Isle of Wight News- #IW NEWS Isle of Wight Gazette

KNIGHTON SHUTE near Newchurch was closed for nearly eight hours yesterday evening (Tuesday, August 31) whilst fire fighters from Newport, Sandown and Ryde battled to free a trapped driver and his passenger from a pale blue Peugeot 306, which had been in a collision with a red Ford Fiesta.

Three ambulances and three fire appliances, assisted by the rescue tender from Newport, attended the crash scene.

The roof of the Peugeot had to be cut off by fire crews using the ‘jaws of life’ in order to free the elderly couple, who were transferred to hospital on spinal boards by land ambulance.

The elderly couple from Bembridge and a 12-year-old child from the Fiesta were treated by the Isle of Wight ambulance service at the scene before being taken to St Mary’s hospital in Newport.

The 12-year-old girl, whose mum is believed to be a teacher, escaped without injury. The mother was driving home after shopping at Tescos when the accident occurred.

Fire-fighters battled for over an hour to free the trapped elderly driver who had injuries to his legs and neck, and is thought to be suffering from spinal injuries.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight air ambulance was called in by the Duty Ambulance Officer, who also attended the crash scene. The on board doctor and a paramedic assisted with treating the driver, whilst fire crews fought to free the man. No one was taken to hospital by air ambulance.

Sgt Paul Bailey from Shanklin RPU said: “The road is likely to remain closed for at least a couple of hours. We would like to appeal for witnesses who may have seen the Peugeot or the Fiesta prior to the collision.”

Drivers with any information are asked to contact Sgt Paul Bailey at Shanklin RPU on 101 quoting operation “Seamstress”. Sgt Bailey went on to say that Specialist officers from the Collision Investigation Unit based at Netley had been called in from the mainland to establish how the accident happened, and that the cordon was likely to last several hours. He advised motorists to seek alternative routes.

A petition signed by 5,720 people was presented to Barry Abrahams, IW Council Cabinet member responsible for Environmental Health at a demonstration at Shanklin Fire Station this afternoon (Tuesday August 31).

Gathering to register their alarm at the proposed closure of the station, a large crowd of local residents waved placards and jeered. Drivers hooted their horns in support as ex retained fire fighter Steve Marsh presented the petition against the closure, packed in five large cardboard boxes.

Shanklin’s Town Crier announced the presentation and David Pugh, Leader of IW Council looked on as Steve Marsh made an impassioned speech to Barry Abrahams.

“Why are you spending £350,000 per year to produce a document that says closing Shanklin Fire Station will endanger fire cover in the evenings and weekends – it says it here in black and white,” said Steve brandishing the document produced in a recent consultancy.

“I knew I was going to be on a losing wicket,” said Cllr Abrahams after the presentation. “I recognise the strength of feeling – but this isn’t something that the Isle of Wight faces on its own.”

Vice Chairman of the IW Council and member for Shanklin Central, David Williams said: “There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes at County Hall. I can understand people thinking as they do – there’s the fear factor. It comes down to money in the end, but the fight goes on.”

“I’m with the people of Shanklin,” said Mayor of Shanklin, Denise Larner. “We’ve got to think of the safety aspects.

“The town council was in agreement to close the station, but not until the Bay Area station was built – when that’s built everyone will feel safe.”

The building of the Bay Area station has now been shelved for the foreseeable future.

“In the meantime we’re down to one pump in Ventnor, and one pump in Sandown, due to a lack of manpower, and they haven’t recruited for Shanklin to get anyone else into the station,” said Steve Marsh who was a firefighter at Shanklin for many years.

“Until such time as the Bay Area station is built the Bay area isn’t safe. It’s legally and morally wrong what the service have done so far and the council shouldn’t have voted on it.”

PENSIONER Phillip Batchelor was the last person to see tragic Ivory Wave victim Michael Bishton alive.

Mr Batchelor, 75, was walking his cross-Alsatian dog Mutley on cliffs at Culver Down, near Sandown. He spotted Michael wearing an England top and acting strangely on the wrong side of a safety fence.

He said he feared that Michael would jump or fall to his death but did not dare intervene because he seemed out of control. The retired crane driver said: “He was so full of beans that it would not surprise me at all if he had taken drugs.”

Mr Batchelor set off with Mutley on their daily walk at 7.30am. He said: “I take Mutley out every morning on the cliffs at the same time and I know nearly everyone up there by sight. There are other dog walkers, joggers and bird watchers. They keep to the paths.

“I saw this lad at 8am. I had never seen him there before. He was on the wrong side of the fence right out on the cliff edge. He was wearing an England top and shorts and looked very peculiar. He was just bouncing and running around, showing off by the edge.

