IW Gazette 57

Friday March 19, 2010 Issue 57

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Pleasetake one

NEWS

Page 9

gazettethe isle of wight

REPORTING ISLAND NEWS

NEWS

Page 16

Mushrooms in Accidental Death

A VERDICT is announced after an inquest into a tragic death by death cap mushroom

Water Lot of Fun

PRE-SCHOOLERS from Berry Hill visited Newport Fire Station for the day

‘RAUNCHY PICS’ INSIDE PRISON

A FEMALE prison monitor is facing jail after having phone sex with three inmates, The Gazette can reveal.

Alice Belton, 23, also sent ‘raunchy pictures’ of herself to the prisoners by phone after befriending them during prison inspections.

The blonde has admitted having “personal and inappropriate relationships” with the prisoners at HMP Parkhurst, now known as one of the wings of HMP Isle

of Wight.Belton, a care worker, who

was a volunteer for the Ministry of Justice’s Indep- endent Monitoring Board (IMB), had the flings over a six month period.

She was also accused of

smuggling a mobile and SIM card into the prison after a random search by prison officers led to her being excluded.

IMB members are supposed to monitor day-to-day life in their local prison and ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained.

Belton pleaded guilty at Newport Crown Court last week to a single count of misconduct in a public office

between October 2008 and April 2009.

The Crown offered no evidence on a second count of smuggling a mobile and SIM card into the prison in April last year.

Misconduct in a public office is a serious, indictable-only offence carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

See page 5 for the full story.Alice Belton

EXCLUSIVEBY JASONKAY

EXCLUSIVE: COUNCIL LEADER UNDER INVESTIGATION PAGE 3

Contact the Gazette for News and Advertising: 01983 402599 www.iwgazette.co.uk The Gazette, Friday, March 19, 20102

NEWS

POLICE are looking for more information about a group of men reported to be acting suspiciously in shops across the Island over the past 10 days.

Around 12 reports have been received so far about stolen takings or attempts to steal money by trying to confuse staff at a number of shops.

Police say that on one occasion, two men were seen entering a shop. One of them sat down while the other went to a counter inside the store. He asked a member of staff to change £660 worth of £10 notes into £20 notes.

The member of staff did this and passed him the money. The man then put his hands on the money, passed the notes back to the member of staff and said that he meant 20 pence pieces not £20 notes.

“The member of staff explained that the shop could not do this and gave him back the £10 notes. The member of staff recounted the £20 notes later in the day and found that £260 was missing.

On another occasion, a man entered a shop and asked the cashier to change £200 into different denominations. While the cashier was working on this request, the man changed his mind about which denominations he wanted, confusing the cashier. The next day the shop’s manager found that the till was missing £100.

The men are described as being of Mediterranean appearance. IW Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector Bill Pinnell said: “We are eager to support businesses across the island, and are keen to track down these individuals as soon as possible. I would urge residents and businesses to report any suspicious activity to the police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Newport Police Station by phoning 101. In an emergency, dial 999. Mini-Com users can call 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111. From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, call 0845 045 45 45.

MEN ‘TRY TO CONFUSE’

FOUR young filmmakers from the Isle of Wight had the chance to see their short films on the big screen at the Minghella Film Festival, as they were short listed in the schools’ shorts competition.

First place was given to Ollie Williams’ five-minute film ‘Wake Up Isle of Wight’. Duncan Kenworthy, producer of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually and Jim Henson’s The Storyteller (on which he worked with Anthony Minghella) presented Ollie with a £100 cheque and membership of the BFI (British Film Institute).

Ollie’s film follows a young man as he wakes up, opens the velux window in his roof to look out, pours a glass of water, gets dressed, leaves the house, puts in his

earphones and begins to jog along the beach.

The atmospheric short film shows off the east coast of the Island as the young man jogs along with the sun glinting on the water. When announcing the winner Gioia Minghella said that, “It showed off the Isle of Wight and was witty.”

Ollie Williams (19) has only been filmmaking since September 2009 and studies Media at the IW College. “It took two days shooting and two days editing,” said Ollie. “It was amazing to win. I’d like to thank Lillie Jeffrey who was a great help and Jon Stone and Simon Hussey at the IW College.”

Runner up was Ronan JD Sullivan with his wonderful Aardman style plasticine modeling animation entitled ‘A Rather Nice Day on

Vectis’ (3.53mins). Duncan Kenworthy presented Ronan with four tickets for the IMAX cinema in London and five BFI DVDs.

Laughter rang out around the auditorium as Ronan’s little green figures, Iris and Barry Picnic, booked into an hotel which had a wonderful view of a brick wall.

“I was really surprised to be chosen,” said Ronan who has been making animations since 2005 and is in year 13 at Sandown High School.

“My brother Jo Sullivan did the music and I got people to do the voices. It took two days to make and three days set building.”

Also shortlisted were ‘The Bumps’ by Glynn Parkinson and ‘It’s a Good Day for the Isle of Wight’ by Anastasia Wlaschin-Weist.

OLLIE PICKS UP HIS FIRST FILM HONOUR

THE OWNER of a Cowes restaurant who was fined after a successful prosecution over hygiene offences claimed that when the inspection took place he was away caring for his sick mother.

The charges were brought by the IW Council Environmental Health Department, following a routine inspection The Bahar Tandoori Restaurant, 44 High Street, Cowes. Five hygiene offences were uncovered, despite previous warnings about similar matters on a number of occasions.

Staff had also received coaching by officers of the department in the Safer Food Better Business Pack, a food safety management pack produced by the Food

Standards Agency.Owner Abdul Bahar told The

Gazette that after caring for his mother he found out on his return about the health breaches and corrected them, as well as having a total kitchen refit.

The Bahar Tandoori Restau-rant is also famous because Richard Branson once visited, as pictures on the walls and front windows attest.

The offences brought were failure to provide and maintain a written food safety management system, failure to put in place a permanent procedure or procedures, failure to ensure that equipment was effectively cleaned and where necessary disinfected, food containers not in good repair and failure to

ensure that food was protected against contamination.

Bahar Tandoori Limited and sole director, Mr Bahar, pleaded guilty, at Newport Magistrates Court to the charges and the business has been ordered to pay a fine and costs totaling over £4,000.

Amanda Gregory, IW Council Environmental Health Manager said: “It is very disappointing that this establishment has been given assistance to comply with the legislation in order to ensure that the food is safe to eat, and yet still failed to comply.

“The Environmental Health team are both educators and enforcers and want to work with businesses to secure compliance wherever possible.

Unfortunately, in some cases the only option left is to prosecute.

“This prosecution should serve as a reminder to food operators and the public alike that we will take action to maintain high standards of food safety across the Island.”

The total fine was broken down as: £300 in relation to each of the five offences - total fine £1500.

In relation to Mr. Abdul Bahar, a fine of £100 in relation to each of the five offences - total fine £500.

The company was required to pay an additional £15 victim surcharge, and was also required to pay £2,000 contribution toward the council’s costs of prosecution.

Ronan Sullivan, Toby Ouston, Ollie Williams, Gioia Minghella,Glynn Parkinson, Duncan Kenworthy and Anna Ouston

Abdul Bahar and Shah Ali with their new kitchen at the Bahar Tandoori

HYGIENE PROBLEM ‘NOT MY FAULT’

Contact the Gazette for News and Advertising: 01983 402599 www.iwgazette.co.ukThe Gazette, Friday, March 19, 2010 3

NEWS

BOARD FINALLY SEES THE LIGHT

Council Leader David Pugh Rachael Bushby

LEADER of the Isle of Wight Council, David Pugh is to be investigated for six alleged breaches of the Councillors Code of Conduct, The Gazette can exclusively reveal.

A complaint submitted by three Isle of Wight County Councillors has been assessed by the Assessment Sub-Committee of the Ethical Standards Committee of the Isle of Wight Council. The Sub-Committee has found there are grounds to investigate Councillor Pugh in respect of the following allegations:

• Bullying• Intimidation• Failing to treat others with respect• Compromising the impartiality of Council employees• Improperly obtaining an advantage• Improperly using Council resources for political purposes.

The allegations arise out of behaviour which took place during the Valentine Ball held by the Chairman of the Council at Cowes Yacht Haven on February 12, 2010 and subsequent attempts by Councillor Pugh to use the Council’s Communications Department to prevent

publicity in respect of an incident which occurred outside the Ball, which has been ruled to have taken place when Councillor Pugh was acting in a personal capacity.

The complaint which led to this investigation was brought by three Isle of Wight Councillors, Jonathan Bacon, Chris Welsford and Geoff Lumley, in response to public disquiet about what occurred at the Ball and as a result of information about attempts by Councillor Pugh to cover-up what occurred by using public resources when he had declared that he regarded his behaviour as being a private matter. Requests for Councillor Pugh to submit himself for investigation were rejected leading to the complaint being submitted.

Councillor Bacon said “We are pleased that these matters are to be investigated. These are serious allegations, particularly those concerning misuse of Council resources for personal reasons, and we feel that a full investigation is appropriate due to the serious impact on public confidence in the Council and Councillors that such

behaviour has. We feel it is appropriate that the investigation should take place off the Island due to the seriousness of the allegations and the parties involved, in order to ensure that a proper independent consideration of the issues and evidence can take place. We are disappointed that it appears that the proposed investigation is to be conducted ‘in-house’ and will be asking whether this point should be reconsidered.”

The matters that were

recommended for referral for investigation in the Decision Notice issued by the Assessment Sub Committee of the Ethical Standards Committee were as follows:

REFERRAL FOR INVESTIGATIONIn accordance with

Section 57A(2) of the Local Government Act 2000, as amended, the Assessment Sub Committee of the Ethical Standards Committee decided to refer the allegations below to the monitoring officer for investigation.

Potential breaches of the Code of Conduct identified

We have identified below the paragraphs of the Code of Conduct which may apply to the alleged conduct.

1. Paragraph 3(1) – You must treat others with respect (Rachael Bushby in relation to events within the Ball at the table).

