Island Magazines March 2022, Sandown and Shanklin area by Island Magazines

FREE March 2022 Sandown & Shanklin Area

Your Local Community Magazine

Shanklin Town Mayor Report by Cllr Chris Quirk The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee As I indicated in my report last month, to celebrate this anniversary, events will take place throughout the year, culminating in a four-day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June. In last month’s report I provided a summary of the Government’s advice for setting up a street party, if you do not have access to that briefing please email me for a copy (chris. quirk@iow.gov.uk). The bank holiday will provide an opportunity for communities and people throughout the United Kingdom to come together to celebrate the historic milestone and street parties are already being organised in Shanklin. The four days of celebrations will include public events and community activities, as well as national moments of reflection on The Queen’s 70 years of service. Sunday 5th June The Big Jubilee Lunch: The Town Council

are looking to organise a Big Picnic with free entertainment. The Platinum Jubilee Pageant: Artistic performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers and volunteers will unite to tell the story of The Queen’s 70 year reign in an awe-inspiring festival of creativity. This London Pageant will combine pomp and ceremony, street arts, theatre, music, circus, costumes as well as cutting-edge visual technology, drawing on talent from every part of the United Kingdom and involving students from Dance Vibez, the dance school based at Shanklin Community Arts Centre. Over the Bank Holiday There will be an event in Shanklin Chine, a Choral Recital at St Blasius Church. The Town Council are also looking to organise an event with free entertainment on the Beach. If you are organising an event please let us know so we can add it to our list of Platinum Jubilee events in Shanklin. .

pring is almost here, the evenings are getting lighter and the clocks spring forward on the 27th March. There are daffodils and crocuses appearing on hedges and in gardens, showing us that the weather is warming, and good times are just ahead, and the island is waking from its winter snooze. Although I mustn’t forget that we have had snow in March before!!!! It’s now just a waiting game. This month I have gotten together with the Isle of Wight Cats Protection to work on a feature for the Senior Kitizens. They have some real beauties in the centre at the moment, just waiting for their forever homes. They often get overlooked for the kittens and younger cats, but these mature felines have great personalities and many more years of love to give. See our feature on page 10 and let this be the month that you adopt and make a difference to one of these senior kitizens. We have our regular news reports from which will keep you informed of the latest news and information for your area. If you fancy doing some puzzles go to pages 14 and 15 for this month’s sudoku, wordsearch, anagrams and kriss kross. Hope I haven’t made them too easy this month! I hope you have a great March and I look forward to catching up with you again next month.

Debbie

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Report from Sandown Town & County Councillor Debbie Andre T:- 400744/07948 757977 E:- debbieandre4sandown@gmail.com Facebook:- debbieandre4sandown This is the month that the clocks go forward, and the island will be bursting back into life in all its beauty. I’m hoping that the cycle track will have reopened with the completion of the eel crossing by Southern Water. If you are a regular cyclist, please download the PedalAid app and your logged journeys can raise money for island charities and win you prizes.

Wadsworth, is raring to go with a whole raft of youth activities once the lighting has been repaired. The responses from the town council budget consultation gave a high priority to youth provision and it’s good to see new initiatives being started by Julian, such as the boxercise classes at the Heights that are proving very popular.

The IOW Council has secured a further £7m of Government funding for four Coastal Defence Schemes. One of these schemes is at Yaverland which will see refurbishment of the sea wall and defences at Yaverland and Culver Parade. Some of the benefits of this will be reducing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion to more than 3,700 Island homes and businesses; helping coastal communities to be more resilient to the present and future risks of climate and coastal change; better protection for vital infrastructure such as the Island Line and Yaverland’s Southern Waters Water Treatment Works, as well as key highways such as the B3395 at Bembridge and Yaverland, and the A3055; better protection of over 300 hectares of protected habitat at Brading Marshes and other high amenity outdoor spaces such as Shanklin and Yaverland esplanades for tourism and recreation. To be kept up to date, please go to: https://consult. environment-agency.gov.uk/solent-andsouth-downs/yaverland-coastal-defencesche/

I’m disappointed that Sandown Town Council were not able to take up the offer of part-funding a planning enforcement officer in this year’s budget to help tackle the many derelict buildings that blight our town. However, I am working closely with the IOW Council enforcement officers to ensure that pressure is kept up. It’s good to see phase 2 of the Breakwater Way development starting.

