Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

If you were unable to get into the ’sold out’ Tom Priestley talk that took place in Brook last year, you’ll be pleased to hear that there’ll be a repeat performance in May.

Tom Priestly, son of the famous writer and broadcaster, J B Priestley, will be returning to the Island for an informal evening of memories and a film he made about his father, who lived at Brook Hill House in the 1950s and 60s.

Tickets are reasonably priced at just £2.50 but will go quickly.

See details of how to get yours on Events On The Wight

An A4 piece of paper in the window of a shop in Ventnor town is calling for a Town Meeting to discuss the future of Ventnor Town Council – in effect calling for a vote of no confidence.

It states that it’s “pursuant of the Local Government Act 1972 schedule 12 Para 15(1)(d) to be held at the Holly (sp) Trinity church.”

(Link to the relevant Act)

It’s signed by six people who state that they are ‘local government electors.’ They are (in alphabetic order) Christine Benson; Robert Chuter; N Gibbs; Graham Morris (Vicar); P.R. Noble; K.J. Pratley and M Snipps.

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This coming weekend sees the sixth annual Spring Blues concert take place on the Island.

On Saturday night, the Ventnor Winter Gardens will play host to some amazing blues talent, as Jamaican born Big Joe Louis makes his way to the south of the Island.

He’ll be bringing with him his band, The Blues Kings, and promising to deliver their special kind of real down-home Blues.

These guys have been touring the world for 18 years and have worked with the likes of Mississippi Delta Blues legend David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Van Morrison and Jools Holland, making this one gig you should not miss out on

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This week’s prices in the South Wight area for fuel.

Cheapest non supermarket stations within 5 miles of PO38 for Diesel
121.9p Sandford Garage
Godshill, Sandford, Ventnor, PO38 3AL
Texaco, last updated on 13 March

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If you’re planning to have some quiet nights in, why not try out the DVD or book collection at your local library?

Here are the latest acquisitions for Ventnor Library.

DVD
An Education – 3 Oscar nominations
Julie and Julia – Meryl Street – Oscar nominated for Best Actress

Fiction
Clive CUSSLER Spartan Gold – a Fargo adventure
Annie GROVES Hettie of Hope Street – heart versus head…
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If you fancy a night in watching a DVD, then take a look at the selection available at Island Libraries. At just £1 per night, they’re a great bargain. Ed

Written by Ronnie Christensen and starring Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson – an actor of immense bravado for appearing in the extremely intense ‘Hard Candy’.

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This year’s Isle of Wight Jazz Festival will not be going ahead, VentnorBlog has learnt.

We hear from one of the directors that the decision was made after what they cite as, “a number of difficulties and delays in response to the request to hire the Salisbury Gardens so that it is now too late to complete plans.”

When the Isle of Wight Jazz Festival was cancelled last year, punters who had already bought tickets were encouraged to keep hold of them to use at this year’s festival.

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Are you interested in researching your family tree but have no idea where to start?

A two and a half hour course being held at Ventnor Library may be just what you’re looking for.

Using the Internet and with helpful advice from those who know where to look, you could leave the sessions knowing much more about where you came from.

Check Events on the Wight for full details of where and when.

Image: Rick under CC BY-SA 2.0

Island blues outfit, The Folsom Prison Blues Band will be making their way down to the Ventnor Winter Gardens this Saturday night.

Taking over the bar area on the ground floor, Mick Cooch, Tim Hollis, Rich Wilson and the Man in Black, Damien Paul, will be ripping it up performing their favourite Johnny Cash tunes along with a few other Rock’n'roll’n'blues thrown in.

Having seen Thee Waxworks gig in the bar last week, we reckon having live acts perform there is a great use of the space.

Kicks off around 9pm and it won’t cost you a penny to get in. You can’t ask for better than that!

Image: Franco Folini under CC BY-SA 2.0

This week’s prices in the South Wight area for fuel.

Cheapest non supermarket stations within 5 miles of PO38 for Diesel
119.9p Sandford Garage
Godshill, Sandford, Ventnor, PO38 3AL
Texaco, last updated on 8 March

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Blimey. The intrigue at the Ventnor Town Council continues as tonight’s meeting is declared invalid as the date of the meeting had been moved by the Town Clerk, not the councillors.

More details later.

Many thanks to Aimee for this update on support received for St Catherine’s. Ed

Acclaimed actor, screenwriter and director Julian Fellowes hosted a reception for St Catherine’s in London on Tuesday 2 March.

