Raising a glass to lifeboat crews

10
6 Alex Dyke
“I’m more thought provoking than destructive”
8 Raising a glass to the RNLI
We spent a day with the lifeboat crews from
Yarmouth and Lymington.
9 Bruce Jones
What was Coronation Street’s Les Battersby upto on
the Island?
10 Raymond Allen
Island sitcom writer tells us how Frank Spencer was
penned back in the 70’s.
12 John Hannam
Another great contribution from John.
16 Flying Lessons!
Ever thought of flying as a hobby? Find out how.
17 Duncan Goodhew
Olympic medallist drops into the Heights.
6
Contents
ISSUE 2 January/February 2006
9
17
WELCOME
The response we received
from the first issue was
overwhelming. We had many
letters and emails of
congratulations, and the
consistant comment
throughout was, “it’s nice to
see an up-market
publication represent the
Isle of Wight”, also “there
are many interesting articles
to read”.
Another popular comment
was “the magazine was not
just all advertising”, once
again we hope we have the
balance right within this
latest issue.
However this magazine
belongs to you, the reader –
so we would love to hear
what you would like to see
in these pages. Feel free to
drop us a line or an email
with your suggestions,
photos or feature ideas, and
we’ll do our best to get
them covered.
Meanwhile, we sincerely
hope you enjoy this second
issue!
Contact:
The Editor
Island Life Magazine
66 Victoria Avenue
Shanklin
Isle of Wight
PO37 6LY
Tel: 01983 861422
Mobile: 07976 797455
info@isleofwight.tv
Contributing Editor
Jackie McCarrick
Main Photography:
Martin Potter
Front Cover: Malcolm Purcell
pictured out with the Isle of
Wight Hunt
3

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18 Food & Drink
We review The Essex, Godshill and The
Pointers Inn, Newchurch.
21 Entertainment
We take a look at some forthcoming shows.
22 Farming
How dairy farmer Harold George puts a pinta
on your doorstep.
24 Gardening
Greenhouses, plus a new selection of Cane and
Rattan furniture.
26 Equestrian
A picture round-up from Brickfields and the
Boxing Day Hunt.
32 Fashion
Latest looks from Four Seasons, Posh Frocks
and Froghill.
38 Health & Beauty
The Orchard Cosmetic Skin Centre.
42 Travel
Inspiring travel ideas from skiing to city breaks.
52 Property
Pittis, Fox Property, Barratts.
60 Staying Over
Prestige accommodation Islandwide.
62 Motoring
Mercedes, BMW, Citroen and Skoda
Contents
26
24
38
18
IN YOUR NEXT
ISSUE Mar/Apr 06
ANDY SUTTON -
A man with a mission!
MORE JOHN HANNAM
John reveals more
secrets from the stars.
SOCIETY PAGES
We bring you snapshots
from Island social
events.
EATING OUT
Honest reviews of top
Island restaurants.
MORE FEATURES - P66
We are looking at
introducing even more
local features, with great
photography.
5

INTERVIEW
His morning talk show is probably the most listened-to programme on
Isle of Wight radio – and it certainly does what it says on the tin: gets
people talking.
In fact Alex Dyke has found himself in hot water on more than one
occasion for his pranks and send-ups.
But the Island-born DJ likes to think he’s more provocative than nasty,
and aims to be thought-provoking rather than destructive.
Jackie McCarrick caught up with “Big Al” and got a glimpse of what
makes this local legend of the airwaves tick.
If there’s one stunt that stands out from Alex Dyke’s bag of tricks since
joining Isle of Wight Radio five years ago, it’s undoubtedly
“Squirrelgate”.
That was when he did a spoof report on a “terrorist” who planned to
6
King of the
wind-ups
“the Island-born DJ likes to think he’s more provocative than
nasty, and aims to be thought-provoking rather than destructive”.
cross the Solent from Lymington with a grey squirrel to let loose among
the Island’s famously protected population of reds.
Police were called in by outraged local squirrel protectionists, and the
upshot was that the DJ ended up eating humble pie with a court
appearance for wasting police time.
“It was an awful thing to get done for wasting police time,” says Alex,
who received a hefty fine and was bound over to keep the peace. “But
there was never any malice in it, it just seemed like a good joke at the
time”.
In fact, it sounds as if Alex’s daily slot with his old buddy David Holmes
(“The Doc”) is a daily barrel of laughs for the on-air duo.
“We go on at 11am and we laugh on and off until 2 – I can’t think of a
better way of earning a living than talking to people and having fun,

can you?” he says.
This is certainly the only kind of DJ-ing that Alex says he’s interested in.
“So much radio in Britain these days is truly dreadful. Those camp local
radio stations where the presenters go on about something like
needlework, or those big-name stations where the DJs just do live cards
and then play a run of five songs.
“To me, there is absolutely no fun in that. What I like is being able to go
on and rant if some driver cuts me up at Coppins Bridge - things like
that, which are guaranteed to get a response from the listeners”.
The 42 year-old father-of-three spent his early years on the Island
working in a variety of jobs from barman to labourer and painter-
INTERVIEW
decorator – and it was his sheer persistence that finally got him into the
broadcasting work he had dreamed of since doing a radio show at
Sandown High School at the age of 12.
Starting out as a volunteer at Radio Solent, he learned his craft at that
station before moving to London and working at Radio Luxembourg, and
then heading back to the south coast for a period at Ocean FM – during
which time he commuted daily from the Island.
He was delighted to get the slot on his home station in the year 2000,
and subsequently he also landed his second show with IoW Radio, the
networked show he does with Mike Elliot (“Mike the Mouth”) across 25
stations five nights a week from 10pm-1am.
“I love the Isle of Wight because it’s home, and also because it’s a great
place to bring up kids,” says Alex, whose youngsters are aged fourteen,
eight and five.
But if there’s one other place that’s close to his heart, it’s the USA, a
country he’s visited around 20 times and for which he’s applied for a
Green Card.
“We love Florida for the sunshine, but New York is probably my favourite
place – probably the most romantic city on earth” enthuses Alex.
“Being there is like being on a massive film set, it’s where John Lennon
lived … it’s just the most exciting place to be”. And he doesn’t rule out
the idea that one day he might want to move there.
Of course Alex listens avidly to American radio whenever he’s over there
– including “shock jock” Howard Stern, who was the subject of the 1990s
movie Private Parts.
“I think I have a love-hate relationship with him” says Alex. “On the one
hand I really like his outrageousness, but sometimes he goes too far even
for me. Like using the F-word at breakfast-time for instance - I can’t
believe he gets away with it. And I don’t really like the way he treats
women – it is very bad and makes me cringe at times”.
These days, Alex admits he feels more of an affinity with another
American DJ Don Immus, who he describes as more of a ‘grumpy old
man’ character.
“I’m probably progressing towards that phase of my life,” jokes Alex, who
admits to watching the “Grumpy Old Men” TV series, and to actually
agreeing with what all the old geezers have to say.
“Sad isn’t it?” he laughs.
Asked to define his own brand of radio mischief, Alex describes it as
“gentle wind-ups”. His UK heroes are people like Radio 2’s Johnny
Walker, the now-retired Alan Freeman and the much-maligned Tony
Blackburn who Alex declares as having been “way ahead of his time”.
“He got laughed at for it for years, but he was the first DJ to talk about
divorce on the radio, in the mid-70s, long before anyone else broached
the subject”.
For himself, Alex says: “I feel very fortunate to be able to do the kind of
radio I like to do”.
Of course, having good ratings helps – and the Rajar ratings “go through
the roof” around the time of his morning show, when the phone-in
session makes the programme the most listened-to in the South.
This year for the first time, the show is being entered into several
categories for the prestigious Sony Awards, including Best Comedy, Best
Entertainment and Best Interactive. “We’ve never tried before and maybe
it’s a long shot, but definitely worth a go,” he says.
Away from the studio, Alex and his wife Justine (Justine Field, who copresents
the breakfast show with Andy Shier), enjoy being at home in
Ryde, spending time with the kids, walking in their favourite haunts in
Cowes and Seaview and indulging a passion for classic British and
American TV and radio.
He’s also into property development, building a portfolio with an eye to
the time when he might not be “flavour of the month” on the radio.
Of wife Justine, he says: “She’s the only woman I rate on the radio. I’m
generally not a fan of women DJs. Newsreaders and current affairs
people like Jenny Murray are one thing but somehow I don’t think
female DJs work…
Any comments, girls? You know the show to call.
7

FEATURE
Raising a glass
to lifeboat crews
Solent sailors showed their appreciation for the work of local
lifeboat crews by sending in some Christmas spirit … by helicopter.
This was the annual Needles Relief Event, organised by the Royal
Solent and the Royal Lymington Yacht Clubs to thank the local
lifeboat crews and Coastguard helicopter rescue team on both sides
of the water for their dedication to saving life throughout the year.
The tradition of sending in gift bottles of wine sprang from the old
practice of giving Christmas trees and gifts to the lighthouse keepers
– but once the lighthouses went automatic, the goodwill gesture was
transferred to the Solent’s rescue workers.
The lifeboat teams at Yarmouth and Lymington launch about 40
times a year each, whilst the rescue helicopter, based at the
Coastguard HQ in Lee-on-Solent, is the busiest in the country and
goes out on some 200 calls every year.
The yacht clubs – some of whose members have special reason to
thank the rescue teams for their assistance – give their Christmas
gifts of wine each year after staging a fund-raising race from
Lymington to the Island.
Howard Lester, the Coxswain at Yarmouth’s RNLI station, said: “We
appreciate this seasonal thank-you for the work we do – it’s a nice
gesture”.
Yarmouth’s rescue vessel is the £2 million 7-class lifeboat that goes
by the name of benefactors Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer). At
47 tonnes and 17 metres long, the boat can plough through the
water at a rate of up to 25 knots – vital when every minute can
mean the difference between saving and losing a life.
8
The crew of the Yarmouth Lifeboat
“Jamus” being towed in that morning by the Yarmouth Lifeboat.
The rescue helicopter gladly
collects the donations
The Lymington lifeboat crew, in action.

I support the
In-shore lifeboats
Bruce Jones is embarrassed to be hailed as one of the most famous
people in Britain via his portrayal of Les Battersby in Coronation
Street. He finds it hard to accept even though he is virtually mobbed
wherever he goes. Recently it happened on an Island-bound ferry
when he was rumbled by a group of pensioners.
He loves the Isle of Wight and late last year made his third visit to
the Fairway Holiday Park, in Sandown, to help raise funds for the
Sandown Inshore Lifeboat.
Bruce is so happy to come here
to help his long-time friend
Chris Williams and is aware
how hard Chris and his staff
work to make this annual
charity night a success.
“There is something about this
Island and the people who live
here should feel really lucky.
It’s a magical place,” enthused
Bruce.
On his recent visit Bruce had
to drive back to Manchester
the following morning to make
sure he was up bright and early
for his Monday filming session
at the Granada Studios. On
past visits he had managed to
Left: Bruce Jones
Right:
Artful Dodger Georgia
Derbyshire (10) -
Oliver - Harley
Mackness (9)
Below:
John Hannam (Left)
Bruce Jones
Chris Williams
Bottom Left: Bethan
John
stay on for a day or two to enjoy the local hospitality. A few years
ago Bruce completed the Round the Island yacht race and they
finished first in their class.
After gradual television success via hit series like Roughnecks,
Heartbeat and Frost, Bruce played the lead in the Ken Roach movie
Raining Stones and his career really took off from there. He was
making a movie with Bob Hoskins when he got the call from
Coronation Street. That was nine years ago.
“I had grown up watching Coronation Street with my grandmother
and when I was offered the part of Les Battersby I didn’t think it
would last five minutes. Everybody hated us but I’m still there and
I love it,” said Bruce.
He has no plans to leave – unless asked to.
Bruce grew up in Collyhurst a tough area in Manchester where
some lucky youngsters became footballers or boxers. He was the
first actor to come from that area and, to this day, is still very
grateful.
Much of Bruce’s off-set time is devoted to helping charities but he
is happy to keep a low profile and not seek publicity. This work
gives him great personal satisfaction.
Bruce is like a pied piper and people follow him everywhere and
shout out “Les” wherever he goes. It would give him far more
satisfaction if they called out “Bruce.” Then he would feel he has
really made his mark. He admits to leaving Les Battersby on a coat
hanger at work.
“Coronation Street is a real team effort and it all revolves around
the crew, the cast and the office staff. We all work together and noone
is bigger than Coronation Street,” enthused Bruce.
There have been other milestones in the life of actor Bruce Jones,
like Band of Gold and The Full Monty.
Being a famous soap star is not all fun. He does meet obsessed fans
and one slapped him around the face, on a Manchester station,
because he had married Cilla.
He can’t wait until his next visit to the Island.
INTERVIEW
9

