IW Gazette 11

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Helping the local Earl Mountbatten Hospice

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers!

Your next Gazette will be out on January 8

36,000 copies - Friday December 19 2008

‘ mas factor’ boost to Island Ryde, is one among many enjoying a buoyant Christmas market. Managing director Chris Leslie said: “It’s been ISLAND shoppers and many a super year and there is no sign of local businesses are finally getting the ‘Xmas factor’ in the any credit crunch here. We have been selling out a whole host of items, with run-up to the festive period.

LED lights being very well received.

Bargain hunters have been out on “I think our Christmas World is the the High Streets taking advantage of early cut-price sales, and that in turn secret of our success along with our has given shops and retailers a much- super staff, who are very customer needed boost in the current economic orientated and always go that extra mile to help.”. climate.

A spokesman for entertainment speHotels and restaurants across the Island are also looking for a buoyant cialists HMV in Newport described what their customers have been holiday period, with many fully booked for Christmas and New Year searching out. “Shoppers are looking for quality items at bargain prices. parties.

One trend we’ve noticed is that quite Despite the global credit crunch, a few consumers are increasingly many people living here are benefitdrawn towards home entertainment ting from lower mortgage repayproducts. ments due to the slashed bank rate.

“CDs, games and DVDs are very The dramatic reduction in the price popular, and having come down in of petrol, coupled with the VAT cut price quite a bit, they can offer incredis also easing the squeeze, providing ible value. Many chart albums are much-needed extra cash for a few now under £10, while DVD releases festive luxuries.

Many shoppers still prefer the ‘buy don’t cost that much more.

“We tend to hear rather gloomy now, pay later’ approach by using stories about the state of the music credit cards, but at least that method business, but one area that has really of payment provides guarantees for taken off is DVD box sets. People are faulty or non-delivered goods.

Continued on page 5 Busy Bee, garden centre, near

By Peter White

INSIDE YOUR

FREE

GAZETTE

WIN Gym membership for two (p39)

What next for Big Al?

Page 5

The life of a High Sheriff

Spend, spend, spend: shoppers hit the streets despite credit crunch

Page 6

Yo-ho-glo!

Page 20

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sales: 01983 402599 Laura Webb James Rolfe Anne Bishop

Published by: The Isle of Wight Gazette Ltd Editor: Martin Potter Reporters: Jamie White, Peter White, Roz Whistance, Richard Collins, Justin Gladdis Sub Editor: Paul Rainford Distribution: Isle of Wight Distribution Ltd. Design: Colin Clarke, Richard Heaven

Supporting the Earl Mountbatten Hospice through your generous donations when you pick up your free copy. * (Front page) Print runs may vary from issue to issue

Issue 11

December 19 2008

Friday DECEMBER 19 2008

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Spare a thought for homeless through no fault of their own, they are homeless, or face losing their MORE than 260 home this winter. families will spend “Shelter is seeing Christmas living in more and more people temporary accommoturning to us for help, dation on the Island. but the more demand The figure comes from for our services, the Shelter as it launches more funding we need. a £1.3 million festive That’s why support at fundraising campaign this time is crucial if we after seeing a rise in are to help people keep people looking to the housing charity for help a roof over their heads.

“Over the last six in the wake of the credit months the number crunch.

In the last six months a of people coming to our frontline services, total of 463,000 people including Shelter’s in the UK have been asking for assistance and free and confidential there are fears the figure helpline, has risen by 33 will rise in the run-up to per cent, while people seeking help through Christmas. the website has risen 14 The ‘Big Build Up To per cent.”

Christmas’ campaign is Mr Sampson added: calling on Islanders not “The credit crunch to forget the homeless, started in the housing those facing repossesmarket and for that sion or those just badly housed, as they get ready reason it’s now more than ever we urgently for the festive season. need the help and genAdam Sampson, erosity of Islanders as Shelter chief execudemand for our services tive, said: “There is no denying many of us are increases fast.

“That’s why we need facing a more cashstrapped Christmas than your support for our ‘Big Build Up’ appeal usual. But we mustn’t to raise £1.3 million forget those people in the most need who have for those in desperate housing need this felt the full force of the Christmas.” credit crunch and find, The Big Build Up appeal will run throughout the festive period and all the money raised will go towards Shelter’s vital housing, debt, welfare benefits and Community Care advice services. To make a difference to people in desperate housing need, visit www.shelter.org. uk/christmas and make a donation.

By Justin Gladdis

How the money will help – Simon’s story

FOR Simon and his family this started as a very bad year.

As a self-employed electrician and with the building industry in freefall, Simon struggled desperately to get work.

As the weeks turned into months and with three daughters under the age of 12 to support, Simon found that his income was down, but his out goings remained the same.

Simon started to fall into arrears on his mortgage and other debts were mounting up. Despite making some payments towards the mortgage, the lender took Simon to court to repossess the family home.

At this point Simon turned to Shelter for help. Shelter negotiated on behalf of Simon and managed to suspend the possession order and arrange a much fairer repayment plan with the lender, which Simon can now manage.

Just a few months ago Simon was facing homelessness this Christmas, but thanks to Shelter’s help, the family can enjoy Christmas in their own home and look forward to a brighter future. * Names have been changed to protect client identity.

Island Mortgage Solutions For Buy To Let

01983 533777

admin@islandmortgagesolutions.co.uk

How much raised so far?

We are glad to say that the readers of The Gazette have now raised approximately £9,200 in total for the local Hospice. Well done and thank you for your support.

Competition winners

The winner of the meal for 4 at Mamma Mia competition held in the last issue was Mrs T Barton of Vinings Rd, Sandown.

News Round-up Lifeline for lifeboat

COWES RNLI Lifeboat Station has been given a much needed financial boost, after receiving a donation of more than £15,000. The Lifeboat Station has been given the donation by Southern Cooperatives’ store in Terminus Road, after customers said the life-saving service should benefit from its community support card scheme.

Gas leak sparks alert THE POLICE, fire and rescue service and ambulance service all attended an incident in Newport on Tuesday (December 16), after several buildings had to be evacuated following reports of a gas or chemical leak.

Investigations are continuing to discover the source of fumes that led to more than 60 people, including 34 children from a day nursery, being evacuated from Mill Court, Furrlongs, Newport.

One woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.

It was the first time in over 10 years that the Island’s NHS has activated its major incident plan for real. Officers from Newport Police Station and Shanklin Road’s Policing Unit responded swiftly to temporarily close a number of main roads in the surrounding area, and reduce any disruption to a minimum.

Wightlink price rise

THE COST of mainland commuting is set to increase in the New Year. Wightlink has announced that there is to be a price hike of between four and six per cent, to be put in place early in the New Year. The company blamed rising costs, despite a drop in oil prices. Earlier in the year, Wightlink introduced a fuel surcharge following rises in the price of oil, but this has since been dropped.

Crash victim recovering

A PASSENGER in a car involved in an accident that claimed the lives of two of his friends is making a good recovery in hospital.

Zak Jones, 18, of Bembridge, was rushed to St Mary’s Hospital in Newport following a horrific crash on Beaper Shute between Ryde and Brading.

Although his injuries were described as serious, he has now been taken out of intensive care. The crash between a Peugeot and a Mercedes claimed the lives of George Hamon, 17, of Steyne Road, Bembridge, and Guy Knight, 16, from St Helens.

On your bike

THE DATES for next year’s IW Cycling Festival have been confirmed. The event will take place between 19-27 September. The festival has grown in popularity over the years with more than 4500 cyclists taking part this year.

Next year will feature dozens of routes and challenges for participants including the famous 70mile Cycle the Wight and the ultra-tough Hills Killer Mountain Bike challenge.

IW Council deputy leader, George Brown, said: “The annual cycling festival is one of the main events in the calendar and attracts thousands of visitors to our beautiful Island.”

More information regarding the annual Isle of Wight Cycling Festival can be found at www.sunseaandcycling.com

Judged worthy

SIX new magistrates have been sworn in to take their positions on the Island’s court bench. Christine Bentley from Brighstone, Ann Evans from Shorwell, David Phenix from Cowes, Christopher Jarman from Freshwater, Fay Seabourne from Ryde and Frances Friend from Shanklin were all welcomed to the bench by Major General Martin White.

The six new members come from a wide variety of businesses and professions across the Island. Stefan Brochoki, Petronel Turnbull, Andrew Kennedy and Carolyn Taylor were all given long service certificates for more than 20 years’ service to the court.

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Lucie verdict brings partial closure Tim Blackman, Lucie’s father

any degree of result and some form of justice for Lucie but ISLANDER Tim Blackman it still leaves a bitter taste in has expressed his anguish at the mouth. the verdict over the death of “People assume that it gets his daughter Lucie. easier as each year goes by, A High Court in Tokyo but actually it gets worse each acquitted Japanese man Joji Christmas.

Obara of murdering Lucie in “Every year brings it home 2000, but he was convicted of that Lucie is not with us to dismembering and discarding share this happy time. her body.

“Everybody loves ChristHer remains were found con- mas. Lucie loved Christmas, cealed in a cave seven months but with all the partying and after her disappearance. festivities it is even more Mr Blackman, a property important to think about your developer from Ryde, told own safety.”

The Gazette the verdict was Lucie’s sister Sophie, 28, an obvious recognition of said: “It is not important Obara’s involvement but exactly what he was charged added that the whole process with – what matters is that had been far from satisfache is finally taking responsitory. bility after all this time. I’m “Although the result is not delighted.” the absolute decision we Obara’s life sentence had hoped for, it is still an remains unchanged as he was obvious recognition of guilt,” also convicted of raping eight he said. other women and causing “After such a long time it is the unintentional death of an clear that it was necessary for Australian woman who died this protracted process to get of a drug overdose.”

By Justin Gladdis

Walkies the Wight

By Jamie White

ISLANDER Jim Newberry has raised over £650 for The Earl Mountbatten Hospice after completing 72 miles in the dog version of ‘Walk the Wight’.

The hospice is very close to Jim’s heart, after seeing the support that his wife Joy received from the hospice before she passed away.

Jim, owner of Island firm Juicy Apple, said: “The care Joy was given will never be forgotten, and I try to do as much as I can to support the hospice. I always buy their Christmas cards and calendars, as well as raising money.”

The 72 miles, one for each year of Jims age, were spread over the period of a month, but Jim and his 11yr old dog Rosie were determined to complete the challenge.

“At times it was difficult but I knew Rosie and I could do it.

I have to thank everyone who has supported and sponsored me locally, and some from even as far away as Germany and Switzerland.”

Jim has also pledged to double any money that he raised and donate it to the hospice.

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Hard times at the hospice

By Paul Rainford

IT’S been a funny old year for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. Not that its chief executive is laughing much.

Graham Elderfield (pictured right), who has been heading up the Island’s highest-profile charity for the last 16 months, has been given the task of plugging a £400,000 hole in the charity’s coffers, and this in a year that has seen the level of giving reach an all-time high.

“It’s ironic that in this last year we’ve had the best ever Walk the Wight [raising more than £350,000], we had the best ever series of events at Barton Manor, and general donations are up about ten per cent,” says Mr Elderfield.

So what’s the problem? The problem for Mr Elderfield, as it is for many others, is the state of the housing market. In a typical year the Hospice receives £400,000 in legacy income, in other words, £400,000 worth of property and land left to the charity in people’s wills. But this year has seen the country’s housing market virtually grind to a halt, and the Island is no exception. The upshot is that the column marked ‘legacy income’ in this year’s accounts reads precisely ‘nil’.

So now Mr Elderfield must now draw up a budget for the year beginning April 2009 that assumes that there will be no £400,000 of legacy money to draw on. And to balance the books he has some drastic action in mind: two bed places, four management jobs and five full-time nursing posts will be lost.

These are the main planks in a set of proposals that are currently being consulted on with Hospice staff, the consultation period ending on January 5.

“This is not a very pleasant thing that I’ve been asked to do,” admits Mr Elderfield.

“My worry is that what I’m having to do will have an impact on morale. The tragedy is that the staff here are so impressive. Their dedication, commitment and support to patients and each other is fantastic. I don’t think I’ve worked anywhere quite like this.”

Nevertheless, wield the knife he must. And other jobs, as well as those specified in the proposals, may go too. We’re talking about a policy of – to use the unfortunate phrase – natural wastage. “If a secretary leaves tomorrow, we will say ‘can we do this differently?’

We are taking the opportunity in that where

people are leaving we’re not replacing them, and we are re-looking at the work that they are doing.”

It seems Mr Elderfield has little option.

“We are a business. We are eating into our reserves. We are in deficit as we speak.

Unless we do something, within 18 months our reserves will be exhausted. There will be no hospice.”

After a long career in the financial comfort zone, relatively speaking, of the NHS on the mainland, Mr Elderfield is now experiencing the vulnerability of being a small independent charity. “It’s not as if there is anyone to bail us out. That’s the difference between the public sector and the independent one.

There’s no-one who’s going to ride in and save you.”

It’s not as though the hospice can do much more to raise its profile on the Island. The Newport-based charity and the RNLI are by far the dominant charities this side of the Solent – barely a day goes by it seems without one or other of them inspiring some fantastic feat of fundraising. Says Mr

Elderfield: “Part of the problem we’ve got as a charity is the public feeling that ‘oh well, don’t worry, I’m sure people are giving to the hospice so we’ll give it to someone else’. If everyone does that, the £2m we have to raise every year becomes very difficult. We have to be a little bit in-your-face. We have to keep our profile up so people don’t forget us.”

One thing the hospice is doing is changing its retail strategy. With cheap-as-chips clothing widely available on the high street, it has little choice. “Our chain of retail shops has been affected by the credit crunch. You know yourself that you can go into M&S and get a T-shirt for £3. How can we sell clothes on the high street in the face of that?”

For the hospice, the future is furniture and higher-grade bric-a-brac. “We’ve had to move towards different markets. We’ve acquired a warehouse on the Riverway Industrial Estate where we’ve now got furniture to sell. We anticipated things were going to get tight on the retail side and that’s why we’ve made the move into furniture. That’s why we’re changing the shops in Lugley

“Unless we do something, within 18 months our reserves will be exhausted. There will be no hospice.”