Julian, who won an Oscar in 2002 for Gosford Park, spoke about the importance of speech and communication in all our lives and the challenges children with communication disabilities face every single day.

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All change on the Ventnor Town Council meeting front.

If you were planning on going to the VTC meeting (covering Town Council + Planning + Grants), due to take place on 15 March, you’re going to have to change your plans pretty sharpish – we hear that the meeting has been brought forward to tonight, 8th March.

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If you’re recently retired and looking for something interesting and constructive to do in your spare time, then why not head to Ventnor Library tomorrow?

All throughout the day, they will be giving advice and information on how to widen your horizons.

Details of local groups from Wight Squirrels to U3A, St Catherine’s Lighthouse to the Badger Trust, Sam the Health Trainer to Quarr Abbey, Canine Partners (with puppies!) and many more will be at Ventnor Library.

Normal Tuesday opening hours apply: 9.30am – 12.30pm and then again between 1.30pm – 5pm

Image: Jason Swain

A consultation on the hard federation of Chillerton & Rookley, Godshill and Wroxall primaries is now in full swing, with public a meeting arranged near the end of the month.

Under the proposed changes to the schools system, the hard federation will mean that the three primary schools will be run under a single governing body.

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After the successful launch of Newport’s first indie and live music night, Radieux, its creators dream of fuelling a new Arts movement.

The Shutes’ frontman Michael Champion and his friend Michael Yates were inspired by Sixties’ culture and Berlin’s ‘White Trash’ club night in conceiving Radieux (pronounced ‘Radio’), which will bring together mainland bands and local talent.

The pair say it was a ‘mutual agreement’.

“It’s all standard club nights. We wanted to do something different with live music as well, Island bands, UK bands and DJs.”

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This week’s prices in the South Wight area for fuel.

Cheapest non-supermarket stations within 5 miles of PO38 for Diesel
118.9p Sandford Garage
Godshill, Sandford, Ventnor, PO38 3AL
Texaco, last updated on 1 March

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Need some distractions for the weekend ahead?

Try the library for a new DVD or book. DVDs at 50p for children overnight and £1 for adults

FICTION
J L CARRELL The Shakespeare curse – a sickening modern killer…Best Seller
Alexander McCall SMITH Tea time for the traditionally built – Best seller
John CONNOLLY The lovers – Best seller
Linwood BARCLAY Fear the worst …can anything be more terrifying?…
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Our thanks go to Eyemasters for supporting VentnorBlog by paying for this Sponsored Feature.

Are you squinting at your screen or have you been peering out of the window, unable to clearly see things in the distance?

If so, or if you’re looking to replace your glasses, there’s a business based in Ventnor that can help you.

35 years experience
Richard Smith from Eyemasters has over 35 years experience in the ophthalmic lens business behind him and is offering his clients a personalised, one-on-one service.

This doesn’t mean it’s costly though.

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As we mentioned earlier on Twitter, the Military Road in Atherfield by Chine Lane was flooded earlier today.

An Isle of Wight Fire Brigade appliance was luckily able to attend and pump away the excess water.

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Angela Ticehurst got in touch with us this afternoon and wanted for us to pass on a message to those taking part in the Beach clean at Grange Chine tomorrow – Ed.

I am aware there is going to be a Beach clean at Grange Chine tomorrow 2pm – 4pm, organised by Surfers Against Sewage.

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Mothering Sunday is fast approaching.

It’s that time of year when we push the boat out to show our dear Mums how much we appreciate them.

So if you’re wondering what to do for your Mum this year, why not consider a taking her along to an award winning country house?

Skip the traditional big lunch and delight your Mum with a very special High Tea, served on traditional cake stands with Champagne and red roses!

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After nine years of problems with Undercliff Drive, proposals by the Isle of Wight Council for improving Ventnor’s road access have garnered a luke-warm response from residents.

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If you’re a regular VB reader you’ll know that we’re big fans of Island band Thee Waxworks.

The four piece, who all learnt how to play instruments so they could form the band, have been working their smelly socks off on a load of new tracks which they’ll be giving an outing to this coming Friday.

Yes, the long awaited next live performance is almost upon us. Thee Waxworks will be playing live in the upstairs bar at the Winter Gardens at the monthly Psycho Beat gig.

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You may have seen on VB in previous years that the Enchanted Manor in Niton has won awards from the AA as Funkiest B&B in the UK – as well as Best Guest Accommodation and Hospitality Award from the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce.

Their latest accolade is to be voted the sixth best European B&B in the Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice 2010 awards.

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