Island Magazines May 23 East Cowes & Whippingham area

Thismonth’sfrontcoverphotoofalittle owlwastakenbyTrampWoodsofTWM WildlifeandNatureIsleofWight.

Thisbeautifullittleowlwasintroducedto theUKinthe19thcentury.Itcanbeseen inthedaylight,usuallyperchingonatree branch,telegraphpoleorrock.Itwillbob itsheadupanddownwhenalarmed.In flightithaslong,roundedwings,rapid wingbeatsandflieswithaslight undulation.

TWMWildlifeandNatureIsleofWightis alocalgroupformedbyTrampWoodsand WarrenMasonandtheyarecurrently workingonmanylocalprojects,from holdingwildlifephotographysessionsfor thosewhoneedhelpinunderstandingand settinguptheircameras,totipsandtricks intogettingbetterphotosofthewildlifeon theisland.Thesesessionsarepublished throughtheirFacebookgroupandhave becomeverypopularandarebeingenjoyed bymany.

TheTrampwas recentlyaskedbythe Hampshire&IOW WildlifeTrusttodoa talkforthem,showing anarrayofhispictures plustalkingabout relevantstories.The eveningwasasuccess thatTWMWildlife andNatureIsleof Wightarenowsetting uptheirowntalks aboutphotographyand tellingtheirstories. Theseeventscanbe heldinvenuesor broughtdirecttoyou! Asmanypeopleare unabletoventureoutintothecountryside,duetovariousreasons,thisistheirwayof raisingpeople'sspirits,soifanyoneisinterestedthendocontactthemviatheir FacebookpageorforthosenotonFacebook,youcangetintouchwithmyself(Debbie, TheEditor)andIwillpassonthedetails.

AbigthankyoutoTheTrampforthisfantasticfrontcover–Ican’twaittoseewhat theywillshowusnext.

Wouldyoulikeyourdailynewspaper deliveredtoyourdoor?

HallsPremierNewsagent

7-9FerryRoad,EastCowes,PO326RA

deliverstoyourarea7daysaweek.

Youcouldalsoget6weeksofFREEdelivery vouchersviawww.delivermynewspaper.co.uk

Ifyouareinterested,orhaveanyquestions pleasepopinorgiveusacallon292983

HowdoestheFREEDeliveryOfferwork? delivermynewspaper.co.ukareofferingyou FREE deliveryofyourfavouritenewspaperforaminimumof6 weekssoyouonlyneedtopayyournewsagentforthe priceofthepaper.

After6weeks,deliveryischargedat£3aweekfor7 daysdelivery.

WelcometotheMayissue–Ihope whenyouarereadingthisthatthe weatherhasimproveddrastically becauseasIsitherewritingthisit’s raining,coldandmiserableoutside.

ThismonthwehavesomemoreBank Holidaysandanextraoneforthe CoronationofKingCharlesIII.Please feelfreetosendphotosofyourstreet partiesorgrouppicnics.However,you decideordecidenottocelebrate,Ihope youhavefun.

Ifyouwouldliketogetinvolvedina coupleof‘nature’typeevents,please turntopage11andreadJim’sarticle.I amparticularlyinterestedintheGarden ButterflySurveywhichisavaluable surveyanddoesn’ttakeupmuchtime.Itwassadtoreadthatlastyearonly9 householdsontheIslandtookpartinthiseventandIwouldliketoappealtoallofyou togivethisatryandcomeon,let’sdobetterthisyear.Youneverknowyoumight enjoyyourself.

Maytimeisthebest(wellaslongaswehavesomesunshine),tomeit’saboutpicnics, outdooractivitiesandprobablythefirstbarbecueoftheyear.Youcan’tbeatthesmellof asausagesizzlingawayontheoldBBQ.

IfyouareorganisinganyeventsinJuneorthecomingmonths,pleasesendmethe detailsandIcanincludethemintherelevantissue.Mycontactdetailsarebelow.