Street and Holyrood Street and acquiring another shop in Ryde – we need to improve the amount of regular income we get, so we don’t have to rely on legacy income.”

The charity is also encouraging a number of Island companies to look at offering ‘payroll giving’, where employees can elect to have a donation to the hospice regularly deducted from their pay packet. Again, ‘regular’ is the key word here as far as the charity’s income is concerned.

Mr Elderfield feels the charity has now more than learned its lesson. “Having spoken to hospices on the mainland, we know that they’ve never regarded legacy income as regular income. They’ve always seen it as a bonus, the icing on the cake. We’d perhaps gone too far, opening up services on the back of that income, because that income wasn’t guaranteed.”

But it could be worse. Naomi House, the Winchester-based hospice charity that has links with the Island, was recently revealed to have had £5.7m of its money at risk in an Icelandic bank. At least, says Mr Elderfield, the Hospice had all its money in well-known British banks. “They’re all British, and all high street names. No funny ones.” Elderfield is very insistent that Gazette readers know about this.

In such testing times, you can understand why.

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DJ Alex Dyke breaks his silence

‘I’ll come bouncing back from radio exit shock’ POPULAR radio presenter Exclusive by Peter White Alex Dyke has broken his silence over his controversial “We also had to make it interestearly departure from Isle of ing. For example, cat owners, Cliff Wight Radio.

Richard fans and drivers over 55 Alex, the most listened-to DJ on the Island, was renowned for his mid-morning boogie, his phone-ins and his ‘Bubblegum and Cheese’ programme every Saturday morning.

Then suddenly, a couple of months before his contract was due to expire with IW Radio, he was surprisingly shown the door, to the dismay of thousands of his listeners.

But typically, Alex has vowed to bounce back in style, and has agreed to pass on nearly 18 years of broadcasting experience on the Island to help launch wightFM, regarded by some as the future of local radio.

Now, in an exclusive Gazette interview, Alex talks of his disappointment at not being able to say a fond farewell to his loyal listeners, and he looks back on an amazing spell on the airwaves.

“I knew I was on the way out and didn’t mind that,” says Alex. “What I did have a problem with was not having the chance to say a proper goodbye and give listeners a big thank you. That is what I am really upset about.

“I was taken off air at 2 o’clock on a Thursday and told to leave the building. I still don’t know why.

They changed the locks and all of the memorabilia of the gigs we had done with people like Tony Blackburn, The Foundations and many others was all taken off the walls by the next morning.”

Now Alex is coming to terms with his shock exit. “I would have been on air 18 years in January, and the phone-in started in 1992. I built up a good rapport with a lot of people.

Many thought there were only a few regular callers, but we did a list and there were actually 60 regular contributors.

“You never knew what would get a good response and what wouldn’t. But we had to keep the show going, even in the quiet times. We had to be consistent and get listeners’ continuity.

are always very opinionated and those categories were always good subjects. Then we had back up ideas like the fixed link and ferry fares in case it was a quiet news week.”

Alex built up a great rapport with regular callers. He continued: “We had Roy the Whippet man who lives in Newport, Pat the builder from Shanklin, Lorraine Queen of Pan and English Pete, who I really should have called Union Jack thinking about it now.

“I tried to give them names and try to develop their characters to make them mini soap stars. It was all done on the spot to try to give listeners a picture of people and how they live their lives.”

So how authentic were his programmes? “There were a lot of wind-ups, and that’s another thing I would have liked to talk about before I left. At least now I can.

One day we said we had a Ouija board in the studio and should we or shouldn’t we use it. Actually, we didn’t have one in the studio at all, but we knew 50 per cent would say use it and 50 per cent would say not.

“We never did April Fool’s Day stuff because they were too obvious. I steered clear of celebrity birthdays, this day in history and guess the year. All of those dreadful radio features that I hate.

“The reason there were a lot of wind-ups was because they were a lot of fun and what people liked most. But we did actually drive to Birmingham in a day because the Doc wanted to pick up a van but I was working. So I said ‘let’s take the show to Birmingham for a day and pick up the van’.

“We tried to come up with original material all the time, and none of it was ever really prepared. We did an ‘Agony Uncle’ which was very popular. We made up letters and the joke was that we would give the worst possible advice that we could. We used to cry with laughter.

“We did one once about a man

Alex with a Wi-Fi radio, which many tip to be the future of radio broadcasting

who re-married but wouldn’t stop talking about his first wife Debs.

He wouldn’t get rid of anything they owned. Then he and his new partner went on holiday to get away from his first wife. They had a wonderful time, but the end of the story was it was all very romantic and then he said ‘Debs would have loved this’. It was all good fun.

“In one wind-up we got a woman to say once that she had reversed

into someone’s car in Ryde. It was actually the Doc’s sister. It was all made up, but we had calls coming in from people who had done that and some that were angry. The whole idea was not to deceive people but to get a reaction from people on different situations.”

He said: “I believe internet/Wi-Fi radio is the future and would find the offer of working on wightFM extremely difficult to resist.

Meanwhile, I am more than happy to go down and give the guys at wightFM any help they need and see if they can benefit from my experience.

“They are creating jobs for the Island and supporting the community. I do think that not having a local phone-in on the Island after 18 years is crazy. Wi-Fi radio does seem to be the future.”

Xmas factor boost to Island Continued from front page

store has been busy with customers taking advantage of our price-crunching deals. staying in more, so it follows we are Regular shoppers are also looking forward enjoying a great deal more home entertainto an extra £20 off their shop as they benefit ment. So if spending on music and film is from our Christmas Collector Scheme.” meant to be slowing, nobody has told the Buying the traditional turkey appears as fans yet!” popular as ever, according to Peter Arnold, Many supermarkets have also been full of owner of Woodford butchers in Bembridge, activity. Martin Mowlam, Morrison’s general who said: “Christmas is always a good time manager at the Newport store, said: “This for us, it tends to look after itself. For a lot

of people it’s a case of buy now and worry later. We’ve sold more turkeys this year than last year – orders are up.”

Sherrie Peach, owner of Mon Cherie Flowers in Shanklin’s Regent Street, said: “This is our second Christmas of trading.

Last year was very good and the signs are we will at least match it this time.

“Around this time of year people turn to flowers for that feelgood factor, and we an-

ticipate that in the run-up to Christmas, and then just before New Year sales will be good once again.”

Sam Cains, IT technician at Tailored Systems in Newport, said: “Though sales of new computers are slightly down we are selling a lot of graphics cards and memory cards – they’re flying out of the door. On the whole it’s not as bad as people have tried to make out.”

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Gazette exclusive: Alan Titchmarsh

How the High Sheriff earned his gold star Picture by Jamie White

ALAN TITCHMARSH admits he thought long and hard before accepting the invitation to become High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight.

By Peter White

an issue. He explained: “The person who employed me to be High Sheriff has four homes across the UK. One After all, he’s a Yorkshireman in London, one in Scotland, one in born and bred, who now lives Norfolk and one in Berkshire.” in Hampshire, but has a holiday “Who’s that?” I enquired. “The home in Cowes.

Queen,” he replied, his sharp wit Were they the right credentials to coming to the fore. “Nobody asks her be the Queen’s representative with which is her first home.” special responsibility for the judiciary Eight months into the job, and Alan on the Island? Would he be accepted has fulfilled more than 150 engageby the thousands who marvel over his ments. By the time his year in office gardening knowledge, read his novels has finished in April that figure will and are entertained by his TV chat have risen to around 200. shows?

He was first touted as High Sheriff But the more his name became asfour years ago, and he said: “I knew sociated with the honoured position, then what I was in for. But what I the more he sensed he would be acdidn’t know four years ago was that cepted. He recalls: “I certainly didn’t my television career would be as busy take the job on for the costume. I just as it is now. I’m 60 next year and I felt I wanted to give something back thought when you get older they don’t to the Island. like you on television as much. Then “I actually said ‘no’ when I was I said ‘yes’ to this new TV show as first asked to do the job because I’m well. not from the Island, but then Island“I am on a break at the moment. We ers started telling me I would be OK finished the series in November and for the job. I even got told a joke by come back in January. Then that runs an Islander ‘How many caulkheads until Easter.” does it take to change a light bulb?

Meanwhile, Alan maintains his spirit Change? We don’t like change!’ and enthusiasm for his High Sheriff’s That’s when I thought I would stick post. He continued: “Doing my work my neck out and give it a shot. is heartening and reassuring. So many “People kept asking me to take the people on the Island do voluntary High Sheriff role over several months work, from working in youth clubs to and I hoped that the fact that I am helping and working with the disquite high profile would be good for abled. the Island. I wanted to help raise the “When you meet them you realise profile. It’s a drop in the ocean but how much of this country is actually hopefully more people will now be run on goodwill. People go to governaware of the Island – and that aware- ment to try and get things done, but ness can help the economy. I try to actually it shows how much we can mention the Island on the television as do ourselves when everyone pulls well when I get the chance.” together. People can be too keen on There was also another very good looking at the negative side of life but reason why he thought not living doing this job it shows all the positive full time on the Island would not be things.

Alan listens intently to Islanders’ concerns on one of his many appointments

All about Alan • Alan was born and raised on the edge of Ilkley Moor in Yorkshire.

• He left school at 15 to be an apprentice gardener in the local nursery.

• He trained at horticultural college and at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.

• After his time at Kew he became a horticultural journalist.

• In 1985 he won a Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for a country kitchen garden.

• He has written nearly 40 gardening books and seven novels.

• He presented ‘Gardeners’ World’

for seven years from his own garden – Barleywood in Hampshire.

• He voiced ‘Gordon the Garden Gnome’, a cartoon series.

• He is a regular compere with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

• He is a Freeman of the City of London.

• In 1997 he was named ‘Yorkshireman of the Year’.

• He has been immortalised in Madame Tussaud’s.

• He was awarded an MBE in the 2000 New Year Honours list.

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“People kept asking me to take the High Sheriff role over several months and I hoped that the fact that I am quite high profile would be good for the Island” Perhaps the only aspect he doesn’t enjoy is his court work. He explained: “I sit with judges in court, which is quite harrowing. It’s as often as I want. I have done it three times so far in Portsmouth, Newport and Winchester. I will be doing it a few more times. I am just an observer.”

But overall he readily admits: “This job has given me a lot of satisfaction and jobs like this are very much what you make them. They are different to things I have done before like ‘Ground Force’ and ‘Gardeners’ World’ but equally, if not more, rewarding.

“There is no point in going along to events and expect to be treated like a lord. I go along and ‘muck in’. I like to do it. Sometimes I go to places and people say ‘nice of you to come’. No welcoming committee but that’s nice, because I am just me. The hardest thing is juggling everything. I had to hit the ground running. It’s a 12month job so I knew I couldn’t take six to eight months getting used to it.”

On the day I spoke to him he was pausing briefly for breath between two more Island engagements. “It’s a busy life! My seventh novel is now out and has been in the top ten sellers for the past few weeks. It’s called ‘Folly’, and set in Oxford and Bath.

“I also am working on a new series for ITV called ‘Seasons’, which

will be on at peak time and is about the seasons and how they affect the landscape.

“I am still writing about gardening every week for the Daily and Sunday Express. I’m just not doing gardening on TV at the moment. But I love to get out in the garden, it’s so relaxing.

“It’s a novelty now that I can plant something and leave it in the ground instead of digging it up, planting it, digging it up, planting it, so camera crews can get wide shots, long shots and close-ups. The plants look at me as if to say ‘am I staying in now?’!”

Amid the hectic schedule, Alan is now relishing a bit of respite. He continued: “I hope to get a few days off over Christmas. Of course it won’t all be rest and relaxation. I still have to do my Radio 2 programmes and write gardening features and articles for newspapers. But I still plan to find time to put my feet up and reflect on a busy but very interesting year.”

Alan added: “Each sheriff on the Island will have different strengths and things they can bring to the job. Gay [Edwards], my successor, is very much more qualified in the social work side of things. As for me I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. People are so welcoming and it is an honour to be High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight.”

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Above: High Sheriff Alan finally finds time to relax in his garden at home

The High Sheriff in full regalia: “I certainly didn’t take the job on for the costume!”

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Sandown venues pass surprise alcohol test A NUMBER of pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels in Sandown were subject to random testing of their alcohol to make sure they are selling the genuine product. The visits are unannounced and take place around the Island throughout the year.

Q:What do you call the reindeer with cotton wool in his ears?

A:Call him anything you like – he won’t hear you!

Friday DECEMBER 19 2008

The team of health officers visited premises in the town and took samples of Smirnoff Vodka, Bacardi White Rum, Gordon’s Gin and other spirits. A specialist testing kit was used, which showed if the product was genuine. The testing kits also check that the alcohol is at the correct strength, and indicate if it has been tampered with or watered down. All the premises visited in Sandown passed the tests.

The IW Council is currently prosecuting the owners of an Island pub in relation to the alleged selling of substitute alcohol. The Countryman pub in Brighstone, which is run by Country Catering Limited, is facing six charges following an investigation earlier this year. The charges include falsely describing alcohol for sale to the general public. A court date hearing has been set for 12 January 2009 at the IW Magistrates Court.

Ofsted report names outstanding schools

THREE schools on the Island have been singled out for special praise in the government’s annual Ofsted report.

Binstead Primary School in Ryde, Arreton St George’s CE Primary School in Newport and Bishop Lovett CE Middle School in Ryde were all rated as ‘outstanding’ by inspectors.

The report highlights and celebrates the outstanding schools, including colleges, adult skills providers, early years and childcare providers inspected over the past year.

In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, 30 schools, 65 childcare providers and three colleges were judged to be providing outstanding care, education or skills.

Speeding an issue for Northwood residents SPEEDING motorists are one of the main concerns for people living in Northwood, according to the latest parish council meeting.

During public question time, Alan Ash, of Coronation Avenue, Northwood, drew councillors’ attention to what he described as the “unbelievable” speed of traffic in the 30mph zone along the main Newport Road.

