Ventnor Blog

Carry On Star Jack Douglas sadly died this morning aged 81.

He first appeared in Carry on Matron in 1972 with a one liner and was well known for his “Phwaay!” catchphrase as character Alf Ippititimus.

He went onto appear in all following Carry on Films including a major role as the snooty butler in Carry on Emmanuelle.

Born in Newcastle Upon Tyne, to a theatrical family, Jack produced his first show at the tender age of of 15.

He moved to the Isle of Wight in the 1990s and lived in Shanklin.

This much loved star will be sadly missed.

Found via

Image: CultTV

Article updated with more details included thanks to an update from Southern Electric.

As some readers in Ventnor will already be painfully aware, parts of the town were hit by two power outages today.

The first, at about 10:30 just after 10 this morning hitting 830 homes. Souther Electric (SE) tells us that within six minutes they had half of them back on the power by re-routing the supply.

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As you will know, over the past few weeks, VentnorBlog has been running the serialisation of David Yates’ The Last Bullfighter. David has received a great response from readers and would like to post the following message. Ed

As you will shortly be able to read the final instalment of The Last Bullfighter, I would just like to thank all of you who have posted notices or stopped me in the street or in a bar to pass comment on my little tale – most of which have been entirely complimentary.

I first came up with the idea of writing this short story in 2002, whilst I was twiddling my thumbs on an oil rig in the North Sea. At the time I had just completed a manuscript for The Laughing Sailor, a topic that eventually achieved publication in September 2006 – as Bomb Alley. Some of you may have read my account of the Falklands War – the only book of the conflict written by one of the Royal Navy’s ordinary sailors.

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Don’t forget that the Ventnor lantern procession takes place tomorrow evening.

It starts from the Market Street car park at 5.45 and will make it’s way along Albert Street, Pier Street, High Street and into Victoria Road.

It will then proceed along Dudley Road and back along Pier Street, Church Road, Belgrave Road and finally into the park.

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How about this for bizarre stories. According to the Daily Mail (not our usual rag, but was picked up by a fellow blogger) that there is a cat living in Godshill who wears contact lenses.

The poor little pussy suffers from entropion and the contact lenses have brought new joy to his life. Entro what you ask?

So did we, but apparently it is a condition that causes the eyelids to roll inwards.

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Cheapest non-supermarket stations within 5 miles of “PO38″ for Diesel
Station : Sandford Garage
Address : Godshill, Sandford, Ventnor, PO38 3AL
Brand : Unbranded
Price : 103.9p
Updated : 13-12-2008

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For those looking for the next instalment of David Yates’ The Last Bullfighter, here’s Part One of Chapter Eight. Part Two follows tomorrow. Ed

The day of reckoning had arrived and, for the espionage team, it began very early – at three o’clock in the morning. After pulling on dark balaclavas and slapping on layers of black makeup, they slipped out of the town and headed for the beach bar, where all the guns had been locked up ready for the target-shooting competition on Breakfast TV.

Quietly and stealthily, they picked the door and cupboard locks, and hauled each gun out of its rack for some final adjustments, with a screwdriver and some metal bungs. Now that the guns were ready, the next task for the espionage teams was to tackle the farms – or rather the few workers left in charge of the farms.

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Don’t forget about the chilled out evening of music down at Ventnor Brewery tonight.

We hear it’s going to be a sort of open mic folk affair, bring your own instruments and get involved in live jams or perform solo.

See it as a gentle warm up for the weekend.

Everyone welcome - there’ll be plenty of ale flowing as well as wine, ginger beer and hot drinks.

David Yates, author of The Last Bullfighter, the serialisation that VentnorBlog have been publishing each Saturday and Sunday for the last seven weekends will be in Seasons on the High Street in Ventnor tomorrow between 10am and 1pm.

He will be signing copies of Bomb Alley.

