Ventnor Blog

What a stuning day it was yesterday, and yet more blue sky and sunshine today. Take the day off work and get out on the Wight. There are tons of walks to choose from the Isle of Wight Walking Festival including the Jimi Hendrix garden at Dimbola Lodge.

If you attend any of the walks and would like to share your experience with our readers, do get in touch.
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Concert in memory of Anthony Minghella launches new arts fund for young people

A concert is being held at Cowes Yacht Haven on 6th May to celebrate the life and work of Anthony Minghella, and to launch a new filmmaking, drama and music fund for young people.

Performers at the concert will include Paul Athey, Mick Cuffe, Jerry Cahill, Martinez, Mike Hugg, Mike Jolliffe, John Lytle, Tim Marshall, Mick Smith, Stickman, John Wroath, and other special guests.
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You might remember a while back we wrote a piece about how a member of the rather excellent West London band, The Peas, followed our advice and made a visit to Ventnor during a trip to the Wight.

Mr and Mrs ‘Peas’ had a lovely weekend ambling around Ventnor and taking in the delights of our fair town.

They were so impressed with what they saw of our town, that they’ve only gone and moved down here lock, stock and barrel.

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If you haven’t bought your tickets for the Fairport Convention gig next week, then get a move on, because we hear they’re moving fast.

Yes, despite problems with the people who organise the International Jazz Festival not paying them, Fairport Convention have kept their faith in the Island and return next week - this time to Ryde Theatre.

It’ll be a fully seated event, so you can just sit back and enjoy the music without having to worry about standing all night.

Tickets are priced at £18.50 and are available from the box office on 01983 568099.

Check out their website for more info about the band

Many thanks to Rich Cattle for sharing his experiences of investigating UFO sightings on the Wight. It’s written in response to the recent media coverage of UFO sightings and makes for a very interesting read. Rich clearly has a great deal of knowledge in this area. Ed

It was 6.30 am on the 13th of October 1996 when I saw my first UFO.

It was a large ball of white light that pulsated in and out but made no sound at all.

It appeared on the horizon north of me as I reached the top of Hunnyhill in Newport. At first I thought it was a planet still visible in the morning light, but soon dismissed this thought as the object drew nearer. It passed over the island from northwest to southeast at a high altitude. When I returned home which was only 10 minutes walk away, I recorded what I’d seen immediately.
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We hear from IW Radio that due to land movement in Lower Gills Cliff Road a large hole has appeared and it is likely that the road will be closed today.

We’ll try and find out more info and let you have it when we do.

Update: We hear that this section of the road will be closed for at least a week as repairs take place.

Thanks to Mark for sending through notes from the Town Council Planning meeting held last week. Ed

All council meetings (except where there is a conflict of needs for the stage) will now be held in the back of the Winter Gardens, under the stage, always starting at 6.30 on Mondays. (more…)

Don’t forget that tonight sees the return of the grandmasters of dub and reggae to The Venue in Ryde.

Repeata Sound, Johnny Dread I, Tala Steppa, K.T., Jammo, Jah Nipsy and The Mighty Spladoosh will all be cranking the tunes in this roots reggae special.

We hear that tonight is a success, another is planned for 14th March and will be featuring Macca B, the reggae master who last year played the Bestival.

Entry is £3 before 11pm or £4 after.

Tickets are going fast for the best New Year’s Eve Party in town. Blunt Promotions brings you Pura Vida, a night of great music, live hip hop and outrageous fancy dress.

All taking place in a heated (yes, girls heated so you can wear your skimpiest outfits) marquee just outside town.

Tickets for this extravaganza are only £10 and available from Kev @ The Local, Pier Street, Ventnor, Barnetts Hair and Beauty, High Street Newport or Revolver, High Street, Ryde.

Over 21s only

Niton/Ventnor band, The Windows will be reforming after a year split for a Platform One gig at Ryde Theatre in December.

Joining The Windows on stage will be Goodbye Stereo, Wight Noize 2007 winners Siniez and veterans of the Island gig circuit, Los Fantasmas.

It’ll only cost you £3 in advance or £4 on the door.

We’ll bring you more info when we get it.

This video really is quite incredible. All we can say is put your feet up (not behind your head) and watch on. It’s all pretty amazing, but keep your eyes peeled at about 1min 44sec.

Next Tuesday evening, the Ventnor Film Society will be screening this brilliant debut feature from first-time feature director Andrea Arnold.

In it, she creates a tough and superbly intelligent surveillance thriller, in which Jackie watches a bank of screens in what might be a control room on an orbiting satellite.

In fact, it’s Glasgow, 2006, and she’s a CCTV operative, keeping an eye, multiple eyes, on a seedy area of the city amongst the high-rise estates.
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We came across some news online over the weekend, highlighting a special memorial church service due to be held on the Island on 18 November.

It is to mark the 50th anniversary of the terrible plane crash that took place in a quarry near Brook on 15 November 1957.