“He seemed to have boundless energy, bouncing around like a livewire. He was stretching his arms out sideways like a Dambuster as if he thought he could fly. I didn’t know what was going on in his mind – whether he was a jumper or just a bloody idiot running along the edge.

“But at 75, I was not going to climb over a fence to see if I could help him. He was a big lad and could easily have picked me up and chucked me over the edge. I nearly lost sight of him and could just see his head in the distance but then he came back.

“The last thing I saw was him apparently stretching his hamstrings as he was facing the sea. I never saw him jump of fall.”

Mr Batchelor added: “I gave a statement to police about what I saw. When I described the lad, they said he was the one pulled out of the sea. It is terrible for his family. It is very sad that a young life should be wasted like that.”

Mr Batchelor said that a friend’s son had also taken Ivory Wave recently. He said: “It almost blew his top off. Now he is having counselling about drugs. I would like to see a stop to this drug being sold.

“I don’t believe in drugs. It is bad enough when you have to take them for medical reasons rather than for fun. I think it is disgusting that people are making money out of selling them to young people.”

CHARLOTTE MILLER, of Jay Miller’s Circus has achieved an amazing feat – but this time not in the Big Top.

Although she has had to fit in studying around her performances in the ring with her family’s touring circus, the young gymnast has passed all of her 14 GCSEs with flying colours.

It’s of her Sports BTEC that Charlotte, 16, is most proud, as she achieved a Distinction *. “When I saw the D I thought the worst, but then I realised it was a Distinction,” she laughed.

Charlotte also took BTEC Business Studies and got a Distinction, Child Development in which she got an A, English Literature and Language (both Bs), two sciences (both Bs), Maths (B), French (C) and RE (C). These qualifications are the equivalent of 14 GCSE passes.

Although Charlotte attends school in Wimborne for three months of the year, from March to November the circus is touring the country and she has had to study on the road. She has some support online from Virtual Learning (about five hours per week) but a lot of the work she has had to do on her own.

“We’re immensely proud of her,” said mum Liz who runs the circus with her dad Jay (Jon). “We’ve helped to support her whilst we’ve been on the road. Our second daughter Jodi (14) has just chosen her subjects and will have to study a similar routine.”

“It was hard work sometimes when I didn’t have any help, but I think I get on better working by myself,” said Charlotte. “I’m going to do A Levels now in Health and Social Care, Sports and Food Technology.”

After this Charlotte intends to take a degree with the Open University. “Probably something to do with children and/or sports,” said Charlotte, who enjoyed a period of work experience as a gymnastics teacher, although he intends to stay with the circus.

LOTS OF SMILING happy students foretold a fantastic array of A Level results for Medina High School students last week.

The average point score for the school had increased and results in the arts had been especially good. The school offers specialism in the arts and Art, Photography, Dance, Music and Music Technology all posted a 100 per cent pass rate.

“Our more traditional subjects of Maths, Geography and History have been successful yet again, also producing 100 per cent and there have been significant improvements in Science,” said Acting Headteacher, Ms Grainne Andrews.

“Individual students have returned some outstanding results and that means that they can now access their university of choice,” she added.

Head Girl Gemma Read was extremely pleased with her three A grade A levels – she will now be reading biochemistry at Imperial College, London.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the students at Carisbrooke High School who have achieved some outstanding results,” added Ms Andrews.

“I am looking forward to working with Carisbrooke, our partner school in the Island Innovation Trust so we can continue to develop and improve on sixth form provision for all of our young people on the Island.”

CARISBROOKE HIGH SCHOOL students achieved the best ever A level results for the school this year with 71 per cent passes between A* and C, 98 per cent passes between A* and E and 17 per cent passes at A* and A.

Carisbrooke Students were awarded 10A* grades, mainly in Maths and Science based subjects.

Twenty seven subjects had a 100% pass rate at A*- E and 11 had a 100% pass rate at A*- C

Some of their best performing students were:

Tom Hoare: 3A* & 1A off to Oxford

Faith Norster: 2A* & 1A off to Oxford

Joanna Vivian: 2A* & 2A off to Durham

Ryan Munns: 1A* & 2A off to Exeter

Abbie Ford: 1A* & 2A studying Medicine

Jose Collins: 1A* & 2B off to Southampton

Lucy Edwards: 3A & 1B off to Bath

Carys Austin, Head of Sixth Form said: “We are delighted with these results. This is the fourth year now where we have seen improvement at A level and we would like to congratulate all of our students for their hard work, dedication and commitment.”