I’m working with the IOW Council and our town council clerk to try and get the lighting repaired at Sandham Grounds. Our wonderful Community Resilience Coordinator for the Bay area, Julian

On 2nd and 3rd April, the Sandown Sprint will be coming to Yaverland. This is a timed road trial which will put Sandown on the national stage. The organisers have worked hard to ensure that the disruption to local residents is kept to a minimum. It’s sure to be an exciting event and I’ll certainly be there enjoying all of the fun. Starting in March, I will be holding my councillor surgeries on Saturdays from 11am to midday at Brown’s and I’m grateful to Geoff and Kate for agreeing to host. Our local policing team will join me when their workload permits. Do come along to discuss the issues that are important to you. Also, Cllr Heather Humby holds her weekly surgery every Thursday at 11am at Sandown Library and is also available on 402024 or heatherhumby@ sandowntowncouncil.gov.uk

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Never miss out on reading a copy of Island Magazines. If you can’t get out to pick up a copy from local distributors you can subscribe to either our ‘DIGITAL’ or ‘PRINTED’ edition each month. For DIGITAL subscriptions please email shanklinmagazine@gmail.com and i nclude the words ‘subscribe digital’ in the email, then sit back, relax and wait for the next issue to drop into your email inbox.

East Wight Photographic Group A friendly local group meeting twice a month for photographic outings, lunch, presentations, workshops & socialising. We welcome all levels from first timers to experienced. Yearly membership £10. For more information on joining go to www.ewpg.org.uk or call 01983 872164 The views and opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers are their own and do not reflect the views of the Editor or Island Magazines unless stated otherwise. Island Magazines reserves the right to refuse or alter material where necessary.

For PRINTED subscriptions there will be a small charge of £1.20 per month payable 6 months in advance. Email islandmagazines@gmail.com with your name, address and which area you would like or call us on 07880 587931.

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Finding meaning in what we have to study! by Alex Moseley, PhD We often believe that most of the stuff we learn at school doesn’t relate to our life. We tend to put it in a box labelled ‘completely useless.’ To be honest, there is a lot of stuff we never encounter again, unless you end up in a profession that uses it of course. I remember learning at primary school what a dodecagon was - and never came across one again until I was tutoring primary school students. Then out comes the pound coin with 12 sides. It was probably designed by a primary teacher … And many students have asked, ‘When will I ever use …’ RE, Pythagoras theorem, algebra, ionic bonding, grammar, poetry, history, and whatever else doesn’t float their boat.

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That’s fine, we’re all different. But if we could make sense of our current learning at school and relate – even a little bit – to what we’re interested in, we keep the mind open. When we hide them away as ‘not relevant to me…’, we may be doing ourselves a disservice. A curious mind goes far today: we should indeed expect to keep on learning in this ever-shifting world. Adult learners and parents of my pupils express regret for not having been a bit more awake at school. But let’s face it, when you’re a teenager, that’s very hard to do. So one of my favourite aspects of tutoring one-to-one is making a connection between those seemingly irrelevant subjects and a pupil’s life or current ambitions. There are times I’ll note, ‘Yep, I agree - you probably won’t ever do this again. This is for a test, so we play the game. Now this bit, you need this. This relates to …’ It’s such a pleasure to see a glint of understanding, or at least appreciation of what the topic may do or mean to others. Private Tutoring with Alex Moseley, BA MA PhD Twenty years experience, enhanced DBS check etc. Pre-GCSE & GCSE: Maths, English, Sciences, etc. A-level: Psychology, Economics, History, Literature, Biology, Business. Also mature student learning and undergraduate help. www.iowtutor.co.uk | 07774 118880