He said he had witnessed numerous near misses with cars trying to beat the buses at the bus stop.

PC Mark Thomas said speed checks were fairly regular but he would request another.

Roger Mazillius, IW councillor for Northwood, said he would contact the highways department about the possibility of flashing speed signs at the side of the road.

Hospice news Christmas cheer comes to Island’s hospice THE SPIRIT of Christmas is coming to the Island’s hospice once again this year as a variety of seasonal entertainment is brought to the patients for their enjoyment.

Children from years 2 and 3 of Summerfields Primary School in Newport (pictured below) have already called into the day unit and sung a wide range of traditional and modern carols to great applause. They even took requests! At the end of the rendition the children unanimously voted that they had thoroughly enjoyed themselves and everyone watching noted that they were word perfect throughout.

Other entertainment is kindly being provided by the Chillerton Players, Michael Camps and Friends Recorder Group, The Brighstone Handbell Ringers, a piano recital by June Cox and carols on the organ by Anna Widowson.

Hellerslea VAT gift HELLERSLEA Fabric Superstore in Newport have joined Beardsalls, the stationery suppliers, by donating the temporary 2.5% VAT decrease announced by the Government to the Island’s hospice. Head of fundraising at the hospice, David Cheek, said: “I am delighted that Island businesses are taking this opportunity to make a donation to the hospice – it’s an innovative way to offer their support and we are most grateful and we would be very pleased to hear from any other businesses that would like to support us in the same way.” The hospice fundraising team can be contacted on 528989.

Share-A-Card this Christmas IT’S NOT too late to take part in this year’s Share-A-Card scheme with the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. Instead of buying cards for everyone in your office why not take advantage of our large cards which everyone can sign to everyone else and then make a small donation to the hospice in one of our penny boxes? Cards and penny boxes can be obtained by calling into the hospice fundraising office or by calling 528989.

Hospice calendars for 2009 THE 2009 Earl Mountbatten Hospice calendar is on sale across the Island for £3.99. The calendar is full of the Island’s scenic beauty with photographs being taken by well known Island photographer Chris Boynton. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar come straight to patient care. Look out for the sunflower on the front cover.

Hospice fundraising: 528989

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gazette gardening

The Crimson king of festive plants MILLIONS of people across the UK will have a little piece of Mexico in their homes this Christmas – and the Island is no exception.

Poinsettias are small shrubs of Mexican origin which can grow to be 16 feet tall. The top leaves are flaming red, pink, or white and are often mistaken for flowers.

The plant’s association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus’s birthday. The tale has it that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson ‘blossoms’ sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.

From the 17th century, Franciscan monks in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.

Margaret Honnor, of Honnor & Jeffrey, which has garden centres in Freshwater and Sandown, says: “It is a very popular Christmas colour and we start stocking them at the beginning of December.

“The red colour is loved by so many and I can’t put a figure on just how many we will sell during the festive season.”

The poinsettia is commonly grown as an indoor plant where it prefers good morning sun then shade in the hotter part of the day. As it is a subtropical plant, it is likely to perish if the nighttime temperature falls below 10°C (50°F), so is not suitable for planting in the ground in cooler climates.

And there’s good news if you’re planning an environmentally friendly Christmas: the poinsettia is included in a list of houseplants most helpful in removing pollutants from indoor air. So, not only is the pointsettia a safe and beautiful addition to your holiday décor, it can even act as a natural air freshener!

Toby’s Osborne update

Toby Beasley, head gardener at Osborne House explains the latest venture to try to convert the estate back to how it looked in the days of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Toby said: “Despite the recent cold conditions, when we had to ensure plenty of salt on roads and paths for the safety of visitors, staff and people using the golf club, we have also embarked on the latest phase of

re-structuring the gardens.

“Anyone arriving at Osborne House through the Prince of Wales entrance will see the Walled Garden on the left, and a grey rendered building on the right, which used to be a stable block, but is now leased by Vectis Transport.

“We are in the process of borrowing back the view to the block, and working from a photograph, returning it to how it looked in Victorian times. It is an exciting project because it

will mean for the first time since Dutch Elm disease hit Britain in the 1970s we shall be planting elms on the estate.

“But first we have cut the laurels that are currently on the site right back to ground level.

The next phase will be to remove all the laurel stumps and roots, and then put plenty of compost into the ground. We shall also clear the area of the old hedge, and then towards the end of January or the beginning of February planting will begin.

“A waist-high hedge will be planted and then every 12 to 15 yards one of the six elms we have acquired will be planted.

It is a new strain of elm tree, and hopefully will be resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. So after planting it will be a case of wait and see, and keeping fingers very much crossed.

“Hopefully when all the work is completed, and the trees begin to grow, it will replicate the scene that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert would have seen when they entered the estate on the way up to Osborne House.

“Finally I would like to wish all readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and look forward to keeping you right up to date with developments here at Osborne House in 2009.”

Islanders energy advice THREE ‘future energy’ events have been held in Newport to offer information about fuel efficiency and renewable energy. The sessions were organised by the Footprint Trust and offered help and advice to Islanders.

There was also detailed guidance on how to take simple steps to save energy in the home and 200 low-energy lamps and dozens of save-aflush bags were given out. Businesses attending the events, which were held at the Riverside Centre were advised about energy options, profits and savings by Business Link.

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Stay safe this Christmas IT’S that time of year again. Thousands of Islanders will be out and about, letting their hair down and welcoming in Christmas and the New Year.

By Justin Gladdis

Taxis

Drugs

become a victim of attack it could change your life forever. For your own sake, stay safe.

In conjunction with the Lucie Black* * * man Trust, we’ve come up with a number of tips on how to enjoy the Drinks festive season on the Island safely.

Drink spiking does happen so Trains NEVER leave your drink unattended.

Railway stations are nearly always Even if you’re just nipping to the loo covered by CCTV and help points. If or off for a quick dance, it takes just you are alone or feel threatened, stand seconds to spike a drink. in clear view of the cameras. Use Date rape drugs are often clear, the help point if you need to talk to tasteless liquids. someone – even if you feel a bit silly Try to drink some water during the that you’re scared. night and have a designated ‘drink Try to sit in a busy carriage and watcher’, so you can take it in turns to make sure you know when the last look after drinks, handbags and other services run. personal items.

Always use a licensed minicab or hackney carriage. Licensed vehicles will always display a plate. Sit behind the driver if you are alone.

Use organised taxi sharing schemes like TEXXI (www.texxi.com) where available.

Don’t be a Bebo bozo

Nightbuses

Use Nightbuses sensibly. They are there to take people just like you home, are cheap and often have security onboard. Remember though, you Try not to include photos which still have to get from the bus stop to

By Justin Gladdis IF YOU’RE feeling stuffed your front door. Have your personal reveal pictures of your house, after your Christmas dinner or address or phone number – online alarm and keys ready when you get Some people like to boast to you’ve got the post-Christmas off the bus. predators need little encouragetheir mates about how many blues, you may find that new Walking ment. friends they’ve acquired. It is laptop in your stocking sudTry and walk with friends and stick All of these sites should have safer to accept friend requests denly taking up hours of your to well lit public areas on the Island, from people you know and trust. methods of reporting abuse. If free time.

If you do accept friend requests you are worried or threatened by even if it takes longer. Don’t use your Facebook and Bebo are fanIPod – it reduces your awareness of from newer acquaintances, make any contact you’ve received or tastic sites if you’re searching anyone’s behaviour on these sites, what is going on around you. Pretendsure you don’t have any contact for mates, old and new, over the ing to be on the phone can make you a you should always report it. details visible on your profile. festive period. target for theft, but have your mobile Facebook and Bebo have These can range from your home But it pays to take care online. easily accessible so you can call for become hugely popular for a and work addresses to phone There are certain steps you can reason: they are brilliant fun and help if you need to. numbers. take that will make your yuletide a tempting Christmas alternative Many of us are guilty of being * * * surfing even safer. to watching The Sound of Music too open or revealing on our Firstly, you should try to keep status updates. Admitting you’re for umpteenth time on the telly.

DON’T your online security settings at The trick is to be just careful hungover or something is fine but Get ‘tanked up’ with lots of drinks to their highest. That way you can stating your movements is dodgy. about what you reveal and to who. get in the mood. It can take up to an limit what people can see. All It is important to remember that hour or so before the alcohol kicks social networking sites have a what you can see about others in More details can be found on the in and you are already piling more section giving you information on Lucie Blackman Trust website. your news feed, others can see on top! It’s better to take it gently how you can do this. about you! and enjoy the whole night and avoid the risk of throwing up. (Remember: throwing up is not sexy!)

DO

Work out how you are getting home, book a taxi, or check the times of the club buses – and check your mobile has credit and is charged up.

REMEMBER

You want to have a great time on the Island this Christmas but if you

Be aware that at Christmas there is an increase in the availability of ‘dodgy substances’, or drugs that are dangerously contaminated. If you do do drugs, make sure you know exactly what it is you are doing. Drug taking is, of course, illegal. Even possession of Class C drugs (such as cannabis) carries a potential penalty of two years in prison.

People you know… and people you don’t

By far the largest number of sex attacks on women AND men are committed by someone familiar to the victim.

If you all get drunk together, one of your friends mates can easily get the wrong idea, and if you’re not in a fit state to say “NO” you’re in trouble.

Be aware that alcohol lowers your inhibitions, so you may be more likely to reveal all to someone you really regret in the morning. Take a couple of seconds to think – it is better safe than sorry.

Christmas Sex

It could be an office party or that person you’ve had your eye on all year. Christmas spirit does bring romantic liaisons. But be sure you are having sex for the right reasons, not because you just had yet another glass of free champagne… but be prepared for it and carry a condom.

Smoking:

If you’re nipping out for a smoke, try and use designated areas which are well lit and supervised. Try and go out with a friend, rather than by yourself.

Above all, stay safe and make the most of the festive season with your friends.

For more information, check out www.lucieblackmantrust.org

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By ‘Royle’ appointment WELL known Island actor Geoffrey Hughes helped light up the skies near Newport, by switching on the award winning Christmas lights for Terry and Sue Ramplin, in Long Lane.

pearances’ and ‘The Royle Family’, was joined by more than 60 people and the Medina Community Choir for the big switch on.

The show includes Father Christmas riding in a canoe, and an inflatable igloo with penguins. All Geoffrey, famous for his roles in ‘Keeping Up Ap- donations received are to be sent to Medina House School.

Actor Geoffrey Hughes leads the carol singing at the big switch-on in Long Lane

War memorial Nat Fest festival in Totland Bay vandalised VANDALS have struck at a remembrance garden at the Royal British Legion, Collingwood Road, Shanklin.

A remembrance poppy made of coloured stones was damaged sometime between 11.45am on Monday December 8 and 8am on December 9.

Bill Pinnell, East Wight Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector, said: “Police believe this was a disgraceful act that showed an appalling lack of respect for men and women who have served this country in war.

“I’m appealing to members of the public to give officers any information about what happened to demonstrate that our communities will not tolerate such a despicable slur against those who lost their lives fighting for the freedoms we enjoy today.

“I would like those responsible to think about the distress caused by this damage and contact police to admit to their actions.”

Anyone with information or who saw anybody acting suspiciously in the area of Collingwood Road in Shanklin is asked to phone Shanklin Police Station on 0845 045 45 45, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

By Roz Whistance

Nativity scenes of all shapes, sizes, colours and materials were on display at Christ Church, Totland Bay, in the first of what is hoped will be an annual event.

Knitted cribs, hanging mobiles and paper scenes contrasted with the large and venerable French Santon pottery one from Provence, where much is made of the tradition of the nativity scene. Ever since the time of St Francis of Assisi, when the first three-dimensional one was made, the main elements of stable, Holy Family, shepherd, kings and animals have been interpreted and re-interpreted according to culture and materials.

So the American Indian nativity figures are squat and colourful. A Madonna and child is crafted AN ISLAND man has Cowes RNLI and from olive wood from the Holy Land. A tiny velvet been rescued from the Gosport and Fareham pillbox opens to reveal silver figures and animals lifeboats were scramSolent just seconds which are just millimetres high. And from the fancibled and the helicopbefore his fishing ful to the everyday, there is a plastic children’s play ter winched the man vessel sank. set where the kings can change crowns and the to safety before the The 29-year-old was camel can be loaded with gifts. lifeboats arrived on the plucked out of the icy Organiser Sue Witt said: “I came across a similar scene. waters by the Solent event in Stratford, and it was just so refreshing to They recovered the Coastguard helicopter, get away from the hubbub of the shops and Santa to two miles east of Cowes. wreckage before return- stop and think about why we celebrate Christmas.” ing to their stations.

Coastguards received The skipper was flown She is hoping the event, which this year had about a mayday call from the to Seaclose and taken by 25 entries, will grow next year. skipper of the 8-metre ambulance to St Mary’s A video about the nativity played while coffee – fishing vessel, Sea with nativity biscuits was available – and a chilHospital. He was disRaider, who said he dren’s colouring area enabled passers-by to stop charged after treatment was taking in water and and ponder the scenes, and maybe think about the for exposure. sinking. real meaning of Christmas.

Coastguard helicopter rescues fisherman

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Q:Why didn’t the little girl buy her grandma hankies for Christmas?

A:She couldn’t work out what size her nose was.

Island Mortgage Solutions For Buildings & Contents

01983 533777 admin@islandmortgagesolutions.co.uk

Have you got news for us? newsdesk@ iwgazette.co.uk

The diabetic’s Christmas THIS Christmas will be my first as a diabetic. Well, I think it’s my first. You see, I could have had the condition for some time and not known the obvious signs.

It is of little comfort

• You have experienced abnormal blood glucose levels. to know I am not alone.