David Jeapes, Head teacher, said: “I would like to congratulate all of our students on achieving these record breaking results. Almost 1 in 5 of the grades at Carisbrooke are either at A* or A grade, which reflected the ethos of the students and the school. In spite of the issues surrounding the availability of university places around the country; the vast majority of our students have secured their first choice placement.”

COWES-BASED UKSA is now able to offer short breaks for disabled children on the Island thanks to a new government initiative.

Run in conjunction with the IW Council and NHS Isle of Wight, the funding has been provided by the ‘Aiming High for Disabled Children’ scheme, which aims to offer parents and carers of disabled children more activities for their families.

Under the scheme, UKSA is providing day-long watersports and sailing courses at its Cowes headquarters. The sessions have been designed to provide a positive, enjoyable activity for the children, whilst parents and carers gain a well-earned break.

Jon Ely, Chief Executive at UKSA, said: “We are delighted to be part of the Aiming High for Disabled Children scheme, providing a much-needed service for parents and carers of disabled children from across the Island.

We feel sure that our day courses will prove very popular, and we hope to be able to roll out this service for as many deserving families as possible.”

CRIMINAL DAMAGE has been caused to 16 cars parked in Binstead.

Eleven vehicles were parked in Kings Road, three in Parkway, one in Arnold Road, and one in Cemetery Road when they had their paintwork scratched sometime between 10pm on Monday, August 23 and 10.49am on Tuesday, August 24.

Police Community Support Officer Katy Berry said: “House-to-house enquiries were carried out this week, and we remain keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the cars being damaged or from people with information about who was responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ryde Police Station by phoning 101.

POLICE have made a new appeal for two key witnesses to come forward after an allegation of assault in Newport.

A 21-year-old woman from Ventnor told police she was assaulted by two women outside the ‘Gamestation’ store near the junction of St. James’ Street and South Street in Newport sometime between 4pm and 5pm on Tuesday, July 20, 2010.

The first witness took the victim into McDonald’s restaurant in St. James’ Street, Newport after the alleged assault to look after her until police officers arrived.

She was described as white, middle aged, with light coloured hair. She was wearing blue trousers, possibly jeans, a maroon, white and pink coloured top with a large floral pattern, pink shoes and with sunglasses resting in her hair. She was carrying a brown handbag and plastic BHS carrier bag.

The second witness was seen speaking with the victim on the pavement on the corner of South Street and St. James’ Street outside ‘Gamestation’ at 4.55pm on Tuesday, July 20.

He was described as white, middle aged, with grey / white hair. He was wearing a grey top, long shorts and brown shoes.

Investigating officer PC Stuart Ross said: “Both these people are important witnesses who spoke and stayed with the victim after she was allegedly assaulted. I’m hoping this fresh appeal can jog their memories and encourage them to come forward with their details. Police and the Crown Prosecution Service believe both these witnesses have information that could be crucial in this case.

“I would also appeal again for anyone else to contact police if they remember seeing an assault in the St. James’ Street and South Street area of Newport on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 20.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Stuart Ross at Newport Police Station by phoning 101.

DESPITE the damp start on the morning of Ryde Inshore Rescue’s Giant Toddle, 100 people turned up to raise funds for the Lifeboat at Appley Park.

An assorted group of babies, toddlers, children, parents and even grandparents made their way to the park for the third Giant Toddle on Saturday August 14.

Children dressed in a mixture of fancy dress turned up to make the mile long walk around the park in costumes such as ‘Upsy Daisy’, Little Miss Giggles, Mini Mouse, Noddy, a cat, a lion, a zebra, a ladybug and a pumpkin.

Members of the Inshore Lifeboat dressed as children’s characters including Cinderella, Eeyore, Wee Willy Winkie and Tigger greeted them when they arrived.

Parents had also made the effort to dress up with Baywatch’s Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff overseeing the proceedings along with Buzz Lightyear and a sumo wrestler.

Tyler Roper (3) was first across the finishing line at Appley Café after deciding to run the entire course. “Much to his mum’s delight as she was left running behind him with his scooter and bag,” laughed Michaela White (Cinderella), Chairman of Ryde Inshore Rescue.

“Once again the day proved to be a huge success and we would like to thank the families from all over the island who supported our event. Early figures are showing that we will beat the £1000 sponsorship that we raised last year,” said Michaela.

THE RAIN held off for Ventnor Carnival’s illuminated procession and most of the entries from the Wednesday procession made the effort to bedeck themselves with lights, including many of the children’s carnival entries too.

Newport Carnival Queens took the Barnett Challenge Cup after taking the Harrison Challenge Cup on the Wednesday for most time and effort.