Community News for The Bay From Richard & Jon Email. priest.gilbey@live.co.uk Welcome Bay Residents We hope the spring has started well with many activities now taking place following relaxation of Covid restrictions, with events, such as the Rotary Sale able to go ahead later in the year following postponement due to Covid. Following grants Shanklin Voluntary Youth & Community Centre have added to their menu of activity, with Kettlecise on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Pilates on Wednesdays, the Thursday morning club going from strength to strength with quizzes and indoor sport, Table Tennis on Tuesday morning/night and Thursdays, Judo on Mondays and Aikido on Sundays – in addition to drama groups continuing to use the facilities; and plans are being developed for special events in May. Shanklin Theatre’s rich programme of entertainment includes Simon Bodkin’s Troublemaker (3rd); The Fureys on the 4th; comedian Rich Hall’s long awaited night of fun on 5th; the hits of The Manfreds on the 24th; Morecambe & Wise fans get a treat when Ian Ashpitel & Jonty Stephens appear as Eric & Ern on the 25th; Omid Djalili’s Good Time Tour is on Saturday 26th; First Act bring 3 performances of Orpheus Rocks and more on 28th, 29th and 30th; and the month is rounded off with Comedian Dom Joly’s Holiday snaps. Shanklin FC have reached the semi-finals of the Hampshire Vase and face a trip to Meon Milton on the 5th, ½ final of the Challenge Cup and face a local derby at Sandown, with Shanklin Reserves away at 8

Northwood in the ¼ finals of the Junior A Cup; and the club have draft plans in place for the development of the clubhouse and improvements with the pitch. Shanklin Cricket Club are planning events to celebrate their 150th anniversary, starting on 29th June and including a 150th anniversary match on Sunday 3rd July and an IW match V MCC on Monday 4th July. News is also on the way about the final stage of the Tour of Britain Cycle Race, with the possibility of the Bay being a part of the route for this prestigious sporting event. Sandown and Shanklin Libraries are getting back to normal services and their programme of activities are on their websites and advertised outside of their amenities. Many local organisations have been in touch about events for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee following Accession Day in February (with many memories of 1952 being shared and possibly included in a film of Royal visits to the Bay) and, these include tree planting in the Bay, a Church Service, a Jubilee Jive, a Big Lunch community event, and several projects involving local school children and youth organisations. Please stay safe and follow the changing guidance – with the rules being relaxed residents are mindful that the threat and impact of catching covid hasn’t gone away.

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Gus Jonsson is one of the Isle of Wight’s most sensitive and descriptive storytellers. ‘Measuring the Moments’ is his bewitching and charismatic new poetry collection available from www.brandicat.com. Gus’s two volumes of memoirs, ‘Vectis Voices’ and ‘Vectis Days’, are essential reading for islanders and available from Ryde Bookshop - 135 High St, Ryde, W.J. Nigh & Sons - Shanklin, Medina Bookshop - 50 High St, Cowes and direct from www.brandicat.com

We are working with the Isle of Wight Cats Protection Adoption Centre to let you know about some of the wonderful SENIOR KITIZENS who are waiting for their forever home. You will definitely fall in love with these older cats and please don’t let their age put you off. These seniors have many years of love to give. Older cats are usually more homely and have great personalities making them wonderful companions.

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Lizzie is a dear ole girl and being 18 years she wants to find a loving home to spend her golden years. She is an indoor cat and is affectionate, loving and doesn’t want for much... just a snuggly bed, fuss and food. Because she is older she is often over looked but she has so much to give and just wants a place to call home. She is a short hair domestic tabby.

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The Isle of Wight Adoption Centre, 122 Marlborough Road, Ryde. t:- 03000 120 251 | www.isleofwightcats.org.uk | e:- isleofwight@cats.org.uk ----------------------Lulu is 11 years old but is very young at heart. Her owner was terminally ill and could no longer look after her. She want’s to be the centre of attention so no other animals in the house. She is inquisitive and loving and would suit a mature family. She is a short hair black and white domestic cat.

Minnie Moo desperately wants a calm, quite forever home. She is 16 years old and is set in her ways and needs to be accepted for who she is and her own quirky ways. She is a very special cat that deserves love and compassion. She is a short hair white and black domestic cat. -----------------------

Leslie is a beautiful long-hair black domestic cat who is 10 years old. He is a very affectionate and gentle cat and is not vocal and has a very quiet meow. He likes the outdoors as well as a house to explore. He would like to be the only pet in the family and a nice loving home to call his own. Meet Suzie and Lexi - this loving duo come as a pair and are 13 and 15 years old. They will make great companions and they enjoy their home comforts and a garden on sunny days. They need the security of a loving home after their owner passed away. They are domestic short hair cats and Suzie is black and white and Lexi a dark tortie.