2. Paragraph 3(2)(b) – You must not bully any person. (Rachael Bushby in relation to events within the Ball at the table).

3. Paragraph 3(2)(c) – You must not intimidate or attempt to intimidate any person who is likely to be a complainant or witness (Rachael Bushby in relation to events within the Ball at the table)

4. Paragraph 3(2)(d) – You must not do anything which compromises or is likely to compromise the impartiality of those who work for, or on behalf of, your authority. (Rachael Bushby and the Isle of Wight Council Commun-ications Department).

5. Paragraph 6(a) – You must not use or attempt to use your position as a member improperly to confer on or secure for yourself or any

other person, an advantage or disadvantage. (Isle of Wight Council Communications Department).

6. Paragraph 6(b)(ii) – You must when using or authorising the use by others of the resources of your authority ensure that such resources are not used improperly for political purposes. (Isle of Wight Council Communications Department).

Cllr Jonathon Bacon

• Bullying

• Intimidation

• Failing to treat others with respect

• Compromising the impartiality of Council employees

• Improperly obtaining an

advantage

• Improperly using Council resources

for political purposes.

GAZETTE EXCLUSIVE


NEWS

HELP US SELL ‘PUB’ - PLEASANDOWN and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat crew are seeking the help of a local estate agent to help try to ‘sell’ a pub.

They have been given a magnificent model of a pub, appropriately named The Lifeboat Inn, which has been painstakingly made by 85-year-old Alec Penstone of East Mount, Shanklin.

It is one of around 500 models Alec has made, and the Lifeboat crew are hoping to raffle it to help raise funds for their station. Mark Birch, coxswain of Sandown and Shanklin Lifeboat said:

“We are overjoyed by the quality of the model – it is a work of art.

“Alec has spent so much time and effort on it, and there is incredible attention to detail, even an outside loo!

“Ideally we would like to put it in an estate agent’s window to highlight the fact that it is being raffled to raise money for the Lifeboat.”

Any estate agent willing to help promote the raffle by putting the model in their window with a ‘For Sale’ sign is asked to contact the Lifeboat Station on 01983 405 999.Alec Penstone with the model

Salvaged remains from the boat fire

FIRE CREWS from Newport and East Cowes, with the support of the HM Coastguard and the Ryde Independent Lifeboat, attended Wootton Creek yesterday afternoon (Thursday) after flames engulfed a houseboat.

The fire is believed to have started in the bow of the boat and to have been caused by an electrical fault.

Fifteen fire fighters fought the blaze with two high-powered hose reel jets. An IW Fire spokesman said: “When crews arrived there was smoke issuing from the windows of the boat. Crews started to tackle the fire but had to withdraw as there was

a danger of gas, that was kept on board, exploding because of the intense heat.” Crews in breathing apparatus managed to recover the gas canisters and cooled them at the side of the quay with a covering jet, whilst other crews fought the blaze for an hour.

The distressed houseboat owner, who asked to be known as just John, explained that he had only owned the boat for about six months and that he had planned to do it up over the summer and live on it.

Friends arrived shortly after the fire to help secure the boat and make the windows watertight after the heat

melted the frames and glass.John explained that a

couple of weeks before he had returned to the boat to collect some tools and the lights had gone out.

“The electrics went off about two weeks ago and I called in an electrician who checked out the wiring and said it was fine. Now this has happened.

“The whole of the inside of the boat is gutted and will need to be stripped out and repaired. I have never been out in the boat; it’s moored here all the time. I had planned to move here when I retired from my job next year,” he explained.

FIRST AID FOR JOHN


NEWS

ISLANDERS who park their cars at the end of Ryde Pier to travel to Portsmouth by Wightlink Fastcats, have been hit by another parking price increase.

The latest rise means that anyone who parks a vehicle for more than two hours will have to fork out a whopping £5.20. Over the past few months the parking fee for two to 16 hours has risen from £4.60 to £5 and now up to £5.20. Many commuters argue that Wightlink are pulling a ‘fast one’ because it is difficult to travel to the mainland for business or shopping, and be back inside two hours.

Ironically, once the two-hour period has expired the price remains the same for a further 14 hours. Anyone who parks and stays on the piers from 20 minutes to two hours has to shell out £2.60.

Sam Woodman, Marketing Executive of Wightlink said: “We can confirm that our daily charges have risen by 20p.

“The revenue generated from the car park at Ryde helps contribute towards the high maintenance costs of the Pier, which is a protected listed structure.”

MORE TO PARK CARS ON PIER

FORMER IW Councillor, Harry Rees, has joined the row involving the planned introduction of the new £500 parking permit.

Mr Rees has made an official complaint to the Council, maintaining many Islanders will not be able to meet the massive increase in price.

Mr Rees points out that permits are issued subject to the terms and conditions of the 1984 Regulatory Traffic Act. Under this Act, the local authority has limited discretionary powers to make amendments. However Mr Rees believes the changes being made, “are so severe that they fall well outside such discretionary powers”. He also argues there has been little consultation on the changes.

IW Council Cabinet member responsible for Transport Edward Giles responded: “Mr Rees seems to have entirely misunderstood the relevant

legislation relating to setting parking tariffs in off street car parks and reasons for us deciding not to offer a direct debit payment option for the new long stay parking permit.

“The council does have an obligation to give 21 days notice before making any changes to parking charges in off street car parks although there is not a requirement to consult on the level of charges. That notice period is currently underway and information about the changes has been advertised in the local media and is currently displayed on notices at the relevant car parks.

“It is also not true to say the council is unable to provide a Direct Debit option for the new permits because of a lack of time to develop the necessary systems. A direct debit system could be established quite easily using the same system as is used for council

tax payments however it was thought vulnerable for abuse. For example, somebody could set up a Direct Debit, receive their permit, and then cancel their Direct Debit payments after the first month leaving us with no way of retrieving that permit.

“This is why we previously chose not to have a Direct Debit option for the Island Residents Permit. I do of course understand that some people may find it difficult to afford a permit for a whole year or may only want one for a shorter period. That is why we have given the option to buy either three, six month or 12 month

permits.“These new long stay permits

still represent excellent value for money.”

REES JOINS IN PERMIT ROW

‘PHONE SEX’ SHOCKTHE FEMALE prison monitor who had phone sex with three inmates was in a relationship with a convicted drug dealer, a prison source has claimed.

Alice Belton, 23, befriended the prisoner during an inspection visit and has since been sacked by the Independent Monitoring Board.

The source said: “Suspicions were first aroused when Belton turned up unexpectedly to carry out an inspection visit.

“With intelligence gained from internal sources, she was turned back at the gate post and searched, where a mobile telephone and SIM card were found in her pocket.

“We could see texts she had been sending. She even had the front to send them when she was inside the prison, where she had free reign.

“The police came and arrested her.

“One of the inmates involved with her was a convicted drug dealer who is serving a long sentence. He has since been moved to another prison.

“The Independent Monitoring Board is very embarrassed about this.

“Belton was excluded on the spot and officers have been instructed by the Governor to search all other volunteers thoroughly.”

An IMB spokeswoman confirmed: “The Prisons Minister has terminated Alice Belton’s appointment as an IMB

member.”Alice Belton has damaged the

reputation of the Independent Monitoring Board, its regional chairman has said.

Nigel Hawley, chairman of the IMB for HMP Parkhurst, said: “A mobile phone was taken from Miss Belton and indecent pictures were found on it.

“She had also been having phone sex with inmates.

“This is unfortunate for the

IMB in the extreme.“But you can have all the

background security checks in the world and it does not prevent the possibility of something like this happening.

“We go in to inspect prisons because of our integrity and we are disappointed that integrity has been compromised.”

An IMB spokeswoman confirmed: “Miss Belton was suspended from her duties as an Independent Monitoring Board member when we were informed of the allegations against her.

“The Prisons Minister has now terminated her appointment as an IMB member.

“Those appointed to IMBs have to go through a process of being interviewed for the role and are the subject of comprehensive

security checks.”A Prison Service spokesman

said: “Vigilant staff at HMP Parkhurst uncovered this case of misconduct in a public office.

“This was excellent work by prison officers and testament to the success of our intelligence systems.

“This individual, who was not an employee of the Prison Service, was excluded from the prison in April and the matter

was referred to police.”A Crown Prosecution Service

spokeswoman said: “The case involved Belton having close and inappropriate relationships with three serving inmates.

“She was a volunteer member of the Independent Monitoring Board.

“She engaged in telephone sex with three serving inmates and was accused of sending explicit photos of herself.”

HMP Parkhurst, now part of HMP IW, is a category B prison that houses many lifers and long-term inmates.

Famous former inmates include serial killer Peter Sutcliffe and the Kray twins Reggie and Ronnie.

Parkhurst wing is a category B prison, which holds nearly

500 mostly violent and sexual offenders.

Last year, inspectors concluded that the prison lacked, “basic levels of safety and decency.”

Chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers said Parkhurst was a “troubled institution” with “substantial shortcomings.”

She said: “In many ways, Parkhurst is a failing prison. Prisoners feel unsafe and poorly treated, and neither the environment nor the regime are suited to the role of a modern training prison.”

Prisoners were poorly supervised by staff, violence was “endemic” and there was widespread abuse of prescription drugs.

The report also found a group of radical Muslim prisoners were able to spread their extremist message to other inmates.

There are currently over 1,850 IMB members attached to prisons and other secure facilities in England and Wales.

Members are appointed by the Prisons or Immigration Minister and employers are obliged to allow workers time off from their jobs to perform their prison duties.

Belton, a former pupil of Carisbrooke High School on the Isle of Wight, was living in Newport at the time of the offences.

She now lives in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex and is due to be sentenced at the same court on March 30.

Alice Belton

“We could see texts she had been sending. She even had the front to send them when she was inside the prison.”


NEWS

IW COUNCIL decided “no further action” be taken against Council leader David Pugh following allegations he promised to help a Shanklin woman with a double glazing planning application in return for her vote at the local election.

Debra Robinson brought the complaint against Cllr Pugh, but he was cleared of any wrong-doing when he went before the Council’s Assessment Sub Committee of the Ethical Standards Committee last Friday.