INTERVIEW
R a y m o n d A l l e n w a s t h e
c r e a t i v e s k i l l b e h i n d
F r a n k S p e n c e r. . .
“Comedy is someone else’s embarrassment or tragedy”
Jackie McCarrick talks to Frank Spencer creator Raymond Allen
He lives modestly and quietly in Ryde, no more than a mile from
where he was born, is a regular at the Wight Writers Group, and
likes nothing more than attending writers’ weekends.
He’s been working on a stage play for a couple of years – but
Raymond Allen admits that his biggest writing success over 30 years
ago has proved a hard act to follow.
In fact, the royalties from Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em – which he
penned in the 1970s and which went on to achieve cult status, still
being repeated in countries all over the world to this day – continue
to provide him with a comfortable living.
And, as he says, when money is no longer a motivator, it can be hard
to turn out a best-seller.
Money certainly was a motivator for the younger Raymond, who
remained faithful to his dream of being a writer by plugging away at
it all through his 20s, despite rejection after rejection falling through
his letterbox.
He had wanted to write all through his years at Ryde Secondary
Modern School, which is why he started out as a cub reporter for the
old Isle of Wight Times at the age of 16. But this was not the “real
writing” he wanted to do, and so after service in the RAF, he
10
Frank and Betty as we all
remember them from the
70’s hit show “Some
Mothers Do Ave Em”.
returned to the Island and took low-paying menial jobs washing
dishes in hotels and cleaning at Shanklin’s Regal Cinema, so that
with some financial help from his parents, he could continue to
write.
He wrote around 40 serious plays – and was knocked back with 40
serious rejections – before turning “in desperation” to comedy sketch
writing.
“At least I was selling these, but there wasn’t much money in it” he
recalls.
Hence he tried his hand at a sit-com, which he sent to ITV – and
received an ego-shattering put-down in return.
“They said that to be a sit-com writer I needed three things: a sense
of humour, an ear for dialogue … and talent!” he recalls, now able to
laugh at the painful memory.
If he hadn’t had another sit-com script already written, he reckons
he might have given up in despair there and then – but since he had
nothing more to lose, he sent that second one to the BBC.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
His one-off script about the dopey, hen-pecked Frank and his wife
Betty was bought by the BBC – who instantly asked him to write six

more.
“I was so delighted and so naive that I thought the
£400 was for the whole series, not just for the first
one!” says Raymond. “Up to that point I had never
earned more than £10 in my life for a one-minute
comedy sketch”
However, he wasn’t on the home strait yet. The
series was bought by the BBC in 1971, but it took
two more years to find an actor willing to play the
part of Frank Spencer. It was turned down by both
Norman Wisdom and Ronnie Barker, among others,
before the young Michael Crawford agreed to take
it on in 1973 – even though he’d never been
associated with comedy before.
The series was such a massive hit that it ran to
three series and 3 Christmas shows – a total of 22
episodes for Raymond to write.
He recalls going to London for rehearsals but says:
“I have no fond memories of it at all. London is
all right for a day out, but I am not a big city
person – I much prefer the Isle of Wight – and so I
never got involved in all that fast world of TV.
Perhaps my career might have gone differently if I
had”.
There’s no doubt, though, that Some Mothers has
been good to him. The show, which ran on the
BBC for five years until 1978, when Michael
Crawford decided not to do any more, celebrated
its 30th anniversary with a commemorative book
in 2003, and is still repeated on TV screens in 60
countries.
Asked why he thinks it was so successful,
Raymond is reflective: “Comedy is someone else’s
embarrassment or tragedy,” he says.
“Frank is quite a sad character and I think most of
us can empathise with him. I’ve suffered periods
of depression myself throughout my life, and
many of my earlier serious plays were about life’s
losers.
“However, it was only when I turned the writing
around and made the sadness into comedy that
the success came”.
Following Some Mothers, Raymond sold some oneoff
plays, but found the infamous sit-com cast too
big a shadow over any new ones he tried.
“I got used to people saying ‘We don’t like it as
much as Some Mothers’” he says. “It seems to
have become impossible for me to follow it”.
He still gains satisfaction, though, from the fact
that viewing figures for the repeats are virtually as
high as those for the original screenings 30-odd
years ago.
“It’s extraordinary how it’s still going,” he says.
Around the time of the 30th anniversary he was
asked to appear at events as Frank Spencer’s
creator, and from time to time he still gets asked
to do talks on the series.
“Sometimes I feel as if I’m being wheeled out like
something from ancient history” he jokes, “when
Raymond Allen with
one of the original
scripts from the hit show.
people invariably introduce me as coming
from the “Golden Age of TV!”
It was certainly an age that present-day
writers would find hard to imagine. It
may have been only three decades ago,
but when he started out on his high
profile TV writing career, Raymond didn’t
even have a telephone … and here on the
Isle of Wight at that time, there was a
three-year waiting list for a line, if you
didn’t happen to be a doctor or other
high-ranking personnel.
“A TV sit-com writer most certainly didn’t
qualify!” he says.
In the end, they rushed him through with
a phone line in just two years!….during
which time he had to conduct important
script conferences with the BBC in a
vandalised phone box near his home in
INTERVIEW
Haylands village, the wind whistling
through the broken panes and angry
locals knocking on the door to ask how
much longer he’d be.
As he outlines such colourful tales, full of
angst and pathos, it’s not difficult to
discern the ghost of Frank Spencer
wafting through the conversation.
11

JOHN HANNAM
When I’m travelling back from mainland interviews I still have to
pinch myself to make sure it really happened. Did I actually
interview Charlton Heston, Sir Cliff Richard, Dame Vera Lynn and
Eartha Kitt? I must have been acting out the role of an interviewer.
Things like this should just not happen to a shy kid from the Island.
When I was living in East Cowes I wrote to Eartha Kitt, one of my
all-time favourites. Was it just a schoolboy crush? Well, I did get back
a signed photograph and I still have it. Thirty years later I wrote to
her again. This time at a London theatre where she was starring in
Follies. I simply asked if I could come up and interview her. It was
more in hope than expectation. Imagine my surprise when she
invited me up to meet her.
I went bearing gifts – a plant from Haylands Farm and a box of
chocolates. It was a very nervous journey and I had to pluck up
courage to even knock on her dressing room door. I had just seen
her looking a million dollars on stage. Then I made my first mistake.
I left the plant and chocolates outside the dressing room.
By now I was excited and there sat my dream woman – wearing a
head scarf and doing her crotchet work. Her first words to me were
not quite as romantic as I had hoped. “Set your gear up and get on
with it,” was the greeting. I almost froze on the spot.
After ten minutes Eartha put down her crotchet work and I knew all
would now be fine. I had broken the ice. Thirty minutes later I left
her dressing room with a satisfied glow and an invite to visit her
dressing room, again, if I was even near a theatre where she was
appearing. She even wrote me a personal letter of thanks for the
interview and repeated the offer.
12
Sir Cliff Richard
Who
hasn't
John
met?
A year or so later Eartha was appearing at the Kings Theatre,
Southsea, in a Mother's Day concert. I produced the letter and
within two minutes my wife, daughter and myself were all in her
dressing room. We had such a warm welcome and she gave my
daughter her Mother’s Day chocolates.
Last Christmas I decided to try and interview Nadia, who had won
the Big Brother television series. I had never seen the programme –
and still haven’t – but knew that she would be popular on my show.
It took more setting up than some of the Hollywood stars I have
interviewed. Her agent wanted to know so much and made it rather
difficult. In the end I put my cards on the table and spoke my mind.
It worked and the date was set. I arrived early at the Mayflower,
Southampton, where she was appearing in a pantomime. I waited up
until around 15 minutes before the show was due to begin and
Nadia had still not arrived. I was the least of their worries. Who
would play the Mermaid? In the end she arrived in the nick of time
and the interview was rescheduled for another day. By this time I
was beginning to wonder if it was really worth it. In the end she did
turn up, blissfully unaware it should have been a few days earlier.
There was a happy ending. She actually proved very hospitable – and
what legs!
Last year I went to the London Palladium to interview Tony Adams,
an old friend, who was one of the stars of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I
had been interviewing Mike Batt at the nearby Electric Airwaves
Studio and popped in for a quick chat with Tony. It was the first
time I had ever interviewed anyone at the world’s most famous
theatre. After a backstage tour and the chance to stand in the middle
of the Palladium stage I saw the famous car at close quarters. Then it
was time for our interview. I am always prepared and had jotted
down a few notes just in case any of the other stars came in during

Eartha Kitt
our chat. Actually, it was more in hope than expectation. Around
five minutes into the recording there was a knock on Tony’s door
and in walked Christopher Biggins. I kept the recorder running and,
as expected, Christopher was his usual ebullient self – and great he
was, too. Tempting Jason Donovan, also in Chitty, on to my show
was not so easy but I did get three minutes but I almost had to get
on my knees.
Many of today’s radio interviews are conducted down-the-line from
studios anywhere in Britain. The quality of the special telephone
lines makes this possible and it is a growing trend. There is one
great disadvantage. The interviewer never meets the star he is
talking to. Personally, I never undertake these kinds of interviews.
You would never guess the stars that I have actually turned down
because of this. I only work face-to-face and in one-to-one sessions. I
don’t really want to change this format after 15 years of John
Hannam Meets on Isle of Wight Radio.
On many occasions artists spend a whole day in a London studio
and they talk to presenters all over Britain but never meet them.
Being last in the day can, surprisingly, have advantages. It does mean
you have to work extra hard to try and think of subjects that have
not occurred in all the other interviews. Many of the stars also
reveal how nice it is to see who they are talking to. The intimacy of
an in-person interview works so much better – particularly if it’s a
nice lady you can flirt with. In the line of duty – of course.
I was the last of the day for Francis Rossi, from Status Quo, Katie
Melua, Mike Batt and Bonnie Tyler. In each case, I was delighted
with the outcome of the interviews.
I do admire the stars who can really handle fame and being
recognized everywhere they go. Personally, I would never wish to be
famous. I could not handle it at all.
I went to Bournemouth Pier to interview Amanda Barrie, who was
then fresh from playing Alma in Coronation Street. We hit it off
instantly and had some real fun during the interview. Then she
asked if I would like to walk up into the town with her. Before we
had even reached the end of the pier she had been stopped around
half a dozen times for autographs, a chat from fans and requests to
be photographed with holidaymakers. Amanda had all the patience
in the world and was kind to everyone. All the way into town there
were cries of: “Look its Alma!”
Nadia from
Big Brother
JOHN HANNAM
We actually walked past a huge poster of Amanda, advertising the
show, and she told me not to look at it. Apparently, it was her head
but on someone else’s body, which she was not too happy about.
There was one occasion, in London, when I would have loved a
press photographer to have walked by. I’d had lunch in a private
club with beautiful actress Samantha Robson, who played PC Vicki
Hagen in The Bill. It was official business, I hasten to add. As we
parted she gave me a kiss and hug on the pavement – and it went
un-noticed. I was hoping a photographer would walk by and the next
day’s headline could have been: Who is the sugar daddy with Sam
Robson? It would have done wonders for my street cred.
Whilst on the subject of glamour, I must admit I have been a longterm
fan of Cathy Tyson, since I saw her in Mona Lisa and then
Band of Gold and all her other successes. I still continually get
teased indoors about this. Imagine my delight, when I finally
managed to get an interview with her, after several failed attempts.
It was not all plain sailing.
On the day I was due to visit, I had an urgent ‘phone call to say that
Cathy had been delayed in traffic and would not be in Southampton
13