Pleaseremembertokeepusingtheservicesofourlocaladvertisersandsupportthem whereyoucanandpleaseremembertotellthemyousawthemadvertisedhereandif youarealocalbusinessandwouldliketogetyourdetailsoutintothelocalcommunity thenpleasegetintouchwithme.

IhopeyouallhaveagreatMayandIlookforwardtocatchingupwithyounextmonth.

NevermissoutonreadingacopyofIsland Magazines.

Ifyoucan’tgetouttopickupacopyfrom localdistributorsyoucansubscribeto eitherour‘PRINTED’or‘DIGITAL’ editioneachmonth.

For digitalsubscriptions pleaseemail eastcowesmagazine@gmail.comand includethewords ‘subscribedigital’in theemail,thensit back,relaxandwait forthenextissueto dropintoyourinbox.

For printed subscriptions therewill beasmallchargefor £1.20permonth payable6monthsin advance.To subscribeemail islandmagazines@ gmail.comwithyour nameandaddressand whichareayouwould likeorcalluson 07880587931.

Town&CountyCouncillorforEastCowes

Email:karl.love@iow.gov.uk|Facebook:CllrKarlLove

WelcometomyMayreportandIhope you’relookingforwardtotheCoronationof HRHKingCharlesandQueenCamilla. Hereisalistofourlocalcelebrationsin EastCowes.

OnSaturday6thMaytheCoronation ScreeningwilltakeplaceintheTownHall.

OnSunday7th theBigLunchFunDaywill takeplaceintheJubileeRecreationGround from11amwheretheconcertwillbe screenedonalargedigitalscreen.Therewill bestalls,aKingandQueenfancydress competitionandaDogShowandmuch more.Let’shopefortheverybestweather. OnMay8th therewillbeaBigHelpOut eventattheTownHallfrom11amto3pm withMusicfromWightHarmony,Buskers andaVolunteersFair.

InothernewsthenextmeetingoftheEast CowesFullCouncilis17th Mayat6.30in theTownHall.Atthiseventnominations fortheTownMayorandDeputywillbe votedon.Iwasaskedrecentlyhowwe spendourlocaltownPrecept(tax)inEast Cowes?Hereisanoverviewforyour information.EastCowesTownCouncilhas beeninvestingintoitspeopleand community,bigtime,toimprovethingsfor ourcommunities.WehaveaTownHalland thenewEASTSIDECurveincludingnew modernpublictoilets.Thecouncilalsoruns thepaddlingpoolandplayarea,a communityorchard,anannualfestivalof differentsortsandgivesgrantsto communitygroups.Wepayforextragrass cuttingsandbins.Weareinvolvedwith restoringaslipwayandrefurbishingthe Esplanadetoiletsthissummer.Werunan annualpantomimeandtheSkateboardpark isbeingrefurbishednextyear.Wearea ‘doing’communitycouncil.Ontopofthis comesaninvestmentintotheAlbanyGreen andBellsLanding.Ihopethisgivesyoua flavourofhowyourtowncouncilspends yourlocalprecept.Wehavealsobeen supportingsomefamilieswhohavebeen strugglingduringthisenergycrisis.

Asmalldelegationofcouncilofficersand CouncillorsfromIsleofWightCounciland

EastCowes,includingMayorTracy Reardonandmyselfvisitedourisland’s PowerStationinEastCowesinlateMarch foratourofthefacility.Apresentationwas madebymembersofboththeRWEsite ownersandcommercialteams(thelatter basedinSwindon),andmanyquestions wereaskedofitsownersandmanagerswho operatethesite.

Itwasreallyinterestingtohearjusthow importantandflexiblethestationiswithina networkofpowergenerationservingthe wholeoftheUK.Lookinginfromthe outside,asaresident,it’samysteriousplace. Oncesuggestedbyresidentstobelikethe WillyWonka’sChocolateFactory,fullof mysterywithnooneeverseengoinginor outofthefacilities.Infact,itisahighly mechanisedfacility.