Ms Robinson claimed the reason for the decision given to her was that she had not given any supporting information such dates, and the issue was too old to deal with.

She said: “I telephoned the Council on Friday and complained that they had not given me enough time to get supporting information to them as they had only given me a day to get it to them. I only received the letter requesting any further information on the Thursday, and I was not allowed to attend the meeting.”

COUNCIL DECIDE NO ACTION ON LEADER PUGH

A BURGLARY in Yarmouth, which took place a month ago, is being investigated by Island police.

A man was woken inside a flat off Yarmouth High St at around 5.25am on Sunday, Feb 14, when he heard sounds. He saw and spoke with two men standing in the High Street at the junction with Basketts Lane. Both men gave an account of why they were there.

One was wearing a lime green Musto jacket and a blue baseball cap with an Ellesse logo on the front. Five bottles of wine, one bottle of champagne, and a rare black Henri Lloyd jacket with a Volvo emblem on the back and the right chest pocket, were later found to be missing from a garage belonging to the flat. Police were called on February

26 to investigate the report of burglary.

IW CID is appealing for more information about the two men seen in Yarmouth High Street on February 14. Their explanation for why they were there at that time is plausible, but detectives still need to eliminate them from inquiries and speak with them about anything they could have seen. Officers are also encouraging people to make contact if they notice any of the items for sale anywhere.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Isle of Wight CID by phoning Newport Police Station on 101. Mini-Com users can call 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

POLICE LOOK INTO YARMOUTH THEFT

A 17-YEAR-OLD youth from the Island was arrested in relation to an allegation of rape by an 18-year-old woman on a beach at Ryde Esplanade on Saturday,

March 13, 2010. The youth was questioned at

Newport Police Station before he was bailed until May 14, pending further inquiries.

TEENAGER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED RAPE

POLICE PROBE SEX ATTACK

A SERIOUS sexual attack in Cowes is under investigation by Island police.

They have appealed for information about the incident which is thought to have taken place in the public toilets in Medina Road, Cowes at around 11.20pm on Friday March 12.

Police are keen to speak to anybody who saw anything and

would particularly like to talk to a man of whom they have a description.

He is believed to be in his early 30s, with brown hair, wearing a fleece and jeans, and was walking from the chain ferry in the direction of the town centre.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on the 101 number or 0845 454545.


NEWS

LUMLEY SAVED FROM RUNNING NAKED!

Jill Wareham

Geoff Lumley

Ian Stephens

AROUND 140 people turned up for the Riverside Stakeholder Consultation Event on March 13 but Council Leader David Pugh, and Cllr Dawn Cousins and Chief Executive Steve Beynon were not amongst them, although they had been invited.

Geoff Lumley offered to strip off and run around the Centre if any of them turned up but this course of action was not required. Local councillors who attended were Ian Stephens, John Howe, Reg Barry, David Knowles, Rodney Downer and Vanessa Churchman as well as MP Andrew Turner.

The Manager of the Riverside, Richard Priest outlined the cuts in funding for services such as Quay Advocacy, Carers Respite, Day Care and Direct Payments, which amounted to £110,000, as was highlighted in the IW Council Budget proposals.

He also highlighted the potential increase in costs such as rent, rates and transport, which could make the Centre unviable.

Several members of the audience said that the centre supported other groups, by providing quality facilities at affordable costs, which enabled them to provide services to vulnerable people, and that if the Riverside was not viable then they would not be viable either.

The implications of person-alisation was discussed, and one person highlighted that if the rent and overheads of the centre were increased this would have to be passed directly to service users, who would not be able to afford to attend even if they wanted to. Another person said that they had been told that

they were entitled to a personal budget but did not want to have one and asked what they would be allowed to do, because they wanted to use the Riverside.

Several people said that they currently used several centres on different days, but would

this be possible in the future, as each provider would be in competition.

Volunteers from Quay Advocacy said that they were disappointed to find out about the cuts in the media and still had not received any correspondence from the local authority about the service, especially as the Council had been written to at the start of February and the group had yet to receive a reply.

Members supported the idea that the Riverside should be part of the Community asset Transfer proposals, particularly as the centre was significantly built by public donation and fundraising, and if you compared the centres cost with other providers it would show how cost effective it is.

Members also asked for a debate on personalisation, and parliamentary candidates Andrew Turner, Mark Chiverton and Jill Wareham all supported this proposal, and it was felt that

not everyone was aware of the implications of personal budgets.

Service users expressed considerable concern about the uncertainty of the proposals, how they felt that they did not have a voice and only at meetings such as this were they given a chance to express a view, and how much they wanted to see services such as the Riverside, Haylands and Westminster House keep open.

At the meeting Jill Wareham, prospective parliamentary cand- idate for the Liberal Democrats,

called for her colleague Councillors to “take the issue to the Council’s Scrutiny Committee to monitor what impact the Tory budget cuts will have on the people using these facilities.

“The Council has to be challenged on its Equality Impact Assessments (EIA). These should show how their cuts will impact on people who use the services. The EIAs in the Tory’s budget papers are so brief they are derisory. This is backed up by the users of the services who say they have not been consulted.

“Action must be taken to stop the Council making these cuts to vulnerable people. Choices can be made when reducing budgets. Wouldn’t money have been better spent on supporting vulnerable people than on a ‘design champion for the Island’ costing £50,000?

“Notably there were no Con- servative Councillors present,” said Jill after the meeting. “Three

Liberal Democrat Councillors Barry, Howe, Knowles along with two Independent and the Labour colleagues attended. I asked them to take action through the Scrutiny Committee, which they have agreed to do. We cannot allow these cuts to go through unchallenged.”

The meeting was filmed (but not broadcast) by utility films of Ventnor.

Riverside Chairman Shirley Smart drew the meeting to a close at noon by thanking everyone for attending and setting out the Riverside’s immediate way forward:• Propose a Community Asset Transfer• Clarify the issues over Quay Advocacy• Develop personalisation menu of activity in and from Riverside Centre• Review charges to groups using the centre• Ensure users of Saturday Carers service are prioritised for support• Seek a meeting with the Council over all the issues highlighted in the February 8 letter.

Mr Andrew Turner, the Island’s MP, was present and made this statement after the event:

“I was glad to be able to attend the Riverside meeting on Saturday to hear people’s concerns. I am raising a number of issues with council officers that came out of the meeting and will be following those up.

“When I was recovering from my stroke over three years ago, some of the services based at Riverside Centre were invaluable. Any of us could need help at any time and I’m very conscious of that.”

“Action must be taken to stop the Council making these cuts to vulnerable people.”

BY JASON KAY


NEWS

Picture by Jamie Russell

NEW SHOP FOR RSPCATHE RSPCA Isle of Wight Branch celebrated the opening of a new Cowes shop last weekend with the

local inspector, Mark Buggie on hand to cut the ribbon, supported by Chairman Ken Rivers and Vice Chairman

Ken Instone.“It went very well,” said

Chairman Ken Rivers. “It was very well attended.

“It caps the hard work put in by the small team who fitted out the shop to a tight deadline,” said the Retail Manager, Daryll Pitcher. “They also had to keep a close eye on costs.”

This is the sixth shop that the RSPCA have opened on the Island in the last 14 months and another will open in Shanklin shortly. A further outlet is planned for Freshwater soon.

“We’ve got to do this because money is so tight,” said Ken Rivers. “This is the only way to keep the centre at Godshill open as it costs £1,600 a day to run.”

The charity has a shop in Ventnor and had another in Carisbrooke, although the latter has closed. Now there are two shops in Lower St

James’ Street, Newport, in Ryde High Street next to Iceland, in Lake opposite the Co Op and now in Birmingham Road in Cowes. There is also an e shop selling items online.

“The RSPCA Isle of Wight Branch is a self financing organisation receiving no monetary aid from either the government or from the RSPCA nationally,” said Daryll Pitcher. “All the money raised at Cowes will be spent on the Island at the Godshill Animal Centre and the majority of income comes from the expanding retail operation.”

Donations are always welcome – the Newport shop can take furniture but the other shops stock clothes, shoes, books, collectables, jewellery, ornaments, DVDs etc. Blankets are also needed for the animal centre but not duvets or pillows.

There are many chances to volunteer in the shops and you can work the hours that fit in around your commitments – just visit your local branch and they will be pleased to see you. “What matters more is reliability but you can work and hour, a morning, a day – anything is welcome,” said

Ken Rivers.The RSPCA on the Island

would also like to point out to readers that if people wish to leave money to the Island’s animal centre they must stipulate this in their wills. Money left to the national RSPCA does not return to the Island.Joy Kinrade, Betty Bilk and Danny Pit

Danny Pit with a customer

JÓNSI COMING TO BESTIVAL

THE BESTIVAL have announced that Jónsi, lead singer of Icelandic post rock group Sigur Rós, will be joining the Saturday night Big Top line up for the Year of the Fantastic.

Rob da Bank said: “As a massive supporter of Sigur Rós and just as big a fan of Jónsi’s forthcoming solo album ‘Go’ this is going to be a very special concert. Jónsi’s voice is so incredible - get in the queue for the Big Top Saturday night now!”

Bestival will be opening on Thursday night for the second year running, and in the Big Top will be Wall of Sound BBC 6 Music electronic music guru Mark Jones’ with his incredible Back To The Phuture show headlined by eighties synch svengalis Heaven 17.

Rob da Bank said: “My first job was as teaboy for Mark Jones when he first set up Wall Of Sound in a damp corridor. I’m well pleased that we’re working

together again albeit on a slightly larger scale as Jonesy and his brilliant Back To The Phuture boys and girls take over the Big Top on Thursday night. All about new music and some corking vintage music that still sounds new, I can’t think of a better headliner than Heaven 17 to kick off a monster weekend.”

Jónsi

FIRE PROBE IN SANDOWNAN INVESTIGATION has started into the cause of a fire, which left a smoke-filled corridor in a school in Sandown.