At this time of year, It’s feared half a million many diabetics experipeople in the UK have ence their worst blood diabetes and don’t even sugar levels, mainly know it. because everyone is Diabetes, known as the eating, health chiefs say, ‘silent killer’, can lead the wrong types of food to heart disease, stroke, and far too much sugar. amputation, blindness Everywhere we go and kidney failure. over the holiday period, There are two we are offered foods full main forms: type 1 is of sugar and white flour typically diagnosed – the worst enemies of at a younger age and the diabetic. needs to be treated with But if you do have a insulin injections; type diabetic guest over for 2 can be treated with dinner, don’t panic. A healthy eating, medica- traditional Christmas tion and in some cases, roast contains plenty of insulin. protein and vegetables, Diabetes occurs when although you may want the pancreas doesn’t to go easy on the roast make enough or any potatoes and parsnips. insulin, which works Ideally, your plate to regulate the level of should be filled half full sugar in the blood. of veg and a quarter full Glucose is the main of meat and potatoes. source of energy for all And for pudding? cells in the body. It is Well you should skip insulin which stimulates the traditional plum these cells to absorb pudding and instead go the glucose they need for a fresh fruit salad, from the blood. It also served with custard or stimulates the liver to ice cream. absorb and store any For the boxing day insulin that is left over. breakfast, Weetabix is In diabetes, the level of ideal, as is toast with glucose is simply too jam, porridge, bacon and high. eggs, yoghurt, scramAre you at risk? Well bled eggs, grilled tomayou are if... toes and mushrooms and • You have a parent, fresh fruit smoothies. brother or sister with For the party season, type 2 diabetes; never drink on an empty • You are a woman stomach as alcohol with a 32-inch waist or can lower blood sugar a man with a 37-inch levels. waist; We all know, sadly, • You have high blood that booze is high in pressure or have had a calories so, as your GP stroke; would say, “moderation • You are a woman is the key”. with polycystic ovary Though it may seem syndrome; a bit impractical after a • You weighed more few, we should also try than 9lb at birth;

By Justin Gladdis

a sugar-free soft drink between every alcoholic beverage.

The bottom line is: it will be difficult for us diabetics to lose weight over the Christmas period.

The aim, as hard as it may seem, will be to at least not gain any extra pounds.

By keeping active, your weight will be controlled along with your diabetes and, of course, there is the added bonus of feeling much healthier by the time the depressing month of January is upon us.

Whatever activity you choose, just go and enjoy! It could be just a brisk walk or a few extra moves on the dance floor and remember, if you do over-eat, you can get back in the healthy eating groove the next day.

The diabetes specialist team at St Mary’s Hospital runs education sessions for people with type 2 diabetes.

X-Pert is a six-week course which educates and supports people with diabetes and looks at what it is, how to eat healthily and how to live with the condition.

The course is held in Cowes, Newport, Ryde and Sandown. If you have diabetes and are interested in attending, you should contact Helen Pascoe at the Diabetes Centre, St Mary’s Hospital on 534248 or speak to your practice nurse.

More information can be found on the Diabetes UK website www. diabetes.org.uk

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Island Christmas events

• 1st Lake Guides will be offering a Christmas gift wrapping service at the Bonmarché store in South Street, Newport on Saturday December 20.

• The Christmas carnival comes to Cowes on December 20, starting in Ward Avenue at 7pm and winding its way to the High Street. Look

out for the husky dog racing!

• To prepare yourself for the traditional Christmas eatathon why not put on your boots and take part in the Winter Solstice Walk around Headon Warren and the Needles headland, finishing with soup and mince pies at the Old Battery? It starts at 10.30am on

December 21. Booking essential – call 741020.

• Come and enjoy the atmosphere of a Victorian weekend in lower Ryde on December 20-21.

Street entertainment, mince pies, mulled wine and carol singing will guarantee the festive mood. There will also be a raffle to raise money for Naomi House.

• Visit the ever popular Isle of Wight Steam Railway for a Mince Pie special between Friday 26 December at 10am till Sunday 28 December at 4.30pm. Go to Havenstreet for a warm and comfortable steam train ride and a taste of some seasonal refreshments.

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gazette festive guide

Q:What do you call an Eskimo cow?

A: An Eskimoo

Friday DECEMBER 19 2008

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Aaron up to Christmas recipe to make stained glass his old tricks Howwindow gingerbread

ISLAND magician Aaron Isted entertained the crowds at the Shanklin Christmas Festival with his trademark bodyin-the-cabinet illusion.

His assistant Rose was tied up by cord through holes in the cabinet, both hands and legs, and then the unit was cut in half by steel plates, folded in

half and then both sections were pierced with 6 solid steel rods. Ouch.

The unit was spun around so that the large crowd could see, and it was then put back to the upright position to show Rose still tied in position – and in no visible discomfort – to applause from the crowd.

Ingredients:

• 125g unsalted butter • 100g dark muscovado sugar • 4 tbsp golden syrup • 325g plain flour • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda • 2 tsp ground ginger • Supercook Writing Icing (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

2. In a large saucepan, melt the butter together with the sugars and golden syrup. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ground ginger and cinnamon into a large bowl. Add the melted butter and sugar mixture and mix together.

3. Knead the mixture for a few seconds until it comes together, adding a teaspoon or so of water if necessary, but without allowing it to get too wet. Flatten the dough slightly into a round about 2cm thick, wrap with cling film and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Sandown’s carnival spirit of Christmas THE SANDOWN Carnival Committee has taken over the organisation of the town’s Christmas Eve Fun Day, which runs from 10am to 4pm in the High St. There will be live entertainment, Father Christmas, craft stalls, kids’ rides, hot food and a raffle with a top prize of £500.

The committee says it is hoping to inject some of the carnival spirit and is promising a day of real Yuletide cheer.

4. Remove the dough from the fridge, dust a work surface with flour and roll out the dough to about 5mm thick. Using a Christmas themed shape cutter, cut out 10 shapes.

5. Place each shape onto the baking tray and cut out the centre of each one and replace the empty space with a boiled sweet. Make a small hole at the top of each biscuit (to feed a ribbon through for hanging on the Christmas tree).

6. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until medium brown.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the baking tray. The boiled sweets will have melted, creating a stained glass effect.

Victorian fun in Ryde

ISLANDERS and visitors alike are invited to join in the festive spirit at a Victorian Weekend in Ryde this weekend (December 20 and 21).

There will be carol singing, street en-

tertainment, minced pies, mulled wine and a raffle raising money for Naomi House Children’s Hospice. Tickets are available from Bear Necessities, Splash and Gibbs & Gurnell.

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gazette festive guide

What are you doing for Christmas?

THE GAZETTE asked some of the Island celebrities and personalities how they will be spending Christmas this year. Here’s what they said: Andrew Turner, MP for the Island, said: “The House rose on December 18 for the Christmas break, and I was hoping to catch the Speaker’s eye a couple of times to bring up certain matters.

John Giddins, organiser of the IW Festival, said: “I bought a new house in Barnes, London in the autumn, and I haven’t had the chance to spend any time in it so far. So that is where I will be heading on Christmas Day for a quiet bit of relaxation.

“So during the Christmas break I plan to travel up to Leicestershire for a few days to visit my four sisters and other family who will be gathered there. It is nice to catch up on the news with the family, and as one of my sisters has a small farm, no doubt “Unfortunately, Parliament does not I will be out at some stage rounding return until January 12, the longest up the sheep.

Christmas break in years, and one I “I shall be returning to the Island in personally do not agree with. Obviplenty of time to spend Christmas Day ously it is impossible to raise imporwith my partner Carole and our pet tant issues with the Government when dog Pickle at our home in Newport. they are not there!

I always like pork pie for breakfast, a family tradition. We usually meet some friends at Christmas lunchtime, and then later on, after the Queen on TV it’s time for a traditional dinner, cooked by Carole with a couple of close friends.

“Throughout the festive period there will also be a variety of carol concerts and parties to attend, and my office will be open with restricted hours on December 29, 30 and 31.

“After New Year, and before the House returns, I will have the opportunity to catch up with a few people on the Island that I cannot normally see when I am down in London four days a week.

“Finally, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”

“Then on Boxing Day I shall be travelling down to the Island to take in the wonderful scenery and stroll along the beach by Bembridge and Seaview. It’s just a pity my favourite cafe will not be open to pop in and have a cup of cappuccino!

“I love walking along the beach, I really can’t think of anything better to do. That is what I like to think I come up with some of my best ideas. I am always looking for ideas, especially when it comes to developing the site for the next Festival.

“Every year we have to come up with something new, otherwise it would just be a repeat of the previous one. I already have the theme for 2009, and although I am not prepared to reveal what it is just yet, let’s say it falls in line with the Island – it’s the Island that has given me the idea.”

Mark King is lead singer of rock group Level 42: He said: “Having recently completed a UK tour with the band, and with another one coming up to Holland and Scandinavia in the New Year, I am looking forward to being with the family at Christmas.

Radio DJ Alex Dyke is looking forward to a quiet family Christmas. He said: “I have three kids, aged 17, ten and eight, and my wife Justine and I like to sit around, watch them open their presents and enjoy themselves. Let’s face it, Christmas really is for kids.

“For me it is all about family at this time of year. I shall be spending Christmas Day at home here on the Island with my wife Ria, daughter Marleigh, mum and dad and a couple of friends, tucking into the traditional turkey dinner.

“Sometime over the festive period I hope to be out on Shanklin and Sandown golf course testing my skills, and even do a spot of sea fishing. I would like to think I can emulate a recent catch. A few of us were about eight miles out, near the Nab Tower, and it had been very

quiet, when suddenly I hooked a 10lb cod.

Quite a catch!

“I shall be back at work on January 9 joining Outward Bound

Trust ambassador and Bee Gee Robin Gibb along with Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings for a charity concert at Battersea Park.”

Round the world yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur plans to be out and about at Christmas, but not on the high seas. She said: “I am really hoping that Christmas morning is bright and frosty in which case I will be getting up early and going out for a long walk with my dogs before coming back home to the warmth of the Aga for breakfast with my family. I just can’t wait!”

“Then we shall all be out for a walk around Quarr Abbey on Christmas afternoon to blow away the cobwebs, before we all settle down in front of the blazing log burner to watch the traditional family film on television.”

David Pugh, leader of IW Council, said: “I will be spending Christmas in Shanklin with my parents and brother, to be joined on Boxing Day by my sister and her family. We will attend church to celebrate the birth of Jesus, before returning home to enjoy Christmas lunch, followed by a walk along the seafront.

“I will be busy during the festive season playing carols on my cornet with Shanklin Town Brass Band. You can hear us in Shanklin Old Village on Monday December 22 for the Lights of Love Service, in aid of the hospice.”

AND finally, we asked Santa Claus what he will be doing on Christmas Day. He told us: “I know it will be a very busy time for me on Christmas Eve and in the early hours of Christmas Day, with all those presents to deliver.

“So when I finally get home, I shall take my boots off, warm my feet in front of a big, open fire, and I am sure Mrs Christmas will make me a welcome cup of tea – two sugars and a drop of milk. Then I might watch a bit of television, but I know I shall be very tired, so I expect to be going to bed quite early.

“Then in a few days’ time it will all begin again, with the elves and myself making plans and starting to make presents for next Christmas.”

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Santa Claus Exclusive

I need a rest after such a busy night!

Hello to all you boys and girls of all ages. I hope you are looking forward to Christmas as much as I am. Although it is a very busy time for me making and wrapping all the presents for all you good children, I thought I ought to take time out to tell you a story.

Once upon a time I was busy delivering presents to children here on the Island. It was a particularly cold Christmas and Rudolph’s nose was a red as I have ever seen it.

We had just left Ventnor and were heading down towards Niton. I remember it well because the moon was shining over the sea and the stars were twinkling all around.

We changed direction to go to a few villages in between, but then just before we got to Niton I suddenly saw a little elf sitting on a chimney pot.

Suddenly he sprang down to where the reindeer and I were waiting for the traffic lights to change. I hope they manage to mend that road sometime.

Anyway, as we were waiting for ‘green for go’ the elf handed me a big piece of card with the letter A painted on it. “Keep this,” he said, “and later all will be revealed.”

Suddenly he was gone, but I kept the card safely in my sleigh. So off we went, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen – and of course Rudolph leading the way. All the way down the Military Road to Freshwater, stopping off at all the villages to deliver presents where the children were fast asleep.

But just before we arrived, another little elf jumped out in front of us.

I think he had been playing golf because he looked a bit tired. But he handed me a card with the letter P on it. “Keep it safely,” he said, and disappeared.

So now I had a P and an A. Of course it spelled pa – short for Father!

Father Christmas – that’s my name. How clever I am – or so I thought.

After whisking around West Wight, dropping toys down chimneys, and stopping for a few carrots for the reindeer, a mince pie for me, and just the occasional small glass of sherry, we headed up the coast road towards Cowes. And, would you believe it, another elf suddenly appeared, this time carrying the letter C. He handed it to me just like the others. It was a good job I had slowed down to watch a big ship in the Solent or I might have missed him. But now it was beginning to make sense. I had a C, an A and a P. The elves were trying to tell me to wear a cap to help keep my head warm. How thoughtful of them.

Off we went again, rushing round Ryde, bounding round Bembridge and sliding through Sandown and Shanklin, not forgetting all the villages in between. But just when I was beginning to think a hard night’s work was nearly over, guess what? Yes, another elf appeared. Right by the Zoo. He stopped my sleigh and handed me the letter E, then disappeared as quickly as the others.

Of course, now it all made sense. C A P E. The elves were telling me to wear a cape to keep out the cold. How clever of them.

So off we went towards our last dropping off point, Newport, via Godshill, Rookley and lots more little villages. And all along the way there were lots of chimneys, and loads of presents to deliver. I had nearly finished a hard night’s work when to my amazement a tiny elf tip-toed towards my sleigh.

“This is the final letter,” he said, handing me another E. And before I had time to say thank you, he had gone – racing around Coppins Bridge, up the dual carriageway and out of sight.

This puzzled me, so before I headed off to put me feet up, I thought I better look at the five letters the elves had handed me. I shuffled then around – and suddenly it all became as clear as the wonderful night sky. The elves had given me five very important letters. They spelt out PEACE. And that of course is what we all want this Christmas. So I really hope all you boys and girls have a merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and as the elves say “PEACE to all you lovely people on this wonderful Island.”