Wight Strollers ‘Bad Habits’ once again swiped the most cups for their fabulous singing nuns, (3), but this time Ventnor Fringe were driving up on the outside with their Summer Holiday double decker London Bus being awarded two.

Results:

Carnival Queens (Barnet Challenge Cup) 1st – Newport, 2nd – Cowes, 3rd – St Helens

Tableaux on Vehicles (Westfield Holiday Centre) 1st – Bad Habits – Wight Strollers

Decorated Private Cars (Danelaw Challenge Cup) !st – Bugsy Malone, 2nd – Candy and Toys

Fancy Dress Wheeled (Single Child) 1st Amelia Churches Wingrove

Fancy Dress Wheeled (Group) 1st – Ventnor Bay Mermaids, 2nd – Shrek and Family

Fancy Dress Adult (Tinto’s Cup) 1st Enchantica – Eloise Preston

Fancy Dress Pairs Children (Challenge Cup) 1st – Worzel Gummidge and Aunt Sally – Lacey Gammage and Emily Aldridge Snell

Fancy Dress Child (Duvall Challenge Cup) 1st Jack in a box – Callum Churches Wingrove, 2nd – Racing Pigeon – Dominic Rann Gammage, 3rd – Rubbish Fairy – Tamara Perkins.

Associations and Clubs (George and Aileen Channing Challenge Cup) 1st - Ventnor Fringe, 2nd - On the Farm, 3rd - Ventnor Scouts

Trade Tableaux (Elsa Cup) 1st – Spyglass – Ventnor Buccaneers

Best Comic Tableaux (Leslie’s Filling Station) : Bad Habits – Wight Strollers

Best Local Entry (Fred Farrow Cup): Fiona from Shrek – Steph Smith

Best Children’s Entry (J Sims Cup) V Town Circus – Phillips and Parsons families

Most Topical Entry (Reg Flux Challenge Cup) Ventnor Fringe

Best Entry in Procession (Gordon Wadsworth Memorial Cup): Bad Habits – Wight Strollers

COWES LIFEBOAT raced to the aid of a large gaff-rigged yacht after reports that it had suffered a dismasting in strong winds in the Solent.

The 30 foot Pegasus, crewed by a couple and their teenage son, lost its wooden mast in challenging wind-against-tide conditions off Thorness Bay. Although the vessel was without its radio because of the dismasting another yacht in the vicinity, Nightingale, was able to relay messages back and forth to Solent coastguards.

When the Cowes Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Tabby Cat, helmed by Matt Chessell, came alongside two lifeboat members – Kevin Richardson and Patrick Moreton - set to work with the laborious and time-consuming task of retrieving from the water the mainsail, mast and rigging. It was well over half an hour before everything was back on board.

Assisted by a tow rope to the lifeboat, Pegasus then used its own engine to make for calmer waters at the entrance of Southampton Water. From there the yacht continued under just its own power to a boatyard at Bursledon.

At the time of the dismasting the Solent was being swept by a Force 6 South- Westerly, gusting to Force 8.

ELEVEN-YEAR OLD Harriet Back was recently whisked from Whitwell to star in a high profile children’s television series that was being filmed in Liverpool.

The TV series, called ‘House of Anubis’, is being produced for Nickelodeon by Lime Pictures, who are one of the UK’s largest independent producers. Hollyoaks is just one of their portfolio of successful children’s TV series’.

Harriet was chosen for the role of ‘Grace’ from scores of talented young actors who attended auditions in London a few weeks ago.

“We got a call from the casting agents on Wednesday 18 August telling us that Harriet had been successful and that she was needed at the studios in Liverpool on Friday morning,” said her Mum Charlotte.

“After hurriedly obtaining the required Children’s Performance Licence from the Isle of Wight Council and a Medical Certificate from or local Ventnor Surgery, my husband took Harriet up to Liverpool by train where they stayed overnight before filming started on the Friday morning (August 20).

“Although the role was quite small, Harriet was able to show off her acting and singing abilities. The filming took from 9.30am until 3.30pm.

“Harriet had great fun both on and off set and became good friends with some of the other young actors.”

Harriet attends Christ The King College and in her spare time practices her drama skills with the Ventnor Theatre Group and Red Tie Theatre. She also studies ballet/modern dance with the Gillian Cartwright School of Dance and enjoys singing with the Medina Community Choir.

The series is due to start showing in the US next month and should be broadcast in the UK early next year. For more details about the series see: http://www.limepictures.com/260510_NickelodeonUs.htm

THIS 12 METRE long rubbish-guzzling monster will be roaming around the Bestival looking for trash.