RWE,aretheownersofthepowerstation whohaveanumberofdifferenttypesof powergenerationstations,including onshoreandoffshorewind,hydro,biomass andlargegasplantsbasedaroundthe UnitedKingdom.Questionswereasked aboutcarbonemissionsandthestation’s environmentalfootprintandthepowerlines leadingbothtooandfromourIsland. Insidethefacilitywasspotlesslyclean,even theRollsRoycejetenginesweredustfree.It wassocleanthatonemighthavebeen forgivenforthinkingonewasina hospital.Someoftheswitchequipmentis reallyquiteold-fashioned,butinreality,it’s allhighlyengineeredandamodern facility.It’soperatedbyasystemof computerswhenbroughtintooperation.

Thesiteisbeingwellmaintained–for examplein2005thecompanyspentmillions repairingthegenerator.Lastyearamajor investmentwascompletedtoenhancethe station’scapabilityinprovidingnetwork servicesforNationalGridElectricalSystem Operators.Theautomatedfirefighting equipmentwasimpressiveandreassuringto see.Infact,thepowerstationstoresa significantquantityoffirefightingfoamon sitewhichtheyalsoshareanagreement

withthefirebrigade,thatintheeventofan emergency,theywillbeabletocollectand useinanywiderIslandemergency.The station’soperationiscontrolledfromHythe andcancomeonlineextremelyquicklyina rapidresponsetohelpkeepthelightson.It isthereforeanextremelyimportantpieceof theNationalsystem.Whileitdoesn’t operateoften,itisincrediblyimportantfor thewholeoftheUK.It’sdescribedas‘The LastMegawatt’.

Forourgroupvisiting,itwasachancetoask thequestionsthatwewantedaboutfuture powergeneration,includinghydrogen power,solarandthegrowingimpactsfrom theelectrificationofvehicles.Wealsotalked aboutthenationalgrid,andthefactthatour islandhasashortageofcapacity,withonly twomainpowerlines,bringingpowertoour islandandathirdlinetocarrysupplies outwardsfromthePowerStation.Thisisan importantfactorasourisland,likesomany otherplaces,hasagrowingpopulationwith aspirationstoquicklychangefromcarbon andfossilfuelusetocleangreen energy.Thereisnodoubtinmymindthat aswemoveforward,theimportanceofEast Cowespowerstationbeingready,ata moment’snoticetodeliverpowerquickly, willnotdiminish.Idon’tthinkthis necessarilymeansthatitwillrunmoreoften –buttheimportanceofEastCowespower stationbeingready,atamoment’snotice,is nationallyimportant.Iaskedsomequestions aboutthelandadjoiningthepowerstation andSaundersway,andwhatitmightbeused foratthistime.Thereisnoplanofactionfor itsusehowever,itislikelymovingforwardin yearstocomethatthislandwillbeneeded forbothresidentialandindustrialuse.

Frommyperspective,oneoftheinteresting elementswhichIgotacloserlookat,forthe firsttime,wasthehistoricalbuildingwhich stillremainsingoodcondition,usedbythe cadetsfromtheNavalCollegeofOsborne. Whilsttherehasbeensomemodernisationit isstillfullyusable,andI’mtoldstillhasthe originalwoodpanellinginside.Naturally,I tooktimetoexplainitshistoryandits importancetothetown.SomeoftheRWE teamwereawareofitshistoricalvalue,but nottotheextentofknowingabouthowit

wasusedbysomeofthemostimportant andinfluentialpeopleintheUnited KingdomandinEurope,tolearnmaritime skills.I’mpleasedtosaythattherewillbe morediscussionsandconversationsabout thisbuildingmovingforwardintothe future.

ThelatestEsplanadelandslipinthewoods isnowslowlyopeningupintoasignificant slippageandsize.Itisveryclosetothe SouthernWateraccessroad,anditisnot safetocrossorapproach.Itisslippingata veryslowrateandI’mhopingitwillnotslip ontotheroadasthereisalargegully betweenitandtheesplanaderoad.

ThereisnonewsabouttheNorrisCastle Developmentapplicationprogressionatthe timeofwriting.IassureyouthatIam watchingandlisteningandawareofyour observationsandthelandregistration matters.

