Paul Young (pictured) won Cowes Golf Club’s Brian Claridge Trophy with a net score of 68. Stuart Chadwick finished second, just a shot behind, with Peter Bradshaw third on 70.

Other Cowes Golf Club results: Tuesday Coleby: 1, Brian Pursey net 29; 2, Len Kelly 31; 3, Mike Ribeiro 32. Best gross: Mike Ribeiro 47.

Thursday Coleby: 1, Steve Deacon net 29; 2, Ken Strunks 31; 3, Tom Hesketh 32. Best gross: Viv Jenkins 38. Pyrah stableford: 1, Chris Earley 41 points; 2, Dorian Holmes 39 ocb; 3, David Williams 39.

Island Vecta Billiard and Snooker League

Week One Results: Con C 4, Lib A 3; Lib C 5, WC Con 2; Con B 4, Con A 3.

Table: Lib C 1 5 2 472 Con B 1 4 3 324 Con C 1 4 3 308 Lib A 1 3 4 356 Con A 1 3 4 298 WC Con 1 2 5 340

Paul wins Claridge Trophy by one shot

5 4 4 3 3 2

Arreton 4, Newport Con. 10.

Joe Lashmar (69) 146 /0, Dave Cox (-17) 200/5; Kev Rose (75) 200/3, R. Smallman (83) 186/2; Kev Rose (75) 196/2, Terry Phillips (16) 200/3 Chillerton 13, Newbridge 2.

Roger Packer (81) 200/5, Kev Whillier (-44) 126/0; Andy Potts (4) 200/3, Trev Rider (107) 177/2; Jamie Sprake (81)

200/5, Trev Whillier (-6) 141/0.

Highest Break – Dave Cox 45 P W L Pts Newport 3 3 0 34 Chillerton 2 2 0 24 Arreton 2 1 1 17* Ryde 2 0 3 8 Newbridge 3 0 3 6 *Arreton deducted 1 point (2 man rule)

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11th October 2019

Determined Vectis U12s win Tournament Shield Vectis under 14s make it three wins in a row Vectis under 12s rugby team travelled to Gosport for an early season tournament. With a squad of only 11 players it was a tough day, as all of them were needed for each match. But they defied the odds to emerge triumphant, and lift the tournament shield.

Under-12 is the first age group where ‘competitiveness’ is allowed in rugby union. It is designed to build on the basics building blocks learned in the Under-7 to Under-11 age groups. Vectis are now hoping more children will go along to try out the game.

Vectis began with a bruising encounter against Petersfield who dominated, were more organised and competitive at the break down. But they bounced back admirably against Romsey. Looking like they

had a point to prove, they turned possession into tries, including a great team effort finished in the corner by Casey. Next up were Gosport, and Vectis worked hard in defence and at the break down.

Into the knock out round Vectis faced United Services Portsmouth. Some great linking play from the team and strong defence led to tries and a convincing win. The final against Farnborough was a tough contest. Vectis conceded a soft try in the first 30 seconds, and soon after Farnborough scored again.

But Vectis kept their nerve and Milo scooped up the ball and made a great run to score between the posts.

Vectis dominated the second period to level the scores, before some great attacking play allowed Vectis to close out the game with a narrow win.

Vectis under 14s rugby team continued their fine start to the season with their third win on the bounce against the physical Basingstoke team at Watcombe Bottom, even without four regular players.

Vectis started well and a typical Thomas Cole pick-up and go opened the scoring. Cole doubled the lead after a competitive period of play, with Archy Williams converting both tries before Basingstoke scored twice in quick succession to leave the score 14-10 to Vectis at half time.

In the second half Basingstoke had the wind advantage, but Vectis stretched their lead as Cole touched

down again for his hat trick and then Williams strode over leaving Vectis 28-10 up.

Basingstoke replied with a converted try and then brought the game back to 28-20.

But Vectis responded in style.

Thomas Damp burst through the middle and showed great pace to dot down under the posts which earned him the Play of the Day trophy. This was followed by great hands putting Reuban Cobb in, and the final score went to Vectis as Basingstoke-voted Man of the Match Rhys Mundell showed his pace and stamina as he strode over to leave the final score 43-22 to Vectis.

