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 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.
The Island’s Michael Whitehead has enjoyed a fascinating life that has involved working with Cliff Richard, Tommy Steele, the Milky Bar Kid, the Apollo Theatre, Tales of the Riverbank, the Mary Rose and currently The Ghost Train.