If you fancy picking up a signed copy of the paperback it’ll only set you back £12.99, but there are also a very limited number of hardbacks available for £19.99.

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Tomorrow Ventnor will be buzzing as the Annual Christmas Fun Shopping Day takes place.

There’ll be loads to do all around town including craft activities at the Baptist Church, Pier Street, from 11am to 3pm

Why not try your hand at making some Christmas cards from a wide range of materials, or paint and decorate jute bags?

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Don’t forget that St Catherine’s charity shop opens tomorrow in Ventnor.

For one week only, learners from St Catherine’s School in Ventnor will gain valuable work experience whilst raising funds to support St Catherine’s charitable work.

The staff and learners have been working hard preparing the project and we think it’s great that the learners are being given this opportunity.

Do please show your support for the shop.

You never know, you might just be able to pick up some bargains for Christmas.

Cheapest non-supermarket stations within 5 miles of “PO38″ for Diesel
Station : Whitwell Garage
Address : High Street, Whitwell, Ventnor, PO38 2PY
Brand : Texaco
Price : 107p
Updated : 08-12-2008

Station : Sandford Garage
Address : Godshill, Sandford, Ventnor, PO38 3AL
Brand : Unbranded
Price : 107.9p
Updated : 08-12-2008

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Starting this week at the Ventnor Winter Gardens is the 2008 panto from the Ventnor Theatre Group, The Twelve Days of Christmas.

In true panto style, the Queen is to throw a grand Festive Ball for all the villagers on Christmas Day and, to mark the occasion, a giant advent calendar has been built with 12 doors, to be opened one each day.

Christmas cannot begin until all the doors are open, but a villainous wicked wizard is determined to stop the festivities and scatters the keys all over the world.

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All the activities taking place at the Ventnor Brewery this coming weekend are part of the Annual Ventnor Christmas Fun Shopping Day.

We’re all hoping for much better weather this year, as last year saw torrential rain and winds.

Throughout the day there will be tons of activities taking place around the town.

Pop down to the Ventnor Winter Gardens and you’ll find stalls selling all sorts perfect Christmas presents such as crafts, plants, cakes as well as collectables.

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Thanks to Catherine at the Ventnor Towers Hotel in Madeira Road for alerting us that fireworks are planned for next Saturday night (13th)

If you live nearby and have pets, do make sure you keep them in on both evenings.

We look forward seeing the displays. If you have any announcements to make to the Ventnor and Island community, do get in touch.

In Part One of Chapter Seven, Baz and Gaz helped create the largest bird table of grain in the World and Rory impersonated Valera to increase the food orders for the hungry bulls. Ed

That afternoon Valera happened to pay a visit to one of the farms to select the bulls for his next bullfights.

“Ah, amigo. What mean-looking creatures have you got for me this month? Are those bulls from England ready yet? Where are they? Let me see them.”

The stud-farmer led Valera out to the field, where the biggest bulls appeared to have gathered in the far corner, leaving only some scrawny types eating and drinking from long wooden troughs closer to his gate.

“Watch it!” called one of the thinner bulls to the others. “That’s Valera. He must have come to select bulls for the bullring. Quick! Look sick and feeble.”

“Surely I have better looking bulls than this Amigo? Called out Valera. “I can’t send them into the ring. The crowd will lynch me.”

Hoping to prove his unsuitability for the bullring, one of the bulls limped forward with his head bowed low. Strange objects stuck to his body.

“What’s happened to that bull?” yelled Calvera. “Why is he wearing a wig? And why has he got two rubber gloves full of water hanging below his belly?”

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David Yates’ serialisation of The Last Bullfighter continues this weekend with chapter seven. Ed

In the Atlas Mountains, with six days left to go, great things were starting to take place. Bluey, Eric and the swallows had spent two days scanning an enormous area south of Tangiers, looking out for any bird who could help in the forthcoming attack.

