Ventnor Blog

This Sunday sees Walk the Wight, the annual sponsored walk aimed to raise much needed funds for the Island’s only hospice, The Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

Last year, our youngest VentnorBlogger, Alpha, braved the rain and wind and walked the last four miles as part of the school section of the walk.
(more…)

The number of Island-based bands and musicians who have come on board for the Save Ventnor Skate Park fundrasing CD has been amazing.

When the Isle of Council threatened demolition of the skate park last month, unless someone came forward to take sign the lease and take control of it, many people rallied round and got involved.

When a request went out to Island bands and musician to get involved in a fundraising CD, such was the response that the first volume is already full with a second in the pipeline.
(more…)

A week on Saturday (17th) sees the Annual Wessex Cancer Trust Summer Fete.

We’ve received a request for donations from the organisers who are looking for anything from plants (even left over seedlings) to items for the silent auction or raffle.

They have a merry team of volunteers with a trailer able to collect items, so if you have something that you could donate to this excellent cause, do please get in touch with them on 753558.

At the beginning of last week we announced the winner of our Richard Studt ticket competition.

Unfortunately, the named winners were unable to attend, so we popped our hands back inside the hat and pulled out the next correct answer. Although they would prefer to remain anonymous, the new prize winners were very happy to let us know about their experience.
(more…)

It may a while off yet, but this is one definitely worth sticking into your diary.

Near the end of June, St Catherine’s School in Grove Road, Ventnor will be holding it’s Annual Summer Fair.

If you want to see the Island’s High Sheriff, Alan Titchmarsh open the event make sure you are there by noon. (Door will be opening at 11.30am)
(more…)

The SQ2SQ 2008 team are group of firefighters who will be cycling from St Thomas’ Square in Newport to the Vatican Square in Italy this coming September. The purpose of their marathon cycle is to raise funds and awareness for the Wessex Cancer Trust.

Recently, John Giddings, the organiser and promoter of the Isle of Wight Festival donated a pair to Festival tickets to the group and they are today launching a prize draw that anyone can enter. (more…)

Richard Studt on violin, Michael Thompson on horn and Tim Carey on piano will be entertaining the audience this coming weekend at St Catherine’s Church, Ventnor at The Ventnor Recital. The concert is in aid of the Ventnor Piano Fund. (more…)

For anyone still wondering whether to buy tickets for this Saturday’s recital at St Catherine’s Church in Ventnor, featuring world class violinist Richard Studt and friends (it’s being organised in order to raise funds for the Ventnor Piano Fund), perhaps this bit of background about Richard might help you make up your mind.

Tickets are still available for the evening performance which includes two hours of music with an hour interval when a finger buffet will be served.

Richard Studt, whose father owned the Gaiety at Ventnor, learnt the violin in Ventnor from the age of four. Since then, his fame has become worldwide.
(more…)

Following the announcement yesterday of the concert being held next week at Cowes Yacht Haven to celebrate the life of Anthony Minghella, we hear today that his sister, Jazz singer Edana Minghella, will also be making a special appearance at the concert. (more…)

Last week we met with Ventnorian Anthony Churchill, who is responsible for setting up the Ventnor Piano Fund. Richard Studt’s Ventnor Recital planned for this coming weekend is taking place in order to raise much needed cash for the fund, so we thought you might like to hear a bit of background. Ed

Three years we decided to set up the Ventnor Piano Fund, as we believe the south of the island needed a quality piano.

Internationally famous musicians, bringing their equally famous violins, trumpets and horns, need a fine piano to accompany them. (more…)

Another wonderful spring fete is planned for next month in aid of the Wessex Cancer Trust.

It is being hosted at Freshwater Court, a magnificent location and there is a fun packed day planned for all the family.