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1. What date is the twelfth day of Christmas?

2. What are the names most commonly given to the three wise men?

Donner, Vixen and Rudolph.

8. Which is the best-selling Christmas song of all time?

SUDOKU

9. According to an old wives’ tale, bread 3. Which saint is associated with Boxing that is baked on Christmas Eve will Day? never: a) slice properly b) go mouldy c) taste good 4. What is the name of the English Puritan leader who banned Christmas 10. How many Christmas cards does the between 1647 and 1660? average person in Britain send?

Is it a) 10 b) 30 c) 50?

5. In which year was the Queen’s Christmas speech first televised?

11. In the song ‘The Twelve Days of Was it a) 1947? b) 1957? c) 1967?

Christmas’, how many gifts are mentioned in Total?

6. Which country donates a Christmas a) 264 b) 364 c) 464? tree to Britain as the centrepiece of Trafalgar Square’s decorations every year?

12. In which southern English county will you find Christmas Common?

7. Name the missing reindeer: Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, -----------, Dasher, Answers at the bottom of the page.

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Q:What do ducks do before Christmas dinner?

A:Pull their Christmas quackers

Q:What goes “oh, oh, oh”?

A:Santa walking backwards!

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New Year’s Eve Disco Party!!

Live it up at Alex Dyke’s Island renowned Bubblegum and Cheese

Wednesday 31st December at

Newport Football Club Come in Pirate Fancy Dress!

Tickets £10, available from The County Press Shop – Newport, Gladrags – Ryde, Shanklin News – Shanklin

Sponsored by

Q:What happens when you eat Christmas tree decorations?

A:You get tinsel-itis!

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Q:How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizzas?

A:Deep pan, crisp and even

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Light up the Wight!

CHRISTMAS is coming, so The Gazette has been out and about taking pictures of the annual free show on houses and buildings that helps to light up the Island at this time of year.

Well done to everyone who has taken so much time and effort to try to make it a very happy Christmas for us all.

These festive shots were taken around Ryde, Sandown and Newport.

Pictures by Jamie White

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Sun shines on Shanklin’s fair

AFTER the shocking weather of 2007 it was relief all round at the Shanklin Christmas Festival this year as the sun shone and the rain kept off. The town crier got things off to a rousing start before the Shanklin Town Brass Band blew away any remaining cobwebs, the Wight Bells Morris Dancers shook their pompoms and That Jazz did their cool swing thing.

If all this didn’t get Shanklin’s Christmas shoppers in the mood, nothing will…

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gazette festive guide Q: What do snowmen eat for breakfast?

A: Snowflakes!

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The white stuff brings a smile

By Roz Whistance

WHITE and straight and even.

No, this isn’t a line from a Christmas carol, despite the time of year. We’re talking teeth here, and as the one thing all those TV ads have in common as the frame freezes on the actor trying to part us from our cash is the gleaming set of gnashers, that Hollywood smile. If all you want for Christmas is a total tooth upgrade, you now need look no further than the computer on your desk.

With Easy Smile (www.youreasysmile.com), an Internet-based software program from Canada, you can see what you would look like with different teeth. You can choose a dominant smile or a youthful one, or those straightas-a-ruler Hollywood pearlers we see in the movies. At the Avenue Road Dental Practice in Freshwater, dentist Philip Lewis is one of the few cosmetic consultants in the country to offer the program through his practice website (www.wightdental.co.uk).

So I grin broadly for the camera and wince as my face appears, larger than life, on the computer screen. I’m just as concerned about my blotchy skin as my uneven teeth, but the program can be downloaded and played with in the privacy of your home.

“You can have a lot of fun with it,” Mr Lewis says, as he skillfully extracts my teeth – using a mouse rather than with the traditional drill – and clicks on the ‘smile library’ for me to choose my ideal teeth. ‘Powerful’ isn’t quite me, and somehow ‘Youthful’ isn’t right either. I go for ‘Soft Oval’, which is the tooth of choice for the majority of women in this country. Once the teeth are in place – and the position is adjusted using the up and down arrows – I can alter the size of the teeth. I’ve always felt mine were a bit on the big side.

There is of course a serious purpose for those genuinely concerned about their dental imperfections. “You may know your teeth need improving and might have longed to have the regular teeth of an American. With this you might look at your mouth with the Hollywood smile you see in the movies – and say ‘this is ridiculous’,” says Mr Lewis, indicating a set of teeth which might have been extracted wholesale from Donny Osmond.

Divided

“American cosmetic dentistry says every tooth must be the same size as its opposite number, and that everyone must be identical on both sides. But we’re not symmetrical – so it jars.”

For if, as George Bernard

Gazette writer Roz Whistance gets a close-up on how her smile could become even brighter using the power of youreasysmile.com

Shaw said, England and America are two countries divided by a common language, the same might be said of our taste in teeth.

“The European smile is aesthetic – that is to say we are trying to do the best with what nature has provided, to make it attractive – compared to the American smile which is cosmetic and purely enhancement for the sake of it, without taking into account anything about the original dental situation.” He sums up his philosophy thus: “Careful imperfection is an advantage, and outright perfection is a disadvantage.”

With the Easy Smile program you can see how perfection suits you without it costing you a penny. But once you have found your ideal smile, as the world of cosmetic dentistry refers to your mouth, your dentist has a far greater chance of getting it right.

At the moment the software is in its infancy and the library of smiles is quite small. But it is set to grow, to include the English smile and the European. “When we have got an image we’re more or less happy with, I can instruct my laboratory to produce restorations that will mimic that image.

It’s not going to be an exact copy – that’s never possible, but will be very, very close. It is a huge advantage for me to tell my technicians ‘she’d like to look like this’, rather than verbally trying to explain,” Mr Lewis adds.

He then sends off the image to the laboratory, as well as an impression of the patient’s teeth, which the laboratory makes into a plaster cast. The technician will use wax over the surfaces of the teeth to build up an effect like that on the image which Mr Lewis prepares for the patient.

“Then we can say to the patient, that’s what it looks like in your mouth – is that what you want?”

If that is indeed what the patient wants, what now? How can the look be achieved, and at what

cost? Mr Lewis is firmly of the school of thought that healthy teeth should not be damaged if there is another way. “As soon as you start to make veneers and crowns, you have to remove enamel and that is irreversible damage. If someone does want a Hollywood smile – which is very regular and even, involving some shortening of some teeth – I would ask them to consider that tooth reduction puts nerves at risk.” He points out that no treatment lasts forever, so a young person having work done might need it replaced four times in their life, each time causing more damage.

He favours ‘cosmetic bonding’, in white filling material is moulded to the teeth to fill and round off unsightly corners. “You can use your artistry to match with what people have got – with the enormous advantage that it is all reversible. If you don’t like it you take it off again.”

Whiteness

He also asks people to consider orthodontic treatment to straighten teeth before using cosmetic treatments to finish the effect.

For many people it is the whiteness – or otherwise – of their teeth that causes them upset, and the programme also give you a chance to see how you’d look with a whiter shade of pale. Turn up the white and turn it down till you like what you see.

In practice, teeth can be power bleached, which takes about two hours in the surgery, costing around £450, or can be done at home with preparations made for the patient. This is cheaper, about £280, and is a gentler way to do it, causing less sensitivity.

Of course if you are set on matching your smile to the one you’ve created on your computer screen you need to be prepared for a possibly hefty bill. But can we put a price on perfection?

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Looking good & Feeling great this Christmas...

It’s all about you WITH the many different roles that we undertake in our lives these days, we can easily get caught up in playing each one and everything it entails that, for a time, we lose ourselves in the mix. It can feel like we’re doing everything for other people and nothing for ourselves. What we do on a daily basis can stop being about choice and start being purely about obligation. This can be highlighted over the festive season when we drag ourselves up

By Maggie Curry

to go to yet another gathering when deep down we’d really like to stay in bed for a lay-in and wish we’d never agreed to go in the first place! No wonder so many people feel burnt out by the time they reach the New Year.

you feel. See also the amazing knock-on effect that has.

Top 5 Tips for Putting Yourself First

1. Don’t say ‘yes’ when you mean ‘no’! You will feel so much better when you say yes only when you mean it.

2. Do something different.

Choose something that will give you a buzz and see what a Sometimes we get so caught up with the roles we undertake, difference it makes.

3. Know what gives you the commitments we have and energy.

Make yourself a list the people around us, that we of all the things that put a big forget that we have a choice. smile on your face and make Try choosing one thing just for you feel great. you, do it and see how different

4. Set aside time for you, and only you, regularly. Whether it’s signing up to a series of classes, doing an activity you really enjoy or simply setting aside a couple of hours at a time to do exactly as you please, that may include doing absolutely nothing. Put it in the diary and stick to it!

5. Have a plan. If you know what you’re aiming for and you have a plan for how you’re going to get there... you will have all the motivation you need to drive you forward with the focus firmly on you.

Imagine the energy that will create!

Give Trager a try THERE’S fresh hope for thou- the body.

Using its principles, Trager can sands of Islanders feeling the stress and anxiety in the build profoundly change your physical and mental wellbeing. up to Christmas.

Licensed Trager practitioner Mary Hall has opened a sanctuary in Ventnor.

The Trager Approach involves gentle, relaxing manipulation of

The Trager Approach is not a medical treatment, it is actually a learning experience. You are learning how your body can move and what it is like to be truly free and lighter. You learn

how to use yourself well, how to be a whole person, and how to have all your pieces and parts well integrated and co-ordinated, so that you feel connected to the energies which sustain you.

For more information call 01983 853948 or email trager@ hallhousehold.ndo.co.uk

The Alpro alternative Let’s face it, at Christmas we all like to over indulge a little; it’s the time of year when we tend to eat whatever we want. Wouldn’t it be nice to eat, drink and be merry and be confident that your choices are tasty but that little bit healthier?

There are easy ways to do this over the festive period. Why not try including soya into Christmas this year with the help of Alpro soya?

Soya is naturally low in saturated fat making it a tasty, healthier alternative to dairy milk, yogurt, custard and cream.

On Christmas morning, why not start the day with a detox smoothie to counter balance the Christmas Eve sherry and mince pie that were supposed to be for Santa! A smoothie packed with fruit, honey and Alpro soya plain yogurt, will set you up for the day.

When your guests arrive, hand round homemade Buckwheat Blinis topped with smoked salmon to whet the family’s appetite, served with an optional glass of fizz for the grown-ups!

For the Christmas lunch, start off with a delicious butternut squash soup made with Alpro soya alternative to milk. If you fancy a break from the usual turkey, try a layered nut roast packed full of

almonds, walnuts and pecans, pistachios and cranberries. This makes a great alternative to meat, takes a fraction of the time to prepare and can be served with all of the usual trimmings!

So you’ve had Christmas lunch, have you got room for dessert?

Whether you’re tucking into a chunk of chocolate Yule log, mince pies or traditional Christmas pudding, a serving of Alpro soya alternative to cream or custard will

make it extra delicious!

The new chilled cream alternative is perfect for Christmas. With all of the taste and a fraction of the fat, it contains 45% less fat than dairy cream! Delicious on mince pies, Christmas pudding or whatever other sweet treat takes your fancy.

Now it’s time to put your feet up and feel content in the knowledge you’ve had a happy and more healthy Christmas!

Q:What do reindeer have that no other animals have?

A:Baby reindeer

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Wine & Dine

The Gazette would like to wish all our advertisers and readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thank you for all your support in 2008.

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Wine & Dine

Traditional mulled wine Ingredients: 2 bottles of red wine (a rough dark red is best) 4 small oranges 1 large lemon Orange rind Brown sugar (or 2 tablespoons of honey) 12 cloves 2 sticks of cinnamon (each 3 inches) Optional: Aniseed & Fennel

Method: 1: Insert 4 cloves into each small orange.

2: Grate the peel from the fourth orange and squeeze the juice into a cup.

3: Grate the peel from the lemon and squeeze the juice into the cup of orange juice.

4: Add the grated orange and lemon peel and the 3 small oranges into a pan.

5: Add the cinnamon sticks (optionally add the aniseed and fennel).

6: Pour the bottles of wine into a pan and warm to about 60˚C (140˚F) Do not boil.

7: If possible warm the glasses to be used.

8: Add the orange and lemon juice.

9: Add the sugar or honey to taste, stirring all the while.

Serve and enjoy!

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Q:What’s brown and creeps around the house?

A:Mince spies

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WITH only a few days to go, it’s time to get serious about your Christmas shopping. Time to check out some of those overlooked local shops that can provide the inspiration that is often missing in the larger chain stores.

At the Home Design Cavern in East Cowes, for example, you can immerse yourself in retro shabby chic and dip into the Fairy Cave kitchen range. You can even a book yourself a tarot reading if you want to find out what 2009 has in store!

Further west, enjoy a potter around the characterful streets of Yarmouth, then head into Reflections in Wheatsheaf Lane to explore the fascinating world of fossils, crystals and gemstones.

If you live in the Ryde area, why not head down to Cross Street, where you will find Attraction, with its comprehensive range of body products, scented candles, artworks and jewellery?

Just around the corner, on Ryde High Street, you can find everything you need at Iced Inspirations to make this year’s Christmas cake the best ever, with thousands of ribbons and a host of coloured icings and edible decorations in stock.

So don’t panic; just go local to find the gifts that will really make an impact.

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Golden treat for Chinese visitor

IT WAS the golden syrup which seemed most to fascinate the Chinese visitor. The children of Little Stars pre-school were busy making sweets to sell at the following day’s Christmas Bazaar, and as she watched the little boy pour the sticky golden stuff gloopily into the bowl, Zhang Guangqiong, a headteacher from a Beijing primary school, was transfixed by the gentle informality of teaching compared to that in her own school.

district of Beijing, one of a party of 111 from the UK (10 from the Isle of Wight). Each delegate spent time in a different school with which they will establish formal and long lasting links.

