Ventnor Blog

Many thanks to Kim Fry for this message from St Catherine’s School. Ed

Everyone at St Catherine’s would like to extend a warm thank you to Ventnor residents and visitors.

With the kind support of local businessman Graham Perks and his family who loaned us a fabulous shop premises free of charge, St Catherine’s learners, staff and volunteers ran a charity shop during the first two weeks of July.

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There is still time to buy your ticket for the Barely Born Appeal Charity Dinner Dance

It takes place at The Ryde Castle Hotel, Esplanade Ryde and kicks off at 7pm.

For £25, you’ll be welcomed with a drink, followed by a three course meal, whilst listening to a live jazz band.

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Talk about diversity. One week it’s Jimmy Pursey at the Winter Gardens, the next there’res a a mass of barbershop choirs.

David Edwards, the bookings manager at the Ventnor Winter Gardens tells us that way back in 1978, there was a Barbershop Chorus Festival here.

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You might have heard the announcements at the IW Festival a couple of weeks ago. You may’ve seen the MySpace bulletins or you might even have a copy yourself already.

But if you haven’t, make sure that get your limited edition copy of the new Transitions Volume One CD.

Never before (as far as we know) has there been such a prolific collection of Isle of Wight talent on one CD and this one is an absolute corker. We’ve been playing it in the car as we tour around the Island and already have a few particular faves.

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Many thanks to Cora Wade from The Park Centre for sending through news of events and services you can get involved with. Ed

New Park Centre Website
We have now launched our new website which covers everything the Park Centre offers, from minibus, to courses, to IT to carnival…it’s all there! All profits made on all of our activities got to our charity No. 1096459 and are ploughed straight back in to the community.

Carnival Workshops
Carnival workshops are now being held on Tuesday afternoons (12-2pm) everyone is welcome - we’re looking for performers and creators alike. (more…)

Nick Painless of Painless Parties presents ….

A charity fund raiser in aid of Ventnor Skate Park. There’ll be live bands and DJs playing from 8pm til late.

There is no charge for the evening of live music, but donations will be collected on the door.

It all takes place at The Rose Inn, Pier Street, Ventnor. Why not come down and help raise much needed cash for the Skate park renovations?

Look out for updates over at Nick’s MySpace

The Big Bike returns to the Wight in a couple of weeks time to help raise funds for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

The bike need 15 riders and every seat is sponsored. It’ll travel around various locations on the Wight, where the teams have their fun filled ride.

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Last week we were invited along to the launch of the Touchdown Lounge at the Innovation Centre in Newport.

During our tour of the building we came across a promotional stand for Isle of Wight Volunteer Centre and stopped to have a chat with Helen Snashall.

The organisation are keen to promote volunteering in the community, pointing out that the involvement could be from as little as helping out with a beach clean to other things that might demand more commitment for those with more time. (more…)

Acoustics at the Altar returns to St John’s Church in Ryde next month.

If you’re a Janis Joplin fan then you’ll want to check out Bex Marshall when she comes to the Wight.

Her music is described as an explosion of blue-hot acoustic roots rock poker twisted with a whippin’ of bluegrass.

Bex Marshall has character and her songs prove it.

An artist of jaw dropping talent; a guitarist with a unique melting pot of a voice Joplin Soul, Bonnie Rait slide and the originality of Memphis Minnie.

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With less than two weeks until the ‘Barely Born Appeal’ Charity Dinner Dance if you haven’t bought your tickets, you’d better get a move on.

The Barely Born Appeal has been launched to raise funds for a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St Mary’s. To help raise even more funds, a Charity Dinner Dance is being held on Friday 18th July 2008 at The Ryde Castle Hotel, Esplanade Ryde. (more…)

This Sunday, if you’re taking advantage of the Ryde Regatta and listening to the great line-up of live Island music on the seafront, keep your eyes peeled for a team of 24 swimmers.

We hear from Duncan Smith that a number of Police officers and charity fundraisers will be braving the Solent (and predicted rain) this Sunday to swim the three and a quarter miles from Ryde to Gosport.

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Head down to Ventnor Cricket Club this Sunday and you’ll have the opportunity to get your mug shot with the Barclays Premier League Trophy.

Ventnorian Ben Davies, who now lives and works in the big smoke recently won the chance to have the trophy for a day and has generously decided to bring it down to VCC where he used to play.

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We popped down to the 10am opening of the St Catherine’s temporary charity shop this morning.

There’s stock a plenty and it was busy in there from the off.