Ihavehadaresponsetomyquestionsabout theformerStudioSchoolsite.Itreadsas follows:-“Iampleasedtoconfirmthatthe IWCarecurrentlyworkingwith CommunityActionIWtoexplorethe optionofashort-termleaseagreementfor partofthesitetoenableincreasedYouth SupportwithintheEastCowesarea.This accommodationwouldbeinadditiontothe currentprovisionandwouldbeforashorttermperioduntilthefutureofthebuilding isdecided”.Ihavenoideawhowillbe fundingthisproposedinitiativeandthere hasbeennocommunitydiscussionaboutit. Iremainconcernedthatthismatterhasnot beendiscussedwiththewidercommunity. Ofcourse,gettingthebuildingworkingand intouseisimportantandthereneedstobe furtherdiscussions.

Aplanningapplicationisbeingmadefora solarpowergenerationfield,in Whippingham,togenerateelectricityforuse byGKN.ItadjoinstheGKNsiteandIhave seentheproposal.Itishiddenwellawayand outofcommunitysight.Thisapplication fallswithintheWardofCllrMatthewPrice, andIaskyoutodirectallyourenquiriesto himinthismatteroncetheapplicationis published.

FIND AN ALZHEIMER CAFÉ near you

An Alzheimer Café is a meeting place that give ion and advice about dementia and offers guidanc g p g to other services. We welcome people with dementia, their families, carers, professionals, and people with an interest in dementia

EAST COWES

1st Tuesday of the month

RYDE

1st Friday of the month

2pm - 4pm 11am - 1pm

All Saints’ Hall

TOTLAND

3rd Wed of the month

2pm - 4pm

Town Hall, York Avenue, East Cowes

PO32 6RU

SANDOWN

4th Wed of the month

2pm - 4pm

The Broadway Centre

1 Broadway, Sandown PO36 9GG

Queens Road

Ryde PO33 3AF

NEWPORT

Last Wed of the month 6pm - 8pm

Newport Methodist Church

Quay Street, Newport PO30 5BA

St Saviour’s, Holy Family Centre

Weston Lane

Totland, PO39 0HE

COWES

2nd Wed of the month

2pm - 4pm

Football Club

Reynolds Close (off Park Road) PO31 7NT

Newcomers very welcome No booking required

Website: www. alzheimercafeiow. org. uk

Email: info@alzheimercafeiow. org. uk

alzheimerscafeisleofwight

Tel: 01983 220200 (please leave a message)

Monday8.30am—6.00pm

Tuesday8.30am—6.00pm

Wednesday8.30am—6.00pm

Thursday8.30am—6.00pm

Friday8.30am—6.00pm

Saturday9.00am—5.30pm

SundayClosed

Pleasenotethatweareclosedeveryday between1pm-2pm

ANY QUESTIONS?

TheFriendsofStMary’sHospitalCharityhascomethoroughsome turbulenttimesinthelastfewyears,butthegoodnewsisthattheyhave survivedtotellthetale.

Inspiteofbeingasmalleroperationwithjusttheshoponthegroundfloor foyer,theyhavemadeitto2023inahealthystateandarecontinuingto supportandsupplementtheexcellentserviceattheIsland’sNHSTrust,with theirmissiontoraisemoneytoprovideequipmentandfacilitiestohelpmaketheexperience betterforpatientsandstaff.

LesleyMyland,ChairofTrusteesofFriendsofSt Mary’sHospital,said“thankyoutothosewho helpeduswiththeirkinddonationsandfundraising efforts,andathankyoutootothosestaff,volunteers andtrusteeswhohaveworkedsohardtokeepthe retailserviceandtheCharitygoingindifficulttimes. Weshouldalso thankthestaffatSt Mary’swhohave goneoutoftheir waytouseourshopandkeepusprofitableenoughto channelfundstotheCharity.