JOHN HANNAM
in time to be interviewed before the show. I was actually in the city
for the re-scheduled appointment when I was ‘phoned again to say
that Cathy was not feeling well and would not be up for the
interview. The next date offered was a Bank Holiday. I had to get
special permission – and that wasn’t from Cathy. Would she turn up
on a Bank Holiday? I got to the venue and there was no-one around.
I would never live this down at home. All of a sudden I heard a
voice say “you must be John.” There was a happy ending – and I
have never been the same since.
I wish Roger de Courcey had been as friendly. I have met him on
several occasions and he has always been so rude and unhelpful.
Once he asked me to report to the stage door at Sandown Pavilion
for my interview. He then proceeded to walk by and treat me like
dirt. He has turned down every interview request since then. I’ve
always preferred Nookie his bear, anyway.
I would never expect to be treated like that by a real Hollywood
legend – and so it proved. When I met and interviewed Charlton
Heston it was even better than I could have wished for. When he
came to Dimbola Lodge, on a flying visit, he held a ten minute press
conference for the local news media. It was not what I was looking
for. Then, a few months later, I ran into a mutual friend, local
photographer David White. He asked how the interview had gone
with Charlton, at Dimbola. I explained there had not been time for
what I had wanted. David promised the next time Chuck came to
London he would get me an interview.
Imagine my surprise, a few months later, when David contacted me
and asked me to ring a famous London hotel and ask for Charlton
Heston. I did and was even more surprised when he answered the
‘phone. Within a couple of days I was in that Piccadilly hotel with
Chuck and his lovely wife, Lydia, whom I had met on the Island, at
her photographic exhibition.
I joined them at their lunch table and could not help but notice that
every eye in the restaurant was focused on Charlton Heston. They
had obviously never seen Ben Hur eat there before.
When Chuck had gone to the cloakroom I asked Lydia how long
could he spare me for the interview? I wanted an hour but was too
scared to ask – I just settled for 45 minutes. When Chuck returned
Lydia told him I would like 45 minutes. He remarked that he had
never undertaken that long an interview in his life. In the end I got
an hour and it proved one of the great moments of my life.
When I went to the Surrey offices of Sir Cliff Richard the plan was
for another hour interview. I did freeze when his manager
apologized and offered me just around 15 minutes, as Cliff was
busy. My mouth became dry as I wondered just how I could fit all
my questions into that short spot. I must have looked a little
harassed and Cliff even brought in some bottled water on a tray.
What a waiter he proved to be!
We hit it off from the opening moments of the interview and I just
kept going. Cliff was clearly enjoying it and his manager left us to
it. In the end I obtained 45 minutes of his precious time.
I am still asked what Cliff Richard is really like. I found him a
perfect gentleman and great company. I have interviewed several
one hit wonders with unbelievable egos. Cliff has had well over a
hundred hits and is completely unspoilt.
I have interviewed Sir Norman Wisdom on several occasions. Once,
after a live Sunday lunchtime appearance on my radio show, I took
him for a personal appearance at the Frank James Hospital, East
Cowes. The crowds were massive and we had to whisk him inside
on one occasion. At that time the Fairlee Hospice was temporarily
at this East Cowes hospital. He went in to see the patients and it
was if a switch was suddenly turned on. He danced all around the
ward, sat on the beds, kissed the ladies and was an inspiration to
14
everyone present. I will never ever forget that moment.
The last time I met him was in a posh Southampton hotel. We had
lunch and then his personal assistant said it was time for the
interview in his suite. He enquired: “What interview?” He’d
forgotten why I was with him. Once that mike was live there was no
stopping him. It was the same with Ken Dodd. We could have
chatted for two hours.
I’ve been so lucky to meet many of my own personal heroes – like
Sir Roger Bannister, Bobby Moore, Matt Monro, Frankie Howerd,
Stirling Moss, Duane Eddy and David Gates – plus real glamour in
the shape (that is the word I am looking for) of Sam Fox, Linda
Cathy Tyson

Lusardi and Miss World 1966 (Ann Sidney).
John Hannam Meets every Sunday lunchtime between 12 noon and
2pm on Isle of Wight Radio. Can be heard on 107FM and worldwide
via the internet on www.iwradio.co.uk
Ken Dodd
Charlton Heston
JOHN HANNAM
Sam Fox
Sir Norman Wisdom
15

HOBBIES - SPORT - LEISURE
Come fly with me -
Let’s fly away
It’s the dream of every schoolboy – not to mention many a dad –
to take to the controls of their own aircraft.
However, these days, the thrill of flying doesn’t need to be just a
dream because even here on the Isle of Wight, dozens of high-fliers
from all walks of life and all ages are taking to the skies for flying
lessons.
And it’s not just the boys either – in fact, women are increasingly
signing up for lessons and a certain little bird on the staff at the
Sandown Airport-based Fairway Flying school told us that women
can often be easier to train then men, at least in the early stages, on
account of their lighter touch at the controls.
Of course, learning to fly aeroplanes is not the cheapest of pastimes
– in fact it can call for an investment of over £6,000 to get in enough
flying time for a Private Pilot’s Licence. Which is why many new
students at Fairway Flying do their early training on microlights,
which are less expensive to hire by the hour, but still count in
training hours towards the pilot’s licence.
“Lots of people who want to try flying on a more limited budget
start on microlights” says seasoned pilot Chris Williams, a North
Wales-based businessman who took over the Sandown Airport last
autumn.
Chris, who has been flying his own craft into Sandown Airport every
week for three years to take care of his other Island-based business,
the nearby Fairway Holiday Park, decided to buy it as the perfect
complementary business – not just as the base to offer flying
lessons, but also pleasure flights for holidaymakers and residents.
He’s currently getting to grips with the flying business, which boasts
“kit” of a cool £1.5 million – including Bell Jetranger 206 and Hughes
300 helicopters, three Grummen single-engined training aircraft, a
Grummen Tiger self-fly hire aircraft, a Cessna 310 twin-engined
aircraft, a Piper Aztec twin engine and the Thruster microlite. Some
he bought with the business, and some of them he owned already.
“I originally came to the Isle of Wight just for two months, and three
years on I’m still here – and now a great deal poorer!” he joked.
Chris, for whom flying is a personal passion, has been flying for 23
years and sees great possibilities for the flying business in Sandown.
“As someone who loves flying, I see this side of the business taking
off as a natural extension to the holiday park”
Apart from expanding the pleasure flights side of the business to
cater for holidaymakers (some of whom book at his holiday park just
on the strength of being able to spend time in the air), Chris also
has ambitious and exciting outline plans to launch charter flights to
regional airports on the mainland, as well as a “hopper” service to
Guernsey and Jersey and to Shoreham in West Sussex, which would
theoretically make a trip to Gatwick possible in half an hour from
the Isle of Wight.
For the time being, the airport is developing its existing list of
services, which also includes self-fly hire for trained pilots.
16
Chief Flying Instructor John Nutter with student
One of the oldest hirers of this service is a 73 year-old who enjoys
doing his own solo flying tours of Europe with the wind well and
truly beneath his wings.
On the training side, there are students learning to fly helicopters as
well as the microlights and planes – and learners come as young as
16 (the youngest age for a Pliot’s Licence), although technically it’s
possible to begin at the age of 14 and spend two years working up to
the licence.
So what’s involved? First off, a minimum of 45 hours under
instruction at a cost of £150 per hour, (which includes all your fuel
and landing fees) in addition to which you’ll need various text
books, charts and instruments costing a further £300-400.
The good thing is that you can take your time, and most students
opt for flying perhaps 2/3 hours once a month, to spread the cost.
There is also the theory to complete, which equates to 3 hours
theory for every 2 hours of flying.
At the end of all this come the inevitable exams, which include two
flying tests and six written examinations.
Once you have passed your PPL test and obtained your licence you
might then consider hiring or even buying your own plane. Hiring a
plane to fly from Sandown Airport to Cherbourg would take about 60
minutes of flying time, (with light aircraft hire you only pay for the
time the plane is in the air), so a return trip to France would cost
about £260 (£130p/h) and you’d also have landing fees in France of
between £20-40.
On the other hand, you may get so hooked on flying that you decide
to buy your own plane. To give an idea, a standard, secondhand
four-seater plane would set you back between £30-50k. For a new
model, you are looking at £140k to £180k – plenty to dream about
during the dark winter nights.
Before you commit to flying, it’s always advisable to book a taster
lesson of either 30 minutes at £80, or 40 minutes at £100.
This will give you a feeling for life in the pilot’s seat – and after
that, who knows … the sky really could be the limit.
You can contact the flying school on 01983 402402 - Sandown Airport

Duncan makes a
Splash at The Heights
Scores of young swimmers enjoyed the thrill of holding an
Olympic Gold swimming medal in their hands when Duncan
Goodhew handed round his medal from the Moscow games of
1980.
Duncan was visiting The Heights Leisure Centre in Sandown as the
VIP guest for the Island’s annual “Learn to Swim” Gala event,
sponsored by Southern Water.
“It was a great inspiration for the kids to meet someone like
Duncan,” said Heights Manager David McDine. “You never know, one
of them might one day be as successful in the water as he has been”.
But teaching kids to swim is not just about producing the
competition superstars of the future. As David pointed out, on an
island full of rivers, pools and unpredictable tides it’s also
particularly important for their own safety that youngsters are taught
to be good swimmers.
On the Island, the Southern Water sponsorship pays for equipment
and publicity and marketing for the ongoing Learn to Swim
programme, which is run at the three council-run pools.
The Heights alone can have 550 youngsters on the 6-8 week course
programme at any one time, and David reckons that over the past 10
years, thousands of youngsters have been taught to swim – some of
them going on to take it up as a competitive sport and others to
work as coaches back at the pool where they themselves learned.
The Gala, in which four teams competed for the Learn To Swim
Challenge Trophy, made for a thrilling programme of swimming –
HOBBIES - SPORT - LEISURE
before the coveted trophy was carried off by the team from the
Waterside Pool in Ryde.
Also competing was the home team from the Heights, a line-up from
Medina Leisure Centre in Newport, and the Isle of Wight Swimming
Team, drawn from members of the South Wight Swimming Club and
Seaclose Swimming Club. The team from West Wight were unable to
take part.
After the gala, Duncan Goodhew conducted an informal question and
answer session in which youngsters and their parents quizzed him
about his swimming and
heard how he’d overcome
childhood handicaps
including dyslexia and
premature hair loss to
become one of the UK’s
best-known Olympic
heroes.
17