More than 15 firefighters tackled the fire at Sandown High School in the Fairway, Sandown, after the school’s caretaker raised the alarm on Tuesday (March 17).

Fire Crews from Sandown, Shanklin and Newport attended the fire that is thought to have started in a mobile classroom block.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus entered the block to investigate where the smoke was coming from.

IW Fire service duty officer Geoff Wall said: “We were called after the caretaker raised the alarm. The school followed all the correct steps to contain the fire. They opened the windows in the block and called us to deal with the incident. There was a lot of smoke in the portable classroom when we arrived. “Crews entered wearing breathing apparatus

sets, due to the amount of smoke, to try and find the cause of the fire. We have advised the school to call in a specialist to check the wiring within the location of the heaters.”

Mary Holbrook spokeswomen for Sandown High school said: “A normal evacuation took place after the fire alarm was raised. The pupils acted in a model way during the evacuation. An electrician was called in to remove the faulty heater. The classrooms are now back in service.”


NEWS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A TOWN MEETING IS CONVENED BY SIX ELECTORS OF VENTNOR IN PURSUANT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 SCHEDULE 12 PARA 15(1)(d) TO BE HELD AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, VENTNOR ON WEDNESDAY 24TH MARCH 2010 AT 7.00PM

Any resident who is a Local Government Elector within the Ventnor Town Council Electoral Boundaries is entitled to vote at this meeting.

AGENDA

1. We wish to place on record our disapproval that some of our Town Councillors have total disregard for the smooth running of the Town Council, the total lack of respect for it’s Officer and care of it’s staff and the public that voted them in.

2. We wish to place on record the failure of some Town Councillors to act within the law as laid down for Town and Parish Councils and also the total disregard for the Code of Conduct that Councillors had to sign up to prior to taking office.

3. We wish to place on record that we consider Ventnor Town Council to be a divided and dysfunctional Council that is doing nothing for our town and that there is no confidence that the precept will be properly spent and the town will get value for money.

4. We wish to place on record that we have grave concerns over the way the precept was set and that there could be no balances brought forward into the next financial year which goes against ‘good practice’ recommendations of the audit commission.

5. We wish to place on record that the Town Council must acknowledge that no individual Councillor including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor has any right to make any decision without a resolution of the Council.

6. We wish to place on record our concerns that the behaviour of some Ventnor Councillors has caused anxiety and stress for the staff of the Winter Gardens who are worried about their jobs.

7. We wish to place on record that we have no confidence in the ability of the present Ventnor Town Council to run the Winter Gardens and we fear for its future.

Signed by: 6 Local Government Electors of the Parish of Ventnor

Date 12th March 2010

ISLE of Wight Coroner, John Matthews, has recorded a verdict of accidental death upon Amphon Tuckey, 39, who died after eating fatal death cap mushrooms.

The Inquest heard that Amphon Tuckey’s niece Kannika Tuckey had picked the mushrooms during a walk at Ventnor Botanic Gardens with her husband Paul. They were growing wild and she mistook them for edible field mushrooms.

Amphon, also known as Juny, had eaten the mushrooms at Kannika’s home. Juny believed that if the mushrooms, which resembled ones she ate in her native Thailand, were poisonous they would turn the rice a different colour, the inquest heard.

Juny cooked the mushrooms in a herb sauce and ate most of them herself with Kannika only eating three or four. Kannika, who is also known as Pern, told the inquest that she had been anxious about trying the mushrooms but had been reassured when her aunt had eaten them and that Juny had joked that if they were poisonous then “they would both die together.”

Both women fell ill in

the early hours of the next morning with Juny having severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

Her husband, Michael, who is Paul Tuckey’s brother, called for an ambulance but when the paramedics asked Juny what she had been eating, she did not mention the mushrooms and only said she had eaten a raw pork sausage which is a Thai speciality.

The inquest was told that the paramedics thought Juny was suffering from food poisoning and advised her husband to contact her GP in the morning.

In a statement read to the inquest, GP Dr David Isaac said he did visit Juny in the morning but had diagnosed gastroenteritis and had prescribed appropriate medication.

He said she had told him about the raw pork sausage and had only said she had eaten mushrooms that she had eaten before.

Amphon Tuckey died the next night with her husband holding her hand after he had fallen asleep at her side, and was pronounced dead at her home address in Carisbrooke High Street, Newport, on the

Isle of Wight, on September 17 2008.

Pern also became seriously ill after eating a small amount of the mushrooms but treatment at a specialist unit at King’s College Hospital in London led to her recovery.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Isle of Wight Coroner John Matthews said it was “unfortunate” Juny had not told paramedics that she had eaten the mushrooms but said no medical intervention could have saved her life.

He said: “They all thought at the time she had a case of gastroenteritis and that the patient should recover.

“But even if they had been made aware right from the beginning that she had eaten fatal mushrooms, the amount she had ingested meant she would have inevitably died.”

The inquest heard that half a cap of a death cap mushroom was enough to kill a human.

Coroner John Matthews added: “It’s a well-known hazard and we do take a risk when we eat anything that is grown in the wild.”

Expressing his condolences to the family, he said: “It’s a very sad and distressing case for everyone involved.”

MUSHROOM INQUEST FINDS

WORRIED voters in Ventnor have called a meeting at 7pm next Wednesday March 24 at Holy Trinity Church to decide whether their current town council is fit for purpose.

Those who are worried about the way in which the current Town Council are running the Winter Gardens, which has no bookings until the end of May, the 50% hike in the Council Tax precept

for Ventnor they have brought in towards paying for the Winter Gardens and the deplorable behaviour of some of the members, are urged to come to the meeting to discuss their concerns.

VENTNOR VOTERS CALL FOR ACTION

A death cap mushroom


NEWS

A JAZZY WELCOMEA PARTY of 11 Chinese teachers and education officials were given a jazzy welcome from the Carisbrooke High School Jazz Band, when they arrived at Ryde Pier Head on Tuesday 16 March for a three day visit.

The party, who come from a range of schools in the Jiangbei District of Chongqing in China, are visiting in connection with existing links between the region’s education commission and Isle of Wight Council’s Children and Young People Services directorate.

Children from a variety of schools gathered to wave flags and present flowers, while some children from Niton Primary gave a traditional Chinese welcome as

they have been learning how to speak Mandarin.

The teachers, who are mainly head teachers of their respective schools, will visit a number of Isle of Wight schools, where they will experience local lesson techniques and culture.

Each member of the party will also visit their own ‘partner school’ where international links currently exist between the respective Island school and their partner school in Jiangbei.

The guests will also be given a civic reception at County Hall in Newport and will meet with education officials here to discuss future international links.

The trip is funded by the British Council.


NEWS

SPRING IN THE AIR AT MEDINA THEATRE

Phil Chapman

THE ISLE of Wight Youth Orchestra in conjunction with the Isle of Wight Music Centre staged two Spring Concerts at Medina Theatre last weekend.

The first concert was on Saturday evening and the second on Sunday afternoon and between the two around 300 children took part.

‘There were ensembles of all kinds,” said conductor and Music Centre director Phil Chapman. “Wind bands, brass bands, keyboard ensembles, string orchestras and the complete IW

Youth Orchestra. There was also the Isle of Wight Youth Stage Band who are like a big band with jazzy style material.

“We do a series of concerts in the three terms of the year and we’re doing two more in May. On May 8 there will be a concert at St Mary’s Church in Cowes and

on May 15 at Bonchurch Parish Church.

The IW Music Service manages the IW Music Centre at Medina High School, which meets every Saturday during term time and is very popular with students learning to play instruments from across the Island.

“We’re very pleased with a recent external valuation, similar to an OFSTED, which has judged us as ‘Good’ with many aspects judged as ‘Outstanding’. They gave us particular praise for the standards achieved by Island ensembles with various students going on to national conservatoires,” said Mr Chapman.

“The children performed very well indeed and have shown great progress in this academic year, particularly the younger ensembles.”

“We’re very pleased with a recent external valuation, which has judged us as ‘Good’ with many aspects judged as ‘Outstanding’.”

Carisbrooke High Band with Niton and Sandown C of E School


NEWS

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REPORTING ISLAND NEWS

HOW TO CONTACT THE IW GAZETTE

YOUR NEWS

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Isle of Wight, PO36 9PH Tel: (01983) 402599Fax: (01983) 404819

Email: [email protected]

THE NEWS EDITOR

Write to: Jason Kay, Unit B18, Spithead Business Centre,

Newport Road, IW, PO36 9PH.Tel: (01983) 402599.


THE FEATURES EDITOR

Write to: Jo Macaulay, Unit B18, Spithead Business Centre, Newport Road, IW, PO36 9PH.

Tel: (01983) 402599. Email: [email protected]

OUR NEWS TEAM

Peter WhiteTel: (01983) 402599. Email:

[email protected]

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OUR SALES TEAM

James Rolfe Tel: (01983) 402599


Gemma IlesTel: (01983) 402599.


OUR DESIGN TEAM

Colin ClarkeTel: (01983) 402599


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ROCKET MEN RETURN

Mike Elliott and Mike Kelleway with a model of the Prospero rocket

Mike Elliott with his ‘dead’ pipe

THE HIGHDOWN Rocket test site at the Needles Battery opened for the season last weekend and had around 400 visitors, particularly mums who got in free to the Old Battery for Mother’s Day.

‘Rocket Men’ Mike Elliott and Mike Kellaway were on hand to show visitors the work they did during the Cold War in the ‘New’ Battery, which is dug into the top of the down.

“I started work up here in March 1957 when the rest of the technical staff started and worked all the way through the Black Knight series of test rockets,” said Mike Elliott. “Twenty three rockets were tested there and then went to Australia to be launched.”

In 1961 Mike was a flight instrumentation engineer when he went to Australia to launch one of the rockets but for most of the time he was a ground instrumentation engineer at Highdown.