At some stage in our lives someone we know will die. Grief can be overwhelming, and we may be surprised by our reaction to grief. There are no time limits on grief and how we react. If you want to support someone who has been bereaved there are simple things you can do. If you are worried about saying the wrong thing, then say that rather than not saying anything. You can offer to do shopping, take something to eat, suggest taking a gentle walk to get some fresh air or just sit with them. You can also put them in contact with Cruse Bereavement Support. Cruse is here to support anyone, no matter who has died or when they died. On the Island Cruse supports adults, children, and young people. Trained bereavement volunteers work one to one, mainly by phone and video conference. We provide a confidential and non-judgemental service, giving grieving people time to talk to someone outside their circle of family and friends. There are a number of ways you can get support; you can self-refer by calling 01983 523030 (24/7hrs) or by emailing isleofwight@cruse.org.uk in either case you will need to leave your name and telephone number. If you prefer you can complete a referral form online www.cruse.org. uk/get-support/contact-your-local-branch and whichever method you chose a trained bereavement assessor will contact you from a withheld number. If you want to find out more about Cruse Bereavement Support and how you could support the charity, please use the contact details above. This can be by training as a volunteer or helping with our fundraising activities.

Grief is overwhelming. Let us help. If you’re struggling after someone close to you has died, there’s lots we can do to support adults and children. We can provide information, advice or simply listen. Find out how we can help you by: Visiting - www.cruse.org.uk Calling us on 01983 523030 Email us at isleofwight@cruse.org.uk

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Report from IW Councillor Ian Ward for Sandown South Email: ian.ward@iow.gov.uk Telephone: 01983 403193 Mobile: 07772559093 Facebook: Cllr Ian Ward BEM – Sandown South officers into the force, some ENFORCEMENT ACTION TAKEN ON would be formed into an AntiTHE OCEAN HOTEL – AT LAST! Social Behaviour (ASB) team who would target ASB around the Island. After a considerable number of obstacles, the IW Council Enforcement Officers have More good news is that she had acat last served a Section cepted the need for a Roads Policing 215 Enforcement Order Unit (RPU) on the Island and she on the owners of the hoped to get it to us as soon as they Hotel. The order was were available. issued on the 28th January, and it comes UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF into effect on 11 March. RECYCLABLE WASTE WILL BE The owners have until COLLECTED 11 July to complete the work detailed in the I often get complaints from resiOrder. dents that the waste collectors have not taken their black waste bags. The Order stipulates Residents claim that black bins are not that the rubble, other building materials and big enough for their home’s rubbish. I general rubbish are cleared from the site. invariably find that the black bags contain The fences and hedges are repaired and cut recyclable waste that should have gone back and the loose render and flaking paint into their green bin. Unfortunately, some on the High Street side of the building is dump their black bags around litter bins, to be removed and prepared for painting. which then get ripped open by animals and I have heard several cynical comments the waste spread around the pavement and claiming that it is unlikely that the owners road. You can see in the photo that most will not comply with the Order. If they of the rubbish in the black bag is recyclable do not comply then they are then liable to waste that should have gone into a green court legal action. bin/white bag. The waste collectors will take any DONNA JONES - THE POLICE amount of CRIME COMMISSIONER AGREES recyclable THE ISLAND NEEDS MORE waste if it’s POLICE OFFICERS & A ROADS in your green POLICING UNIT. bin AND in white or clear My colleagues and I attended a briefing bags placed by Donna Jones, the Hampshire & IW alongside Police and Crime Commissioner, who your green told us that she is collaborating with her bins. Chief Constable to bring 600 more

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Sunday 6th March – Sandown Pier Beach Clean. Join us for our monthly beach clean. First Sunday of every month. Meet at Sandown Pier from 10:30am. We provide bags and litter pickers sponsored by Westridge Skip Hire. Current Government Covid Guidelines apply. Organised by Blue Seas Protection Friday 11th March – Sandown Library are resuming their cinema screenings and the first one being shown is ‘Ammonite’ starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan. It is certificate 15 with a running time of 1 hour 58 minutes. Tickets are £3 each. On the night doors will open at 6.40pm and close promptly at 7.00pm when the film starts. Please note: Face masks are no longer compulsory at our screenings but are still very much encouraged! We will have windows open to keep the room well ventilated.

www.islandmagazines.co.uk PUZZLE PAGE

www.islandmagazines.co.uk ANAGRAMS

Can you work out the name of each country from the following anagrams? Name lengths are shown in brackets. 1. ULTRA ASIA (9) 2. BIG MULE (7) 3. COLD ANTS (8) 4. NEAR GYM (7) 5. NICE LAD (7) 6. SLENDER THAN (11) 7. ANY ROW (6) 8. A SNIP (5) 9. NEAR GIANT (9) 10. LIZARDS WENT (11)