FOOD & DRINK
Sunday Roast
at The Pointers
Inn, Newchurch
Quality: Below Average - Average - Good -
Very Good - Exceptional
Comments: Slightly reduce starter portions.
Nice Touch - Perhaps home baked bread.
Star Rating: 4/5
Total bill for three was £65.00, inclusive of
two coffees and 5 diet cokes.
Welcome to our new eating out slot, where
each month we’ll be sampling one of the
Island’s many venues for Sunday lunch. These
reports will differ from our restaurant reviews,
in that we’ll be focusing on value for money,
freshness of food, and the quality of
ingredients, as well as more practical
considerations such as general ambiance,
comfort and service.
Our first review comes from the acclaimed Pointers
Inn at Newchurch – a place that always enjoyed a
great reputation whilst under the control of Becky.
Since it is now under new management, we went
along to check out how it’s faring these days.
From the minute you arrive at the Pointers, there is a
warm and welcome feeling - a real local atmosphere.
The staff are friendly and helpful, and the service
was a delightful experience. We were presented the
Sunday menu and were also pointed to the Specials
board which in itself had a varied choice of dishes,
from pasta, to pheasant, good old traditional steak
18
and kidney pie, and cod.
The main menu also had a good cross-section of
dishes, ranging from the classics - roast leg of
lamb and roast topside of beef - to pasta dishes
suitable for the non-meat eaters. After five
minutes with the menu, we were invited to go
through to the dining room, which was just as
cosy and welcoming as the bar, and had a
friendly ambiance emanating both from the staff
and the other diners.
Normally we would not have starters with
Sunday lunch, but this was a day for breaking
with tradition in order to gain an overall picture.
So we ordered Fresh Soup of The Day, which was
Curry and Parsnip, Deep Fried Blanch Bait, and
finally Tomato and Mozzarella Salad.
The quality of the food was exceptional, and our
only criticism would be the sheer size of the
portions, which were huge. In fact the member
of our party who chose the whitebait said he
could easily have given half of it to someone else
and still been happy. The whitebait was cooked
to perfection, not too heavy on the breadcrumbs
and not too oily. The same applied to the Tomato
and Mozzarella, this again coming as a huge
portion, although perhaps the addition of a small
drop of dressing would have increased the
flavours. The soup was just right, with just
enough curry so that the distinctive parsnip
flavour was still dominant. To sum up, whilst
the starters were frightening in size, their
quality was second to none
Next up were the main courses, and reluctantly
we had to abandon half of our starters in order
to leave room for our main courses. We opted for
Traditional Roast Beef, Traditional Roast Lamb,
and, from the Specials board we selected Crown
of Pheasant.
The beef and lamb were served on large white
plates, and whilst perhaps thicker slices would
have been preferable for those of us who like
our beef rare, or our lamb pink, to be fair we did
not ask the question. Accompanying the beef
was a rather large Yorkshire pudding and three
beautifully cooked roast potatoes. The rich
homemade gravy for both of the roast dishes
was bursting with flavour. Accompanying the
roast was a huge bowl of freshly cooked
vegetables for two, including peas, courgettes,
carrots, cauliflower, baby corn, and Brussel
sprouts.
As for the pheasant, wow! We wondered if we
had another four people joining us at this stage.
The waitress brought over a plate with not one
crown of pheasant, but two! Once again, the
sauce was intense in flavour, and we loved the
julienne of fried leeks, carefully placed on top of
the crowns. As if that were not enough, we were
also offered with the crown of pheasant new
potatoes, sautéed potatoes, chips or roast
potatoes, together with the choice of three
different types of salad - Waldorf, Caesar, Classic
- or a selection of mixed vegetables. Looking at
the table at this point we could have easily have
fed six of us rather than just three.
Having worked our way through the main course
we decided to take a break at the bar, to decide
which deserts we would like – hard work on a
full stomach! However after ten minutes we
decided to go back into battle, choosing the
Sticky Toffee Pudding, Strawberry and Cream
Slice and Rum and Banana Crème Brulee. Once
again the portion control was generous to say
the least.
All through the meal we struggled, which was a
shame because the atmosphere was great, the
food quality was superb, and the price was very
acceptable. To sum up, Sunday lunch at the
Pointers was a very pleasant and enjoyable
experience, eased along by very attentive staff.
We would like to see some of the starters
slightly reduced in size, the main meals and
desserts were fine, although I think it may be a
case of opting for either a starter or dessert,
you’ll be hard pushed to eat all three courses.
This seemed to be the general feeling of other
diners in the room.
We will definitely be going back – however it is
advisable to book.
The Pointers Inn, Newchurch - 01983 865202

The Essex, Godshill
Quality: Below Average - Average - Good - Very Good - Exceptional
Comments: Combination of flavours is very confusing.
Star Rating: 2/5
Total bill for four was £147.00, inclusive of two glasses of house
wine, 4 soft drinks.
It was a chilly evening in December, and the glowing golden lights of
The Essex (formerly Royal Essex Cottage), Godshill’s newlyrefurbished,
thatch-roofed restaurant, seemed to promise a warm
welcome.
Unfortunately, warmth was not on offer in the draughty reception
area where our party shivered through the aperitifs as we studied
the menu.
In such a historic, grade II listed building – where Queen Victoria is
reputed to have once dined – there seem to be surprisingly few nods
to the comforts of the past. The original cast iron fireplace where
the old Queen no doubt would have warmed herself, is now just a
flat decorative feature. With contemporary leather Chesterfields
pushed starkly against the walls, there was little sense of opulence
or comfort for the pre-dinner drinks.
The friendly waitress who informed one of our foursome that there
was a strict no smoking policy, pointed us instead to a selection of
nibbles: they had in fact been sitting on a low side table which we
had failed to notice.
The olives and nuts on offer were good appetisers, and the
interesting and varied menu had us looking forward to our move
into the main restaurant.
It’s always difficult to judge the proper ambience of a place when
your party are the only diners – and this was the case on this
particular Thursday.
Again, the dining room was cold, and not just in temperature, but in
atmosphere. The flat peach-coloured walls, uninspiring artwork, allwhite
table linen and bare, floor-to-ceiling windows all looked neat
and pristine but devoid of much life or character.
The background music was an odd mix of contemporary pop and
rock, which disappeared altogether for short periods as staff
presumably forgot to re-load the player.
FOOD & DRINK
Before our starters arrived, we were delighted to be offered, with the
complements of the chef, a light chicken consommé – although
nobody managed to finish the rather bland and greasy offering,
which was heavy on overcooked noodles.
The Essex promotes itself heavily on its use of fine local ingredients
in season and -because its owners also run Godshill Park Farm – its
focus on organic produce.
Sure enough, the menu boasts such fine ingredients as partridge,
venison, line-caught wild sea bass, scallops and its signature homereared
organic Aberdeen Angus beef.
We were keen to savour these natural flavours, but were
disappointed to find that some over-elaborate recipes detracted from
the appearance and the inherent character of the main ingredients.
Our starters included a chicken liver pate, presented with sautéed
livers, an apple and walnut salad and green tomato chutney. An
interesting presentation, but the pate – presented in a shot glass –
was declared to be bland, whilst the accompanying chicken liver was
served cold.
Also unimpressed was the member of our party who chose the
roasted langoustine cannelloni with smoked potato and cockle
broth.
However, at least the two who went for the vegetarian option of
slow roasted tomato with basil cous cous, chargrilled courgettes and
a tapenade dressing enjoyed the combination of fresh flavours and
varied textures blended together in this dish.
It was the main courses that were most disappointing, with great
concentration on garnishes and additional flourishes rather than the
core ingredients, which were small in portion size – and in some
cases, unrecognisable for what they were.
In particular, the much-anticipated fillet of Aberdeen Angus beef
with slow-braised faggots was disconcertingly small and
overshadowed both on the plate and in terms of flavour, by the
accompanying army of pommes rosti, creamed leeks and beetroot
and lime relish.
Similarly, the line-caught wild sea bass was presented two ways –
hot and cold – but neither presentation in any way resembled a fish.
It came with honey glazed vegetables, and none-too-warm truffled
potato croquettes – although the rocket and pumpkin seed pesto
was delicious and would have been the perfect complement to a
more simply-cooked fish. Continued over page...
19

FOOD & DRINK
The Essex Continued...
The loin of venison with sage sausage was similarly overpowered by
being presented with more than twice its weight in roasted and
pureed vegetables, sautéed grapes and a very rich chocolate oil. The
diner who chose this suspected the plate had not been pre-warmed
since some of the ingredients had given in to the cold.
Number four in the party chose the whole roasted crown of
partridge with Lyonnaise potatoes, a shallot tart tatin, parsnip crisps
and redcurrant sauce -another case of the main ingredient of the
dish being masked by a whole collection of showy add-ons.
There was certainly plenty of room left for dessert, and here again
the menu seemed to be aiming to impress with its heavy use of
spicy, powerful flavours.
The fig crumble in particular suffered from being upstaged by the
powerful flavour of cardamom seeds.
However, the chocolate dish – intended for two to share – was an ingenious
as well as a delicious presentation, an artist’s palette of different chocolate
concoctions, which was almost polished off by the self-confessed chocoholic
who chose it. For her, at least, the meal was almost redeemed.
For the rest of us, the promise of this new Island eating venue simply did
not live up to expectations.
For reservations call The Essex
High Street, Godshill. Tel: 01983 840232
20
FULTON’S
SEAFOOD & CHOP HOUSE
“come and enjoy our unique
dining experience”
Canvas marquees to create a beautiful
atmosphere for your traditional
English wedding
Marquees for all occasions
www.graysofnewport.co.uk
Please call
Grays on
01983 525221
OPEN 7 DAYS . DAILY SPECIALS BOARD . BEMBRIDGE . TEL: 875559

With four outstanding vocalists, dancers and a live band, West
End in Concert is a roller coaster of memories taking you on a
trip of the ultimate classic West End hits.
From hit musicals such as “Miss Saigon”, “Les Miserables”, “Chicago”
and “Me and My Girl” to the renowned songs from classic shows
including “South Pacific”, “Oklahoma”, and “Oliver” this fast paced,
energetic show features colourful costumes, top-flight choreography
and outstanding musical backing.
As one reviewer noted: “A thoroughly enjoyable pot-pourri of
moments from a dozen musicals and easily the most entertaining
show of its kind I have ever seen in sixteen years as a reviewer”
Medina Theatre - Box Office 527020
Sunday 12 March - 7.30pm
Tickets Adults £12 Concessions £11
Original Country
Rock Music
After eight years, more than 1,000 theatre performances of their
Best of Eagles” show to a following of over 20,000 fans, Talon
are touring their long-awaited original album “Better than
before”
Tonights show will not include any Eagles songs. Instead, expect a
few surprises, plus the twelve self-penned tracks from their album
that cross the musical spectrum of rock, pop and country, creating
the unique sound that is Talon.
ENTERTAINMENT
West End
in Concert
Medina Theatre - Saturday 18 March - 8.00pm - Tickets £14 - Box Office 527020
An evening with
Charlie Landsborough
Charlie Landsborough is a remarkable singer/songwriter who has
played all over the world, and has become one of the all-time
biggest selling artists in Irish music history.
Charlie’s song writing blends easy on
the ear, folk, country, ballads and
blues with a strong and often personal
lyric content, mixed with his wit and
repartee.
Medina Theatre - Box Office 527020
Thursday 6 April - 7.30pm
Tickets £20
21