There were flocks of swallows and starlings, masses of ducks and geese, hundreds of pigeons, sparrows, thrushes and blackbirds. There were even smaller flocks of jays, bee-eaters, kingfishers and owls. When they heard Dickie and Mucky’s story of the bullfight, and the plan to seek revenge, they came from far and wide.

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Next weekend the Ventnor Christmas Fun Day takes place around Ventnor Town. There will be lots to do and see during the day around the town, and the Ventnor Brewery will also be taking part.

Their festivities start on Friday night (12th) from 6pm with a Beer and Cider Festival. Under the marquee within the Brewery ground, listen to folk music, bring your own instruments and take part and generally enjoy a relaxed and jovial evening.

On Saturday under the marquee you will find stalls selling local produce as well as crafts, ideal for Christmas presents.

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Don’t forget that tonight sees the next in the season of Indie/Rock Band nights take place at the Ventnor Winter Gardens.

Winners of the 2007 Platform One, Wight Noize competition Siniez, will be making their way down to Ventnor with support from Proximity Effect and Big Sam the One Man Band.

It all starts at 8pm and will only cost you £3 for advance tickets (or with flyer).

Otherwise it’ll be £4 on the door. Promises to be a great night of live local music.

This is a sponsored feature

For those of you who are admirers of the photographic talents of Good Fairy, you’ll be pleased to hear that she will be offering work for sale at the Bonchurch Christmas Market which takes place tomorrow (Saturday).

Good Fairy tells us that she will be producing five prints of each piece on sale and as they are the first prints made, all are Number One in the catalogue ref.

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The Niton Lantern parade takes place tomorrow evening.

Setting off at 6.15 from Niton Primary School, the parade will circle the village and finish the procession at the church where a Christmas service will take place.

There is normally something going on at the Post Office or the Pub afterwards.

Everyone welcome.

Following on from the success of the St Catherine’s Charity shop (with the help of Graham Perks - pictured) back in June, they have another opening on Friday next week but at a different location.

For one week only St Catherine’s School will have use of the Diabetes shop opposite Somerfield in Pier Street, Ventnor.

Please show your support the shop, which will be run by learners from St Catherine’s, allowing them to gain valuable work experience whilst raising funds to support St Catherine’s charitable work.

Opening Friday 12th December until Friday 19th December.

The next instalment of the Winter Gardens Rock and Indie Nights will be upon us this Friday with a selection of Island bands playing for your pleasure.

Winners of the 2007 Platform One, Wight Noize competition Siniez, will be making their way down to Ventnor.

They recently battled it out with others in the Live Wired Competition for spot to play at Isle of Wight Festival 2009 after scoring 18% of the public vote.

Joining them on the night will be Proximity Effect and Big Sam the One Man Band who has stepped in to replace MCMLVII who have now split.

It all starts at 8pm and will only cost you £3 for advance tickets (or with flyer).

Otherwise it’ll be £4 on the door.

Well done to Jack Botha and his fellow band members from Kerouac who have organsed a charity gig due to take place this weekend at Ventnor Middle School.

The gig is in aid of Survivors UK, a charity which provides information, support and counselling for men who have been raped or sexually abused and all proceeds from the event will go to the charity.

Kerouac comprises Roly Botha vocals 12yrs, Jack Botha drums 13yrs, Martyn Stevens 14yrs and Devon Badman 14yrs. They have also been invited to play the IW Festival next year on the kids stage.

Joining Kerouac for the evening will be Robert Henry, The Innocent and Crosstown Traffic. Everyone performing will be under 16 and it should be a great night out.

Refreshments will be available.

Tickets are just £2.50 and can be bought on the door.

Doors open at 6.30pm and gig starts at 7pm.

Check the official Web site for more details

If you’re looking for some advice this week, don’t rely just on fortune cookies.

Anyone going to the Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival this Friday or Saturday can take advantage of the Community Advice Network trailer which can be found in the car park of the Three Bishops Public House.

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