Lack of scoring chances costs Yachtsmen dearly Cowes Sports 0 Hamble Club 2 Pictured, left to right: Will Merwood, Mick Timms, Peter West, John Thorp, Jon Blow, Barry Englefield, Trevor Wheeler (Captain, with the league shield), John Kerr, Steve White, Mike Hendey and Peter Byatt.

Great support from Ryde Seniors for Captain’s Day Ryde Golf Club Seniors’ Trevor Wheeler’s Captain’s Day has taken place with 33 members of the Seniors involved in a three-team, yellow ball Stableford competition. Refreshments were served on the 10th hole followed by a meal and drinks at the 19th hole.

Results - Yellow ball Stableford: 1, Chris Jasper, Fred Thorpe and Allan Norman 74; 2, Peter West, Bob Tyrrell and David Poore 70; 3, George Brooks, Peter Long and Tony Carlin 69.

Nearest the rope, Mike Hendey; nearest the pin 9th/18th, Peter Long; nearest

the pin 16th, Mick Timms; nearest the pin 5th (second shot), Andy Wolfenden.

Meanwhile, Ryde Seniors excelled again during the league season, winning 11 games and only losing two, with one drawn. They were unbeaten at home and were able to keep a settled side for most of the season. This is the 14th time that Ryde have won the shield. The pairing of John Thorp and Will Merwood were unbeaten during the season, and the pairing have a remarkable record of 90-odd games played and have only lost on three occasions.

Despite losing to a team in the top four of the Wessex League, Premier Division, Cowes Sports gave a good account of themselves, but were unable to create sufficient goalscoring chances to seriously threaten the opposition.

Hamble were without former Yachtsmen striker John McKie because of his hamstring injury, but still had sufficient fire-power to secure maximum points, thanks to goals from Jake Newton and Samuel Ndlovu. But after the game, the watching McKie sportingly congratulated the Yachtsmen on their sterling performance.

Yachtsmen boss Steve Rutter reflected: “It was disappointing, because I was really pleased with the way the lads played against a very good side, who have a to of quality. We gave them a very good game that they perhaps didn’t expect from us. But the bottom line was that they had three or four chances, and scored from two of them, while we had only one opportunity in the whole of the game, which

their keeper saved.”

The Island side showed plenty of defensive resolve, with their Man of the Match, Ashley Brett (pictured), one of several who stood up to the challenge. But failing to create more chances than the one that fell Gareth Bricknell’s way, was disappointing for Rutter.

He said: “You can’t really expect to get something out of the game when you create so few chances, and it also puts a lot more pressure on you defensively. I can’t fault the lads who played upfront, but we just have to learn to be a bit more clinical. We do it against some of the lesser teams in the division, but it’s always tough against the top sides.”

The Yachtsmen make a 250-mile round trip into deepest Gloucestershire tomorrow (Sat) to take on Longlevens in the first round proper of the FA Vase. Rutter added: “To be fair, we know nothing about them, but we will give it a go, because it is a cup game, and it is always good to have a run in these types of competitions.”

The Yachtsmen’s Hampshire Senior Cup tie against Petersfield Town,

due to be played last Tuesday, was postponed, due to travelling difficulties for the

mainland side. It will now be played at Westwood Park on November 5.

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Newport looking for Vase win after disappointing home loss Newport 0 Petersfield 2 Newport, playing with only 10 men for most of their Wessex League, Division One game against Petersfield, found their task just too much, even though manager Andy Sampson felt they created sufficient chances to pick up at least a point.

Lewis Wright was given a straight red in the opening few minutes, when he miscontrolled the ball, allowing a Petersfield player to race clear. Wright took chase, only to bring the opponent down on the edge of the area, and was sent off as the last defensive player, apart from keeper Gary Streeter.

Port manager Andy Sampson said: “It was always going to be difficult after that, and then they took the lead. No excuses really, because you have to work twice as hard when you only have 10 men, and there were spells when we didn’t. As a result we got punished for their first goal, which was a breakaway, followed by a tap-in.

“We had enough opportunities during the game, but we just couldn’t put the ball in the net. But when we went in at half time only a goal down, I was still confident we could get something out of the game. Then they scored a second midway through the second period, so overall it was a disappointing day for us.”