Wordsearch ‘Dogs’

Sudoku

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Kriss Kross - Can you work out where each word goes in the grid to complete a crossword style puzzle? 3 LETTERS ERR FRO MEN SET SHE 4 LETTERS AGED DOES LADY LIES ONLY YARD 5 LETTERS AWFUL CLOUD 6 LETTERS ERSATZ IBEXES 7 LETTERS AFRICAN GRATING IMAGINE NEGLECT

9 LETTERS ALARMISTS NEGLECTED UNIVERSAL

LAST MONTHS ANSWER

10 LETTERS CONFERENCE CONTINUING

Last months anagrams answers:- 1. ALIEN 2. GOODFELLAS 3. HAIRSPRAY 4. PSYCHO 5. ROCKY 6. NETWORK 7. GHOSTBUSTERS 8. DELIVERANCE 9. SEABISCUIT 10. COLLATERAL 11. ALEXANDER 12. FLIGHTPLAN 13. POSEIDON

News report from Chris Quirk & Michael Beston IOW & Shanklin Town Councillors. christopher.quirk@iow.gov.uk or michael.beston@iow.gov.uk Chris 07802 705831 and Michael 07885 644426 Isle of Wight Coastal Defence Schemes Following the announcement in August 2020 by the IW Council and the Environment Agency to work together over the next six years on several flood defence schemes representing around £37 million worth of potential Government investment, a further £7million pound of Government funding will go towards four capital projects has been secured at, Embankment Road, Yaverland, Shanklin and Ventnor. This will enable further investigation, using ground investigations and modelling to help determine the best way to replace the aging coastal defences. The capital programme includes: Refurbishment of the sea wall and defences at Yaverland and Culver Parade in Sandown, refurbishment of the sea wall and defences at Shanklin Esplanade. The Shanklin project aims to investigate how best to respond to the challenges facing the Shanklin Esplanade coastal frontage, thereby protecting the community and preserving the area’s tourism and heritage value. Options being considered involve capital works, which may include refurbishment and repair of the existing defences. Additionally, the project will explore longer term flood and erosion management solutions which protect and enhance the seafront for future generations and provide a platform for regeneration. If you have any questions, please contact the project team at: IOW_ FDschemes@Environment-Agency.gov.uk

Communities Improvement Fund and successfully awarded back in 2019. The display screen is enabled to show bus times, train times – both fed from links to the railway systems and real-time bus data. For the future, local community news and information will be added including updates on the progress of the Performing Arts Centre. www.shanklinperformingartscentre. co.uk

Island Roads Tree Safety Work During mid February, the Ventnor and Shanklin roads were closed to enable essential tree safety work to be carried out. The road closure also allowed the National Trust to carry out work on trees which have been affected by ash dieback disease that pose a risk to public safety. Island Roads also brought forward some of its planned tree safety works so that it was carried out under the same road closure to minimise disruption for road users. Island Roads also carried out further tree safety works at Cowleaze Shanklin Performing Arts Centre Update Hill at the end of February. Unfortunately, Digital Information Display Screen - South a significant number of trees have been Western Railway have now completed the affected by ash dieback and pose a risk to installation of a digital display screen to the public safety. It is important that Island exterior wall of the Arts Centre. The original Roads remove these and any other trees application to fund the screen was made which could potentially fall into the highway. through the SWR Customer and 16

News report from Chris Quirk & Michael Beston IOW & Shanklin Town Councillors. It was planned that the work was carried out ahead of the bird nesting season. Live road works information for the Isle of Wight can be found via One Network here: one.network/uk/isleofwight more information about ash dieback and the National Trust’s tree safety works on the Isle of Wight can be found here: www. nationaltrust.org.uk/features/ash-diebackon-the-isle-of-wight Footpaths Around Luccombe Though National Trust Land A meeting was arranged with the Local Member, representatives of the Luccombe Chine Residents association, the IOW Council Rights of Way Officer and a

representative of the National Trust. Issues of flooding of the Tracks and Footpaths were reviewed and recommendations for remedial work discussed. Funding is available from grants that the Council has received from the National Government to improve our section of the National Coastal Path, and the National Trust will review the need for better drainage ditches on their land. A number of footpaths in the area have been closed recently as ash trees badly affected by ash dieback disease have been felled. It is hoped that self-seeded saplings will be more resistant to the disease, so a natural regeneration strategy is being adopted.