FARMING
22
This is why most of the Georges’ milk is now produced
for local consumption, and delivered directly to hotels,
guesthouses, independent shops and the local David’s
Supermarkets chain.
They also maintain that fine old British tradition, the
daily doorstep delivery.
But a great deal of work has to be done before that
bottle clinks onto a customer’s doorstep. The average
cow weighs 600Kg, so food consumption is hefty to say
the least. In fact, a typical cow will consume about 54
kilos a day of the GM-friendly Total Mix feed, washed
down with 15 gallons of water. In return, each cow will
produce around 30 litres of milk a day, or 15 of your
average 2-litre cartons. A cow will be milked for approx
12 minutes a day to retrieve 30 litres.
Because of TB concerns, Harold and Alan choose to
breed most of their own stock. He explains: “It costs
around £800 to buy a cow from auction, but the
problem with this is that the cows you buy could be
infected with TB, and if this were the case, it could
spread to the whole herd, which would cost £1,000’s”.
Hence, the Georges opt to breed all their stock
themselves. It costs an estimated £650 in feed and vet’s
bills to tend the calf for two years until it’s ready to
produce its first milk.
“If you take labour out of the equation” says Harold,
“there is not much of a saving, but we are guaranteed
that the calves do not have TB.”
Each new-born calf born receives its own passport, from
the British Cattle Movement Service which stays with it
Delivering
for life.
The milk production process involves decanting the
milk by pump into large glass containers. At this stage,
it is still warm, so it is passed through a chiller and into
a holding tank. From here the milk is then pasteurised,
Your daily pinta
some of it is skimmed to and then it’s packaged into
poly bottles as Full Fat, Semi Skimmed, and Skimmed.
Much of the bottling process is automated, apart from
the placing of the empty bottles onto the filling rack,
(as in picture, right) – a process that’s still done by
hand as a machine to do it would cost over £30-50,000,
It’s easy to take that daily pint of milk for granted, and slosh it onto the and the farm does not produce enough milk to warrant this expense.
cornflakes without a thought – but few of us ever stop to consider the sheer
hard work (of man and beast) that goes into producing it.
Dairy farming involves not just hard work, but long hours, Harold is up every
Dairy farmer Harold George is one who does know: he’s been producing milk morning at 5am to start milking and feeding, and the bottling process
for over 30 years at Coppid Hall Farm, Havenstreet, Ryde following in the finishes at around 11.30am. In the afternoon there is the maintenance and
footsteps of his father Arthur, who took over the dairy farm in 1934.
office work to take care of. Harold’s wife Andrea also works in the business,
mainly in the office along with their full time secretary, taking care of the
By the time Harold took over from his father in 1972, the herd was running orders that come in every day.
at 60 head of cattle. Today, he and his own son Alan – now a partner in the
business - run a herd of over 140 milk-producing cows and 150 followers. In Andrea commented: “Even if we go out of an evening, no matter what time
the old days all milk produced went to the now-defunct Milk Marketing we get back, I always check the answerphone for orders!”
Board, bottled in glass and distributed by Unigate of Newport. When the Milk
Marketing Board was disbanded, it was taken over by Milk Mark, and
* If you fancy starting your own business running doorstep milk deliveries
subsequently, three years ago, by Milk Link.
in your area, all you’ll need to get started is a £7,000 pickup, together with
good sales skills. Harold already has two franchisees earning a fairly good
Nowadays, Harold sends just his daily surplus for marketing by Milk Link, living – although bear in mind that the hours can be quite long and you’ll
although, like most dairy farmers, he is understandably reluctant to send need to be an early riser! If you’re interested, then Harold would be pleased
much of his produce down this route as he gets the princely sum of 17.5p to hear from you. Please call 01983 882489
per litre … for a product that costs him at least 18p a litre to produce.

Above: Harold’s brother and sister pictured in 1949. Harold is
just about visible sitting in the van.
Left: Harold’s son Alan ensures that the cows get fed every day
come rain or shine..
Below Left: Harold proudly stands by the finished product,
knowing that his cows have all been fed GM-free food.
Below: The bottling process is still carried out manually. Harold
bottles about 3-4,000 litres of milk a day.
FARMING
23

GARDENING
A greenhouse
Without the
glass
They’re an essential feature of the English
garden – but if greenhouses have one big
drawback, it’s all that glass.
People with children or animals worry about
accidents, there’s always the chance of breakage
from high winds or flying footballs – and all that
potting, pricking out or watering under glass can
expose gardeners to high intensity UV rays.
So it’s not surprising that a new range of nonglass
greenhouses introduced at the two Honnor
& Jeffrey garden centres in Freshwater and
Sandown last year were such an instant hit.
The Gardman greenhouses are made of tough
polycarbonate on a stylish green-coated
aluminium frame and matching base, which
makes them not only good to look at, but their
performance is second to none.
The polycarbonate panels are UV-treated, which
gives gardeners protection from the sun’s
harmful rays, as well as frost protection for
tender plants and a longer life for the
greenhouse. The enamel-coated frame,
meanwhile, will not rust or rot, making it
virtually maintenance-free.
The best news of all is that the most popular 8ft
x 6ft version of the greenhouse comes in at just
£299 complete – which earned it a “Best Buy”
rating in the Sun newspaper’s gardening section
last year.
Also available are 6ft x 4ft and 6ft x 6ft versions
of the greenhouse – along with a neat little leanto
model that’s brand new for this year. The
lean-to is perfect for gardeners with limited
outdoor space, or those who want to add some
additional greenhouse capacity.
According to Tim Honnor, a fourth generation
member of his family’s business, the garden
centres are seeing something of a revival in
customer enthusiasm for growing their own
vegetables, with sales of veg seeds outstripping
those of ornamentals in recent years.
He puts it down to concerns over mass-produced
supermarket produce, and says this may be why
families now seem to want to re-discover the
joys of growing salad crops and veggies in their
own greenhouse.
“There’s nothing quite like the taste or the
pleasure of eating vegetables you’ve grown in
your own garden,” he says.
24
It’s a great way to get children
involved in the process of growing
their own food, too, adds Tim.
Having been in the family’s gardening
business so long, Tim also observes
that whenever in the past a financial
recession has loomed, people have
always turned back to growing some
of their own food.
“We’ve seen it happen during
recessions twice before in the past,
and as things are starting to look tight
in the economy now, it’s not
surprising for us to see a similar trend
for home-grown produce happening
all over again”.
Call into Dalverton Garden Centre, Newport
Road, Sandown or call them on IW 868602

Comfort
and Style
in rattan
Cane and rattan furniture has come a long way since it
first arrived on the UK furnishings scene during the early
days of the conservatory trend of the 1990s.
Those early cane chairs were not
particularly stylish – and neither
were many of them built for
comfortable lounging.
However, times have changed and
cane furniture has certainly come
on in leaps and bounds.
Growing collaboration between
European furniture designers and
skilled craftsmen in the Far East
have produced a whole new
generation of high-specification
cane and rattan furnishings that
look equally at home in a formal
lounge setting as in a
conservatory or sun room.
Chris Leslie of the Busy Bee
Garden Centre in Ryde says that
more customers these days are
choosing cane furniture for their living rooms, not only for the
comfort factor, but also for its stylish look.
“The latest designs have web seating which makes them
exceedingly comfortable” says Chris, “and yet they still offer very
good value for money in comparison with ordinary lounge suites”.
Cane and rattan will always have a special place in a conservatory
setting, though, as it sits so well against a backdrop of giant
potted plants, patio tubs and natural flooring.
Busy Bee is responding to the growing popularity of cane and
rattan by taking delivery of a whole new collection from the Far
East in mid-February, bringing the range on display at the garden
centre up to 10 different styles.
These come in a whole selection of fabrics, colours and pattern
designs to cater for all types of taste and room setting.
And until the end of March, Busy Bee is making all cane and
rattan pieces available for free delivery across the Island.
Which means there’s never been a better time to sit down and
plan the look of your conservatory, sun room or lounge for the
sunnier months ahead.
GARDENING
Top: The Henley
Middle: The Windsor
Below: The York
Available from:
Busy Bee
opp. Tescos - Ryde
Tel: 01983 811096
25

EQUESTRIAN - Sponsored by Brickfields and Froghill
26
Susie Vale & Jenny
Hillyard sitting - Helina
& Katerina Vale
Josh Symmans
Amy Eldridge
Presentation of
Annual Awards at
Brickfields
The end of another year at Brickfields saw the
handing out of the Brickfields Annual Awards
for classes such as Pony of the Year, Best
Behaved Horse, Horse of the Year etc.
Phil Legge himself was master of ceremonies
handing out the awards to well deserved
winners. This award ceremony takes place
every year, Phil commented “it makes me very
happy to see people achieve and develop their
skills”. Let’s see who appears on this page next
year?
Dawn Norris Vicky Lacey
Mountalifan Stables Sandy Bailey Jay-Jay Rand

Sponsored by Brickfields and Froghill - EQUESTRIAN
Becky Winter Jodie Bircham Courtney Sandison
Pairs Relay Fancy Dress
at Brickfields
Teresa Pitman It was certainly entertaining, and lets hope more riders get
into the spirit again next year.
Lindsey Burt
Maria Young and Alicia Stay
It was a freezing cold day, but still the riders braved the cold
to take part in this years competition. There were all sorts
of wacky costumes, even the horses were dressed up for the
occasion.
It was nice to see that so much effort and imagination had
been put into the making of the costumes. However riding
around the arena with a box and fairy lights attached to
your upper torso cannot be easy.
Laura Flegg and Clare Woodward
27

EQUESTRIAN - Sponsored by Brickfields and Froghill
28
Marilyn & Chloe Storey
Sally Farley & Barbara White
Helen Farley, Emma Storey
Maisy Harrison, Jai Ward
Brickfields Christmas
Pantomime
Putting on a panto with simply actors and sets is
hard work, well imagine if you had to include horses
into the equation?
This is exactly what happened at the Brickfields
Panto, children and adults alike braved the bitter
cold weather (and beleive me it was cold) to stage a
production of Cinderella.
The end of the evening saw Santa Calus arriving on
a horse drawn carriage to hand out presents to
children in the audience. It was a fun evening that
was enjoyed very much by the cast as well as the
audience.
Philip Legge
Mountalifan Stable (Sandy Bailey) Oliver Budd

Charlie True
Christina Loosemore
Helen Farley & Jai Ward
Jessica Morris
Childrens Christmas Show
at Brickfields
This years children's Christmas show began decidedly chilly.
However this did not deter the parents or the children braving the
weather to ensure the day was full of fun. The fancy dress class was
amazing with riders dressed up as Angels, a Penguin, Elves, and
Christmas Parcels. The winning pony was wrapped from head to toe
in Christmas wrapping paper, even the other horses could not
believe their eyes. How on earth they got the horse to stand still
amazed me! Well done to every one who took part.
Sponsored by Brickfields and Froghill - EQUESTRIAN
Zoe Bowden
Mounted: Theo Peyton
Megan Pridmore
Mia Rowden
Maddie Hughes
29

EQUESTRIAN - Sponsored by Brickfields and Froghill
30
Harold George
Alex Dabell Zoe Trousdale
Boxing Day
Hunt
Boxing Day saw a meet at Carisbrooke Castle which
attracted over 400 spectators, and approx. 50
mounted. The Boxing Day hunt is a very special day
in the hunt calendar, and is normally very well
attended. Because traditional fox hunting is illegal
the hunt has now turned to Trail Hunting, this is
where a false scent is laid ahead of the huntsman,
which makes it much faster for both riders and
horses alike. Huntsman Stuart Trousdale
commented, “it was a great day out for all”.
Picture: Emma Orchard-Ohlson
Malcolm Purcell
Ruth Daniell

Debbie Cotton
Stuart Trousdale
Jane Reeves Andy & Lucinda Wilkins
Sponsored by Brickfields and Froghill - EQUESTRIAN
Andrew Turner MP
Jackie Gallop
Laura Sheath
31

FASHION
four
seasons
at The Old Smithy, Godshill
32
‘Twas the
season for
stylewatching
An audience of over 100 stylewatchers
turned out for the popular
pre-Christmas fashion show at the
Old Smithy in Godshill, organised by
the Smithy’s resident fashion shop,
Four Seasons.
A dozen models of all ages – drawn
from staff and friends of the
business – glided up and down the
catwalk in a range of 150 stunning
outfits from some of Four Seasons’
top designer labels – including
Olsen, Pret a Porter, Gerry Weber
and Bianca.
The line-up included everything
from glamorous eveningwear to
casual weekend looks, and smart
outerwear tailored for the English
winter.
The fashion show has been a
favourite fixture on the Island’s
events calendar for many years, and
is regarded by many as their perfect
pre-cursor to the Christmas party
season.
As usual, it included delicious
refreshments supplied by another of
the businesses in the family-owned
Old Smithy complex, the coffee
shop.
There was also the usual raffle, and
by the end of the evening, a total of
£1,056 had been raised for Four
Seasons’ adopted charity, the Earl
Mountbatten Hospice in Newport.
Said Rosemary Brooks, who runs
Four Seasons with her daughter Jane
Cross: “The evening was another
great success with a real party
atmosphere. We’re delighted that it
seems to have become one of those
must-do dates in people’s dairies in
the run-up to Christmas”.
Four Seasons at The Old Smithy,
Godshill
Tel: 01983 840364