Newport slipped to eighth in the table

as a result of the defeat, but tomorrow (Sat) turn their attention towards trying to progress into the second round proper of the FA Vase.

They take on Bridgwater Town at Beatrice Avenue, with Sampson adding: “We know we have to be on top of our game and hopefully we can get a result that could be a turning point to help us get back to winning ways in the league.

“Bridgwater are near the top of the Western League, and at one time were a Southern League side, so we know it is going to be a difficult one, but one decent result might turn our season around for the better, and we can start climbing back up the table.”

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Two-goal Burton helps Vics kick up vital point Folland Sports 2 East Cowes Vics 2 Two goals from Jimmi Burton helped Vics pick up only their second Wessex League, Division One of the new campaign, but they could so easily have returned from Folland Sports victorious. Despite his goalscoring double, Burton also missed an early penalty.

Vics manager Steve Brougham said: “We were more positive than of late, and I felt we were a bit unlucky not to get all three points. We played really well in the first half, and were dominating the game, even though they took the lead on 35 minutes. But we bounced back and Jimmi scored two in as many minutes to give us the half time advantage.”

Then, in an even second period, a somewhat dubious decision went against Vics. Burton was chasing a through ball, and he, the Folland keeper, and a defender, all collided as they were tussling for possession. The loose ball broke to Burton, who stroked it into an empty net, and the referee, standing only a few hards away, initially gave the goal. But his assistant, further away from the incident, flagged for an offence against Burton, which was then upheld by the ref.

Brougham said: “If we had been allowed that goal it would have been 3-1 to us, and virtually game over. But it seems when you are near the bottom of the table, decisions like that go against you, and to make matters worse, they then scored the equaliser. They even had a late chance to win it, but if we had got nothing out of the game it would have been a travesty.

“However, overall it was a much better performance, considering we had a few players missing. Brandon Hayward, a midfielder, played up front and he did ever so well for us, including setting up one of Jimmi’s goals.

Although we could have won, a point away from home is always good, so we’ll take it.”

Vics turn their attentions to the FA Vase tomorrow when they visit Warminster Town in the first round proper. Brougham added: “It is a tie everyone at our club is buzzing about, and as long as we play like I know we can it should be a good game. We have a coach travelling, and we are all looking forward to the type of day we have not had for a while.”

Island discus throwers in superb form Pictured: Action from Newport’s defeat by Petersfield

Carisbrooke Girls excel Hayward sails in for a in football County finals Harvest Festival feast The three Isle of Wight winners of the Primary Schools’ Danone Cup football tournament travelled to take part in the Hampshire competition.

Carisbrooke represented the Island in the girls’ competition and played extremely well, winning overall by a massive six points against the other seven schools.

This means they will represent the Hampshire/IW Schools in the South West Regional Finals in Bristol later in the year, just one step from the National Finals.

Arreton represented the IW in the rural/small schools competition and also played extremely well

against the other seven schools.

They finished joint first on points but sadly lost out on goal difference so just miss out on travelling further in the competition, but it was still an excellent effort.

Newchurch represented the Island in the boys/open competition.

The mainland organiser described this competition as one of the strongest groups ever seen over the years. Newchurch competed well, drawing with the eventual champions, and had one 7-0 win.

They finished sixth of the nine teams which took part, which was very creditable considering the strengths of the opposition.

A Force 5-6 wind forecast deterred many competitors to take part in the annual Harvest Festival Race at Brading Haven Yacht Club, but those who did turn up were rewarded with a fine sunny evening, flat water and a steady F4.

Starting from the club line, Peter Hayward led the fleet down the harbour in his Scow, yet after a hesitant start it wasn’t long before Kristian Schafer and Karl Schafer sailed past in the Flying Fifteen and out of the harbour, reaching to a mark just south west of St Helen’s Fort.

Returning to the club line for a second lap, the Schafer brothers hoisted their spinnaker in the dying breeze and headed out again in to the Bay. Although gaining line honours, it was Peter Hayward who won the race on corrected time, and was awarded a box of prize fruit and vegetables. After quickly recovering from a capsize Gabe Davies and Tom Parsons came in a gallant third in their Pico.

Four discus throwers from the Isle of Wight Athletic Club took part in Oxford City Athletic Club’s end of season Throwsfest. Competing in the under-15 women category, Evie Taylor threw the discus a distance of 25.43m close to her personal best. Evie is currently ranked in the top 40 nationally in her age category for discus.