“It was very comfortable in the bunkers containing the control and recording rooms but it could be bitter in the winter on the gantries, which is why we were issued with duffle coats and wore woolly hats,” he remembered. “Winters could be pretty

bleak.“I was a civilian employed

by Saunders Roe Rocket Development Department. There were a lot of ex service people employed too. Black Knight was concerned with re-entry physics for a nuclear warhead. It was largely very secret.”

Following the Black Knight rocket programme, the Black Arrow satellite launch programme started at Highdown. At this time around 200 people were employed at the site and one of them was Mike Kellaway who was there for around three years.

“The Black Arrow satellite launch programme was the only all British satellite to be launched by the only all British launch system when it successfully launched the satellite Prospero in 1971,” said Mike Elliott. “Since then all our satellites have had to be launched by the US or the European Space Agency.

“A week after the launch everyone was sacked – the government couldn’t see the

money coming out of the National Service budget,” said Mike of a somewhat floored decision on the government of the day.

“First they stripped all the rooms and three months after that the superstructures were bulldozed. It seemed to me that they just wanted to get rid of it.”

The exhibition is now in the remaining control rooms and the kiosk is in one of the charging rooms. You can also see the remains of the rocket launch site on the southern side of the cliff.

On the wall in the control room is a picture of Mike as a young man in 1967 with his pipe. But in 1971 Mike was off sick with bronchitis and he told his workmates, “If anyone sees me pick up my pipe again, stop me.”

A few days later a friend came to the door to present Mike with his pipe – encased in a coffin shaped block of araldite. He posed with the strange looking pipe that he now uses as a paperweight.

This weekend the Old Battery is free this weekend as part of the National Trust’s bonus weekend, and although the New Battery is always free it is a good idea to ring to find out if it’s open. Telephone them on 754772.

BY JOMACAULAY


NEWS

THE PHOENIX Choir, formed to offer anyone who enjoys singing, regardless of ability, the opportunity to join a choral group, is getting into tune for its first performance.

Under the banner of ‘From Pavarotti to Presley’, the Island choir performs a wide range of songs from musicals, films, traditional compositions and more

modern tunes.A number of members

were originally involved in The Wight Musical Society which staged musicals and concerts in the 1970s. They have been joined by former members of Sandown and Shanklin Operatic, the Savoyards, Cowes Operatic, together with individuals who have little or no previous experience but who like to

sing.The choir, which currently

has around 40 members, is under the musical direction of Robin Burnett, who arranges the choir’s repertoire. They rehearse at the Wootton Bridge Methodist Church where they will stage their first performance on April 16 at 7.30pm. The Lively Ladies, an acapella group from Ryde, will also be performing.

FIRST FOR CHOIR

SPRING is in the air, and that is quite clear at Seaview Wildlife Encounter.

An Albino Joey wallaby is being carried in a Brown Wallaby mother’s pouch - quite unusual. Even more unusual is the fact that currently there is no Albino male at the Park to have impregnated the female - so obviously a genetic throw-back!

A Brown Joey is also pictured peeking out of the pouch of one of their Brown Wallaby females - a wonderful sight, and a real celebration of Spring!

JOEY’S ALL WHITE

A COTTAGE in Ryde is about to go back up for auction – an incredible 113 years after it last went under the hammer.

It was way back in 1897 when Bay Cottage, one of a pair of semi-detached ‘brick-built’ cottages with slated roofs went up for auction. If you don’t happen to remember that year, it was when Queen Victoria, the longest-reigning monarch in British history and for which Osborne House at East Cowes was her treasured royal retreat, celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. She died four years later aged 81.

It also happened to be the year when world-famous

inventor Guglielmo Marconi - the father of modern radio communications - established the first radio station at Niton on the Island.

Other notable events in 1897 included the first conviction for drink-driving, given to a London taxi driver, and the publication of Gothic horror book Dracula, by Bram Stoker.

For the record, Bay Cottage was last sold at auction at Town Hall Chambers in the town on June 17, 1897, for an unknown sum.

Now it is back on the market, being auctioned and “until recently in the occupation of the late Mr. Williams”.

Regional land and property auctioneers Clive Emson has been instructed to sell the three-bedroom property, which comes with a guide price of £100,000 to £110,000 and is freehold with vacant possession.

Rob Marchant, the local auctioneer with Clive Emson, said: “Talk about history repeating itself. It just goes to show that property has a long shelf life – in this case more than 113 years.”

Clive Emson’s second of seven auctions this year takes place at the Rose Bowl stadium near Southampton on Monday, April 12, from 11am.

NOT AGAIN - IT’S BACK ON MARKET


NEWS

BRIGHSTONE SHOW PROVES A DELIGHT

Ruth Godber

Terence Fisher

Pat French

BRIGHSTONE Horticultural Society’s Spring Show brought a splash of colour and loads of tasty cakes to the Wilberforce Hall last weekend.

“We were delighted with the show. There were just as many entries as last year despite the bad weather,” said show secretary Jo Brown.

“Although we didn’t have many daffodil entries we were delighted with the number of floral art entries, particularly the novice classes.”

Ruth Godber won the cookery cup for the most points in all of the cookery classes. An accolade she has held for the past six years.

Pat French, who has lived in the village for the past 60 years, arrived in a splendid Easter bonnet she had made.

The most unusual entry in the floral classes was perhaps Terence Fisher’s flower filled china boot, which won despite a small accident when it was dropped on the ground on the way to the show.“The front came off of the boot and I thought I wouldn’t go,” said Terence. “But when I got home I thought if I put some earth in the front and a little petunia, it would work. Luckily the bit that broke off stayed in one piece. It was unique.


NEWS

Hospice Fundraising: Telephone - 528989

Hospice NewsCurry and quiz

Sunday March 21A NEW fundraising event is taking place on Sunday March 21. The Crown in Ryde is inviting everyone to a curry night for £5 per head. While there they can take part in a quiz at £1 per person. There will also be a raffle on the night. All money made from the quiz and the raffle will be going to the Hospice. There’s no need to book, just turn up and enjoy.

“Are you awake – is it murder most foul?” Thursday

March 25COME enjoy an evening with retired Senior Investigating Officer and crime author Bob Bridgestock. The event is taking place at Shanklin Cons- ervative club and is being held to raise money for the Council Chairman’s Chosen Charities, the Island’s Hospice and Hay- lands Farm. Tickets are available by calling County Hall’s Events Team on 823070 and cost £10, including a buffet.

Ploughing ahead for the Hospice – Sunday March 28

THE ISLE of Wight Traction Engine Club will be holding a Memorial Ploughing Match at Mottistone Manor Farm on Sunday March 28, 2010. This is the second year of the event, which has been organised to remember four members, Stephen Hayles, John Attrill, Derek Young and Den Phillips, who sadly all passed away in 2008. The entrance donations and any further funds raised (after expenses) will be in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

Directions to site: Enter Strawberry Lane, Mottistone from Brighstone end, and it is about ¼ mile up the lane on the left hand side.

Bon Marche Fashion Show, Wed March 31

LADIES fashion retailer Bon Marche will be holding one of their incredibly popular fashion shows on Wednesday March 31 at 6.15pm. As well as a chance to see all the latest on-trend fashion wear, customers can expect a major disc-

ount on any purchases made on the night. A raffle will also be held. These fashion shows are always a sell out. Tickets are £3 each and available in store. All the money raised from this event will be donated to the Hospice for their new Mountbatten Nurses appeal.

Field of Hope for Mountbatten nursesON APRIL 10 the Field of Hope in Newchurch will be open for an afternoon of remembrance. This beautiful field of yellow was planted with the kind per- mission of Mr & Mrs Boswell. On this day you will be able to walk the daffodil trail and place a wooden sunflower planter with your loved one’s name on amongst the flowers; their name will go in the book of remembrance kept in the nearby church. The event will run from 2 until 4.30pm, tea and cakes will be provided by the Newchurch WI in the village hall at a cost of £2.

To secure a planter, for a sug- gested donation of £10 please call the fundraising department at the Hospice on 528 989.

Frock exchange on April 16 at Isle of

Wight PearlITEMS are still being collected for the Frock exchange taking place on Friday April 16 at IW Pearl. Take an item of good quality evening wear, daywear, shoes or handbag to IW Pearl or Newport’s Hospice charity shop at any time and donate £1 per item. In exchange you will be given a voucher. Come along to Isle of Wight Pearl on Friday April 16 at 7pm and enjoy some wine while you exchange your vouchers for some quality clothes.

It’s a Knockout at Robin Hill, April 24

and 25IF YOU remember the hilarity of It’s a Knockout on the TV and would like to have a go yourself, you might like to take part in ‘It’s a Knockout’ at Robin Hill during the weekend of April 24 and 25. The Hospice is looking for teams of ten to take part and each member of the team must raise a minimum of £30 in sponsorship. For an application pack and more details please call Dani at the fundraising office on 528989.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR WILSON KIDS

Anna Finch outside ‘Ice Bites’, Ryde’s new cafe

Laura Kay and Wendy Wheeler with the class from Brighstone Primary School

BREKKIE TIME ON ICEmorning start to the day.

You’ve got up early in order to make sure of a place in the overpriced council car park, or you’ve got a bus and have time to wait for your ferry and you want something more than a quick coffee? No problem as the Cafeteria can offer everything from a coffee and a croissant to a full English breakfast.

With doors leading to the outside seating area this café really is the best place to watch the hovercraft and enjoy the stunning scenery of the Solent.

Opening times are Monday to Friday 6.30am till 5pm, Saturday 8am till 4pm and Sunday 9am till 4pm.

YOU’VE had dancing on ice, now try breakfast on ice. Or failing that breakfast in the Ice Rink with a beautiful view of the Solent.

Just opposite the Hovercraft terminal, the Cafeteria at Planet Ice is now open at 6.30am Monday to Friday to ensure that commuters can have an early

VoucherFree hot drink when purchasing an

item from our breakfast menuVoucher valid Monday to Friday

before 12 noonExpires 01/05/10

WILSON the Worm could soon be coming to a cinema near you – especially if you happen to be a pupil on the Island.

Youngsters at Brighstone Primary School were able to watch an animated film about recycling in a special inflatable cinema, aptly-named the ‘iDome’, which provides a 360 degree projection.