FASHION
33

FASHION
Colour for 2006
Equestrian Fashion.
34
a
c
a: Tagg - Sweatshirt
£29.95 - Hat £2.95 - Jack
Murphy, Kildare Jacket
£52.95 - Toggi 3/4 length
trousers £35.95 - Le
Chameau - Wellingtons
£110 - Vierzonord Lead
Rope £2.95
b: Griffin Bonded Fleece
Waistcoat £ 20.95 -
Dublin Cuddly Ponies Top
£19.95 - Riding Hats
from £43.95
c: Hoggs Cord Trousers
£40.95 - Royston
Waterproof Jacket £37.50
- Trespass Fleece £12.95 -
Barham Suede Hat £36.50
d:
Him: Toggi Explorer
Leather Hat £39.95 - Toggi
3/4 Wax Jacket £134.95 -
Her: Puffa Falmouth
Ladies £71.95 - Fleece Hat
£6.95
b
d

e
e: Flo:Dublin Fleece £9.95 -
Horseware Waistcoat £13.95 -
Fleece Hat £2.25 Emily: Jack
Murphy Waistcoat £49.95 - Tagg
Top £26.50 - Cap £2.95
f: Flo: Dublin Fleece £19.95 -
Fleece Hat £11.95 Emily: Tagg
Rugby Top £24.50 - Toggi Down
Jacket £97.95 - Artic Fox Fleece Hat
£8.95
g: Horseware Down Jacket £74.95 -
Wax Hat £24.50
h: Hoggs Shooting Coat £86.95 -
Hoggs Breeks £45.95 - Tweed Cap
£10.25.
Froghill of
Sandford, IW
Tel: 01983 840205
g
h
FASHION
f
35

FASHION
Lora, the
Island’s
Style Queen
If TV style gurus Trinny and Susannah could be
rolled into one, they’d probably come out as the
Isle of Wight’s Lora Peacey-Wilcox.
For Lora is not only the Mayor of Cowes and a County Councillor for
Cowes Central – she’s also the Island’s undisputed Fairy Godmother,
turning out Cinderellas week after week for a host of special
occasions.
Mum-of-two Lora runs the Posh Frocks dress hire service at Newport
Road, Cowes, and she’s lost count of the number of women she’s
sent smiling on their way to cruise holidays, dinners, balls and
proms.
36
For Lora, her business is about much more than hiring out frocks for
special occasions – she gets personally involved with every
customer, often advising them on hair, make up and accessories, as
well as the most flattering style of dress.
She’s had shoals of thank-you letters and bouquets for her help in
turning women into the belle of their ball – and she says this gives
her as much pleasure as the fact that the business has done so well,
doubling its turnover every year from 2003.
“It is very rewarding when a lady comes to me with absolutely no
confidence, dreading some special event she has got to attend – and
then goes out feeling a million dollars and looking forward to it”
says Lora.
“My attitude is that everybody has at least one good point they can
enhance, and that’s what I start with”.
Lora, who has two teenage daughters, says she particularly enjoys
transforming young girls from awkward, harsh-looking Goths into
more feminine, glamorous creatures for their school or college
Proms. “The difference you can make is amazing and some of the
girls and their mothers can’t quite believe it,” she says.
In fact, the growing popularity of the school Prom has been good
news for Lora’s hire business, which she started somewhat
uncertainly in 2002, thinking there would not be enough business
on the Isle of Wight to justify a dress hire service.
“We don’t have big events like Ascot to keep us
going here on the Island, but I had not bargained
for the women who would come wanting clothes
for a cruise, a company dinner or a family
celebration”.
Posh Frocks currently holds a stock of between
600-800 garments, in a size range from 6-30, and
perhaps most importantly, it doesn’t stock more
than one of any design – so a woman will never
have to fear the dreaded scenario of turning up in
the same outfit as somebody else. The collection
includes sumptuous silks, satins and beaded
concoctions all guaranteed to make a woman’s
eyes light up.
Lora sources her clothes from the mainland, and
will even buy a dress on the strength of just one
customer asking for it. Her most expensive dress
on the rails at the moment cost £500 – and can be
hired for just £40.
After they have finished their life as hire clothes,
the dresses go onto the Posh Frocks permanent
sale rail, which offers some amazing bargains.
Frocks kindly modelled by Kelly
Posh Frocks of Cowes
Contact Lora on 01983 289670

FASHION
37

HEALTH & BEAUTY
“I found I wanted a completely different way of
working once I had the two children”
Hi-tech
treatments
can change
lives.
38
Starting a family brought the chance to carve out a
whole new way of life for former NHS consultant
ophthalmologist Máire Rhatigan.
Mother-of-two Máire, who had previously worked as
an eye specialist in NHS hospitals in Manchester and
Southampton, decided to follow her interest in
cosmetic surgery, which had first manifested in 1998,
during her oculoplastic training in Melbourne,
Australia.
“I found I wanted a completely different way of working
once I had the two children” says Máire, “and this was
one of the factors which prompted my decision to leave
the NHS after my son Joseph was born in 2004”.
Máire, who already had a daughter, Shauna, born in
March 2002, had already been doing private
ophthalmology work at the Island’s Orchard Hospital in
Newport since 2000, and it was there that, in June last
year, she set up the Orchard Cosmetic Skin Centre to
offer the latest techniques in cosmetic skin care.
The clinic offers a whole range of treatments, from
permanent hair removal to facial peels and pulsed light
rejuvenation to Botox ® treatment and fillers.
On the more radical side, there is also eyelid reduction
surgery and the revolutionary new Isolagen therapy,
which implants a patient’s own cells to regenerate skin
tissue.
Máire, who spent the year following Joseph’s birth
training in the various cosmetic procedures, says she
found no shortage of friends wanting to act as guinea
pigs!
“Many of my friends were kindly volunteering
themselves for treatments” says Máire, who at 44,
admits to having had Botox injections herself.
“I’ve had loads done … I’ll be looking like Joan Collins
before long” she jokes.
So how has she made the leap from serious medical
surgery to what some might see as a rather more
frivolous branch of the profession?
”These are all questions I asked myself when I was
thinking of adding cosmetic skin treatments to my
ophthalmology work,” she says, “but very soon after
starting, my opinion began to change drastically.
“The fact is, that these treatments can make a real
difference to people’s quality of life, simply by making
them feel so good. I had one lady who had a permanent
frown, so much so that her husband was always asking
her what was wrong. After her treatment she was
absolutely delighted – in fact, it’s not an over-statement
to say that it really has changed her life”.
“You don’t realise until you do this kind of work how
these apparently small things can have a huge effect on

someone’s self-esteem”.
Of course, as an experienced medical professional, Máire retains a
strong element of caution about these non-essential treatments.
“There are certain things I would always be careful of – Botox, for
instance can be dangerous in the wrong hands, so there is good
reason for people to be wary. My approach is always to develop
treatments with each individual patient, tailored specifically for
them. That’s why I always begin with a 45-minute consultation”.
Not surprisingly, around 90% of the skin centre’s patients have been
women, and the men who have attended have tended to go for the
intense pulsed light system for hair
removal.
“I am sure that the Isle of Wight men
would find many of the treatments
just as beneficial to them, though I
guess they might find it more of a
challenge to come to the clinic!” says
Máire.
Currently, she combines her two days
a week in the cosmetic clinic with one
day as a Consultant Ophthalmologist
at the Orchard.
The part-time working means she
performs the classic working mum’s
juggling act in order to spend time
with Shauna and Joseph whilst they
are still young. As they get older, she
expects to ease back into full-time
working.
For now, though, she has more than
enough on her plate. A couple of
days before Christmas, Máire and her
husband Patrick Mann – also a
Consultant Ophthalmologist at St
Mary’s Hospital in Portsmouth –
moved from their house in Ryde’s
Westfield Park area to a new home
close to the beach and the town’s
pier.
“We have a beautiful view of
Portsmouth Harbour and it’s lovely to
be able to wander out straight onto
the beach,” says Maire. She and
Patrick – a keen sailor – fell in love
with the Island when she first came
here to work, and quickly decided it
was the place for them.
“It’s a wonderful place to bring up a
family,” says Máire, who hails from
Cullohill a rural village in the centre
of Ireland.
“It’s a bit like Ireland here because
the people are so friendly, and there’s
that same kind of comfortable, small-town feeling.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
“We love it for its beaches, the fact that you can wander down
there at any time of year and always see something different. And
the Island has such a variety of scenery packed into such a small
area. We are really glad we discovered it and now wouldn’t want
to live anywhere else”.
In the next issue we will be looking at some treatments Máire can
offer, also some before and after photographs.
You can contact Máire at The Orchard Cosmetic Skin Centre on
01983 520022.
“Máire treating a patient with the new Intense Pulsed
Light treatment”
39

ISLAND LIFE SOCIETY
C
The “Home”
Charity
Carnival Ball
A recent charity ball was
organised by Rachel Harvey
from Home Estate Agents, in aid
of two local charities, these
being The Kerry Green Trust,
and the Ryde Carnival
Association. Over 150 tickets
were sold to this well planned
ball.
During the evening there was a
Raffle, Champagne draw, and
the biggest fund raiser was the
auction where David Holmes
battled it out for two tickets for
this years Isle of Wight Nokia
Festival.
A 5 course meal was prepared &
served by the chefs from the
local college, and the whole
evening raised over £4,000.
Rachel Harvey from Home Estate
Agents in Ryde commented “we
hope to do the same again next
year”
40
A B
A: Jodie Pink - Derek & Karen
Thomas.
B: Gail Collins - Pete LeMasurier
C: Paul & Haley Vincent
D: Tim Harris - Nigel Smith -
Angie Boyle
E: Ged Gleeson - Isabelle Rice -
Nicole Meek
F: Isabelle Rice - Matthew Rice -
Judy & Alan Marriot
F
E
D
If you have a function that you would like to appear in Island Life then
please contact the Editor on 01983 861422 or 07976 797455.
We do request an optional donation of £50 which is presented to The Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

M
G
J
K
H
L
ISLAND LIFE SOCIETY
I
G: Sara Danvers-Jukes & friend
H: Jeannine & Mark Johnson
I: Annabelle Smith & friend
J: A party reveller
K: David Holmes
L: Hugh Stevens - Sara Burridge
M: Simon Wratten and his Angels.
41