As well as the many stalls including Cakes, White Elephant, Plants, Bygones, Toys, Books, Clothes and Skittles, there is also the Silent Auction and a great Raffle.
(more…)

A MARATHON charity bike ride planned by Island firefighters between Newport and Rome has raised more than £27,000 for hospital equipment. (more…)

Thanks to Ced from the Solace team for sending in this review of the great action happening in Church Litten last Friday night. We’re really pleased to hear it went so well. We’d recommend you check out their website, lots of great info and a brilliant video well worth watching - it’ll warm the cockles of your hearts. Ed

Thanks to everyone who turned up to the free BAND NITE gig in Church Litten on Friday evening.
(more…)

Calling all Island Bands and musical performers.

How would you like somewhere to perform during the summer - for free?

Not only that, but you’ll also (if you have a friend with a large bucket) be able to collect donations from the audience and share the wonga out amongst the band.

Well, The Ventnor Enhancement Fund are offering the bandstand in Ventnor Park for free all through the summer to Island musicians.
(more…)

As you may have read earlier, Island musical celebrity and world class violinist, Richard Studt (don’t worry that’s not him on the left) will be gracing our town once again next week and bringing two musical chums with him.

Richard Studt, horn player Michael Thompson and pianist Tim Carey will be playing a recital at St Catherine’s Church on Saturday night.

(more…)

If you haven’t got your tickets yet for the forthcoming fundraiser and awareness gig for the St George’s Dragon project, make sure you sort it out before they get snapped up.

After the short presentation about the project, you will be entertained by the brilliant Wild Oats and Lucid, two excellent Island bands who will certainly put on a good show.
(more…)

This weekend the weather forecast is great where better to spend your time than at the Robin Hill Garden Show.

If you think this is something just for horticulturalists think again. There are an amazing number of activities taking place over the weekend, including the Requestival party planned for Saturday night.

VentnorBlog chum Guido Oakley will be performing a ‘carve off’ with fellow wood carvers, Paul Sivell (whose Green Man sculpture at Robin Hill is pictured), Tom Harvey, Ant Beetlestone and Erik Van Dam. It’s always brilliant to watch these wood carvers at work and TV celebrity Geoff Hughes will be judging their masterpieces at 3pm on Saturday.
(more…)

With news this morning on IW Radio News that Cowes Inshore Lifeboat will be taken over by the RNLI within the next couple of months, this fundraising story may be of interest.

We all remember the tragic events of last July when holiday-makers, Richard Perry and Heather Jayne Harris died during a tragic accident just off the Bembridge ledge.
(more…)

When we saw the “Moon Walk has been banned” press release from the Council, our minds jumped to an obvious conclusion as to who had insisted that they change it.

(more…)

Isle of Wight Council has cancelled the ‘Moon Walk’ event on Saturday 3 May which forms part of the 2008 Isle of Wight Walking Festival. The event has been replaced with a different walk, titled ‘Breast Foot Forward’.

The council has cancelled the Moon Walk after it inadvertently infringed intellectual property rights of another organisation. (more…)

Fantastic news reaches us this morning that St George’s PMLD School is Newport has just announced that TV presenter Chris Packham, has agreed to become a patron of Dragon.

What better day to make the announcement than on St George’s Day.

Chris said today

“I’m delighted to be asked to support Dragon by being a patron, St George’s is a terrific school full of superb kids.

(more…)

A HUNDRED walkers will be putting their ‘breast foot forward’ in a charity event next month. (more…)

It’s marathon day and although we are a long way from the action, it’s good to hear that Ventnor is being represented up in London today.

Thanks to Ventnor Comic Jazz Band member Judgemental for sharing the following with us over on the forum.

(more…)

In case you hadn’t heard already, next Tuesday sees a charity gig take place in Southampton and for a great cause.

Bands for Barnardo’s is aiming to raise as much cash as they can for the children’s charity, Barnados

You should recognise at least two of the bands on the lineup as being from this side of the water.
(more…)

Anyone who reads the County Press will have noticed in February and March, the three full page and one half page ad placed by Standards Not Tiers.

The purpose of the adverts was to raise awareness of the proposed changes to the education system.

Members of Standards Not Tiers have worked tirelessly over the last few years to see an increase in the standard of education on the Wight, and worked flat out over the public consultation period.
(more…)