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Let’s march into March with some dates of upcoming events, facts and historical events. Saint David’s Day, or the Feast of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, falls on March 1st, the date of Saint David’s death in 589 AD Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday falls on March 1st. and is a good opportunity to use up eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast. Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday falls on March 27th this year and is a day to honour mothers and other mother figures, such as grandmothers, stepmothers, and mothers-in-law. This year, Lent officially begins on March 2nd. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and will end on April 14th - three days before Easter Sunday. The “Ides of March” was a day in the Roman calendar equivalent to March 15th. It was considered a deadline for settling debts. It was also the day Julius Caesar was assassinated. If you were born in March, your birth flower is a daffodil! March babies are spoiled with two birthstones: aquamarine, and bloodstone which symbolize courage and there are two zodiac signs in March. Pisces, which is until March 20, and Aries which is from the 21st. Every year, March and June finish on the same day of the week. The name for March comes from Mars, the Roman god of war. It was named as such in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. This year the Spring Equinox occurs on March 20th. This is when the sun is directly above the equator, making the day and night equal length. The Anglo-Saxons called March “Hlyd monath” meaning “Stormy month” or “Hraed monath” meaning “Rugged month.” The popular social media outlet Twitter was launched on March 21, 2006, with the first tweet going out the same day. It was posted by the founder, Jack Dorsey, which read “just setting up my twttr.” Saint Patrick’s Day occurs every March 17th, celebrated in many countries to commemorate the day Saint Patrick died. The Eiffel Tower was ascended for the first time on March 31st, 1889. Gustave Eiffel, led a group of government officials and members of the press to the top. The elevators were not in operation yet, so the journey was made on foot and took over an hour.

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They have recently invested in some new equipment including ‘POSH VIP’ toilet trailers and shower blocks, ensuring high end events, weddings and festivals can adequately cater to the needs of all their guests. Also a new ten bay ergonomic toilet trailer which is space saving and facilitates a quick clean and empty. Their restock of new event and construction toilets make them the biggest stock holding company on the Island. AMP are the one stop shop that caters for all your hire requirements and offer daily, weekly, and long-term hire to both the domestic and commercial sector. They have many other products available to hire, including ped barriers, chapter 8’s, heras panels, protective ground mats and have just bought a new tanker for emptying cesspits, septic tanks, drain clearance, pressure washing and camera surveys, this joins the existing fleet including two smaller tankers which service the smaller island roads where the big tankers can’t reach. If you would like more information, a free quote, discuss your next project or event please call us on 01983 524 413 or email info@amphireltd.com

C Clef and Middle C by Moira Moseley-Brown Last month, we discovered that notation originated with Guido d’Arezzo in the 11th century, and that the F clef tells the reader where the F note is on the 5 lines in what we now call the bass clef. Originally, there was only one red line (F) for the monks to read from. As the idea caught on, Guido needed another line for more notes. This time, he drew a yellow line calling it “C.” The space below was “B” and the space above was “D.”

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He just wrote the letter C on the line, For more info email which has evolved into an elaborate islandmagazines@gmail.com arrow pointing to the C line, which confusingly looks like a modern capital B, or call 07880 587931 but the arrow is still discernible! However, this symbol, or clef, had the advantage of being moveable and naming any line “C” according to where the arrow pointed (see diagram below). This led to five different C clefs for different voices all pointing to different lines as “C.” Two survive: the Alto clef for viola players, and the Tenor clef for cello and bassoon players. The five lines are called “Staves” or “Staffs.” Over time, two staves were placed one on top of the other with a gap in the middle. This was called the “Grand Stave” which is seen in piano music. The gap in the middle of the “Grand Stave” had a line in it: this was Guido’s yellow “C” line. But yellow fades easily, and the line disappeared, only to be inked in when the note was needed: So, the note in the middle of the Grand Stave is a C – commonly known as “Middle C” because it is in the middle of the Grand Stave: it has absolutely nothing to do with being close to the middle of the piano! Piano & Theory of Music Teacher Moira Moseley-Brown L.T.C.L G.T.C.L (Hons) P.G.C.E www.iowpiano.co.uk Call 07774 118880