TRAVEL - Sponsored by Regent Travel
42
Klosters
skiing
Say Klosters and the chances are you’ll instantly think Royal photo-calls and
paparazzi. You’ll probably also assume that to holiday in this world-famous
ski resort, you’ll need a title and a bulging bank account.
But nothing could be further from the truth – in fact, you can be part of the
skiing scene at this hip Swiss village where Prince Charles and his sons Harry
and William are regular visitors, for a tad over £1,000.
Klosters, which is divided into the main village Klosters Platz and the more sleepy
setting of Klosters Dorf, two miles away from the main action, is a magnet not just for
Royals (including the King and Queen of Sweden as well at the Windsors) but for Swiss
bankers, German industrialists and well-to-do British families and celebrity types.
Famous visitors in the past included Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
and Robert Louis Stevenson, who is said to have finished Treasure Island here.
In its heyday as a tax haven, Klosters actually became known as "Hollywood on the
Rocks", and it still attracts an international crowd of movie people.
The main attraction is the resort’s unusual combination of great piste with relative
privacy – because Klosters is, surprisingly, a rather unpretentious Swiss village
comprising a few hotels and grand chalets tucked away in the woods.
However, life at this 1,200m (4,000-ft.) village in the Prattigau Valley has changed
massively since 1222, when a cloister was founded here.
Many visitors prefer the intimacy and hospitality of Klosters to the carnival-like
atmosphere of neighbouring Davos, and, unlike some of its neighbours (most notably St.
Moritz), Klosters has very few unattractive structures. All its buildings are constructed
in the chalet style, giving the town a pleasing architectural harmony. Local residents
claim that the sport of tobogganing originated here.
The celebrity following has ensured that Klosters is well served with good restaurants.
The Wynegg is a favourite haunt of Prince Charles, who enjoys the wholesome, rustic
fare on offer, whilst discerning “foodies” head for the Walserhof. This is the restaurant
attached to the four-star hotel where the British royals choose to stay: it might have
only nine rooms and six suites, but what it lacks in size, the Walserhof certainly makes
up for in Alpine atmosphere.
When it comes to the night life, Prince Harry is said to enjoy a few drinks in the rebuilt
Hotel Vereina, before perhaps moving on to Casa Antica.
Of course the main attraction of Klosters is its ski slopes, which provide the dramatic
mountain landscape setting not just for skiing but a whole range of sports, as well as
leisure and recreation facilities.
For avid skiers, the Parsenn connecting to Davos is the main area of focus – although
the steep terrain and hordes of detectives deter most Royal-watchers.
The Gotschnawang, where Prince Charles was famously involved in the 1988 avalanche
accident in which his equerry died, is rarely open.
For non-skiers, or those taking a day off from the slopes, the varied possibilities for
excursions by Rhaetian Railway to the only Swiss national park, or to the Engadine,
mean that there can be plenty of action even off-piste.
The hiking area of the Klosters-Davos holiday region and the Prättigau, with more than
700 km (437.5 miles) of hiking trails, is an invitation to relax in magnificent mountain
fresh air and enjoy the marvels of nature. Klosters is also particularly attractive for
cyclists, with over 230 km (93.75 miles) of separate routes of varying degrees of
difficulty in the countryside of Klosters-Davos and Prättigau.
The Klosters-Davos "Active Summer guest programme" is worth considering for families
and groups who prefer an activity type of holiday. All types of sports, games and fun for
young and old are on the menu.
Various hotels also pamper
holiday guests in their wellness
centres. A new heated family
open-air swimming pool with a
view over the magnificent
scenery of the Silvretta massif,
12 clay tennis courts, the new 9
Hole Golf course from Klosters
uniquely nestled in the
magnificent alpine landscape, six
18-hole golf courses within a
radius of a 60-minute car drive, a
multi-sport sports centre for
various types of ball sports and
athletics all ensure that there’s no time here to be bored.
Klosters Platz and Dorf are both located on the Landquart–Davos train line, and are also
linked by town buses, which are free with the resort’s Guest Card. The main tourist
office is in Platz, to the right of the station, (www.klosters.ch), and there’s a branch
office in Dorf, also to the right of the station. As in Davos, almost everything is closed
in the between-seasons, but unlike in Davos, the winter price hikes won’t break the
bank.
Klosters has less choice for eating and drinking than in Davos. Most of the hotels have
restaurants attached: the Sonne is especially well thought of, with good regional menus,
and the Walserhof was recently awarded two Michelin stars for the first time. The
Vereina restaurant in the heart of Platz serves quality pizzas. Wynegg enjoys royal
patronage, serving beer and hearty meals that are surprisingly affordable – but if you
plan to eat at the chichi venue of Chesa Grischuna you should book a week or so in
advance, and expect to pay a fistful of francs!
KLOSTERS FACT FILE
Ski & Board unlimited
- more than 300 km (194 miles) of ski slopes
- 6 ski areas: Parsenn Davos & Klosters, Jakobshorn, Madrisa, Pischa, Rinerhorn
- 55 transport facilities such as lifts, cable cars etc.
- Transport capacity for 62,000 people an hour
- 5 practice and valley ski lifts in the Klosters-Davos region
- 110 marked slopes - 20% easy, 42% medium, 38% difficult - out of that: 40 km (25
miles) of snow-covered slopes
- 12 km (7.5 mile) ski run (if snow conditions good) from Weissfluhgipfel to Küblis with
a 2,034 m (6,673 ft) altitude difference.
- Night skiing on Fridays and Tuesdays at the Selfranga lift
- Snow paradises for the little ones: on Madrisa, Pischa und Rinerhorn
- 105 km (65.6 miles) of prepared cross-country ski trails, including night and dog trails
in Davos and Klosters.
- Rent-a-sport / rent-a-ski
- Skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing schools (private lessons, ski racing,
skiing tour weeks, day skiing tours, telemark courses, ski nurseries, playground for
small children, snow garden)

Snow and Ice unlimited
- 120 km (75 miles) of winter hiking trails in Davos and Klosters
- 7 toboggan runs between 2.5 km (1.5 miles) and 8.6 km (5.1 miles) long
- Snow-racket treks
- Ski tours with qualified mountain guides
- Sports centre with curling and bavarian curling rinks, including introductory courses
- Ice hockey, figure skating including ice-skating lessons
Holiday & Fun unlimited
- Davos Casino, Klosters Culture Centre
- Bars and discotheques
- Horse-drawn sleigh rides through snowy landscapes
- Indoor swimming pool, sauna, massages
- Tennis & squash in Davos and Küblis
- Horse riding in the snow, indoor riding arena in Davos
- Excursions on the Rhaetian Railway
- Paragliding and delta-gliding
- Indoor golf driving range in Davos
Typical 7 day package - Silvretta Park 4 Star
The Silvretta Park Hotel is an exclusive and new 4 star first class hotel,
next to the famous ski Parsenn and right in the heart of the picturesque
winter and summer resort Klosters. Following the tradition of the Hotel
Silvretta, built in 1870, the new Silvretta Park hotel opened in December
of 1990. An ideal hotel for all those, who demand the best in hotel,
cuisine, beauty and sports facilities as well as entertainment.
Sat 25th Feb 06 to
04th March 06
Ski Packs
£845.00 per person
Includes fuel supp and insurance
Standard Skis, standard boots, ski school 4hrs a day 3 days £206 p/p.
Standard Skis, standard boots, whole area pass 6 days £242 p/p.
“Subject to availability. Terms & conditions apply, please call for details.”
Sponsored by Regent Travel - TRAVEL
Get your dose of
the bright lights!
Living on the Isle of Wight has many attr actions – but nobody
c ould claim that theatr elan d is one of them.
Hopping over to London for the occasional show, though, makes for a much
more memorable experience – especially if you throw in a night at a hotel and
a shopping expedition to the big-name stores.
The good news is that in recent years, prices for this type of trip have come
down considerably – making it a much more affordable indulgence for Island
residents yearning for an occasional dose of the bright lights.
A trip to a West End show makes for the ideal treat – whether as an
occasional pick-me-up, or as a surprise thank you, wedding anniversary treat
or romantic break – and now it’s possible to enjoy the experience without
worrying about your flexible friend.
The best deal we could find was a three-day trip, which gives you plenty of
time for sightseeing and shopping as well as taking in a show.
This package includes three nights in a top London 4-star hotel, for just £99
per person for the three night stay. The impressive list of hotels you get to
choose from includes the Sunborn Yacht, Docklands, (b&b) the London
Marriott, Regents Park (room only) or the London Marriott, Maida Vale (room
only).
With three whole nights in the Capital, you can make time to visit worldfamous
attractions such as Madame Tussaud’s, London Zoo, Planet Hollywood,
the Hard Rock Cafe, and the Tower of London, visit some art galleries and
museums – or just see the lot all in one go from the top of the London Eye.
When it comes to your evening entertainment you’ll doubtless be spoilt for
choice with current top-rated shows including Chicago, Fame, Chitty Chitty
Bang Bang, Mary Poppins, Phantom of the Opera, The Bee Gees, and The Rat
Pack. Expect to budget around £50 a ticket for shows such as these.
For those with a little less time or cash to spend, another option is to go for
a budget break, which combines one night in a hotel with a theatre ticket,
and comes in at around £70-90 per person.
As for travel, you will leave from Ryde Pierhead travelling on Wightlink to
Portsmouth Harbour Station, and then a train to Victoria. This is not included
in any of the prices above: expect to budget about £25 per person.
All these trips and more can be booked through Regent Travel,
Shanklin on 01983 863013. All offers subject to availability.
43

TRAVEL
Ski like
Royals
A fter skiing regular ly in the Alp s for 10 ye ar s, Isle of Wight
h otelier William Bailey had had enough of infer ior chalet
accommodation and unapp ealing cuisine – so he did what
p erhaps on ly a top hotelier c ou ld , and pr omptly built a ch alet of
h is own.
William, owner of the Island’s only four-star hotel, the historic Royal
at Ventnor, picked a spot nestling in the foothills of Mont Blanc and
commissioned the Chalet Royale – a luxurious new building laid out
over three floors and offering five star de luxe accommodation for
10 guests.
As William says, the standard of
service at the Chalet is “in
another hemisphere”, with a
ratio of one member of staff to
every two visitors, and an
attention to detail which
includes meeting guests at
Geneva Airport and driving
them back to the Chalet, just 50
minutes journey away. Some
guests prefer to arrive by their
own Lear jet, which the Chalet
is more than happy with.
William Bailey’s thought
processes in taking this
ambitious step in his long
career as a hotelier was that, as
well as providing an exclusive
new skiing venue, it would also
effectively employ some of the
Ventnor Royal Hotel’s highlytrained
staff at a time of year
when things can be quiet on
the Island.
What he perhaps did not bargain for was the fact that the Ventnor
staff are, in his words, “queuing up” to do a season at The Chalet.
Only a small number of the Royal’s staff can go for the three-month
season, however – two chefs, two front-of-house staff and a
manager.
For the guests – some of whom have been regulars at the Royal – the
44
www.royalskiing.co.uk
Chalet boasts five spacious double/twin rooms with generous
wardrobe space and private bath/shower. The attention to detail
includes a heated boot room where skis, boots and clothes can be
stored to ensure they are dry and ready for the next day.
After a hard day’s skiing, guests have the chance to wind down in a
relaxing sauna, followed by a bubbly hot tub where aperitifs can be
sipped before dinner.
One of the main focuses for William, though, was to provide a

standard of après-ski cuisine that
would knock most of what was
currently on offer into a cocked
hat.
“No amateur chalet food or cheap
plonk is served here”, he declares.
Instead, two of the Royal’s awardwinning
chefs, who trained in
locations such as Le Manoir aux
Quat’ Saisons, The Dorchester and
Chewton Glen, are on hand to
prepare the delicious dishes that
have won the Chalet a 2-rosette
award for its food.
Considering that most Alpine ski
chalets tend to be staffed by
people who only work for three
months of the year, it’s not
surprising that the Chalet Royale
lives up to its name and stands
head and shoulders above the
rest.
“Most chalet staff doing a season
get two or three weeks training if
you’re lucky” says William.
“Our staff have worked for us for
several years and are
professionals who have
been trained to the
highest standards. They
have won countless
accolades and are
recognised as outstanding
personnel working in the
hospitality industry”.
Whilst the Chalet Royale
is still in its infancy, the
TRAVEL
testimonials from guests who have already stayed are
positively glowing. Many who feature on the Chalet’s
website (www.royalskiing.co.uk) say they have already rebooked
for 2006.
Wrote one: “After the Royal on the Isle of Wight, we knew
it should be good, but it is excellent – staff are superb, the
best. We’ve booked for next year!”
Of course, staying at the Chalet is not exactly in the budget
holiday league, at around £10,000 per week.
But guests who have previously stayed at one of the
region’s older-established luxury venues at a cost of £25,000
a week reckoned that the Chalet Royale was better.Which is
very good news for William. Except that his place is now so
popular that he still can’t manage to squeeze in there
himself and enjoy the kind of luxury skiing holiday he’d
always dreamed of. Perhaps he’ll just have to build
another…
45