Mrs Zhang had been greeted by the entire school – all 50 children, compared to the 800 in her own school – chanting “Welcome to Our School” in Mandarin – or something approximating it. This was a surprise even to Mrs Miller, for while she was away the grandfather of Bertie Whistance, in Yr 3, had been asked to come in and drill the teachers, who in turn taught “They all sit in rows with their arms folded there,” explained Beryl the phrase to the children. Bertrand Whistance senior lived in the Miller, head teacher of Yarmouth then Peking for four years in the School. “Though out of lessons they are very warm, and fascinated 1950s, when he studied the written and spoken language. His beautito find out everything about us.” fully painted characters depicting She had just returned from her visitor’s school, the Peixin Primary ‘Welcome to our School’ delighted the Chinese visitors.

School in the Chongqing Jiangbei

The children sang, and then asked questions about their exchange school. Thankfully the proprietor of the new Hong Kong Express restaurant in Freshwater, James Hang, was able to take time off to come and translate, as Mrs Zhang was introduced to the Mayor of Yarmouth, Stuart Dyer, and was shown round by Mrs Miller and school governors Kevin Shaw and Andrew Hinton. She was then presented with a school photograph, a bouquet, and some pictures from paper the children had made themselves.

“They loved making the paper,” said Mrs Miller, “but were even more delighted when they found their pictures were a gift to their exchange school.”

The Chinese head was particularly struck by the colourful nature of the wall displays, and, perhaps surprisingly, by the interactive white

board which she used to conduct a quick lesson. She was more used to blackboard and chalk.

The morning continued with an informal visit to the town council where coffee and jasmine tea had been prepared, then on to the lifeboat where coxswain and Yarmouth parent Howard Lester showed Mrs Zhang round. James the translator had had to return to his wok by now, so explaining a lifeboat was a little problematic.

There was much waving of hands to indicate stormy seas. Yarmouth’s Chinese lady then went to join the rest of her party at a civic reception at County Hall, where they heard a talk on the mace. From there they went to Medina High School, then on to dinner at the Eversley Hotel in Ventnor. The evening entertainment was panto – Cinderella at Ryde Theatre.

Christmas really began for the

Chinese visitors when, the following day, Mrs Zhang returned to Saturday’s Christmas bazaar. She brought the rest of her party with her, and the children in the queue to see Father Christmas had a bit of a wait while his grotto was crowded with the Chinese guests being told about Santa by a representative from the Rotary Club.

Lucky dip, mince pies, the tombola – everything that makes up a successful bazaar was there, and little blonde children who had had their faces painted were frequently photographed by the visitors to show their counterparts back home.

The mad buzz of the bazaar contrasted with by the more sedate surroundings of Osborne House, where the party lunched. That evening they saw the Island’s take on Chinese lanterns, at Ryde’s own lantern parade.

Lanterns light up West Wight skies WEST Wight has been lit up once again by the Lantern Parade.

This is a community event, which gives schools under the umbrella organisation WAYS Forward (Weston Primary, All Saints Freshwater, Yarmouth and St Saviour’s, and West Wight Middle) the chance to display the lanterns they have made in after-schools groups.

The parade was led by the Fat Samba band, and ran from Colwell Common to St Saviour’s church, where an ecumenical carol service, led

by Rev Andrew Yorke, was followed by tea and cakes provided by the WI. Pictures by Roz Whistance

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david holmes

reports

Time for a return to the good old radio days?

Q:What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?

A:Claustrophobic!

ALEX DYKE aka ‘Big Al, King of Radio’ was asked to “pop into the office” when he finished his show the other day. The sternfaced, nervous-looking Head Office bigwig broke the news. Alex had just done his last show. “Hand me your key.” That was it, the end.

naughty schoolboys. At times perhaps, but we had fun.

We enjoyed good listening figures as well as mucking about. There was serious stuff too and even Sony awards. In real life Alex is a quiet, thoroughly decent bloke, not a loudmouth. You wouldn’t pick him out at a party, not that I’ve known him attend any.

In an apparent cost reduction The radio station on the move we had already heard Island has had several they decided not to renew his keepers; big national firms contract when it ran out in always found it an attractive, January. This happens, radio cash-generating proposition. careers often end this way.

But that was then; this is Think DLT or Tony Blacknow. As we all know, times burn. Jimmy Young, Stewpot are hard. Current owner or Johnnie Walker. None TLRC have experienced a of them wanted to go, why dramatic fall in the value of would they? Broadcasting is addictive, a lark. its share price; co-owners Portsmouth FC are up The bigger the station the bigger the honour, and for sale, the future seems uncertain. Bean counit often ends in tears. ters are calling the shots in radio as in all other That said, to dismiss anyone in the way they industries. Even Meridian Dave has lost his job did Mr Dyke, so abruptly after 18 years’ service as ITV seeks urgent cost reductions. If you have is a real shame and, in my opinion, bad manners. any spare cash you could make an offer for Isle To be fair, I would guess the bosses were being of Wight Radio. My guess is they’d grab it. advised by lawyers. “Protecting their position”, Selfishly, perhaps naively, I would prefer a local as the phrase goes. Doesn’t everyone these days? owner, someone perhaps a bit less aggressive at Alex was disappointed to be going and of course, ‘revenue generation’. An Island-run station for sorry not to get a chance to say goodbye on-air.

Islanders, without the boring, repetitive competiWithin hours of the curt dismissal his stuff – tions or cash-saving network shows hour after records, CDs, photos, posters and other memohour. Someone happy to hear from their listeners rabilia – was being hastily boxed up. All trace – without charging them 25p a text. Like most of his ever having been there was removed as businesses I reckon if you get the product right quickly as possible. Alex apologises to any people will buy or, in this case, listen. If you have Islander he upset over the years but says you the audience you have the advertisers. Surely that can’t scramble eggs without breaking them. A fair makes good business sense recession or not? point. You couldn’t do the job, speaking off the Some nice people work at IWR, friends. We’ll cuff, four hours a day, year in year out without miss them and wish them luck. TLRC have making mistakes or just occasionally saying chosen their road. Only time will tell if it proves something you wished you hadn’t. Generating a dead end. In just a few weeks rival WightFM is calls is essential to a good phone-in and Alex ran on-air. Rumour has it Alex is likely to be heard a successful show for almost two decades, count- over there, doing what he does best – winding up less hours of blather.

Islanders and generating calls.

I know him well of course, we’re friends.

We may not all love him, but he has been a big For seven years I was a stand-in and sidekick, part of daily life on the Isle of Wight, long may puffing, postulating and yes, at times droning that continue. The king of radio is dead. Long on. (Sorry.) Some say we were like a couple of live the king.

If you agree or disagree with David Holmes then write to: dholmes@iwgazette.co.uk

Website brings Island’s Christmas lights to life

LOVE them or loathe them, the Island’s Christmas lights have become a permanent annual fixture, from Cowes to Ventnor, and from Bembridge to Freshwater.

at that particular location.

The Christmas lights coverage is just the latest addition to the virtuallywight.co.uk site, which also helps Islanders and visitors find other attractions and ‘hidden gems’ such as the best places to Now a new website has been set see red squirrels. up to help Islanders track down Says Christian: “I started buildthese technicolour celebrations of ing virtuallywight.co.uk just a the festive season. couple of months ago so it’s early The handiwork of Cowes-based days. In the coming year I aim web enthusiast Christian Beasley, to develop the site with more virtuallywight.co.uk combines pictures and videos for each locaGoogle maps and YouTube tion, plus links to independent videos to locate 35 of the Island’s reviews of key Island attractions. top Christmas lights sites. Click“I’ve often been frustrated ing on one of the stars on the map when exploring abroad and not brings video footage of the lights

being able to find things that are in guide books. This site allows people to find things on the Island geographically.”

He also plans to extend the site to provide a map-based guide to walking and cycling routes, plus guides to the nature and history of the Island. In the spring, for example, he plans to map out the locations of the best bluebell woods on the site.

Christian put the site together entirely in his spare time; in his day job he works in marketing for Yokogawa Marex, the production management solutions company based in Cowes.

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Youth MP elected

SORTING out the Island’s buses is top of the agenda for the newly elected IW member of the UK Youth Parliament.

had another bus company on the Island besides Southern Vectis.”

Being the Island representaby politics,” says Scott. “I’m tive on the Youth Parliament will an admirer of LibDem leader mean regular trips to the Thames Scott Goodhew, 17, of Medina Nick Clegg and huge on Barack Valley area, where the Parliament High School in Newport polled Obama.” sits. the most votes in the election for At a local level, however, the the Parliament, which ran along- Island’s public transport is Scott’s Jon Smith will become deputy member. side elections to the IW Youth main concern. “I want to see The elections for the Youth Council. more buses and I want them to Council saw a very close vote in “I’ve always been intrigued be cheaper. In fact it’s time we all areas, with all 24 seats on the council being filled.

Eight seats make up the North ward of the Island with Charlie Ringer, Harvey Dobson, Emma Winchcombe, Ben Yates, Lucy Fordham, Adi Volney, Bill Holland and Scott Goodhew all successful.

In the South ward, seven places were taken by Jack Cavanagh-Hodson, Jon Smith, Tyne Samuels, Greg Hammond, Rachael Millward, Arthur Halsey and Chris Cotton.

Six candidates were successful in winning seats on the East ward. Leyla Hamroush, Rachel Boswell, Daniel Clarke, Lewis Grant, Jasmine Callan and Idris Hamroush were nominated.

In the West ward, Liv Clarke, Hebe Gregory and James Dunn were successful.

Youth MP Scott Goodhew (left) with his deputy Jon Smith

By Paul Rainford

Police target shoplifters in town centre patrols POLICE are warning shoplift- By Jamie White ers not to help themselves to store detectives, security guards free presents in the run-up to and CCTV operators.

Christmas on the Island.

Paul Dixon, Newport North

ing is a victimless crime, but some retail outlets have estimated they’re losing something up to £7,000 a year through thefts, which drive up the price of goods Officers from the Newport, Safer Neighbourhoods Team because of extra security meaRyde, Cowes, Sandown and acting sergeant, said: “Officers sures having to be put into place.

Shanklin Safer Neighbourhoods will show no leniency towards Ultimately, customers pay for this.

Teams are carrying out patrols in thieves caught stealing goods “Many shops in Newport, Ryde, town centres to deter and catch from law-abiding shoppers and Cowes, Sandown and Shanklin thieves in shops during the festive store shelves. We will prosecute town centres are supporting the shopping season. shoplifters to the full extent of the operation because it will have a In Newport, officers are conlaw where possible. deterrent and reassurance effect ducting regular patrols in plain “Those arrested face further during the busiest shopping time clothes to spot any suspicious consequences, including searches of the year. behaviour, and target potential of their homes. Past experience “Police hope known offenders thieves and known offenders. has shown some thieves will steal and potential thieves will heed The operation is being supall the items on their Christmas this warning, and that all of us ported by Police Community shopping list, and store them at can enjoy a safer Christmas when Support Officers (PCSOs) on home for second hand sales. shopping in the Island’s town high-visibility patrols, private “Offenders can claim shopliftcentres in December.”

No end of the pier show

By Peter White

TOTLAND BAY pier could soon be given a new lease of life, despite not being sold at an auction in London.

Artist Derek Barran, from Freshwater Bay, has used part of the landmark pier as his studio for the past ten years. He decided to put it up for auction, and although the bidding began at £95,000 and reached £115,000 it did not hit his reserve price.

But now Derek, 63, is hoping this will not be the end of the pier show after all. He is confident the pier will be renovated and developed from within the Island, although negotiations are still at an early stage and strictly under wraps.

Derek explained: “I used a studio in Freshwater Bay, but when I had to leave those premises I hit on the pier by chance. I got in touch with the then owner, and asked about acquiring it. Parts of it had been vandalised and needed to be rebuilt. But it has been my base for ten years.”

Totland pier silhouetted in a West Wight sunset

He continued: “There has been quite a lot of interest in the pier from local people, and although I cannot reveal too much at this stage, hopefully it will be developed, so all is not lost.”

The pier was built in 1880 by SH and SW Yockney. The main building was rebuilt in 1999 and the landing stage in 2000.

There are steps down to a small landing stage, enabling the pier to have its own mooring.

gazette news Q:What’s the best thing to put into a Christmas cake?

A:Your teeth!

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Baby Shevan makes triumphant debut

A STAR was born in the Memorial Hall in Freshwater when a tiny actor took to the stage to play baby Jesus. The production was While Shepherds Watched, a modern cantata by Roger Jones, performed

by Churches Together, and baby Shevan Oates, not yet two months old, was Jesus.

Baby Shevan, who was on stage for the last third of the 45-minute production, was so successful in his role as the perfect child that many in the packed audience did not even realise he was a real baby. It was only after the musical had finished and a little hand emerged from the bundle being held by Mary that he gave away the fact he wasn’t a doll.

The musical play told the Christmas story from the point of view of the shepherds, outcasts in their society who were forbidden to enter the town of Bethlehem. They are convinced

By Roz Whistance by a spectacular brilliance in the sky that they are to find the new-born saviour, but are racked with doubt and pessimism. Their journey is justified when they find the baby, and while the whole cast and chorus break out into songs of jubilation, children ran from the back of the hall waving flags.

It was just as well baby Shevan was too quiet to upstage the rest of the cast, because the singing was particularly fine. Jenny Gibbs, 14, who played Mary, sang her Magnificat with a ringing, pin-sharp tone, and her sister, Ellie, 11, a shepherd girl, also had a lovely voice. The principal actors were all from the Freshwater area, musical director was June Cox and producer Ros Holley. A chorus of 75 supported the drama.

While Shepherds Watched will be performed again at St John’s Church, Newport, on January 24 at 7.30pm.

Scooterists give Santa a hand

UP TO thirty Island scooterists (above), put smiles on the faces of children in St Mary’s Hospital.

Martin ‘Macca’ McLaughlin, from Vectis Scooter Club, played the role of Santa in the Christmas scooter ‘toy run’, while each rider took a toy with them and were met

outside by Nurse Angela O’Hanlon.

James Sparks, a 17-year-old patient, greeted the scooterists on their arrival.

There were representatives from Vectis SC, The Flying Circus, The Heart and Souls SC, the Isle of Wight SC, the Armed Forces SC as well as a number of solo riders.

