Island Update: January 2025

Your community news, achievements and feel-good stories. Please do continue to send them in to editorial@iwbeacon.com and remember, more local news and information is available on our website www.iwbeacon.com

Annual St Andrews Dance

On Friday 29th November the Isle of Wight Caledonian Society held their Annual St Andrews Dance at Arreton Community Hall. A splendid array of food was brought in by the members, who after savouring the varied spread enjoyed a great evening’s dancing led by Judy Valvona. Live music was provided by Judith and Ian Muir from the Craigellachie Band.

Dancers from various groups around the Island, including Niton, Yarmouth, Northwood, and Newport spent a very pleasant evening dancing to Judith and Ian’s lively music.

If you would like to try Scottish country dancing, a great way of keeping fit, there is a workshop for beginners on Saturday 18th January at Gurnard Village Hall from 10am until 1pm. No age restriction and no partner required.

Email duncankeithcampbell@icloud.com for details or look on the Isle of Wight Caledonian website: www.sites.google.com/site/ theiowcaledoniansociety

(image: Jane Gondhaleker)

Away Day on the Island

The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) held an exclusive Isle of Wight away day recently. This special event, centred on the theme of transport accessibility, brought together key stakeholders, transport providers, and local organisations to address the unique challenges of island communities in accessing seamless and inclusive transport options.

Participants experienced first hand a comfortable and accessible journey to the Island, a warm welcome from the Isle of Wight Transport Infrastructure Board, Isle of Wight Council, and Visit Isle of Wight, and attendees were treated to lunch in Solent Views at Hovertravel’s Ryde Terminal.

The highlight of the day was an in-depth roundtable discussion focused on transport accessibility for rural communities, where DPTAC representatives heard from local transport providers and advocacy groups, including Isle Access, Southern Vectis, Island Line / SWR, Wightlink, Red Funnel, Floating Bridge, FYT Bus, Cycle Wight and Hovertravel.

This Isle of Wight away day marked a step forward in DPTAC’s mission to ensure accessibility across diverse transport modes and geographies, particularly for those in rural or isolated communities.

Free Training Course for Isle of Wight Carers

People on the Isle of Wight are being offered the opportunity to receive free Care Skills training at the Isle of Wight College, delivered in partnership with Solent Partners. Nurse Camelia Moise Gogoasa is a tutor on the course, and through it has directly employed new staff members.

She said, “Not only is this a course for unemployed people and those looking to step into a new care-based career, it is also for those working in care who want to get certified, and for those who have been out of the care sector for a while and want a refresher course. The real magic is that anyone who takes part is guaranteed a job interview with an Island-based employer.”

The Health & Social Care Skills Bootcamp emphasises the career opportunities available in the Care Sector to those taking part and supports their personal development including applying for jobs and interview practise. Those completing it are rewarded with a Skills for Care Certificate, enhancing their knowledge in Health and Social Care.

Participants can sign up for upcoming courses now and receive practical, hands-on learning, with support for CV writing, interviews, and connections with local employers upon completion.

For more information or to apply for the Care Skills Bootcamp, visit www.iwcollege. ac.uk/blog/health-social-care-bootcamp

Festival Lineup Announcement

A host of exciting artists have been announced for the 2025 Isle of Wight Festival, joining headliners Sting, Stereophonics and Justin Timberlake over 19th - 22nd June. Jess Glynne, Supergrass, The Corrs, Busted, Amy Mcdonald, Ella Eyre, The Lightning Seeds, The Pigeon Detectives, The Saw Doctors, Björn Again, Crystal Tides and The Smyths join the bill of the iconic festival, a staple event in the UK’s summer calendar.

Also performing over the weekend are Faithless, The Script, Clean Bandit, Example, James, Paul Heaton, Texas, Olly Murs, Alison Moyet, Dean Lewis, The Lathums and Lottery Winners across the festival’s Main Stage and Big Top tent.

These incredible new additions to the 2025 line-up join previously announced headliners including musical icon, Sting, as part of his “STING 3.0” World Tour; Stereophonics, headlining the Main Stage on Saturday night; and American pop legend Justin Timberlake, who will close the Festival’s Main Stage on Sunday night.

Tickets are available now at www.isleofwightfestival.com

Thank You Bembridge!

The Royal British Legion would like to once again thank local businesses, organisations, collectors, and supporters in Bembridge for their generosity and time in helping raise a total of £3,155.96 during the Bembridge Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal 2024.