Inside the dome the children watched ‘Wilson’s

wonderful world of waste’, which is a specially made immersive film lasting 15 minutes. Aimed at key stages 1 and 2 the film explores the ideas of landfill, reducing, reusing, and recycling waste.

Wilson takes a tour of the landfill introducing his friends and explaining their journey from when they were useful items like glass bottles, to how they could have been so much

more than rubbish. Wilson also sings his way through the “special recycling machine” that sorts Island rubbish, and quizzes his friends on what to recycle in the Island’s scheme.

Headteacher Amanda Johnston said: “We try to use a range of different media and approaches to learning and teaching at Brighstone, in order to fully engage the children. The children were

extremely excited about the iDome visiting the school as it was a chance to go to the cinema at school! They have fully embraced and understood the importance of learning about the environment and the iDome will help them to further extend their passion for recycling.

Schools should contact the council’s waste and recycling team on 823777 to book the cinema.


NEWS

FUN FOR KIDS?

EXCITED pupils and a puppet called Zoe got the chance to sit behind the wheel of a fire engine during a visit to Newport fire Station this week.

Children from Berry Hill Pre-school in Lake met firefighters from White Watch at the South Street fire station. They sat in an engine and were able to see how specialist equipment, including heat-seeking cameras, is used to tackle flames and to save lives. The youngsters were also given tips on fire safety.

Philippa Read, Pre- School manager, said the children had a great interest in firefighting

as they have been acting out the role of being firefighters in role plays at school. “They have also made a big fire engine and painted it red,” she said.

“The children have

also been learning about people in our community who help us. We have also

had visits from the local police and the vicar.

“We’ve been asking the children what they would like to become, and quite a few of them said they would like to be firefighters.

“We’ve been reading a lot about the fire service and they’ve been really excited about getting to see an engine up close.

“It has been an amazing experience for the children and they really enjoyed

the day. This is part of the early years foundation stage of the national curriculum.”

Watch Manager Nigel Probert, said: “This is something we do from time to time with schools and locals groups on the Island and it gives us a chance to meet the youngest and breakdown the uniform barrier and show that we are normal people working to keep the community safe.

“You can’t go into much detail but the children always seem to enjoy it, and they are always a bit amazed at the size of the engines.”

“It has been an amazing experience for the children and they really enjoyed the day.”

BY JASON KAY

Ian Morris (left) with Sayian OatsAlan Jones

Firefighters left to right Crew manager John Richards, Watch manager Nigel Probert, Andrew Fletcher, Alan Jones, Ian Morris, Martin Lapham, and Kirsty Hume of Wightwatch

IW Fire Service, Newport with the children and adults of Berry Hill Pre-school


NEWS

JUST ADD WATER

Martin Lapham with Melissa Brett

Martin Lapham shows the Thermal Imaging Camera

Alan Jones John Richards


NOVA LIFESTYLES FEATURE

TASTER TREATMENTSJUST KEPT COMING!

Stella Hardiman and Beth Duthie Danielle Perez and Lucinda Peyta Teressa Jones-Arnold

The second Nova Lifestyles health and wellbeing event was a great success at the Riverside Centre last weekend.

“Feedback from our stallholders was that they were on the go with taster treatments all day,” said organiser and director of Nova Lifestyles Sara Mousley.

“We were full to bursting with stallholders and the day was really well received by people who came. We had a bigger cross section of the public, more older and younger people, and quite a few therapists came along too.

“At one point we had an osteopath treating a chiropractor,” said Sara.

“It’s not just about the public coming in to try treatments but it’s about meeting other practitioners and understanding what other people do.

“It’s about cross referencing – getting a different slant on things. One practitioner may be able to refer a client to another for a

specific problem.“We had a steady flow of people

through the doors and more than the last event in January. Membership of Nova Lifestyles is growing and our next event will be on May 15, the day before the Walking Festival, and will be called ‘Best Foot Forward.’

“The Riverside has got everything you could wish for in terms of an event like this,” said Sara. “It’s the ideal location, has a café, audio visual equipment and free parking.

“We use Riverside Centre for training sessions and practitioner network meetings too. We’d be lost without it.”

Organiser Sara Mousley Sharon Morris


NOVA LIFESTYLES FEATURE

Jan Radley and June MartonRuth Haworth

(Bowen Technique)

Joanne Stuiver and George Millard Lyn Blackledge (Wikaniko)

Sara Mousley and Zelie Gordon Virginia Evans and Kiron Patel


COMPUTER AND PRINT SPECIALISTS

COMPUTERS AND PRINTERS- ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

PC Consultants offer IT Support Services for Island businesses. They have a specialist network and server team and offer advice and consultancy on IT Strategy.

Hardware repairs can be carried out along with system security including virus and spyware removal. Software and hardware sales are also on offer.

PC Consultants offers two business packages as well as bespoke contracts tailored for our exact requirements and budget.

Silver and Gold contracts are based around the company’s idea of preventative maintenance. Both include regular

health checks of systems, identifying any small problems before they have a chance to grow and significantly impact a business.

Testimonials include this one from Peter Atkinson at Capture Management:

“When you work for yourself the temptation is to look after your own IT. After a while you get fed up with not quite knowing what you are doing whilst spending hours trying to sort problems out – very frustrating. When you realise you need professional help you cannot do any better that asking PC Consultants to look after all your IT needs.”

The Print Store is dedicated to providing for all customers the best value for money for all printing needs. They are the Computer Printer People.

They carry a wide range of very economical inkjet printers for domestic and small office situations. For these they can supply either lo-cost compatibles with refilled cartridges of the same volume, but

at half the price of the originals, or they have compatibles that carry twice the volume but are still lower priced than the smaller original cartridges.

For the larger organisations that have laser printers, The Print Store can supply again lo-cost copies of original toner cartridges, and also the higher volume versions that help

reduce the cost per page dramatically.

For customers who require leaflets, brochures, programmes, invitation cards, business cards and letterheads, in fact all types of documents, they can offer a full in-house service to provide these products on their digital printer that takes up to A3 copy and scan, and can prove to be more economical

than even using your own printers.

They also take in all empty cartridges for re-use where possible, but if they have no further use as a cartridge they are sent off for recycling and recovery processes, coming back in the future as plastic rulers and pens made from the recycled plastics. The Print Store 96 High St. Newport Isle of Wight PO30 1BQ.


JOB SEARCH

PART OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS Job title Location Description Wages Duration Jobcentre Plus Reference Number. How to Apply:Sales Adviser

Kitchen Assistant

Front of House Waiting Staff

Waiter/Waitress

Tutor

Cook

Chef

Waiting Staff

Second Chef

Room Attendant

Newport

Chale

Chale

Bon- church, Ventnor

Ventnor

Sandown

Sandown

Sandown

Sandown

Sandown

No experience required as full training will be given. Duties include: keeping the working area clean and tidy, stock replenishment, dealing with customer queries/complaints, creation and maintenance of visual displays, serving customers: advising on the availability of stock and any special promotions; giving information on products and prices; promoting accessories; helping customers to find the goods they want; taking payments (by cash, card, or cheque), giving change and wrapping purchases.

Previous experience is not needed as full training can be given. More hours may become available so applicant should be flexible to work more hours. Duties include pot washing, keeping kitchen clean and tidy and any other related tasks as required.

Previous experience is not needed and full training can be given. Duties including taking food out, clearing tables, taking payments, making hot drinks and any other related tasks as required. Immediate start.

Duties include: Receive, orders and serve customer requests to the standards required Understand menu content, any menu changes and promotional activities Keep your restaurant clean and tidy and well prepared. Efficiently manage the proper settlement of all customer bills. Be able to answer guest queries in a courteous manner. Must have: The commitment to deliver high levels of service every day. Good communication skills, able to make a positive impact. Experience preferred. Training can be provided.

Term Time Only. Previous experience in a similar role or working with young people is essential Must have own transport and a good knowledge of the local area. Will be required to facilitate a schools engagement program, to deliver wider key skills, employ ability skills and team formation through sport. A flexible and fun attitude to work is required. A lunch will be provided.

You must have previous home cooking experience with the ability to work on own initiative. A Food Hygiene certificate would be advantageous, however full training will be given to the Duties include preparing and cooking lunchtime and tea time meals for 27 residents and cleaning of the kitchen area. A uniform can be provided. Applicants will be required to work alternative weekends, and cover for holidays.

New cafe restaurant opened in Sandown is looking for a talented individual with a background in restaurant dining trade and trained to NVQ Level 3 standard, who must be acquainted with all aspects of the kitchen. Must have a high standard of presentation skills with an emphasis on producing quality, freshly produced food.

Must be of smart appearance with excellent communication skills. Previous experience required and training will be given. Duties will include serving breakfast fine dining style and evening dinner.

Applicants must have experience of mass catering as you will be serving up to 200 guests. You must have an intermediate Food Hygiene certificate. Duties include preparing and cooking fresh produce from a set menu; running the kitchen and staff in the head chef’s absence; and all other related tasks.

Previous experience is preferred. Duties include servicing rooms on a daily basis, making beds and ensuring rooms are clean and tidy at all times.

Meets National Minimum Wage. 8 hours per week, flexible to suit business needs.

Meets National Minimum Wage. 16 hours per week, Saturday & Sunday between 10am & 11pm.

Meets National Minimum Wage. 16 hours per week, 2-5 days over 7. Between 12noon and 11.30pm.

National Minimum Wage plus good tips

Wages negotiable depending on experience. 30-35 hours per week, Mon to Fri between 9am -3pm.

Exceeds National Minimum Wage. 15 hours per week3/7 days, between 9am & 2pm.

Exceeds National Minimum Wage. 25 hours per week,5 days over 7. Between 5pm and 10pm.

Meets National Minimum Wage. 20 -25 hrs per week, 5 days of 7. Between 7am - 9.30pm.

£250 per week. Full time over 7 days. 7.30am to 10.30pm and 4 to 7pm.