We Are What We Do, the people behind the successful Anya Hindmarch I am NOT a Plastic Bag shopper, have created Jacques le Trash, who is a huge 12 metre long mean, ‘green’, rubbish guzzling monster who will whisk off the festival waste ready for recycling.

He will be roaming the Bestival arena with his handler inviting people to ‘feed’ him his favourite grub such as tin cans, paper plates, plastic bottles and cigarette butts. All will be consumed and recycled by Jacques in return for a signature ‘bite mark’ - this year’s festival must have.

Nick Stanhope, CEO of We Are What We Do, says:

“Jacques le Trash’s key goal is to make recycling fun. We live by the mantra that doing good things doesn’t have to be boring. Bestival visitors don’t have to worry about finding a place to recycle, that place will come to them in the form of a grizzly monster with four different bellies. A psychedelic way of getting a green message across in a weird and wonderful (and Bestival appropriate!) way.”

Kate Jackman – Bestival Environmental Manager, says:

“Bestival was a very proud recipient of an ‘Outstanding’ Greener Festival Award in 2009 and we’re keen to keep improving our green standards year upon year. When We Are What We Do told us about Jacques we couldn’t wait to get him his festival wristband and set him loose among the crowd – anything that encourages recycling is a welcome addition to our eco conscious event!”

For more information and to meet Jacques le Trash, visit www.wearewhatwedo.org/jacquesletrash

HAMPSHIRE CONSTABULARY’S acclaimed campaign to tackle the risks of knives and imitation firearms went to the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival.

Full-time Isle of Wight armed response officers PC Stuart Ross and PC Matt Tasker presented displays and demonstrations of their work to thousands of visitors at the festival show ground at Newchurch near Sandown.

The campaign known as FAKE, which stands for Firearms And Knife Education, was created by officers from Hampshire Constabulary’s Tactical Firearms Support Unit (TFSU).

Formerly known as Fake Gun, Real Trouble, the overall programme, which delivers DVDs and an educational package to schools, youth groups, and partner agency groups across the two counties, was successfully launched in Hampshire in 2007 to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying a BB gun or imitation firearm and has grown to encompass the potentially lethal threat of knives.

The campaign was created when it was discovered that almost 70 per cent of all firearms-related incidents police respond to involved fake guns and air weapons.

The FAKE campaign was brought to the Island by PC Stuart Ross in October 2008. Armed response officers on the Island make regular appearances at public events and schools where more than 16,000 pupils have experienced this interactive education.

PC Stuart Ross said: “We are fortunate not to have a serious problem with gun and knife crime on the Island, but we are never complacent in wanting to educate the public so a potential tragedy can be prevented thanks to better awareness of the risks.

“Police are grateful to organisers of the Garlic Festival for embracing this campaign and allowing us to deliver these important safety messages to thousands of Island residents and tourists who were keen and interested to understand more about the dangers as well as the roles and responsibilities of an armed response officer.

“I think this was the best response we’ve ever had to a FAKE event on the Island with positive comments by people visiting from all over the country.

“The message for youngsters and parents is that it’s difficult, even for firearms experts, to distinguish between a fake gun and a real weapon from a distance. Each call to police reporting a firearm being seen prompts the same response involving armed officers. Often, it’s only once the gun is retrieved that officers are able to confirm it is an imitation or BB gun.”

“Officers use a variety of props to demonstrate to the students how difficult it is to determine – from sight – whether weapons are real or not. “Imitation firearms and BB guns may seem like harmless fun, by carrying one you are putting yourself at risk; and we are all aware of the serious threat caused by carrying a knife.

“Our message is very simple: Just don’t do it.”

By David Holmes

YOU CAN’T please all of the people all of the time goes the old cliché, but surely only the most determined grumpy visitor could have found fault with this year’s Garlic show.

This Island institution seems to go from strength to strength. Despite the best efforts of Saturday’s morning rain, the crowds did arrive, some of course, choosing to delay their visit until Sunday. This meant a busier second day and a bit of queuing. More importantly, it also meant they missed the return of the amazing Wurzels, true West Country crowd pleasers.

Sunday’s headliners were The Glitter band, now reformed with all original living members. The band seemed to prove the public have a fondness for the Glitter sound, even if the man himself did his best to destroy the magic.

The huge stage featuring many local musicians is of course just a part of the whole; still at the core of this festival is Island garlic and local produce of all kinds, proudly displayed by growers in enormous marquees.

The Garlic show really does have something for everyone; Titan the Big Brother robot was there for the third year running. His capacity to amuse and terrify remains undiminished. There were circus skills, world champion mountain bikers, talented animals, music, arts and crafts, dozens of food outlets and displays of all kinds.

