Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

If you heading on or off the Island tomorrow via the Fast Cat in Ryde/Portsmouth, please note the following cancellations.

The following sailings will not now operate:

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News reaches us that a planned strike by the Public and Commercial Services Union next Monday and Tuesday may affect Coastguard Stations around the UK.

We understand that it is not the rescuers themselves but those responsible for co-ordinating rescues who are planning the action.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency tell us that contingency arrangements are in place to provide emergency services, but warn sea users to take extra care whilst on the sea, beach or cliffs.

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Alex Dyke is making a return to the radio waves of the Island and the South Coast, but this time on BBC.

Having left Isle of Wight radio back in December 2008, Alex took off for Florida in the US, ending up doing a show on a local radio station ESPN Orlando, that broadcasts on AM radio.

Now he’s returning to the UK and has been signed up to do a radio show on BBC Solent on Saturday mornings between 11.00am-2.00pm – directly against IW Radio’s relatively newly-signed syndicated programme by Tony Blackburn, the Soul & Motown Show.

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A new national campaign addressing to raise awareness of living with dementia has just been launched.

The campaign which will run across several types of media, print, online, radio etc will be inviting people to take time out to find out more about dementia and how people living with the condition can be helped.

As part of the campaign, Islanders are being asked to share their views on how they would like Dementia Services to be developed on the Island.

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You will all have heard about the catastrophic earthquake that hit Chile at the weekend. VB reader Rocio is originally from Chile is hoping to contact any other Chileans living on the Island to see what they can do to help. Ed

Hello, my name is Rocio Gonzalez-Medland. I come originally from Santiago de Chile, but I have been living on the Isle of Wight for the last 12 years.

As you may have heard, this weekend a massive earthquake has hit my country followed by a tsunami which has devastated vast areas along 430 miles of coast.

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Remember the story about VB reader Sue Anderson, who was planning to do a sky dive for charity? Well we hear that she did it this weekend, here’s what Sue told us yesterday. Ed

Our skydive was a great success as we (Mat and Suzanne) took to the skies on Saturday at Salisbury Old Sarum Airfield.

We skydived 10000 ft- 5000 without a parachute and 5000 with – it was an incredible thing to do and I personally was extremely nervous!

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This in from Wightink.

Due to the forecast adverse weather conditions in the Solent area for Sunday 28/2/10, Wightlink will be running an hourly service between Portsmouth and Fishbourne, from 06:00 until 21:00 ex Gunwharf and from 07:00 until 22:00 ex Fishbourne. Outside of these times, the normal timetable will apply.

Wightlink would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause. Passengers concerned about their sailing(s) should call Wightlink reservations on 0871 376 1000.

Are you a festival lover who dreams of spending the summer travelling around the world, soaking up the atmosphere at some of the best festivals going?

Well if so, a newly launched competition dubbed ‘Around The World in 30 Raves’ is probably going to be something that might interest you.

Trident Gum are on the lookout for someone to travel the world, clocking up 30 music festivals and reporting back via the likes of Facebook, Blogging, Twitter, YouTube etc.

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Rachel from IW Friends of Palestine Group tells us that ticket sales are going well for the Gaza event taking place this Thursday.

Peter Venner from Brading will be giving a talk after the screening of EyeWitness in Gaza at Quay Arts.

Peter will be talking about his journey to Gaza at the end of last year, as part of a convoy taking supplies to those in need.

Entrance is just £5, call 872997 for more info.

We all get a little carried away sometimes, but this guy …..

He certainly needs to get things into perspective.

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Remember the gorgeous Gracie May Fuller who we wrote about last month?

Gracie was born with Cerebral Palsy which means that not only can she not walk, but she has to wear hard splints on her feet and legs day and night.

Her Mum, Mandy, set up a Facebook group to try to raise much needed cash to fund a vital operation to help Gracie-May walk.

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Once again, organisers of Cowes Week have chosen the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) as their official charity for Cowes Week.

This is the second year running that Cowes Week have shown their support for the RNLI who provide a vital service to the sailing community.

