Ventnor Blog

With less than a week to go until the first performance from the Invent Theatre group (a youth theatre organisation set up by Ventnor lad, Jack Whitewood), it’s time to get your tickets before they sell out.

The group who have received sponsorship from Island business, A J Wells for the production have been working hard with publicising the event, with posters, postcards and adverts appearing around the Wight.
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Continuing with the podcasts from the Gum Fu premiere held at Quay Arts last month, we caught up with more of the Streets Ahead Production team after the screening to find out what they get out of being involved in film production.

They were an enthusiastic bunch of young people who told us how much fun they have being involved with the Streets Ahead projects. Their advice was that so long as you stay committed to your task there are many good times to be had. (more…)

Well done to Island band The Kurves who last weekend took part in another fund rasing gig.

You might remember that a couple of months ago they played a charity gig at the prison, raising money for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
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Following the Island premiere of GumFu: Enter the Clinic last month, we caught up with Simon Dear, who has the fantastic job title of Commissioner for Positive Activities for IOW Council.

Simon was extremely enthusiastic about the project which involved many young people taking part in getting the message about STDs out to the community.

He went on to say that having the involvement of young people is a fantastic opportunity and the result, a great example of what can be achieved when you include them in the process. (more…)

Regular readers of VentnorBlog will know all about the Invent Theatre Group, a community youth theatre group, which was established at the end of last year.

In a couple of weeks time, the group, which meets every Sunday at Ventnor Middle School will be performing their first production at Shanklin Theatre.

The Asphodel Fields, written by Ventnorian, Jack Whitewood is a story of imagination, self discovery and confused memories (read a synposis of the play).

You might recognise Jack’s name from a previous production that was performed at Medina Theatre , The Bench in the Park.
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If you fancy your chances at being nominated this year for a People’s Award, you’ll need to get the job first (and make sure you don’t use your mobile on the job).

The latest position being advertised for crossing patrol is to work outside St.Boniface School to assist children crossing the road.

You’ll be needed for half an hour a day between 2.15pm and 2.45pm during term time.
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Rebecca Tuck from the Isle of Wight Council has been in touch this week, asking us to advertise a position for an afternoon School Crossing Patrol in Ventnor (more on that later).

It reminded us of Ventnorian, Wendy Marshall who many of you will know, picked up the IW Radio People’s People Award for Crossing Patrol Person of the Year in 2007 last year.

We caught up with Wendy a while ago to talk about her work and the awards.
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There is loads going on over the weekend, don’t forget tonight at Ryde Theatre you can catch The Gypsy Ladyland Experience.

If jazz is your thing, at Quay Arts tonight you can enjoy the delights of Philip Clouts Quartet with Carlos Lopez-Real as part of the Quay Arts Jazz Café.
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A couple of weeks ago we went along to the premiere of a new Streets Ahead production which was created in association with the IOW Chlamydia Screening Programme.

You might remember also, that last week we published a podcast with Sarah Stringer, chlamydia screening coordinator, but she wasn’t the only person we spoke to that evening.

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It’s that time of year again and each week, we’ll be brining you news from the Ventnor Cricket Club courtesy of Graeme Burnett. Ed

Ventnor progressed to the second round of the IW Senior Cup in unsatisfactory fashion on Saturday after opponents GKN were unable to raise a side.

A hastily re-scheduled fixture saw Indian Gymkhana visit Steephill for a Twenty 20 match. Neil Westhorpe (40) and Ian Hilsum (43) top scored in the home team’s total of 164-1 with the visitors restricted to 76-7 in reply.
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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…)

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.
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Anyone planning to joining the Circus Skills and Stilt Walking classes, being held at The Venntor Youth Centre, please be aware of changes to the start date.

The course, which is being run by Matt Splat of Ryde Extreme Performers, who you might remember from the excellent Circus Variety Show on Easter Monday, starts on Saturday 10th May.

Each week between 11am-12.30pm, he’ll be teaching a range of circus skills, including stilt walking. (more…)

The skies look like they’re threatening rain, but if we all keep our fingers crossed, hopefully the grey clouds will pass in time for tonight’s free gig at Church Litten. If not, this lovely lady is sure to put some sunshine in your hearts.

Tonight in Newport, several Island bands will be performing for all those bored teenagers who normally hang out at the bus station or on street corners. It’s being put on by the IW Council, the Police and Newport Churches. (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.
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Isle of Wight Council’s Fostering Team are touring the Island, taking information on being a foster carer to numerous Island towns. The tour is part of this year’s Fostering Fortnight which is being held between 12 - 24 May. (more…)

There have been some very positive steps forward for the Save Ventnor Skate Park Campaign over the past few days.

Over the weekend, we contacted Radio One DJ, Bestival Head Honcho and Isle of Wight Ambassador, Rob Da Bank and we’re pleased to report that Rob is more than happy to be involved in the campaign.
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The Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service is this week (21 - 25 April) hosting a ground breaking scheme designed to change the behaviour and attitudes of youngsters at risk of offending. (more…)

It was on Wednesday afternoon that we were promised a breakdown of the £60,000 figure that IW Council had stated to Ventnor Town Council would be needed to complete and maintain the Ventnor Skate Park.

The Press Office promised us ‘chapter and verse’ by mid morning the following day and when we wrote back asking what time we could expect the breakdown (surely a simple cut and past from a spread sheet?) we were told …
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Good to see this little piece on the CP Website today about the new half pipes being tested for Ryde Skate Park.

It’s also encouraging to see that this skate park has the support from the Ryde Youth Club and the Hampshire Police Authority.
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The last of the four chats we had with people using the Ventnor skate park within the space of an hour - there were others to speak to, but we couldn’t get around them all.

These three Ventnor girls, aged around ten, were clearly unhappy about the idea that the skate park might be demolished by the IW council, saying “I don’t want it to be closed down because it’s really fun.” (more…)

THIS IS AN AMENDED VERSION TO THE ONE RELEASED YESTERDAY
ISLE of Wight Council is asking parties interested in running Ventnor Skate Park to come forward as soon as possible or it may face an uncertain future. The facility was opened in 2001 following a request made to the council. Keen to support the proposed skate park, the council provided free use of its land to house the ramps.
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We have just heard that the County Council have extended the deadline for someone coming forward to take on the lease of the Ventnor Skate Park until 2nd May.

While this extension is welcome, it is still insufficient time to gather support, funding etc. and raises more questions, including …

• Why should this lease and the stringent conditions attached to it be the responsibility of one individual?
• Why are the County Council trying to shed responsibility when they should be encouraging activities such as this?
• WHAT IS THE BIG RUSH?

If you have a comment to make about the future of the Ventnor Skate Park, please add your comment to the post Ventnor Skate Park To Be Closed? Updated

As you will have read earlier in the week on VentnorBlog, the Isle of Wight Council have informed Ventnor Town Council that they’ve estimated that it will take approx. £60,000 to take on the project of completing the renovations of the Ventnor Skate Park and maintaining it.

The group involved with the renovation had estimated that it would take about £6-7k at the most to complete the project and in fact had a quote from a concerned skater whose in the construction game of £800 on Tuesday night to finish the concreting of the initial section. (more…)

We went down to the Ventnor skate park yesterday and chatted to a few people about what they were doing there, what they liked about it and if they would like it to stay open.

This was all prompted by the disturbing news the IW Council is threatening to demolish the often-used skate park imminently.

It’s important to remember that this stake park is a community effort. It’s work in progress - one that has taken much sweat to build.

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