The organisers claim up to 300 stalls and attractions in total. I wouldn’t bet against them being right. My kids enjoyed the Punch and Judy, Magic show, Fossil man, climbing wall, footie, funfair, ball pond, grub and of course, music.

Next year’s show (they say) is already at the planning stage, the music will be ‘better than ever’ it’s claimed. At one point on Sunday, I watched some older people enjoying the stage music. It struck me that for six or seven pounds, some of these visitors were getting a proper music festival experience, at a fairground price, rather than a hundred pounds plus. There was even an amazing big screen, to enable a close up look at the artists!

This was the 26th Isle of Wight Garlic festival; the next show takes place on August 20 and 21, 2011. I confidently predict it will draw the crowds for the 27th time. The now famous Garlic festival really is a great Island day out and something of which we can all be a little proud, however grumpy life makes us feel the rest of the time!

IT WAS a saga of epic proportions for a Ryde family as pint-sized Odin lookalike Reece Harris caught the eye of the judges — and the hundreds who lined the streets —in Ryde’s annual carnival.

Adopting a Viking theme this year, 11-year-old Reece, of Merrymead Close, Ryde, won the cup for Enid Myatt Cup for best decorated cycle, motorcycle or hand cart.

Ingeniously, Reece’s longship was built by his mum Kelly from a second-hand pram, and his big bushy Odin beard was found on eBay.

Three generations of two Island families got a buzz out of taking part in this year’s procession with their entry, The Silly Bees.

The Powells, of Bembridge, and the Broadheads, of Shanklin, resurrected a bee-related idea they had put on ice 30 years ago and won a cup for best family entry.

Children dressed as bees, while the adults acted as beekeepers.

Ryde pensioner and amateur Egyptologist, Pat Gudgin, of Field View, looked the part as Cleopatra on her regally-decorated mobility scooter.

The Wight Strollers, which included former CP deputy editor Mike Sutcliffe, won more silverware at an Island carnival this summer with their all-action nun routine, Bad Habits.

The number of entries matched last year’s figure.

Music was provided by Medina Marching Band, Wight Diamonds, Vectis Corps of Drums, Raw Samba and Unidos.

ALL THE RESULTS

Bet Ivin Memorial Cup for best in procession: Wight Strollers with ‘Bad Habits’

Joyce Harris memorial Cup for best overall family entry: Powell and Broadhead families with ‘The Silly Bees’

Jacobs Cup for best floral entry: St Mary’s Primary School with ‘Flower Garden’

Southern Vectis Challenge Cup for best constructed entry: Wilson family with ‘Toy Story’

Jock Livingstone Memorial Cup for best pedestrian entry: Eloise Preston with

‘Enchantia’

Ellery Cup for Youth Clubs: PJ’s Dance School with ‘PJ’s Goes Ga Ga’

Day Trophy for groups: Bloomfield family with ‘Henry the Eighth and his Six Wives’

Stage centre Cup for best adult pedestrian: Emma Baxter and Sarah Jeremiah with ‘Birds of a Feather’

Stage Centre Cup for best pedestrian aged under 16: Eloise Preston with ‘Enchantia’.

Archie Kervel Cup for best entry from Ryde and district: Cats Protection League with ‘Alice in Wonderland’

Booth Cup for best carnival queen float: Sandown

Goble Cup for best miscellaneous entry: Wilson family with ’Toy Story’

Enid Myatt Cup for best decorated cycle, motorcycle or hand cart: Reece Harris with ‘Odin’

Julia Mason Cup for most humorous entry: Binstead Community Centre with ‘Dorothy Does Binstead’

Associations, adult clubs and pubs: Wight Diamonds Carnival Club.

Pedestrian schools and organisations: Oakfield Primary School with ‘Bollywood’

VENTNOR FRINGE FESTIVAL was hailed as a great success by all that attended and participated in the first event of its type to hit the Isle of Wight.

The Island’s fledgling answer to the Edinburgh Fringe brought people from far and wide. Many were bowled over to find that the whole event was organised by a team of youngsters who are all under the age of 20.

Kicking off on Wednesday’s carnival day, the Fringe took to the big red ‘Routemaster’ bus for a ‘Summer Holiday’ excursion. Pianos had sprung up at various sites around the town and spontaneous busking broke out on street corners.

A disused shop had been transformed into ‘The Picture House’ and was showing a wide selection of films including those by ‘guerilla’ filmmaker Vincent Moon.

The upstairs bar at the Winter Gardens had been transformed into ‘The Lantern Lounge’ for the duration of the festival and served as a laid-back base and late evening venue for those attending the Fringe.