Wewereabletoprovide£49,000worthofequipmentlast yearincludingnewwheelchairsatboththemainand northreceptiondesksforvolunteerstousewhen supportingvisitorstothetrustwhomayhavemobility problems.Wewereabletosupplykeyrapidresponse equipmentknownasanEMMAdevicetotherapid responsekitthatisheldbytheon-callODPteamand finallywewereabletosupplyresourcessuchasgames, booksandsensorytoysforthePaediatricsOccupational TherapyDepartment.Wearealsoveryexcitedabout fundingaveryspecialimmersivetrainingexperiencein thenewambulancecentre.Thisisfocusedonimproving immediatecareontheIslandtosavelivesincriticalsituationsbothforindividualsandthose involvedinamajorincident”.

PleasekeeponsupportingtheFriendsofStMary’sintheirworkforyourhospital.

Sudoku WordLadder

Awordladderisasequenceofwords formedbychangingjustonelettereach time.Canyoufindthemissingword? Usethecluesifyougetstuck.

BIRDCAGE

COCKATOO

EGRET

FLAMINGO

FLOCK

HEN

NIGHTHAWK

OWL PARAKEET REDWING

SWAN

SYRINX

TAIL

WATERTHRUSH

Birds

Lastmonth'sanswersforWordLadder:-cross,crops,coops,corps,carps,parts,party,parry,harry,harpy,happy

ContactDetails:-07483251960oremail:-michaelpaler@btinternet.com

G,Dayandthismonthit’sall aboutupcomingCoronation eventsandpeoplewhowill bemovingon.DawnHaigThomashastakenoverthe rolefromKayMarriott,and shemadethepromise,asall HighSheriffsdo,asshe madeherdeclarationon takingtheofficeinfrontof Islanddignitariesandinvited guestsatherhome,Barton Manor,inEastCowes.She haschosenliteracyasher themefortheyear.Inher acceptancespeech,Dawn toldhowtheabilitytoread isakeydeterminingfactor inthesuccessofachild’s life,evenmoresothantheirfamilyor economicbackground.Shehashadaflying start,witha‘soft’launchofherSchool ReadersCharityProject,whichshe describedas“anemailtoafewfriends”, getting36volunteerstogointoschools everyweektohearchildrenread.

DebbiehasdecidedtocloseherCardand GiftShopinYorkAvenue,EastCowes. Shesays'ithas trulybeenthemost heartbreaking hardestdecisionI havehadtomake butsincecovid retailhaschanged andwithrising energycostsI'm nottakingenough moneytopaythe bills,believemeI lovemybusiness andmycustomers, it’smorethanajob it’sbeenmylifefor 7years.Iwilltruly misseverythingI do.'

TheWIarelookingfor newmemberstojointheir groupswhomeetat

Whippingham

CommunityHallevery

3rdThursdayofthe

Month.EastCowesWI meetatStJames'sHall EastCowes1stTuesday oftheMonth.

Cowescommunityis gettingbacktogetheronce againforagiant“Picnic inthePark”andthisyear it’stocelebratethe CoronationofKing CharlesIIIthanksto generousfundingfrom CowesTownCouncilandvariouslocal organisations.

ThiswillbetheeighthPicnicinthePark eventandjudgingbytheenormousturnout ofover3500peopleforlastyear’sQueen’s Jubileepicnic,theeventseemstobegetting morepopularthanever!So,getyourpicnic basketsreadytogoandheadondownto NorthwoodParktojoininthefunfrom 12pmonSunday7thMay,the dayaftertheofficialCoronation ofKingCharlesIIIinLondon. Admissionisfreewitheveryone welcome…evenyourdog!

TheIsland’snewHighSheriff DawnHaig-Thomaswillbe openingtheeventat12pmwith awelcomefromtheCowes TownMayorbeforetheWight DiamondsMarchingBandplay somerousingtunestogetthe eventunderway.StMildred's ChurchFairwillbeheldon 20thMaywhichwillhaveits Dogshow.

Takecareandbesafe.Enjoythe celebrations.

‘Walkabout’withMichaelPaler

DATESFORYOURDIARY

ThirdThursdayofeverymonththe WhippinghamWImeetat1.30pmatthe WhippinghamcommunityHall.A friendlygroupofwomenwithmany variedinterest'sandthisisshowninour yearlyprogramme.ContactSylvia Williams296810formoredetails.