Also competing in the under 15 women category, Naomi Holdsworth entered the shot put and discus competitions. Naomi threw the shot a distance of 8.80m breaking the Isle of Wight Athletic Club record.

In the discus, she also narrowly missed out on achieving a personal best, throwing 28.74m. Naomi is currently ranked in the top 25 nationally in her age category.

Ellie Lovett competed in the under 17 women category.

Ellie also threw the discus and achieved a personal best of 36.30m, also breaking the Isle of Wight Athletic Club record. Ellie is now ranked 11th in the United Kingdom for her age group in discus.

Mike Ferne, discus coach of the girls, threw the discus in the veteran 70 men age category. Mike threw a seasons best of 41.40m which ranks him an impressive second in the country.

The four athletes have had a very successful season having achieved medals at Hampshire Track & Field Championships and Hampshire Schools Championships, represented Hampshire at various inter-county events and one has attended the Island Games in Gibraltar. This final competition for the year was a fabulous end of season event for the Isle of Wight Athletic Club discus squad.

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11th October 2019

IWRFC cruise to victory in their first away game Gosport & Fareham II 19 Isle of Wight 37 IWRFC headed to Gosport and Fareham RFC seeking their first away win, and to continue the momentum following the home win over Romsey the previous week. Captain David Blackman returned from injury to skipper a line-up showing a few changes, with father and son Stuart and Cameron Browne both included.

The scoring was opened early with Lewis Murray kicking a penalty on the opposition 22. It was soon evident that the IW scrum would be dominant, winning not only their own ball but the opposition’s.

Gosport, struggling to handle the pressure, gave away a penalty allowing a quick ball to Tom Marriott who scored under the posts, giving IW a 10-0 advantage.

The IW defence then gave away several easy penalties to the

opposition right in front of their own try line. The home team’s persistence proved too much, with G & F getting the try and converting. In response, IW began to look like the dominant team and profited from their efficient scrum when Gosport gave away another penalty in their own 22. The hosts cracked under the pressure once again, and Rouse man of the match Alex Smith pin-balled off two home forwards to score the try.

Gosport then got the ball down in the corner, with IW leading 17-12 at half time. IW opened the second half scoring with Tom Marriott throwing a dummy pass, and running through for another try, and the reliable boot of Murray made it 24-12. IW kept the pressure on, giving them the edge and a further 10 points. However, a chip and chase from Gosport earned a slice of luck, with the ball bouncing back off the post and being touched

down for a try, narrowing the gap to 34-19.

A late penalty allowed IW to further their lead just before the final whistle blew.

IW 2nd XV received a walkover from Basingstoke, and both IW teams now have a free week before returning to action on October 19, hosting Tottonians II and III at Wootton Rec.

Steve completes target in memory of his father

Newchurch win Tag Rugby final Newchurch Primary School won the South Wight Tag Rugby competition, beating Niton in the semi-finals

and Godshill in the final of what was an excellent competition, with a real high standard. Ventnor Rugby Club hosted the

event and provided medals and trophies, and it proved an excellent event for the children to experience the sport.

Wight Tri member Steve Dines took on his final triathlon of the season, his 10th for the year. At the beginning of the year, Steve chose to complete 10 triathlons, as a tribute to his late dad and to raise money for Dementia, from which his dad died of last year. His main goal was to complete 10 triathlons and finish no lower than 10th in his age group.

Steve (pictured) started his triathlon journey in April at Southampton in the rain and finished in the rain at Hemel Hempstead. In memory of his dad, Steve had named his camper-van ‘Geoff’ and has a personalised number plate in his dad’s name, and Steve has carried his memory with him throughout his 10 Tri Challenge!

He said: “My camper-van is

named Geoff so he has travelled to every event with me!”

At his final event, at the Hemel Hempstead Sprint Triathlon, Steve finished in style. It started with a 400m snake swim in an outdoor nonheated pool, followed by a twolap 20km bike course, finishing with a 5km run course, with a long ascent to the turnaround, followed by the descent back to the finish.

The conditions were wet and windy which was interesting in the exposed sections of the bike course, which was mostly around a built up area with a few country lanes thrown in.