Felicity Fair Thompson hosted writing, directing and performing workshops throughout the event and Teresa Grimaldi gave puppetry classes and gave an imaginative performance in the Hidden Library.

Thursday heralded a whole host of performances – Goldilocks by Hand to Mouth Theatre, Karen Tweed at the Old Church in Bonchurch and Johnny Flynn at St Catherine’s Church in Ventnor, plus workshops and more films from Vincent Moon.

Ventnor Park was the focus for Friday’s festivities with a wonderful ‘Patchwork Picnic’ taking shape amongst the flowerbeds – many families took up the invitation to bring a blanket and join the patchwork.

The Hidden Library was offering activities for children, yoga lessons were being enjoyed and Gina Shore was giving hula-hoop demonstrations and everyone was joining in. There was live music on the bandstand from Cephalodidge, Keri Highland, Dr Jones and the Blunt Instruments, Gweido and Niewborn.

Eva Wolfram had built a labyrinth at the end of the park and visitors were invited to tie a piece of fabric on the ‘tree’ in the middle and make a wish.

In the evening the buzz was that there was to be an impromptu performance by Casper Claus in the Old Church and by 9pm the small venue was full for his haunting and extraordinary performance. Mick Smith later joined him on keyboards for some cool improvisation.

Art in the Park was the focus for Saturday with artists from across the Island exhibiting their work, including the story telling, and writing, duo Joseph Daniels and Maria Hamblet with their book ‘The Tales of Darius Sedgewick’.

Workshops continued in the park and performances of poetry and prose were given throughout the afternoon. Again there was live music on the bandstand, which continued into the evening.

Holy Kirby, supported by Groove Cat, gave a wonderful early evening performance on Saturday evening at St Catherine’s Church and there was Chill in the Park, hosted by Blunt Events.

Then it was back onto the beautifully decorated red bus for the illuminated carnival procession as a finale to the Fringe, which won three cups for the Fringe organisers too.

Culminating at the park, revellers were able to pick up the end of the bandstand performances and wander through the candle lit labyrinth to make a last wish that the festival returns next year.

Fringe goers then gathered in the Lantern Lounge for a last night of sounds from Global Psychedelic Soundsystems, aka Tony Walton.

Ventnor Fringe was organised by Jack Whitewood, Mhairi Macaulay, Thea Welsford, Alex Welsford and Zach Miller, who began organising the event back in January.

“The idea of the festival was about well-being, which is why we have Hygiea, Ventnor’s goddess as our logo,” said Mhairi. “We hope that people took that away with them and got to experience something different whilst visiting the town.”

“We wanted to create something that we would like to go to that would also appeal to a wider audience,” added Thea. Both Mhairi and Thea are going to Camberwell Art College this autumn. Alex and Zac are studying towards their A levels next year.

Jack Whitewood, who is studying Theatre Practice at the Central School of Speech and Drama, was bowled over by the positive response to the festival.

“We’ve had lots of lovely emails from people who came and from the artists saying they’ll help in the future,” he said.

“I was really happy with how many people came to everything, it was really good to have so much support. It would be great to see it grow and have a greater diversity of acts.

“We didn’t know what it was going to be like but we proved that it worked very well. A lot of people said they thought it added to the carnival, which was exactly what we wanted. People said they wished the cinema could stay forever.“

By Catriona Macaulay

The concert was sold out in the beautiful venue of St. Catherine’s church, where Johnny Flynn headlined whilst being supported by the Island’s own Michael Champion and Paul Armfield.

The evening commenced with a set by the ‘Lyrical Laureate’ at the recent Larmer Tree Festival. Paul Armfield’s poetic genius was easily detected as he began playing small sonnets that he had spontaneously written about people at the festival, accompanied by JC from JC and Angelina.

One song in particular which drew a smile/laugh from everyone’s mouth was about a young girl named Sarah Kreeber who wanted to be a funeral director: “Everybody dies, it’s the one thing we all know, everyone is a customer, come see me when you go.”

After Paul Armfield’s set, Michael Champion took to the stage. The slightly flustered 22-year-old singer from the Shutes began with a song that he had written, ‘Sweet Marie’.

When I spoke to Michael Champion he said that he was not used to doing solo acoustic sets and that he found it “quite terrifying”. This was a slightly different atmosphere from his first gig in Niton at the age of 16. Despite being so ‘terrified’ the young singer was away to London (Camden) the following week for a gig with his band, The Shutes.