Meets National Minimum Wage. 24 hrs per week. 6 days of 7. 8.30am till 2pm, flexible

Permanent

Temporary

Temporary ongoing position, duration unknown.

Temporary

Temporary

Permanent

Permanent

Permanent

Permanent

Permanent

NIW/10226- Visit www.direct.gov.uk or call 01983 273747 to speak to an adviser quoting the reference number.





RFM/6194- Visit www.direct.gov.uk or call 01983 273747 to speak to an adviser quoting the reference number.


RFM/6248- Visit www.direct.gov. uk or call 273747 to speak to an adviser quoting the reference number.



FIND YOUR WAY BACK TO WORK WITH JOBCENTRE PLUS


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PROPERTY


RIVERSIDE CENTRE FEATURE

OBE SENDS OUT SOS

Tuesday morning and the Riverside Centre bustles with life. There are at least nine different groups meeting within the Centre along with others in Quay House next door.

As it’s Tuesday there are stalls pitched outside because today the tourist coaches visit Newport and park in the Quayside car park. Each stall donates a percentage of the profits to Riverside but Peter Evans (54) has run his stall for over 20 years selling items donated to the Centre and made by the clients in order to raise money for things they need.

“We don’t want the Riverside Centre to close down,” said Peter. “Where would we go?”

Peter has been invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the queen this summer because of all the work he has done for Riverside Centre. “I’m getting my official letter on Friday from Geoffrey Hughes,” he said proudly.

In the main hall is a health and safety course on how to avoid Slips, Trips and Falls, another room has a mental health group meeting and in the Hunnyhill Club Room the Hampshire Workforce Development Association are discussing group work.

Near the front door is a tiny office in which the Isle of Wight branch of Carers UK are based. “By carers we mean those who don’t get paid,” said Frances Wright. Carers will come to

Frances when they’re in trouble and there are a number of people visiting her today.

“We signpost people to other organisations if they need help with benefits or housing and have meetings around the Island,” said Frances. “If Riverside Centre closes we can’t afford a commercial rent and we need somewhere accessible.”

Another small office next door houses the local office of the National Autistic Society, the Stroke Club and Blue Sky Arts. The latter are running a theatre class with learning disabled clients down the opposite corridor.

Across the corridor from the theatre group, in the Day Room, a group of elderly ‘service users’ are gathering for their weekly get together. This week they are going on an outing in the Riverside bus.

Joyce Webb (85) comes to this meeting every week – in fact she helped to set up the group over 20 years ago when she retired from nursing. It began life as The Hunnyhill Club and met in the Hunnyhill Suite when it was converted from its former use as a pumping station.

It’s around this old building that the Riverside Centre was built in the 1980s.

Dean French

Alison Gadd, Anita Michey, Sue Ross and Mary Ackroyd

Trevor Percival, Richard Porter and Stephen Light Peter Evans

Frasier McDermott, Richard Priest,Roy Scarfe and Vanessa Harvey

Michael Sheppard and Bev Raynor

BY JOMACAULAY


RIVERSIDE CENTRE FEATURE“Older people who live alone are referred to this meeting by their doctor or careworkers,” said Joyce. “Some people don’t get out unless they come here – we’ve got two or three people in their nineties.”

Margaret Jones is one of the helpers for this group. “Where do they think people are going to go,” said Margaret of the rumoured cuts in funding for the Centre.

Lin Dowden, a line manager at the Centre, is similarly worried. “It’ll be a big loss. I don’t think they’ll ever get it back if they close it,” she said.

The IT suite is another well used resource at the Centre that not only offers courses for service users, from mouse and keyboard skills to website design, but can be hired too.

Ray Scarfe and Fraser Mc Dermott are preparing for lessons that will be run during the week. “We offer very informal training although we also offer 30 introductory courses

though myguide.gov.uk,” said Fraser.

The IT department was recently awarded the Next Generation of Learning Award from BECTA. Gary Axford who came to the Centre as a service user but now teaches in the IT Suite travelled to Birmingham International Conference Centre with his father Adrian to be presented with the glass trophy and framed certificate.

At the end of the corridor two craft groups are meeting as they do every day, Monday to Friday, morning and afternoon. Today one group are making sequin covered eggs, an Easter activity, which they will be able to take home.

Another group are making animals with tutor Tabitha Fedden: Cheryl Wynne is making a rabbit and Gary Jones is making a tortoise.

The groups also spend time tending the two allotments that the

centre has just up the road. Daniel Baker, who works at the Centre, helps the clients with their gardening.

“We’re going to be making a nature reserve with a pond this summer,” said Daniel. “Clients can grow what they want to and then take the things they grow home.”

In the wood workshop bird tables and bird boxes are under construction. All are made by clients of Riverside and are sold at the Centre or by word of mouth. The workshop is rented to the Isle of Wight Woodcarvers once a week and to the IW Woodturners once a month, which helps bring money back into the Centre.

Beyond the woodworking room is a small gym that is frequented by clients of Riverside as well as members of the public. Today a private session is in progress. “It’s a lycra free zone,” joked Richard Priest.

“It’s a lovely atmosphere here and Alison’s responsible for a lot of that,” said Mrs Judy Yelland as she pedaled away on the static bike.

In Quay House there is an art group in session with Jess McGaw. “A lot of the people who come to this group have an art background,” said one of the service users who became ill after completing a foundation course in art.

Paddy Noctor inhabits a small office in Quay House from which he runs Wight MIND. “From Monday to Friday there are drop ins here,” said Paddy. “Art groups, a womens’ group on Wednesday mornings, a music group on Thursdays, and therapy groups run by the PCT.

“The Riverside actually hosts about 16 different organisations who would be out on a limb if the Centre closed,” he added.

“We’re service user led here – everyone here is either a user or has been in the past. Everyone who comes through the door has something to offer.”

In the kitchen the story is the same. Michael Sheppard was a service user but now works 16½ hours per week, helping to prepare the meals for Riverside visitors.

Bev Raynor has worked for 18 years in the kitchens and is furious about the rumoured cuts in Riverside funding. “We’re got clients here who have now got a life compared to when I worked at Whitecroft Hospital years ago,” she stressed. “It’s a community here – where are all these people going to go?

“I’ve seen people come through here and then go out into the workplace and find jobs.”

Back at the entrance hall a gaggle of determined OAPs are making their way out to the bus for their trip to Thompson’s Garden Centre. Amongst them is Gwen Stinton (95) who was London table tennis champion in the 1940s and 50s and she poses for a photograph.

“Its’ all we’ve got twice a week, don’t take it away from us,” said Mrs Joan Luter as she passed. “No one wants you when you get old – take it from me.”

But the Riverside Centre do want these people and offer a wonderful service to many people who might otherwise have no social life, stimulation or encouragement. It’s a happy place and has a vibrant atmosphere – how can these vulnerable people be threatened with losing their Centre?

Tabitha Fedden, Gary Jones and Cheryl Wynne Gwen Stinton and Fay Bick

Frances Wright

Sam Davis, Jess McGaw, Mike Heath and Lisa Anthony in the Art Room

Thumbs down by OAP’s at the Riverside Centre

Making bird tables and boxes


BOGEYS


BALCONY

SATURDAY NIGHT SHENANIGANS

AT THE BALCONY


28

SPORT

TIGERS LOOSE THEIR GRIP

The Wightlink Tigers suffered two setbacks, losing by the odd goal in nine at Romford Fury, and going down 11-5 at home to Swindon Wildcats.

At Romford, the home side scored after seven minutes, and soon went two in front. Tigers reduced the lead after 13 minutes as Mike Palin fired home assisted by Richard Nembhard, but Fury soon restored their two goal cushion. A minute later Palin and Nembhard were on the score sheet again with an additional assist to Tony Blaize.

In the second period Romford

stretched the lead to two once again only to have reduced back to a single three minutes later. Man of match Palin, and Nembhard, were proving to be Tigers goal machine, further assist to Joe Osborne. With forty five seconds left in the period the Tigers pulled the scores level as Nembhard grabbed his fourth point of the evening assisted by Jamie Lee.

After a disallowed goal, Tigers coach, Roy Meadows, called a time-out to cool emotions down and when play resumed, pulled Knight in favour of the extra skater.

Unfortunately the goal never came and the Tigers were dealt a cruel blow through a very inept call by a supposedly experienced referee.

Swindon Wildcats purred into the Ryde Arena for the Tigers final home game of the season.

Inside three minutes the goals started coming as Richard Gutteridge fired the puck home for the Tigers. After several changes, the assists were finally awarded to Jason Coles and Tony Blaize. Two minutes later Swindon’s prolific goal scoring duo Newton and Smith teamed up pull the

game level. The Wildcats needed another ten minutes before they took the lead and extended it a minute later.

Tigers started the second period as they had began the first, finding the back of the net through, Graham MacFarlane and Coles. Wildcats needed just 20 seconds to restore their two goal advantage, and then back twice for no reply.

The home side cut the lead back to four with three minutes left in the period through Tony Blaize and Joe Osborne but the Wildcats had the last say as they went into

the period break with a five goal lead.

Swindon added to their lead before Aarron Edwards pulled one back for the Tigers assisted by Nembhard. With just over eight minutes left Tigers were on the score sheet again as MacFarlane netted assisted by Paul Sanderson and Man of the Match Jason Coles.

But the Wildcats hit two more for no reply to take the two points and climb to the top of the league. The Tigers final game of this current season is away to Chelmsford this Saturday, March 20.

Despite losing heavily at Chelmsford, there were significant improvements to the IW Tornados performance compared with earlier in the season.

In only their second game of the campaign the Tornado’s lost 29-1, but in the latest meeting they went down by a more respectable 12-0.

Chelmsford were clearly very frustrated by the Tornados and were expecting a high scoring game for themselves. But

while not at their best, the Tornados showed just how far they have come in their first season of hockey.

Their fighting spirit kept them in the game all the way through. It was 4-0 at half time, but the Tornados had their chances to score, mainly from the Pugh, Taverner, Walsh line. Daniel Murray in goal made some crucial saves, including several daring poke checks.