Island excels in tourism awards

THE ISLAND’S accommodation sector was in award-winning form at the Tourism ExSEllence Awards. The Leconfield in Ventnor and The Enchanted Manor in St Catherine’s both received runners-up awards in the B&B/Guesthouse category. Luxury apartments in Ventnor were runners-up in the self-catering category.

The night’s big winner, however, was Rylstone Manor Hotel in Shanklin, which was bought by the Hailston family three years ago and scooped the Condé Nast Johansen Group’s Most Excellent Award for Value.

East Cowes panto A CHRISTMAS pantomime, ‘Dick Whittington and his Cat’, is taking place in East Cowes Town Hall on Monday December 22, at 6.30pm.

The 90-minute show will include a ten-minute interval and is suitable for children aged from three to eleven years.

Tickets are on sale at the town hall.

Lifeboat to the rescue

AN ISLAND man was rescued by Bembridge Lifeboat after the tall ship he was aboard got caught in gale force storms.

The 72-year-old was injured as he got thrown against the hawser pipe of the Jubilee Trust vessel Lord Nelson, which was caught in an area called The Nose, located off Ventnor.

Bembridge RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched into two-metre swells to meet Lord Nelson near Ryde, where the casualty was transferred.

He was taken to Portsmouth and transferred by ambulance to Queen Alexandra Hospital.

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Island Auction Rooms plan property venture ISLAND Auction Rooms, the long established Shanklin salesroom specializing in antiques and furniture, is branching out into the housing market.

By Jamie White

would like to hold two a year initially and then make it quarterly throughout the year.

“We will hopefully have around five lots for our first auction.

Renowned for its There is already a very monthly sales at its wide range in value of showrooms in Regent property that wants to be Street, near Shanklin auctioned.

Railway Station, the “It is a long term firm is now planning to project but in the current auction property at least climate there is room twice a year, beginning for this.

The key is that in February. property needs to be The venture is to be headed by former estate priced correctly. We want to get solicitors agent Steve Winter, involved because there who has 20 years’ will always be the call experience in propfor probate sales. erty on the Island. He “We did three or four will be valuing houses house auctions last year and showing potential and they all proved very buyers around before successful. We didn’t aceach auction. tually do house auctions Warren Riches, directhen, but we ended up tor of Island Auction doing them with a local Rooms, explains: “We estate agent at various thought that in the locations. The propercurrent climate there ties will be viewable was the scope for an on www.islandauctionIsland firm to do property auctions, rather than rooms.co.uk and also on leaving it to a mainland a national website.

He adds: “The auctions company.

“There is a possibility will be held in neutral venues rather than at of us getting involved our salesroom. We will with probate scenarios as well to offer the ben- offer the service and see eficiaries and executors what happens. We’re not trying to step on estate a valuation and opportunity to auction the agents’ toes – we are an established auction property. The auction value is usually less but rooms with auction exif it’s realistically priced perience. We would be happy to work with any it may sell. estate agents with any “We will be doing the potential sales. Someauctioneering, and our times the auction price first sale date is planned may be slightly less, but for February 26. We

the way the market is at the moment, an auction sale is a sale.”

Tim Smith, associate director at Island Auction Rooms, says: “With an auction sale it is near enough guaranteed that the property is sold. The buyer has to

be serious. There can be no messing around at the last minute from a buyer trying to get the price down by thousands of pounds. When the hammer goes down, that is a legally binding contract, where ten per cent of the purchase

price is payable and a contract is signed. There are then 28 days to pay the full amount. If that is not done within that time, the buyer loses their deposit. The solicitor who works on behalf of the seller will also be present at the auction.”

Warren Richie (left) and Tim Smith, branching out into property

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Star sailor moors up in Fishbourne

Ryde Ranger Gemma bags silver award

’Tis the season of free EJ Norman downloads

Fishbourne Sailability Commodore, Brian Gay, with Geoff Holt and Kerry Jackson, marketing manager of Wightlink, which provided free travel for Geoff and supports the Sailability charity

GEOFF Holt, the first disabled person to sail solo around the coast of Great Britain, was the guest of honour at the Fishbourne Sailability Club’s Christmas party at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club.

Over 60 members and guests attended the party, which raised nearly £300 towards the group’s project to buy a RoRo boat, which helps disabled people get out on the water.

Geoff, who hails from Hampshire and is quadriplegic, completed his epic 109-day, 1400-mile voyage last September in a specially adapted trimaran called Freethinker.

Fishbourne Sailability Club was formed to promote and facilitate watersports for people with disability and is set up under the auspices of the RYA Sailability initiative. Sailability is the leading national charity for disabled sailing in the UK, with over 15,000 sailors benefiting from its activities.

ELECTRO’S own lady in red EJ Norman is spreading her own form of Christmas joy this season by releasing a specially recorded MP3 available to download for free.

The track, an Enya-esque reworking of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s ‘The Power of Love’, shows a soft side to the electro-pop singer’s voice. The background music consists of gently throbbing synths and a slight echo to

make it all seem a little ethereal.

Famed for her work in combining art, cinema and music in a live environment around the Brighton and Portsmouth areas, EJ cut her teeth playing in bands in her native Cambridge and doing the rounds of local music festivals. To get hold of the MP3, just send an email to EJ at ejnorman@hotmail.co.uk and it will be delivered straight to your inbox.

Prague Floor hit the heights in Nettlestone FOUR weeks in planning, three bands, two charities and one venue.

Yes, it could only be the Earl Mountbatten Hospice and Naomi House charity event.

Organised by Prague Floor guitarist and vocalist Ashley Hoy and staged at the recently taken over Roadside Inn in Nettlestone, the evening turned out to be a great showcase for the Island’s alternative/progressive rock and metal talent.

Taking to the stage first was the attentiongrabbing Dan Digby, bassist for both Prague Floor and Broken Keys.

He would be joining the rest of the band later on in the evening, but he seemed happy enough to showcase some of his solo material.

Next up were Platform One group Proximity Effect playing an acoustic set after their performance at the Ventnor Winter Gardens monthly rock and indie night the

evening before.

Headlining was Island grind/hardcore/electro metal group Prague Floor, with a set taken mainly from their eighttrack debut album ‘Best heard In Artificial Light’.

Speaking after the show, Hoy sounded distinctly chuffed: “Prague Floor’s set went down very well, which was surprising, considering our style of music! For the future, I hope to organize another event at the studio in the New Year.”

ANOTHER young Islander has received the Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award.

Gemma Hull (above), of Ryde Rangers, had to complete four different activity challenges to win the award, including a spot of ju-jitsu and leading an expedition to the New Forest.

Two other Ryde Rangers, Rachel Austin and Kirstie Lainchbury, gained Expedition Section certificates. Gemma received her award at Girlguiding IW’s Ryde District Christmas concert, which was held at Garfield Road Methodist Church.

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Island chemists’ rota for Wightquote shaking up the Island Christmas/New Year New website to find work for self employed

Christmas Eve Alliance Pharmacy,

107 High Street, Sandown (tel. 403238) – early closing 1pm

Alliance Pharmacy,

1 Moa Place, School Green Road, Freshwater (tel.

752724) – early closing 3pm Boots Chemist, 200 Newport Road, Cowes (tel. 294467) – early closing 4pm Siddy’s Convent Pharmacy, 22 Carisbrooke High Street, Carisbrooke (tel.

525216) – early closing 2pm

Christmas Day Lloyds Pharmacy,

41-42 Pyle Street, Newport (tel. 522638) – 2-3pm Boots Chemist, 1 High Street, Shanklin (tel. 862058) – 12 noon1pm Gibbs & Gurnell, 34 Union Street, Ryde (tel.

562570) – 12 noon-1pm Totland Pharmacy, 2 Wintona, Broadway, Totland Bay (tel. 752592) – 12 noon-1pm

Boxing Day

Lloyds Pharmacy, 18 The Esplanade, Ryde (tel. 563333) – 12 noon1pm Yarmouth Pharmacy, Quay Street, Yarmouth (tel.

760260) – 12 noon-1pm Day-Lewis Pharmacy,

51 Regent Street, Shanklin (tel. 862562) – 12 noon1pm Boots Chemist, 124-126 High Street, Newport (tel. 522595) – 2-3pm

New Year’s Day

Siddys Pharmacy, 86-88 High Street, Newport (tel.

522346) – 2-3pm Regent Pharmacy, 59 Regent Street, Shanklin (tel. 863677) – 12 noon1pm Boots Chemist, 170-172 High Street, Ryde (tel.

562280) – 12-1pm Alliance Pharmacy, 1 Moa Place, School Green Road, Freshwater (tel.

752724) – 12 noon-1pm

THE TEAM of Linda Brown and her daughter Hayley, have set up wightquote.co.uk to help people who are self employed on the Island to find work and to give them an opportunity to quote people for work or services they need.

cheapest. Once the work has been done, you can rate the service that you have received and add feedback.

Some of the services available on wightquote.co.uk are car repairs, home information packs, tutors, cleaners, cattery’s, builders, printers, removals, solicitors, The website has been designed architects, driving lessons, extenfor everyone to use and people sions and many more. who need a quote for a job can Linda continued: “The tradesput the job on the website for free. person, contractor or supplier can Using wightquote.co.uk is very choose what jobs they want to simple and there are quotes avail- quote on. All quotes are strictly able from kinds of industries. confidential so that only the cusWhether it’s wedding venues or tomer can compare. photographers, or hairdressers or “The difference with using this builders, wightquote can help. website is that people can adverLinda explained: “One of the tise for a tradesperson and get a key factors of wightquote.co.uk free quote and have access to the was to keep work on the Island. whole Island and help support This means that everyone can use each other with work. After all, Island businesses and continue to charity begins at home. help each other by using Island “The benefits for the tradespertradespeople, suppliers and son or supplier is they can pay a services.” monthly fee to quote for the work “Somebody can post a job on and wightquote will email them the site, and then get the quotes. with any new jobs that come in.

It is then up to the customer to Alternatively they can pay a choose the best tradesperson. yearly fee that includes additional It’s not necessarily always the

benefits such as a banner advertisement and link to their website.

“Other contracts such as Government or charitable can be put on the website for free.

“Employment agencies charge a commission to find tradespeople and so hourly rates are low. Using wightquote means that tradespeople looking for other self employed tradespeople can advertise for free and pay the going rate.

Linda and Hayley were inspired to do something about work when their self employed husbands found it difficult to find work in the current climate.

“In this economic market we all need to help each other. The recession has hit people hard, and we hope people will support wightquote in changing the way we do business by posting the jobs you need a quote for. We also want to help raise the profile of the Island,” said Linda.

For more information you can email info@wightquote.co.uk or visit the web site www.wightquote.co.uk.

Jacqui gets her teeth into fruit and veg venture

AN ISLAND woman is hoping the family run fruit and veg wholesale business will take the bite out of the credit crunch.

Jacqui White (pictured above with her team) runs the Juicy Apple warehouse along with her father Jim Newberry at the Spithead Industrial Estate in Lake.

Jacqui, from Ryde, had to leave her job as a care assistant following the death of her husband.

“It was a sharp upward learning curve,” she admits.

“Before this job I was a care

assistant and to pay the bills and keep a roof over my head I had to learn it from the ground up”.

Jacqui’s day starts at an ungodly hour.

“I am up at half four every morning and as soon as I arrive, I get the order forms written up, I sort out the deliveries and discover which deliveries are going where.”

“On top of that, I answer the phones, speak to customers, write cheques to our suppliers and sort out what is the best quality produce.

“We supply mainly to Sandown,

Shanklin, Ventnor, Bembridge, Arreton and out to Ryde. We have plenty of hotels as clients as well as guest hotels, pubs, schools, old people’s homes and shops.

“We pride ourselves on the personal touch. There is always someone at the end of a telephone if they’ve got a query or a problem. We like to know so we can put it right and without the staff, obviously we couldn’t do it.”

And her plans for 2009?

“I just want continued success, to keep our customers happy and to enjoy a good living.”

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Can we learn Following the Yellow Brick Road from the big

By Jamie White

THE ISLAND’S innovative fashion store Yellow Brick Road has recently moved location to a larger premises in St James St, Newport, just opposite McDonald’s.

A NEW partnership between the Isle of Wight Lottery and the Gift to Nature organisation has been established to help Island businesses become more environmentally aware in the way they operate.

Brick Road, with lots of accessories to choose from including Black Dice watches, wallets, hats, scarfs, belts and more. Gift vouchers are also available.

On Saturday December 20 Ben and Charlie, drummer and guitarist of As well as moving, the store has Island band The Operators, will be introduced some new men’s and playing a live DJ set in store, making women’s labels including Henleys and the Yellow Brick Road Christmas Two Stoned for men, and Lipsy and shopping experience even more Cheap Monday for women. Cheap enjoyable!

Monday are renowned for the superb fit of their skinny jeans. The Swedish denim brand has had great success worldwide offering a great jean and a fantastic price point of just £39.99.

The introduction of Lipsy dresses has already proved a huge success, and Lipsy are constantly updating their range with up to the minute key styles. A selection of Lipsy dresses are available in store now.

In terms of Christmas presents, you’re spoilt for choice in Yellow

supermarkets?

THIS may seem a preposterous idea. But what can small businesses learn from the giant supermarkets?

What is it that they do?

Some of the bigger supermarkets have different types of store to reach its customers, whatever they are doing and wherever they are.

These range from: • Offering 24 hour opening for grocery, electronics, housewares and entertainment.

• Small supermarkets located in town centres stocking a smaller range of products.

• The neighbourhood convenience shops, stocking more convenience products.

Each type of store is designed to meet its customers’ needs at that time. How does this relate to your business?

Do you have different ways of serving your clients and customers?

Another element is

By Maggie Curry products. A key area for any business is to have a range that meets the changing fortunes of its customers and clients.

In all but the smallest of stores, they offer two types of product – branded items and own label. The own label is split into three further categories – Value/ Basic, Healthy and Finest.

So, when times are good, the consumption of Finest items are strong and, incidentally, these are the products with the highest margin!