Friday5thMay–CoffeeMorningat NorthwoodCemeterybetween10:30am and12:30pm.Thismonth’sthemeis “SpringTombola”.Hotandcolddrinks andbiscuitsareavailablefreeofcharge. Everyonewelcome–Justcomethrough thecemeterygatesandyouwillbegivena warmwelcome.HostedbyFriendsof NorthwoodCemetery.

Saturday6th May–ScreeningoftheKing’s Coronationfrom10amatEastCowes TownHall.Lightrefreshments,including tea,coffee,squashandcakeswillbe available.

Sunday7th May–TheOfficialEastCowes CoronationCelebrations.TheBIGLunch from12pm–lateatJubileeRecreation Ground.LivescreeningoftheWindsor CastleMusicConcert,eventsarena, entertainment,stalls,fancydress, competitions,dogshow,drinksvanand muchmore.Comealongwithyourpicnic andenjoythefun.FundedbytheEast CowesTownCouncil.

Sunday7th May–TheEastCowes MethodistChurchinviteyoutojointhem fortheirafternoonteaserviceat3pm whichwillbefollowingbyaCoronation TeaParty.

Sunday7th May–Antiquesand CollectablesFairfrom10am–3pmat RoyalVictoriaArcade,UnionStreet, Ryde.Books,jewellery,vintageitems, furniture,silverandmuchmore.Free admissionandlocatedinawonderfullocal Rydeattractionwithacaféonsite.

Sunday14th May-EastCowesEsplanade SpringBeachCleanaspartoftheSurfers AgainstSewageMillionMilescampaign, organisedlocallybyFAECES(Fight AgainstEnvironmentalContamination ofEstuariesandSeafronts)Pleasemeetin theEsplanadecarparkat2pm.

Wednesday17thMay-MeninSheds OpenDayandTableTopSale.Freeentry toall-10amto2pmattheYMCA, WinchesterHouse,ShanklinPO376HU. ViewtheWorkshopandGardens.BBQ andrefreshmentsavailable.Limitedfree parkingonsiteorpayatBlueberriescar park.Formoreinformationphone 645604oremailmis.shanklin@gmail. com

Saturday20th&Sunday21stMay–RydabusVintageBusesWeekend2023. Withawiderangeofvintagebuseson routesfromthe60's,70's&80's.Rydabus involvelocalattractionsandeventsand provideatimetableoffreevintage servicestoservethesepartners.Mostof thevehiclesusedarefromtheMuseum’s collection,supplementedbyasmall numberofvisitingbuses.Buya programmefromwww.rydabus.co.uk. Includestimetables,routemapandlotsof offersanddiscountsatparticipating attractions,cafesandshops!Funforthe wholefamily.

Friday26th May–Monday29th May–YarmouthSeaSongsFestival.Alongwith oneoflargestannualgatheringsofgaffriggedboatsintheUK,withupto100 boatsattending,the‘ YarmouthSeaSongs Festival’ willbetakingplaceonceagainon TheGreen,oppositeYarmouthHarbour. Someoftheactswillalsobeappearingat variousvenuesaroundYarmouthoverthe weekendinadditiontoonthemainstage inthemarqueeonYarmouthGreen.

Alleventinformationwascorrectattimeofprintbutcouldbesubjecttochangeatanytime.

A J Careless Solicitors

Making or updating your Will? Arranging Power of Attorney? Need advice on Inheritance tax? Require assistance with Probate? Then we can help. Come and see Ian Clark at East Cowes Town Hall

on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month between 2pm – 5pm

Please telephone 852626 to guarantee an appointment

www.ajcareless.co.uk enquiries@ajcareless.co.uk

FREE DIGITAL SUPPORT

Are you struggling with your smart phone or tablet?

Are you aged 50+?

Why not come along to your local free Age UK IOW Digital Support drop-in at Newport Library and speak to one of our digital support volunteers.

Every 2nd and 4th Thursday, 10.30am to 12 noon at Newport Library.

For more information, call the Age UK IOW digital team on (01983) 301693 or email digital@ageukiw.org.uk