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Dear old St Catherine’s School had their fete this afternoon, drawing good crowds of supporters.

The High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight, Alan Titchmarsh, opened the event and we were there to catch a little time with him while he was waiting for a fruit smoothie made by some of the pupils.

Prior to this he’d been wandering around the fete having masses of photos taken of him with various members of the public - on reflection, perhaps he should have suggested donations to St Catherine’s for each one taken. (more…)

With 1875 vessels now registered to take part in the JP Round The Island Yacht Race this Saturday, make sure you find a good spot to watch the boats pass by from.

As well as all the establishments along the seafront, don’t forget that Ventnor Angling Club in Wheelers Bay will be hosting a sumptuous seafood buffet.

Tickets are just £10 and all proceeds will be going to The Fishermen’s Mission. Tickets can be picked up from The Volunteer, Crab & Lobster or the Ale & Oyster.

If you missed the posting last week about the Charity Dinner Dance for the ‘Barely Born Appeal’, it’s time to dust down your best tuxedo.

The Barely Born appeal hope to raise enough cash to build a new neo-natal unit at St Mary’s.

This is something that affects almost all of us.

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We reminded you yesterday of the forthcoming summer fair at St Catherine’s this Friday, but also don’t forget about the charity shop being opened on Monday by learners at St Catherine’s.

With the fantastic support of local businessman Graham Perks, St Catherine’s further education learners are setting up and running a shop at 46 High Street Ventnor for a two-week period from Monday 30 June. (more…)

Don’t forget that this Friday sees the St Catherine’s Summer Fair take place in Ventnor.

Opening the event will be the Island’s High Sheriff, Alan Titchmarsh. Doors will be opening at 11.30am and he’ll be doing the official bit at noon.

As always this, one of the school’s largest fundraising activities, is hosted by the children and young people of the school. There’ll be plenty to do at the Fair, with lots of stalls selling food, quality gifts, plants, garden ornaments, raffle, tombola and many more.

You’ll also be able to pick up a copy of the newly published Book of Verse, created by students.

The Solace team, who provided free tea and cakes at the Isle of Wight Festival would like to say a big, big thank you to all those that baked cakes, came along and made the tent such a success at the festival last weekend. (more…)

A charity auction for Bestival tickets, which will last for ten days started this morning at 10am on Ebay.

Those lovely people at Bestival HQ have very kindly donated a pair of Bestival 2008 tickets to the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 Appeal. (more…)

If you like dinner, dancing and helping worthy causes then here’s one for you.

We’re sure that you will have heard about The Barely Born Appeal which has been launched to raise funds for a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St Mary’s.

To help raise even more funds, a Charity Dinner Dance is being held on Friday 18th July 2008 at The Ryde Castle Hotel, Esplanade Ryde. (more…)

As pointed out by forum member, Lowtherville Lout, tucked at the bottom of Graeme Burnett’s cricket report this week, is news of that the Barclays Premier League Trophy will be coming to Steephill next month.

Well done to Ventnorian Ben Davies (see below) for bringing the trophy down to Ventnor.

Let’s all try and get as much money raised for youth development at Ventnor Cricket Club, by having photos taken with the trophy, as it’ll be matched pound for pound by Barclays Bank. (more…)

A couple of weeks ago, along with about 300 other people, we made our way to the Medina Theatre to hear more about the fantastic St George’s Dragon Project.

Although we knew quite a bit about the great work of the project already - it was a real bonus to see the photos and hear directly from those involved about the impact that the project has had on the students at not only St George’s School, but students from other schools who benefit also.

Nigel George, founder of public artists Ecclestone George, who works closely with the school, talked us through how the project started. (more…)

Update: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has had to be cancelled.

If you’re planning to celebrate Round the Island Race this year, what better way to end the day than sat listening to world class live music?

Lyric soprano and member of the National Opera (Staatsoper unter den Linden) in Berlin, Minjou, makes her solo UK debut in a special song recital on Saturday 28th June 2008 at St Saviour on the Cliff, Queen’s Road, Shanklin.

She will be accompanied by internationally acclaimed artists Dan Ettinger on piano and Stephen Fitzpatrick on harp.

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Many thanks to Kim for letting us know about this great new project coming out from St Catherine’s. Ed

The adage “From small acorns great oak trees grow” could not be more relevant for the children and young people at St Catherine’s in Ventnor.

During the second half of 2007 a small group of learners were set the challenge of writing about their favourite things in terms of a verse or poem in their English class.
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