While, when times are not so good, customers switch to Value/Basic lower priced products.

They don’t make as much profit in the short term, but it keeps its customers – serving them and satisfying their desire for lower cost groceries when times are tough.

How does this relate to your business?

Can you provide a “Value” and “Finest” range in your business?

Businesses get back to nature

Businesses will have the opportunity to invest in the environment through Gift to Nature, which forms part of the East Cowes-based Island 2000 charity.

Kevin Smith, chief executive of the IW Chamber of Commerce, which administers the Isle of Wight Lottery, said: “We are keen to encourage good environmental practice, which helps contribute to the eco vision of the Island.”

Samantha Buck, project manager for Gift to Nature, said: “We hope that our partnership with the Chamber of Commerce can help establish links with many other businesses.”

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THE CITROËN C3 Picasso is still several months away from hitting the showrooms, but its reputation is speeding along well ahead of it.

Citroën’s newest MPV has picked up the accolade of Family Car of the Year at the 2008 awards, as displayed in Top Gear’s latest magazine and on the TV programme’s website, www.topgear.com The spacious, eye-catching MPV goes on sale in this country in the summer.

It is based on the next-generation C3 supermini, and runs four-cylinder engines turning the front wheels. Citroën boss Gilles Michel was in no doubt the company had a real winner. He enthused: “The C3 Picasso is more than an MPV, it’s so innovative.”

Despite only measuring fractionally over 4 metres in length, there’s sufficient rear knee room and headroom to put other, much bigger saloons, in the shade. The split, sliding rear seats are set high, so one six-footer can easily sit behind another.

Grab the seat handles and with a flick of the wrist, the squab pops up and the back-

rest folds down, creating a flat load bay.

According to the manufacturers: “There’s no wrestling with snakish seat belts – it’s a one-second operation.”

The three-piece windscreen with extra quarter-lights at the side and swept up above the driver’s head, makes for a light, spacious cabin. Hopefully there’s another benefit – the elimination of the visibility problems that blight some MPVs.

Citroën describes the C3 Picasso’s looks as ‘bold’, and chief designer Jean-Pierre Ploué talked of his determination to differentiate the baby Picasso from its C4 bigger brother.

He said: “We were working on the two cars together, but I didn’t want to simply shrink the C4 Picasso.”

Prices are expected to start at around £11,000.

Latest family addition

10) Spain

9) Padraig Harrington 8) 4th

7) US Open

6) Brad Friedel

5) Roy Jones Jnr

4) Ronnie O’Sullivan 3) Kanu

2) Chris Hoy 1) Brazil

SKODA Octavia has been crowned the UK’s most satisfying car to own, according to the Driver Power website. No model offers greater strength, voters decided.

So what makes the Octavia so popular? Well, it’s the performance of the VW-sourced engines that does it, from the smallest turbodiesel to the rangetopping vRS hot hatch. The Octavia also scores the lowest running costs for any family car.

Its spacious hatchback model and enormous loadlugging estate get a huge thumbs-up too.

And when you consider the Octavia finishes 15 positions ahead of the Golf, it seems VW has much to learn from Skoda.

11) Antigua

*

12) Usain Bolt

*

Sports quiz answers

13) Graeme Swann

*

Chris Stay shows the form that won him the IW Youth Expert championship title at the final round of the 2008 IW motorcyle trials at Nodewell Farm, near Totland. See full story on the back page.

14) New Zealand beat Australia 34 -20

THE NEW CLC from Mercedes Benz is the latest addition to the coupe family and the C-list.

In profile, the Mercedes Benz CLC shows its 4.4 metre length to good effect with a sleek style emphasised by the 18 inch alloys, snugly fitting the wheel arches.

The tyres are very low profile and amount to little more than rubber bands, so even the smallest of kerbs are capable of damaging the alloys.

The long bonnet doesn’t help nervous drivers but does add to the sleek and purposeful image. Unmistakably a Mercedes, the front of the CLC features a wide grille dominated by a large three-pointed star, above the snarling mesh panel in the lower front skirt.

The rear end is described as ‘striking, youthful and progressive’. That’s an exaggeration but the almost full-width brake light strip which nestles under the rear spoiler, which itself curves down at the edges to echo the lower line of the light clusters, does make an impact. To add to the sportiness, the lower part of the rear bumper has a diffuser effect that hints at the capability while the polished chrome tailpipe adds a touch of sparkle.

What with the black roof lining, which is part of the Sport package, darkened windows and black upholstery, the test car’s interior was very dark indeed. This was particularly true in the rear seats where the small windows let in very little light, but even at the business end, it does at times feel like driving your own personal cave.

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Citroën MPV is no lemon

1) Aston Villa, Liverpool, Charlton Athletic, Northampton Town, Celtic, Dundee United, Kilmarnock and East Fife. There is a ninth if you count Alloa (known as Alloa Athletic), and even a tenth if you include East Stirlingshire, commonly known as East Stirling.

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2) Exeter City and Crewe Alexandra.

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2008 Christmas sports quiz (Just for fun, answers on foot of page 38) 1) In which country did Lewis Hamilton (right) claim the Formula One drivers’ title?

2) Name the cyclist who won three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics?

3) Who scored the winning goal for Portsmouth in the FA Cup final?

4) Who won the World Snooker Championship title?

5) Which American did Joe Calzaghe beat in his most recent bout in September?

6) Which goalkeeper broke the record for most consecutive league appearances in the Premier League?

7) In which Grand Slam did Andy Murray (bottom right) beat Rafael Nadal in the semifinal before losing to Roger Federer in the final?

Footy teasers

8) Where did Great Britain finish in the medal table at the Beijing Olympics?

1) Name the 10 clubs from the four main English Leagues and the four main Scottish Leagues whose names begin and end with the same letter?

10) Which country won football’s Euro 2008 Championship?

2) Name the only two clubs in the top four English divisions with an X in their name?

9) Which golfer won both the Open Championship and the US PGA Championship?

11) On which Caribbean Island was the Stanford 20/20 cricket tournament held?

Five-star colts show

Newchurch Colts U11 5 Poole Town Youth U11 2 NEWCHURCH Colts sailed into the last 16 of the Hampshire Cup, after a five star performance saw them knock out Poole Town.

It was the Colts’ first game for a month, and they made up for lost time as they attacked straight from kick-off.

It took just four minutes for Benji to open the scoring with a well taken shot that gave the Town keeper no chance.

The Colts always looked in control and Charlie Parkes and Martin Higgs netted to give them a comfortable 3-0 lead at half time.

WIN!

The Colts started the second half the way they finished the first, not letting the visitors settle, and added a fourth goal when George CarterKnight’s looping shot found the back of the net. James Treherne added a fifth to make it 5-0 to the home side.

Despite two late goals

from Town, the Colts held on to seal their place in the next round.

Manager Tony Morris was proud of his team’s result, saying: “It was a great all round performance from the boys considering we hadn’t played for four weeks, and I’m delighted with the result.”

Membership of Cloud 9 health club

CLOUD 9 Health Club in Shanklin is offering the chance for two lucky readers to win a month’s free membership in January, worth £50. Cloud 9 is a spacious, bright and airy fully-equipped gym with equipment to work every muscle group. To enter the competition, answer the question below.

Fill in your details and send your entry to: Cloud 9 Competition, Unit b18 Spithead Business Centre, Newport Road, Sandown, PO36 9PH. Question: In what month can you claim your FREE membership prize?

12) Which sprinter broke the 100m and 200m world record at the Beijing Olympics?

The prizes will be awarded to the first correct entries opened after Monday, January 5, 2008. Terms and conditions apply.

Employees and their immediate families of Cloud 9 and The Gazette are not allowed to enter. The editor’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

Answer:

13) Who became only the second England cricketer to take two wickets in his first over on his Test debut against India?

Name Address

14) Who won this year’s Rugby League World Cup final, and who were runners-up?

Tel no: Advertising Feature

Affordable golf is back GOLF remains one of the most popular sports on the Island, with many hundreds of us going out on courses each week full of optimism, only to return to the clubhouse knowing our handicaps are still on the increase.

By Peter White

allows them 12 rounds of golf in any one year. Anyone taking up the offer can play at any time and may play in midweek and open competitions, whilst also having full voting rights.

Andy Creed, secretary But never mind. We still of Shanklin and Sandown, keep trying, knowing full explained: “People tend well golf remains one of the to leave golf clubs as they best ways to relax and get feel they are not getting away from the pressures of value for money from their work and other stresses and memberships because they strains. are playing perhaps only six However, in these uncertain times a year. economic times, many who “Our Level One scheme is would perhaps like to take all-in with no entry fee, and up golf are concerned that equates to £16.25 a round. membership fees or even We believe this is excelgreen fees might prove a bit lent value because currently too costly. guests with a member pay Now Shanklin and £25 per round, and next year Sandown Golf Club, set in a weekday price without a 75 acres of fine heathland, member will be £36.” have come up with an excelShanklin and Sandown GC lent plan to try to lure back also operate Level Two and people who have deserted the Three memberships – Two game simply because they for those wanting to play haven’t been able to afford it, only Monday to Friday, and or felt they were not getting Three for full seven-day value for money. access to the course.

A membership scheme For anyone wanting to simply called Level One spread the cost Shanklin and allows would-be golfers to Sandown are tied in with join Shanklin and Sandown Fairway Finance. The club for a fee of just £195, which have negotiated for the first

six months at a rate of just 3.5 per cent and then the following months at 6.75 per cent lower than most other clubs.

Andy continued: “We have

700 members and we can take 750. With Level One membership we can take more because the number of times they are on the course is limited.

“We also have what we call a ‘roll up’ between noon and 1pm on a Saturday for new members who don’t know anybody at the club.

It provides an introduction for those looking for regular playing partners. There has been a stigma attached to the club that you have to know the right people to become a member, but that is certainly not the case, and we are breaking down those barriers.”

Shanklin and Sandown has a thriving junior section, with club professional Peter Hammond providing coaching sessions for youngsters from aged five to early teens on Sunday mornings, at just £2 a session. The club also has strong ties with nearby Sandown High School as Peter explains: “If you start young, then there is no fear factor and kids can get better and better. We have a good relationship with Sandown School and we have developed that further, setting up an inter-schools challenge in the summer.”

The club has produced some fine young players in recent years, including Island champion Mark Bell, scratch

player Chris Reed and James Mitchell, who has recently turned professional, and is assistant to Peter Hammond in the well-stocked golf shop.

Richard Janes and Tom Guy were also club members, with Tom working abroad in New York and Dubai, while Richard is at West Sussex Golf Club as assistant pro.

There is a strong women’s section of around 100 players, and all Shanklin and Sandown members enjoy a reciprocal arrangement to play at mainland clubs Bognor Regis, Brownshaw Manor and the Forest, Royal Winchester, Romsey and Romans Castle.

Peter Hammond added: “I think standards have improved on the Island.

We don’t want people to be put off if they have a high handicap. There is always time available for people that want to play golf and enjoy the sport.”

• For further details on how to become a member at Shanklin and Sandown Golf Club telephone 01983 403217.

40

sport the gazette

the gazette

Friday DECEMBER 19 2008

Send your sports news to newsdesk@iwgazette.co.uk

West crowned trials champion THE FINAL round of the 2008 IW motorcycle trials championships saw a good day’s action at Nodewell Farm near Totland.

With the Youth Expert championship already decided in favour of Chris Stay, it was left to Will West from Newport, who had a three-point lead, and Josh Stephens from St Helens to battle it out to see who would be crowned IW trials champion.

Stephens won every round he had contested

proved to be a bit of a handful.

For West it was a this year, and it looked different story. Having look as if it would be recently changed back a close fight between to his favourite make of the two championship bike, he seemed to be contenders. back at his best.

Last year’s winners, A brilliant ride by Lee Lee Haydon and ladies champion Becky Cook, Haydon demoted West to second place, and made an appearance to with Stephens appearadd extra spice to the ing slightly off form in occasion.

The day didn’t start too fourth, West secured well for Stephens when victory to be crowned IW trials champion. his own bike refused The Youth Expert class to start and he had to was won by George borrow his father’s Gosden from NewHonda for the day. The church. But with Chris extra power was unfamiliar and on the frozen Stay having already slippery course the bike won the championship

By Jamie White

George Gosden, winner of the final championship round

this year, the pair rode around together making light work of the tricky course.

There was a name from the past taking part in the Clubman class. After a break of over twenty years, Julian Rose took the runner up place behind the improving Adam Brodie, who had an excellent ride on his Scorpa.

The British Bike class was won by the evergreen Nigel Crouch.

There was a new name at the top of the Novice class with Steve Tony finishing just one point ahead of Kenny Winter.

Kenny’s son, Charlie, had a brilliant ride and won the Youth Novice class from Louise Milton.

The lowest score on the novice course was again achieved by Stewart West, who won the twin shock championship ahead of his close rival Nick Symes.

The morning’s beginner course produced the lowest score from Dave Rose on his immaculate 1973 Bultaco.

The next Island trial will take place on Boxing day at Shorwell starting at 11am, and everyone is welcome.

For more details you can go to www.iowmcc.com.

More pictures page 38

Will West, the IW champion 2008, near the end of the trial

Marathon effort by bowlers

A WORLD record marathon event By Jamie White was successful completed recently At exactly 9pm the marathon was by members of the IW Indoor brought to an end with the result that Bowls Club.

Players came from clubs at Bembridge, Cowes, Medina, Newport, Sandown and Totland Bay to compete in the challenge.

The event was organised to help support the forthcoming Inter-Island Bowls Tournament.

The marathon was devised to achieve the most ends of bowls to be played in twelve hours. It started at 9am, playing ten end relays, with the 36 players put into teams of four to play for two hours with a one-hour rest.

347 ends had been completed in the time.

“The players thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Everyone was laughing and joking right up to the end. It was a great success,” said Alec Soars, tournament co-ordinator.

When all the sponsorship money is collected, the players hope to have raised about £1,000 towards the cost of the Inter-Island Bowls tournament, which is taking place in October 2009.