The plane was carrying 50 passengers from Southampton heading to Las Palmas and Madeira. The pilots became aware of engine problems shortly after take-off and unfortunately, the plane crashed into the quarry as it was passing the Island.
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It might not be Halloween until next Wednesday, but this Saturday night, if you’re planning to be out and about in Ryde (probably making your way to the Dan Damage Ball), then slap on some white face paint and a bit of fake blood, apply talcum powder liberally to your barnet and you’ll fit in just like ….. a zombie on a zombie march.

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Looking for something spooky to do this half term in the evenings?

The Wight Zombie March on Saturday night, isn’t the only scary event to take place this week.

If you fancy being frightened in a haunted house, or scared senseless on a ghostly tour, then get yourselves over to Appuldurcombe House this week.

Super spooky events take place at the haunted house between 22nd – 27th and again on Halloween (31st October) at 6pm, 8pm & 10pm daily.

Call 01983 840188 / 852484 for more details.

You know that we’re always trying to bring you diverse forms of writing on an wide range of subjects.

If you have something that you’d like to put forward for publication, drop us a line to ventnorblog(at)gmail(dot)com

You know when something sounds unbelievable, but you know the person well and believe they’re telling the truth? Well this one’s a little strange to say the least, but the man involved is very reliable.

The witness in this case is a most credible ex-RAF pilot, Mr W Davis of Cowes, Isle of Wight who had a real close encounter whilst flying solo on a training mission over Gimmli in Canada 10th September 1943.

In fact it is so strange, that all I can do is just let you hear his story and make up your own minds. There was a lot of written evidence to back up this case, so it’s a shame it wasn’t reported earlier.
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Whilst catching up on some reading over at NatureNet’s excellent Rangers Blog, I came across a wonderful story about a shrew being found inside Ruth D’Alessandro, The Wildlife Gardner’s fridge.

When Ruth realised that something had been at her mussels, it didn’t take long to discover who the culprit was.

It’s a great read and has a happy ending, albeit with lots of disinfectant and an upset tummy for one.

It’s hard to believe it was 20 years ago - being woken up in the early hours by the howling wind, loud bangs and my Dad gently telling me and my brothers we needed to quickly make our way downstairs.

We lived in a 3 story Victorian house on Alpine road - with un-interrupted sea views - but looking back, rather exposed!

Our room was at the back of the house - my parents at the front.

We hopped out of bed and ran across the landing oblivious to the old glass skylight above us banging up and down in the wind.

We were closely followed by anxious parents, armfuls of pillows and my little brother and sister clinging to their backs.
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Here’s one for your diaries if you are a fan of the Beatles. Coming to the Ventnor Winter Gardens a week on Saturday are one of the best tribute Beatles bands around.

Described by the national press as “probably the closest you;ll ever get to the real thing”, the Beat Beatles will be gracing out shores

“The band was formed in 1994 by musician /actor Chris O’Neill inspired by his successful acting performance in the BAFTA Award winning Beatle film ‘BACKBEAT’. The lads are all from the Liverpool area and have long shared a mutual admiration for The Beatles and had played alongside Chris in other bands previously.”
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Wow, shock news … just checking out the new look IW Radio website we see the leader story that Andy Sutton, Leader of the Council has resigned!

Have a guess at the reason for Andy Sutton’s departure?

Uhm, might it have something to do with the Planning Department?
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Introduction to Felt Making
The course will cover flat and 3D aspects of felt making and the various fibres and wools that can be used. Learn new techniques and produce decorative hangings, jewellery and a bag or hat.
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Bestival fever is upon us. Yes, we’ve been rambling on about Bestival again ….

Swim To Bestival: Lee Jones

Bestival: Is It Madness?

Gardeners Question Time

Rob Da Bank On IW Radio Phone In Today

Bestival: Recharge Your Mobile With Better Generation

Win The Bestival CD: Competition Competition

Progression Session: Cozy Flashbak & The Operators

Bestival: Jestival - Laugh Your Socks Off

Little Miss Sunshine

Swim To Bestival: Paul Dodd

All the signs are there, if you check their blog on MySpace, it sounds remarkably like Madness will performing at some point over the weekend at Bestival.

Here’s what they say on the official MadSpace …

MADBLOG NUMBER 48 - OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING A PERFORMANCE AT A WELL KNOWN UK FESTIVAL

We can officially confirm that we are not able to officially announce one of our forthcoming appearances at a UK Festival… it is a secret!

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Update: Whoops have we got it wrong? Are sure they said he’d be on Wednesday, but no sign yet. Update 2: Just heard it was yesterday. Anyone hear it? Anything more interesting than the Geoff Smith nonsense?

Tune your radios in to 102 or 107fm from noon today to catch Bestival Head Honcho, Rob Da Bank on the infamous IW Radio Phone In with Alex Dyke.

If you have a question to ask, give him a call 822002 and hear what happens when the Islander Radio One DJ meets ‘Big Al’.

You can also listen online via their website.