I’d seen Ian Dockray on stage in several Shorwell pantomimes and could hardly believe it when he played Buttons in Cinderella…he was in his sixties and Cinders was young enough to be his granddaughter.
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My latest interview with Jason was an opportunity to discuss his career, past and present, and some of the darker moments in his life.
When I last met Jason Donovan I admitted there had been a week in August 1988 when he caused me daily problems…
Chris Russell is one of only seven Islanders to have played first class cricket over the past 90 years. The Wroxall youngster, who spent nine seasons as a fast bowler with Worcestershire, has now returned to his home soil to skipper, and hopefully revitalise Ventnor, our only Southern League club.
The sad death of Yarmouth’s Colin Smith, at the wonderful age of 96, took my mind back to the occasion when my East Cowes Sunday school teacher, Miss Hollis, told us a story about two heroic Island brothers who sailed the Atlantic in a 20-foot boat.
The voice of the late Bernie Cullen could clearly be heard in the Newport Minster Church just after noon on January 4th, singing ‘There’s A Kind Of Hush’.
Michael Spiers became an Isle of Wight personality, and something of a local hero, for two very different reasons.
Melvyn Hayes did his first Christmas show back in 1950 and he was not topping the bill. Just over 20 years later, thanks to a character called Gloria in the TV show ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’, he was the star name in pantomimes all over Britain.
Long before I ever got to know Reuben Abbott, I saw him and his bother, Paul, re-laying a hedge on the road into Godshill. It was craftsmanship of the highest order and it took them several weeks.
Andy and Caroline Phillips have been parking their Jolly Fryer fish and chip van outside of my home for 27 years. A few weeks ago I finally realised they might have quite a story
The Greening family have certainly been the footballing G–Force both here on the Isle of Wight and in Australian stretching back over the past 60 years.