He also divulged to me that he would quite like to make his own solo album of acoustic songs as a side project in the near future; this will be one to look out for. Michael had always been around music growing up. “There was always a record playing in the house,” he said. During Michael’s time on stage he sang a cover of a song written by Bob Dylan, ‘Hangman’, although as Michael said before proceeding, Bob Dylan unfortunately never actually recorded the song.

The long awaited performance by Johnny Flynn was not to be missed. The young folk singer began by saying that he thought he had never been on the Island, but that after spending a few hours here he realised he had. “ I came here for the Bestival, but I didn’t know what planet I was on at Bestival,” he said.

Just before Johnny Flynn could continue with ‘Queens Knaves’ a phone went off. “That’s the remix.” he joked. He began to play and after about three minutes he stopped quite abruptly. “Oops, that’s what happens when you play and a thought pops into your head.” The singer appeared flustered and began to play again, but then, “Oops..” I think he was just playing with audience that time.

Throughout the concert there appeared to be some weird squeaking sounds coming from the group of fans huddled at the front. I asked whether this was something that people did at folk concerts and they replied with “No we made it up. It’s our way to show appreciation.” Sweet but slightly irritating.

Johnny Flynn shared a track from his newest album, ‘Been Listening’. I usually play this with the band if they can afford the ferry,” he joked and went on to talk about how he would usually play this song with trumpets rather than a guitar. “I couldn’t do both (sing and play the trumpet) at the same time, so I’ll have to work on that.”

It was very odd but quite amazing to see such a strong voice come from this character - this young man with fine long blonde hair and skinny physique. When it came to Johnny Flynn’s last song a request rang out from the audience and despite the fact that the guitar need re-tuning for this song he aimed to please and said, “Okay, just turn to the person next to you and talk,” whilst he re-tuned his guitar. “This is the last song because this is the only song I can do in this tuning,” he explained before reassuring the audience by saying, “No I was only going to do one more anyway.”

I spoke to Johnny Flynn after the concert and he told me that he had been very interested in the way that people convey stories, scripts and playwrights. He all so said that he used to read stories to his sister when she was looking “grumpy” when they were young and that the two of them used to act out plays as children.

When asked how he felt about the whole Ventnor Fringe Festival idea he appeared very positive and felt that it was nice to be in a more relaxing atmosphere, the slightly less harsh and direct contact with organisers made him feel welcome.

VISITORS to Osborne House this week were the first to walk around the Palm Terrace, which features the grand daughter of a magnificent Chusan Palm tree, planted by Queen Victoria in 1851 as its centrepiece.

To mark the opening, to coincide with Prince Albert’s birthday on August 26, visitors received a slice of birthday cake and a two for one admission voucher to nearby English Heritage property Carisbrooke Castle, which now also features a lovely garden.

A keen horticulturist, Prince Albert was responsible for the layout of the terraces overlooking the Solent – the view is said to have reminded him of the Bay of Naples in Italy – and for the introduction of many fine trees onto the estate.

The original palm was a gift to the Royal couple from King Ferdinand of Portugal and was one of the first ever to be planted in this country following its introduction in 1849 by Robert Fortune – after whom it is named. It died in 2003 and the current tree – its direct descendent – was planted in 2004 by Queen Elizabeth II.

The remainder of the Palm Terrace is planted to match its Victorian appearance, including beds featuring Camellias and Pampas grass and a pergola with wisteria and climbing roses for summer colour and vines producing small grapes in the autumn.

Construction of the Lower Terraces at Osborne, including the Palm Terrace, was done entirely by hand and employed 250 men. Some of the original Magnolia grandiflora specimens planted and trained along the terrace walls on its completion in 1850 have survived to this day.

Also seen by visitors for the first time is a newly restored seat made from coal, which has been in its original position on the Lower Terraces at Osborne House since around 1851, but not on public view. It was brought to Osborne after being on display at the Great Exhibition in London, one of Prince Albert’s great projects.

The bench-style seat is a unique, and probably the finest example of 19th century coal furniture and reflects Prince Albert’s interest in Italian design, which also influenced the design of Osborne House. Designed by Prince Albert’s advisor William Henry Ludwig Gruner, it is made from carved cannel or parrot coal from Scotland.

Parts of the Lower Terraces have never been open to the public before. From 1904, following the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the house ceased to be a royal residence and the terraces were used exclusively by a convalescent home which occupied part of Osborne House until 2000. The Upper Terraces were opened to the public at this time, but the Lower Terraces remained closed.

“The Palm Terrace is an extremely important part of the terraces, with the palm joining fountains, beds, statues and pergolas as focal points which lead people from area to area. We are delighted to open up this area to allow visitors to fully appreciate Prince Albert’s design in its entirety for the first time,” said Osborne’s head gardener Toby Beasley.