Although it was a long way to travel for his final event, it was worth it for Steve, who finished first vet 60-64 and 32nd overall from 115 overall.

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BSJA indoor season off to a busy start The Isle of Wight BSJA held a very busy first indoor show, and are already preparing for the next one at Lake Farm on Sunday, November 17. Competitors should note that the times in Class 1 will start early to accommodate the increasing support. Anyone wishing to do a clear round should be warmed up and ready to enter the arena for 9am.

First indoor show winners: 70cm club class Juniors: Lani Rand with Marricopa. Seniors: Jack with Charlie Dunn.

Photos by Kev Cant

80cm Club class Juniors: Indie with Jessica Withers. Seniors: Quest with Sharon Waghorn 90cm Club Class Juniors: Indie with Jessica Withers. Seniors: Ted with Karen Begley and Quest with Sharon Waghorn.

90cm Open: Ramiros Fortune with Karen Begley. Discovery 1m: Ramiros Fortune with Karen Begley. 1.05 Speed Class: Carantus VD Meligem Z with Yasmin Brown. Newcomers / 1.10 Open: Dubai Star with Karen Begley.

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11th October 2019

Four Island trials riders to face ultimate challenge

Josh Stephens

A record four members from the Isle of Wight Motor Cycle Club will be traveling up to North Yorkshire this weekend to compete in the world famous Scott trial. The event is widely regarded as one of the toughest motorcycle events in the world, with less than half the 200 starters normally making it to the finish.

Held in and around the Swaledale area, the 80-mile offroad course through moors peat bogs and streams is seen as the ultimate test of a riders fitness and skill, with over 70 sections to be negotiated along the way. Not only is the course ultra hard, but it’s all against the clock, with the fastest man around setting the standard time, and everyone else has to finish within two hours of that time or face elimination.

First man away will be Island rider Mark Coombes from St Helen’s, who is having his first ride in the Scott. He will be followed every 20 seconds by other riders until James Stay from Newport sets out on his second attempt to make the finish having made the halfway point the last time he rode some years ago.

He’s been training hard and determined to finish this time.

The next Island rider to start will be Josh Stephens, also from St Helen’s who has just made the finish before, and will hopefully make it again. With the top riders starting at the back of the entry, British expert champion Chris Stay will set off looking to see the finish some five hours later for the fourth time running.

Chris Stay

Fierce competition in first October series Yarmouth Sailing Club’s first October Saturday allcomers series race saw seven Scows and three mixed fleet boats compete. Graeme Bowen slowly pulled ahead with Roger Pourscout-Edgerton closely following. The race was a struggle but most persevered. On the final 20 metres to the finish line Roger started to gain on Graeme and just pipped him on the line. Results for Scows were first Roger then Graeme and Chris Parsloe. However, at time of going to press results were not calculated for mixed fleet but it is quite possible that Martin Palmer sailing a Quest with his daughters Catherine and Laura were overall first on handicap.

The following day’s allcomers race had six Scows and two mixed fleet boats starting with a long run down river to C and B marks. Alan Toms led this part of the race but Graeme Bowen rounded B better and left Alan chasing back to C and B again.

Niall Wallace eventually got past Alan and just got past Graeme. But Graeme, with rounding rights, got round first and touched.

This left Niall in the lead until he missed out D mark and had to return. Graeme resumed the lead closely followed by Roger Pourscout-Edgerton and Alan. Niall chased furiously to E and F marks where Roger managed to find the mudbank letting Niall through to continue the chase to Alan but with Chris Parsloe now closed up and threatening.

In the final beat to the finish Niall just managed to pass Alan and hold off Chris. The result for Scows of an exhilarating race was Graeme first the Niall then Alan. However, at time of going to press results were not calculated for mixed fleet but it is quite possible that Martin Palmer sailing a Quest with his daughters Catherine and Laura were overall first on handicap.

Perfect lap gives Josh Adam tucks into first podium top spot a 10k best time Round 10 of the Isle of Wight Car Club calendar was based at Knighton Sand Pit, but due to heavy rain in the days before the event, the course looked more like a mud bath than a sand pit.

Not put off by a little mud, 12 competitors enjoyed a great day of club motorsport, threading their way through traffic cones, piles of rocks, and quarry excavators.