The money raised during the week long regatta which takes place 31 July to 7 August will go directly towards the lifeboat stations supporting the Island at Bembridge, Cowes and Yarmouth.

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The new Bishop of Portsmouth has been announced.

Bishop Christopher Foster will officially take up the role later this
year, but yesterday there was at a ceremony at the top of the Spinnaker Tower, where he’d have seen part of his diocese – the Isle of Wight.

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This in from the coastguard – Ed

An angler was rescued from a life raft this afternoon, after his boat sank two miles South West of St Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight.

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It’s been a pretty heavy week for some, so we imagine there are plenty out there who could do with a laugh.

Check out Failblog’s latest offering of two unfortunate workers stressing the importance of a strong safety rope.

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Regular readers will have been following the news of the IW Convoy to Gaza over Christmas. Rachel from IW Friends of Palestine tells us more below. You can hear Peter and Zuber’s stories later in the month at Quay Arts. Ed

Over Christmas two vehicles from the Isle of Wight and Solent area joined the Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza.

The trip took over a month because of delays caused by the Egyptian government, it’s thought under pressure from Israel and the USA.

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Lee Taylor, the man behind the Haiti Appeal Concert is calling for buskers to get involved on Saturday to help raise awareness and funds for the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

He’s on the lookout for street buskers to line Cowes High Street during the day with proceeds going to the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

If you’re able to help out Mike on rebelmc2k2(at)hotmail.com

For more details visit the official site

I thought readers might be interested in a story – a true story – and old boy told me a long time ago.

He was a van and truck salesman in the twenties and thirties of last century and his tale concerned a Jew named Cohen who lived in the East End of London and earned a living selling off a barrow in the street.

A ‘costermonger’ in fact.

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As we’ve been reporting over the past couple of weeks, a charity concert to raise funds for the victims of the Haiti earthquake is set to take place this coming Saturday night.

The event is being organised by Cowes man Lee Taylor who said “I feel that the tragedy in Haiti is a horrific reminder of how we sometimes lose perspective of our lives, but the offers of help and support that I have received have been overwhelming. I truly feel this concert will show that we are a small island with a big heart.”

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A big thank you to everyone who visited VentnorBlog this month, you’ve made January a record month for us.

We had over 160,000 visits – yes, one hundred and sixty thousand – in January.

It’s an amazing buzz and one that we’re truly humbled by. Thank you all so much.

Island businesses can benefit
We’re now looking to help Island businesses turn all of those people looking at VentnorBlog into potential sales.

The advertising rates on VentnorBlog are incredibly reasonable, currently starting at under £1 per day. We know, it’s crazy isn’t it?

With a month like January, Island businesses would have their adverts seen over 345,000 times.

£0.00008 per ad viewing
That works out to an eight-thousandths of a penny (£0.00008) per viewing, any of which could turn into a sale.

That’s got to be the bargain to the year hasn’t it?

Get in touch (898 777) we’re keen to help build your business.

How about this for ways to help the people of Haiti.

Ten year old Harvey Pinder from Orpington is going to drum continuously for eight hours tomorrow hoping to raise as much cash as he can.

So far over £400 has been pledged through the JustGiving Website on which he says …

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Having learnt to drive in London, we’re used to tight parking spots but this one takes the biscuit.

We guess this is what after years of driving you can achieve.

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As anyone who follows current affairs will know, former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will face questioning at the Iraq Inquiry tomorrow.

Many people were unhappy about how easily and quickly our troops were sent to Iraq.

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In four weeks from now, a nationwide campaign will see the Independent Lifeboat Crews of the United Kingdom join forces to raise awareness for the Independent Lifeboat stations.

Here on the Island, as well as the RNLI lifeboat stations, we’re fortunate enough to have three independent lifeboat stations, one each in Ryde, Sandown and Freshwater.

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Don’t worry, it’s almost the end of the week. Just a few more hours to go until the weekend begins.If you can’t wait until then for your T.G.I.F. fix check this out.