These funds are vital to enable the Association to continue their support of existing Service personnel and Veterans. This year many people made their donation by scanning the QR code which has a gift aid option, and when selected, adds value to their donation at no extra cost to themselves.

Caring for Island Animals

The RSPCA Isle of Wight are appealing to Islanders this winter to help them continue to do what they do best: caring.

Branch Director at the Rescue Centre in Godshill, Steve Backhouse said, “At this time of the year, we are especially grateful of the support of our Island community. If you love animals and live on the Isle of Wight, we ask you to seriously consider donating to us.” This Island charity is supported, but not funded by the RSPCA, and this year, as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, the need for help to care for the Island’s most vulnerable animals has increased.

Animals like Isla the tiny stray black cat who was fed for a time by the staff at Isle of Wight Radio before being taken in by the RSPCA. She was just a year old when she produced three beautiful kittens in the shelter. They have all been placed in homes now, but little Isla is still waiting for someone to adopt her. “And remember that every penny remains here on the Island,” said Steve.

Donations can be made in the following ways:

Call: 01983 84028

In person at theRSPCA Godshill Animal Centre at Bohemia Corner, Merstone Lane, Godshill, Isle of Wight, PO38 3NA

Online: www.rspca-isleofwight.org.uk

Tritone Singers Christmas Concert

On the evening of December 6th, Storm Darragh was just arriving on the Isle of Wight, with its driving rain and strong winds. But anyone familiar with the pleasure of hearing the Tritone Singers wouldn’t be deterred by a mere storm! Indeed, the Methodist church in Ryde was full, with audience members leaving behind the wild weather of the outside world for the peace and serenity of the evening’s music.

This year, composers ranged from Bach to Vaughan Williams and several others from the 21st century. Two different versions of In the Bleak Midwinter were sung, one included a beautiful solo by soprano Helen Mansfield, while the other was composed by Richard Wilkins, musical director of the Tritone Singers.

This was a year of anniversaries for the Tritone Singers. It’s 50 years since Tritone was founded by Brian Northcott, who died recently at the age of 80. And Richard was presented with a gift at the end of the performance which was his 75th concert (there are usually three concerts a year) as Music Director.

Island School Quiz Winners

Ryde School with Upper Chine are celebrating after being crowned champions in the third national What on Earth! Schools Quiz Challenge, in association with media partner The i Paper, aimed at identifying the school with the best general knowledge in the country.

Schools and home educated children across the UK signed up for free and entered a 4-person team to compete. Out of around 300 entries, the final eight schools, four junior and four senior teams, made their way to Stationers’ Hall, London for the thrilling live final. Hosted by Christopher Lloyd, author and founder of What on Earth!, he was thrilled to  announce junior school Ryde School with Upper Chine from the Isle of Wight as this year’s What on Earth! Schools Quiz Challenge Champions 2024.

Elmore, aged 11, from the quiz champions team said, “I am amazed we managed to win because we came for the first time and we didn’t think we’d do it. I think we got through on our quick reading skills and our banana mascot definitely gave us the belief that we could win!”

Schools throughout the UK can find out more about participating in the 2025 quiz and register interest online at www.whatonearth.co.uk/quiz

(image: Harriett Buckingham)

Children’s Literature Prize 2025

Entries for The Paul Cave Prize for Children’s Literature 2025 are now open. It provides an excellent opportunity to get poetry, flash fiction and short stories in front of a publisher. Each category winner receives feedback, a cash prize and a copy of the book featuring all submitted work.

It is judged by Tim Saunders, publisher and journalist, Caroline Saunders, former secondary school teacher and head of department, and their three children Harriett, Heidi, and Henry. The family love reading and discussing stories, often around the dining table. This makes them the perfect judges for this prize. You can rest assured that between them they will read every single submission.

They are looking for all forms of poetry: haiku, free verse, sonnet, acrostic, villanelle, ballad, limerick, ode, and elegy, plus flash fiction and short stories up to 5,000 words. “The emphasis should be on providing an enjoyable reading experience, with strong vocabulary and grammar, while being mindful of the audience’s age,” said publisher Tim Saunders. “If the work can provide some worthwhile educational value as well then all the better.”

Entries close on Feb 28, 2025

Winners announced by March 30, 2025

For more information visit: www.tsaunderspubs.weebly.com