In round One Josh Finish posted the fastest time, but then struggled to stay at the sharp end of the leader board. Jon Barrett took advantage of the all-wheel drive in his Subaru Impreza and was the

fastest driver in round two, but the Steve Brett in his light and nimble classic Mini was the fastest drive in round three.

In the class battle, Steve Glass was pushing his MGZR hard to keep up with Hannah Thompson and Ricky Sheppard in their shared Renault Clio. Ricky took the class win and Hannah was crowned the fastest lady of the day.

In class two Barry Richardson showed his son Kevin how it’s done by taking the victory. Joe Moor was the fastest class four driver, and temporarily topped the leader board in round six but was

knocked down to the second step by the drivers that followed him.

Steve Brett also has a chance of standing on the top step in round six but had to settle for the second step as Josh Finch (pictured), in his final run, put down a perfect lap to win the event. This was a popular result as this is the first time Josh has stood on the top step of the podium.

The final unsealed surface event of the year will return to Knighton Sand Pit on Sunday (Oct 13), with competitors and spectators welcome.

Adam Tuck of Ryde Harriers (pictured) ran the Bournemouth Supersonic 10k race last Saturday, finishing in a superb fifth place, out of more than 2,100 competitors in a personal best time of 34 mins 46secs. He knocked nearly 40 seconds off the previous PB, set at the Sandown-Shanklin 10k only recently.

Ryde Harriers organise a range of open races on the Isle of Wight every year from track championships to marathons. The weekly club night is on a Tuesday with members meeting from 7pm onwards at Ryde Rowing Club. Anyone interested in running and mixing with like-minded running enthusiasts should contact: captain@rydeharriers.co.uk.

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Ryde A soon back in the groove to beat the Sleepers The new IW Table Tennis Association season got underway with Division One reigning champions quickly showing their class. Their two new team members, Scott Lawson and Glenn Morley, both won all their matches against Havenstreet Sleepers, with only the Sleepers Ollie Staniforth managing a win

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against Ryde’s Roger Nevell. But Staniforth was unlucky not to gain a set off Lawson in a close fought match. Ryde A took the match emphatically by nine games to One. Meanwhile, Shanklin Sharks took on Newport Vics B, comprising siblings Sean and Anna Joyce, along with Anna’s Island Games

Anna Joyce of Newport Vics B

Don Hobbs of Shanklin Sharks

team mate Danny Burns. There were some exciting five-set thrillers between Anna and both Tom Johnson and Mike Bulpitt, with the Sharks players coming out on top. Young Sean and Shanklin’s Don Hobbs contested another tight five-setter with Hobbs holding on to take the match. Burns won all three of his games with only Hobbs troubling him, and joined up with Sean to take the doubles against Johnson and Hobbs, with the match ending 6-4 to Shanklin.

The Division Two match of the week was between league newcomers Freshwater A and newly promoted Ryde Raptors. Freshwater comprise a former Division One player, Division Two player and a former Division Three player, giving an interesting mix to their team. In a close and hard fought match the result ultimately rested on the doubles between Freshwater’s Rob Warren and Matt Mair against Spike Hughes and Trevor Jones, which Freshwater won in a four-set thriller to take the match 6-4.

Young Joseph Chapman, who has moved up from Division Three with the other teenagers of Ryde Rookies, gave an impressive

performance beating Havenstreet Locos Mike Lee and taking last season’s best Division Two player, Ian Loosemore, to five sets. The Locos won the match 9-1.

In Division Three Ryde Rackets drew on their years of experience to gain an unexpected draw against St Lawrence Lizards, newly relegated from Division Two, with the Lizards Derek Pittard player of the match winning all his games. Ryde Rustics’ experience also told as they beat Newport Vics E 6-4, but the Vics new player Mike Duffy had a good win in his first league match beating seasoned veteran Pauline Rorke in four sets.

Results: Division One: Newport Vics B 4, Shanklin Sharks 6; Ryde A 9, Havenstreet Sleepers 1.

Division Two: Havenstreet Locos 9, Ryde Rookies 1; Rookley 7, Ryde Rascals 3; Ryde Red Kites 0, Vics c 10; Shanklin B 10, Vics D 0; Freshwater 6, Ryde Raptors 4.