But it was Oliver

Mcloughlin who put on one of the most outstanding individual performances of the season. He put on a fine defensive display, dominating the zone and working hard for the puck every shift. His performance was so effective he created several breakaway’s, turning his attention to attacking the Chelmsford goal, and providing opportunities for his team mates to shoot on target.

TORNADOS STILL ON THE UP


29

SPORT

Students from the Island’s Christ the King College have been demonstrating their variety of sporting skills recently with a high degree of success.

Their rugby, football and swimming prowess has all been in evidence, beginning with the Year 8 boys’ rugby team which continues to go from strength to strength.

Following their comprehensive 108-nil defeat of Downside Middle School, they achieved third place in the Hampshire Cup, to go through to the Southern Region competition. There were 16 teams in the competition, including some very high achieving rugby grammar schools from the mainland.

Although they would have gone through as the third-placed team, because the top two teams did not follow all of the rules and regulations, the Christ the King College side eventually qualified as the top team in Hampshire.

In football, the Year 9 team were recently crowned champions of the Isle of Wight 7-a-side competition, held at Carisbrooke High School. They won four out of their five games and were two points ahead of the runners up in the league table.

Meanwhile, Luke Herbert, aged 10, who, despite suffering from a very sore ear, took part in the Hampshire County

Swimming Championships. He has been training hard all year to compete in the event and wasn’t going to let anything get in his way.

His hard work and dedication paid off as he qualified for six events and won bronze in 50m backstroke, a bronze in 400 individual medley and a silver in 200m backstroke, with an 8-sec personal best, only 2 seconds off a South East regional time.

The ‘regionals’ take place at the end of May and Luke is hoping to qualify. It is a massive achievement for Luke who is up against the County’s best ten-year-old swimmers, whose training regime is a lot more intense.

CLASSY SHOW BYCOLLEGE PUPILS

There are a dozen primary school teams still battling for the Ray Southwell Memorial Cup, even though the competition has reached the last eight.

Northwood and Cowes saw a new cup record with a total of 21 goals coming by the end of extra time in their thriller.

The first half of normal time saw caution thrown to the wind as both sides went out for a win in an epic end to end battle that saw the schools go in tied at 7-7 at the break.

The second half was tame by comparison with only four goals scored but

extra time was needed as the scoreboard now read Northwood 9, Cowes 9. In extra time Cowes hit three more without reply to win 12-9.

George Holmes netted seven for the winners, with other goals coming from Sam Divers, and a brace apiece for Josh Lewis and Jason Gane.

The draw has thrown up plenty of either/or ties as Greenmount confirmed their place in the draw with a convincing first round win over holders Arreton.

A first half hat trick from Leon Maloney paved the

way with an own goal and a Tyler Larbelestier strike seeing the Ryde side into the second round.

Gatten and Lake progressed with a narrow victory at home to Shanklin with goals from Regan Clifford and Jonathan Roberts taking them through, while Haylands won at Broadlea, Quarter-final ties to be played by Thursday April 1st: St Mary’s v Bembridge or Gatten and Lake. Greenmount v Brighstone or Cowes. Wootton v Haylands or Newchurch. Newport v Shalfleet or Nine Acres.

MEMORIAL CUP RECORD BEATEN

CONNOR IS NEW JUNIORCAPTAIN AT GOLF CLUB

Sandown and Shanklin Golf Club’s junior section held their annual meeting at the clubhouse, with Connor Knight being elected the new captain.The presentations were also made with the main recipients being:

Del Boy Trophy: Winner, Harry Fisher. Runner up, Josh Pannell. Centenary Trophy, Tommy Robinson. Pat Quigley Winter League, Conor Richards. Hyatt Trophy, Christine O’Brien and Michael Mitchell. Sportsman of the Year, Grace Hill. Most Improved Golfer, Michael Mitchell. Rising Star, Daniel Mew.

Jimmy Tarbuck Trophy, gross winner, Greg Hammond (152). Runner up, Matthew Mew (158). Keith Wickham Trophy nett winner, Rob Clifton (131). Runner up, Josh Oddy (135). W Bill Churchill Trophy, Josh Craig (68).

Ken Guy Trophy, Greg Hammond 74 pts. Mark Bell Trophy, Ashley Alder-Smith, 37. Flag Competition, Joe Green and Matthew Gibbon.

Andy Westhorpe scored 46 points to win the club’s Open Stableford Division One, from David Bartlett (43) and George Beardsmore (42).

Division Two honours went to Colin Ratcliffe (45) ahead of

Paul Bewick on countback with Ian Hatcher (43) third and Tony Theakston (41) fourth.

The Smith Coasters (Mixed Flag) event was won by Gary

Meszynski and Joyce Petrie, with Derek Brown and Chris Gould runners-up and Neil and Sheryl Jackson taking third place. Westridge Golf Club held a Texas

scramble, which resulted in:1st. Mike Wilson, Alan Seager, Roger Sims, Walter Mallinson, 55-6.1=48.9.2nd. Peter Holton, Nick Geeson,

Mike Gregory, Brian Skelley, 57-7.6=49.4.3rd. Gary Cox, Sue Cox, Dennis Wilson, Bob Singh-Bansi, 56-6.3=49.7.


30

SPORT

It was hardly a game that could be termed an eight-goal thriller, particularly if you were a Cowes Sports player or supporter.

The Yachtsman’s troubles in the Sydenhams Wessex League, Premier Division continued at the weekend as they were on the wrong end of a 7-1 hammering by leaders Wimborne Town.

There was brief hope for Sports eerily on when Mike Jones nipped in to cancel out Wimborne’s early lead. But from then on the Island side were never rally in contention, and their fate was sealed as Wimborne scored three more before the break, and then added another three in the second period.

It also proved a disappointing afternoon for Newport who failed to break down Alresford Town at St George’s Park, and had to settle for a goal less draw.

After a bitterly

disappointing first half, the first chance of the second period fell to Tom McInnes but he was unable to tuck his effort beyond the Alresford keeper.

From then on Alresford were slightly the better team, and even when Port manager Derek Ohren made three substitutions in an effort to get something going it failed to do the trick.

Brading Town had much better fortunes, beating New Milton Town 2-1 thanks to two goals inside a minute from Dan Vale and Simon Armstrong.

Although New Milton pulled one back early in the second half, their hopes vanished when they were cut to 10 men following a straight red card an elbow on Adam Sunsberg.

In Division 1, goals by John McKie and Will Sturgess enabled East Cowes Vics to pick up a point from a 2-2 draw at Stockbridge.

PLUCKY RAIDERS LOSE TO CHAMPS

Wightlink Raiders put up a great fight against league leaders Invicta Dynamos before going down 5 - 2 at Ryde Arena.

The first period was tight with

both goalies working hard for their respective teams, before Invicta ended the period on a high with a short handed goal scored on 19 mins 34 secs.

The second period took a

similar pattern with Invicta pressing, but kept at bay by the short-benched Raiders who were forced to reshuffle the pack by putting Alex Murray back into the defence due to

injuries.The third period was very

much a full blooded hockey game and even though the top team were two goals ahead, the Raiders kept on battling

especially the line of Cornish and Robinson. The large noisy crowd showed their appreciation with both teams even though the Raiders lost 5 2, respected the fact that

the home side were missing three key players and the Mo’s needed to win the game to win the league. So Invicta took the title honours, but not without a real fight.

SPORTS CRASH TO LEADERS


31

SPORT

Sportthe gazette

Send your sports news to [email protected]

RYAN BOWLS ALONG FOR SMART VICTORY

TEN Island youngsters travelled to the Wey Valley Indoor School, Guildford to compete in the Junior Bowls Regional School of Excellence finals.

The under 15s were represented by Josh Berry, Ryan Selby, Lucas Trigg, Tansy Wheeler and Liam Westmore and the under 18s were Jack Berry, Adam Clark, Sam Lines, Travis Meller and Peter Wheeler.

It proved a highly successful competition for the locals, particularly Ryan Selby who went on to win the junior final, and Tansy Wheeler who emerged top junior girl.

Young bowlers from the southern region – Kent, Sussex, Middlesex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – carried out a series of skills exercises and round robin singles who compete for a place in the National finals in October.

In the senior skills competition Adam was second, Jack fourth, Sam fifth, Peter eighth and Travis 10th. However, with results not going for Jack, Sam and Travis in the round robin section, Adam and Peter went through to the semi-finals. Nevertheless it was still an excellent achievement to have two of the four semi-finalists from the Island.

In the first semi final Peter played

an inform Lewis Jones (Lodden Vale IBC) and narrowly lost by 7 shots to 3 while Adam lost to the eventual overall senior winner, Marcus Street (Wey Valley IBC) by 8 shots to 2.

Overall senior placings were: Adam Clark third, Peter Wheeler fourth, Sam Lines fifth, Jack Berry sixth and Travis Meller 10th.

In the junior skills the Island youngsters did well, with Ryan second, Tansy third, Josh fourth, Lucas 10th and Liam 15th. With their results in the round robin singles being added to their skills scores, Ryan, Tansy and Josh competed in the semi finals of the singles. Having three out of the four overall competitors reach this stage was a tremendous achievement for the island youngsters.

Ryan was drawn to play Tansy in the first semi-final which Ryan went on to win by 8 shots to 4. Josh played Lodden Vale-based Ashley Nethercliffe and was unlucky to lose by 5 shots to 4. shots. The junior final between Ryan and Ashley was a good tussle with Ryan going on to win by 8 shots to 1.

Overall junior placings were: Ryan Selby firth, Tansy Wheeler third, Josh Berry fourth, Lucas Trigg 13th and Liam Westmore 14th.

The final results of the day resulted in Ryan Selby being awarded the medal for overall junior winner and Tansy Wheeler

being awarded the medal for top junior girl overall.

County Coach, Richard Lovell said: “This confirms that the hard

work and training they have put in throughout the past year has helped the young bowlers gain these excellent results.”

Regional Finals, Wey Valley 2010

• Junior Bowls Regional School of Excellence Finals •


Documents

IW Gazette 57