Division Three: Ryde Revellers 10, Ryde Regals 0; Ryde Rustics 4, Newport Vics E 6; Ryde Rackets 5, St Lawrence Lizards 5; Ryde Rockets 8, Wootton Wombles 2.

Leader Ben eases to Winter Series victory

Dan Locke

The Isle of Wight Motorcycle Club held the ninth round of the 2019 Winter Series Trials Championship at Bembridge Down. The Intermediate class was won convincingly by Championship leader, Ben Brodie.

Ben finished the trial on 31 points, 40 ahead of his nearest rival Harvey Grieve. Scout Gregory and Sonny Gaskin were tied on 79, but Scout was awarded third place, notching up four cleans to Sonny’s three.

Elite rider Josh Stephens was in action, negotiating the Expert route for a loss of 16, and getting in some important bike time before he travels up to Richmond, North Yorkshire for the gruelling Scott Trial. There were four Over 50 riders and Rory Stephens took another convincing win with a total of only 19. Simon Watmough did enough to claim second spot from Andy Scott-Jackson in third.

Colin Brodie and Phil Chase were involved in another tie-break in the Clubman class. Both riders scored 66, but Colin took the win by the narrowest of margins, managing 10 cleans to Phil’s nine.

Ben Brodie The Novice class only attracted three riders with just two finishers.

Paul Kent took the win on 59 from Championship leader, Joe Taylor, on 75, sections six and seven making all the difference.

The pick of the Sportsman riders was Geoff Taylor, with 56. Tristan Osborne, in his first trial for many years, managed a good 48.

Five Youth riders took on the tricky

sections, headed up Dan Locke and Josh Morris in the Youth Experts. Dan managed to seal the win, 21 marks clear of Josh, sections four and six proving to be the deciders. Alfie Haydon put in his usual confident performance to take the points in the Youth Intermediate class. Alfie Gaskin was back on his bike so soon after his recent arm injury while on holiday.

He finished the trial to take the points in the Youth Novice class. Bertie Grieve continues to gain in confidence in the Youth Beginners bagging himself another 10 Championship points.

The Club next meet on Sunday, October 20 for the Ted Phillips Cup. The start time is 12 noon with signing on open from 11am.

Keep an eye on the Club website: www.iowmcc.co.uk where details of the venue will be published nearer the time.

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Sport

Observer

By Peter White

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This week’s highlights...

T Tennis Ryde A back in the groove

11th October 2019

Football

Newport looking for Vase win

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Island runners shine in 63rd IW Marathon

Gary Marshall from Newport and Les Cupis of Ryde Harriers led the charge of Island runners competing in this year’s 63rd Isle of Wight Marathon.

Gary, who is not attached to a club, finished second and Les was fourth in a field of nearly 120 runners, who took part in the gruelling event over 26 miles, 385 yards. The race is one of the oldest in the UK and 25th in the Association of Road Racing Statisticians list of longest running marathons in the world.

It started from Cowes Community Centre, and showcased the Isle of Wight’s talented running community with attendees from Ryde Harriers, Isle of Wight Road Runners, Wight Tri and Vegan Runs, as well as individuals not attached to clubs.

Jack Oates from Fareham was first overall, in 2 hours, 35 mins, 1 sec, followed in by Marshall, then Alan Morris of Barnet, with Cupis fourth in 3 hours, 11 secs. His Harriers team mate Richard Melville was seventh in 3:15:55, while Dave Hunt also did exceptionally well to finish 13th in 3:26:28.

Rosanna Sexton of Isle of Wight Runners was the first woman to cross the line, in 3:26:28 for an exceptional 14th place overall.

Like father, like son!

It was a real family affair when Isle of Wight Rugby Club took to the field for their first away victory of the new season, at Gosport & Fareham II. The Island side, winners by 37 points to 19, had father and son Stuart and Cameron Browne in their starting line-up.

Stuart (right) and Cameron are seen here in The Isle of Wight RFC team have made an impressive start to the new season, their win at Gosport coming after a home victory over Romsey the previous weekend. But at least Stuart and Cameron have some time to celebrate as both IW teams now have a free weekend before returning to action on October 19, hosting Tottonians II and III at Wootton Rec. See match report page 36.