FEATURE
Newchurch all
Male Choir
False beards, white smocks, red kerchiefs and string gaiters made
up the somewhat eccentric uniform of the Men of Hart’s Ash Choir
when it set up in a remote corner of Newchurch in the late 1960s.
But the theatrical-type costumes certainly captured plenty of
attention for the singers, and their choir has since gone on from
strength to strength.
The unusual attire and original name had already
been ditched as early as 1970, and the choir quickly
built a reputation through its regular performances
all over the Island.
Now better known as Newchurch Male Voice Choir,
its 32 members sport a smart new contemporary
uniform of maroon blazer and tie with white shirt
and black trousers, adopted in 2005.
Their musical repertoire has also changed
significantly over the years – moving from
predominantly religious numbers towards more
songs from the shows, opera classics, movie themes,
spirituals and pop songs.
And members of the current choir are drawn from all
over the Island, not just its original home in
Newchurch, and include a huge cross section of men,
from postmen and bankers to health workers, the
semi-retired and retired .
46
Picture: Front Row - Joan Chaundy, Accompanist & Roy Bevan, Musical Director - Pauline Stephens, Deputy Musical Director - behind, choir.
In fact, in the past four or five years, the choir has enjoyed
something of a revival, following a period in the doldrums.
Barry Leahy, a first tenor and the choir’s publicity officer, recalls
that 10 years ago when he first attended a rehearsal, there were
only around 16 members.
However, in the past few years – partly because of new singing
blood moving onto the Island from the mainland – that number has
doubled, adding considerably to the power of the four-part singing.
There’s now a very healthy balance of eight first tenors, seven
second tenors, 10 baritones and eight basses, whose ages range
from 38 right up to 83.
Last year, as well as performing in their own regular round of
venues, the choir was joined by numerous visiting choirs from the
mainland for a whole series of joint performances in Island
churches. These included Shrewsbury Police Male Voice Choir –
who finally managed to persuade the Island’s singing men to do a
Picture: Roy Bean conducting the choir

Picture: Arthur Mew
return visit to their mainland home in May this year, for two joint
concerts.
“It’s quite incredible that our choir has never left the Island, but we
are going to put that right in 2006 and hopefully this will be the
start of us doing more performances on the mainland” says Barry.
Other exciting highlights of this year for the choir will include
hosting a visit from “down under” - the Melbourne MVC of
Australia, who are in the UK to take part in the 1000 Welsh Voices at
London’s Royal Albert Hall – as well as the Palynt MVC from
Cornwall.
On average, the choir performs at least once a month, although
bookings for funerals and weddings – particularly over the summer
– can make for a much busier calendar.
They rehearse every Friday in Newchurch Village Hall, and despite
their healthier numbers, there’s still plenty of room for new singers,
especially in the younger age bracket.
“It is a wonderful pastime,” says Barry, “and very enjoyable to sing
FEATURE
for an audience. The choir works so well because we have such a
broad cross-section of men from all backgrounds”.
The singing is done very much for the love of it – although the choir
has an annual fund-raiser just to keep itself ticking over financially.
This is the September Serenade, a one and a half hour programme
staged every year in Newchurch.
If you’re a man with a voice that’s longing to get out, then you’d be
welcome to drop in on a rehearsal, any Friday at 7.30pm in
Newchurch Village Hall.
Alternatively, call Barry Leahy on 01983 564637.
47

ART
Skies of Bembridge
are artist’s inspiration
Artist Charlotte Hodge-Thomas studied in London and Manchester and
enjoyed years of hectic city life on the mainland – but when she and
husband Stewart had their first child Edward in 1999, all they could think of
was getting back to their roots on the Isle of Wight.
The couple, both Island-born, arrived back in 2001, initially living in Ryde
and then moving to Charlotte’s native Bembridge in 2002, the year that their
second child, Howard was born.
Charlotte, who had stopped painting when she first became a mum and had
no intention of pursuing her art again until Howard started school, suddenly
found that the magnificent skies in Bembridge were just too inspiring for her
to ignore.
“The skies here are just awe-inspiring, changing all the time, and I found
myself wanting to get started on my painting much sooner than I had
planned” she says.
After a brief refresher course in watercolours, Charlotte picked up her
brushes again and recalls: “I suddenly realised I hadn’t lost it, and once I
started, it seemed to open the floodgates to ideas I had tucked away over the
years”.
Charlotte, whose earlier work was mainly textile art in vivid hues and
textures, began working in acrylic paint, but with the same trademark bright
colours.
Before long, she felt ready to seek out commissions – and one of her first
approaches turned out to be hugely successful, in a strangely fated kind of
way.
Charlotte completed 16 canvasses for restaurant owner Ian Whitehead, who
wanted them for the opening last summer of his new Fulton’s venue in
Bembridge.
The paintings, which feature food and wine as well as abstract images, were
completed in a record three months, which meant painting at least one a
week between May and August.
“It meant working some very odd hours to fit it around the children, but it
was great to have such a free rein on what was my first major commission
since coming back to my art” she says.
The curious thing is that as a student in the late 1980s, Charlotte had
actually worked part-time as a waitress at what is now Fulton’s (back then it
was the Square Rigger) and recalls thinking how she’d like to have a painting
of hers hanging there.
Now that her work is hanging there, it’s caused something of a stir of
recognition for her, with diners commissioning her to do similar pieces for
their homes.
“It’s odd” she says, “that when I used to live here, nobody ever knew I was
an artist, and now suddenly there is this local recognition, which is really
nice”.
The recognition is likely to grow, too, since Charlotte is staging an exhibition
of her work at the Quay Arts Centre’s café wall from March 28-April 29, and
has also been interviewed for a slot on Island artists scheduled to appear this
year on TV.
48
Meanwhile, her link with restaurateur Ian Whitehead will continue this year
as she has agreed to work on a series of paintings for his latest venture, a
restaurant based at the old Osborne’s male outfitters shop in Union Street,
Ryde.
This is due to open this summer, and her artwork will reflect the building’s
history as a traditional tailor’s.
Charlotte, whose parents own the Hodge and Childs motor dealership in
Bembridge, is more than happy to be back close to her roots.
“It’s the only place that Stewart and I wanted to bring up our children, and
the fact that I seem to have found this local recognition for my art has been
just an added bonus” she says.
· Examples of Charlotte’s work can be viewed on her website,
www.charlottehodgethomas.co.uk

Embark on a railway
journey through Brading
when winter is in full
swing and you will
witness the once quiet
meandering River Yar in
full flood, for this is not
an unusual sight. To
understand the geology
is to understand the
local history on how
man and nature has
moulded the
environment.
Looking East from
Brading Downs, the
lowlands of the Yar
Valley sweep through
between the town and
Culver. On a crisp
winter’s morning, bright
sunlight reflects upon
frozen puddles forged in
mud by the tyres of day trippers to the viewpoint car park. Below, breaking
the cool surface of the Morton fog, lies the best evidence of Roman
occupation on the Island of Vectis. The Romans with their excellent
foresight built only half a mile from the quay side on slightly higher ground
as it was thought that the sea once flooded through to Sandown bay
separating Culver and Yaverland creating what was known as Yar Island.
The newly designed exhibition building, home to outstanding Villa Mosaics,
explains the birth of the Brading parish and unearths one of the hidden
secrets, for Brading harbours many secrets. Although now landlocked,
Brading was once a thriving port. The River Yar flowed west to east into a
substantial sheltered harbour where the tidal waters reached as far as the
present day Bugle Public House.
Traditionally known as Brading Haven, the seaport served the Island for
many years in fact over 2000 years including roman vessels that plied
between southern ports such as Chichester and beyond. Evidence for earlier
use dates back to prehistoric times. Part of the old quay lane was developed
from an ancient track linking the Island to Cornwall in the west, trading in
the then precious commodity of tin.
Bradynge (Brading) was granted its first charter by Edward 1 in 1280 being
referred to as Ye King’s towne that flourished into a highly successful and
political player. By mediaeval times the town laid claim to a resident mayor
and two members of parliament, which by any standards reflected wealth
and influence for a small settlement. 1640 was the year in which Brading
played host to royalty with a visit from king Charles 1st, who is believed to
have frequented the Bugle Inn. London is where the King lost his head and
Carisbrooke castle held him captive, however Nunwell house to the north of
Brading Harbours
many secrets...
by Nick Pointing
the haven gave Charles a comfortable night and a slight rest bite before his
fate. Royal visits and Westminster representatives only helped to support
economic growth reaching its height in prosperity during the reign of
Elizabeth 1st. Sadly it wasn’t to last, the towns poor folk were the first to
feel the downward turn as trade moved north to New port.
Alighting at Brading station its only a short walk to Quay lane, the road
winds through historic houses passing the Bull ring in the centre of town.
Once a hive of activity the bull ring was to be found in the middle of the
road, prior to the onslaught of modern traffic. Here the poor were
entertained by the gruesome act of bull baiting. Sir John Oglander would
donate five guineas for the purchase of a bull with the genuine objective of
providing the poor with free meat. Sadly it involved a gory display between
the fretful bull and what was know as the mayor’s dog dressed in colourful
ribbons.
Standing in the heart of what once was a thriving port and market town, it’s
easy to appreciate the vibrant life of days gone by. It’s delightful reflecting
on Bradings colourful past but not to dwell in detail at the bulls demise.
With time, either through trade or the lack of defence, Brading lost its
importance. The natural silting of the harbour led to the reclamation of land
for agriculture, and by 1594 the western extent of the harbour was dammed.
Shallow draft ships still served Brading at high tide as far as the old quay at
Quay Lane. Within time, the development of Newport Quay and the
protection of Cowes Estuary led to the Haven giving way to land, and the
decline in prosperity took hold. Finally, in 1881, the harbour entrance at
Bembridge was closed off to the sea for good with the arrival of the railway
and embankment. Today, you can still see the old stone walls and quay that
is found, not surprisingly at the end of Quay (Wall) Lane, now high and dry
playing host to grazing cattle.
It is still early, and a brisk
walk in the cool air is
satisfyingly refreshing with
silence only broken by the
distant train and a flock of
doves overhead. Walking
across the stone built dam
that stretches across the
marshland from down to
down, Brading towards
Culver, a touch of sadness
unfolds at the thought of
what was. The frosted grass
crumples under foot as
Canadian Geese fly overhead
and a Heron stands staunchly
still observing his potential
breakfast. With all this in
mind, the secrets of Brading
Harbour give way to the
secrets of Brading wildlife.
ISLAND HISTORY
Picture: Mr Rupert Burstow taking his
early morning walk across the marsh.
49

INTERIORS
Buying a sofa or lounge suite used to be a relatively
straightforward process. But now, with the sheer range of
options on offer – from corner groups to recliners, fabric or
leather upholstery, fixed frame or flat-packed, not to mention a
whole plethora of colours and patterns to choose from – the
average buyer can end up in a spin.
So how DO you decide on the best option for your home?
Sit back and relax – we’ve asked one of the Island’s experts, Keith
Ballingall, owner of the huge, 10,000 sq ft. Sofas and Chairs
showroom in Newport, for a few vital guidelines.
The first decision most buyers will need to make in the narrowingdown
process, says Keith, is quite simply, whether to go for:
Leather or fabric upholstery?
There’s been a massive shift in the marketplace in recent years, and
leather now accounts for around 60% of lounge furniture sales. The
reason is simple – leather furniture has been falling steadily in price
as manufacturers in Eastern Europe and the Far East have started
producing higher quality seating using hides imported from countries
such as Italy. Furniture making, in fact, has rapidly turned into a
big global business.
Add in the fashion element – with every glossy interiors magazine
now featuring leather heavily in its room settings – and it’s no
wonder the market has moved in this direction.
So, if you’ve decided on leather, there are a few things you’ll need to
be aware of:
It’s a natural product, which means it will have individual
characteristics that make each hide – and each piece of furniture –
unique. Leather will always bear the marks of its natural origin, so
50
Selecting the
right sofa
for your home...
expect to see shading variations, healed scratches or scars and neck
wrinkles. These are not defects, but signs of genuine leather as
opposed to an imitation.
The real thing comes in many forms, as you will quickly realise.
These include:
Antique/distressed leather: Where a special surface effect has been
created to mimic the worn appearance of traditional leather.
Aniline leather: Leather that’s been dyed by immersion in a dye
bath and has no top coating of pigmented finish – hence making it
very soft to handle, but extremely delicate and more susceptible to
staining and sunlight damage.

Semi-aniline leather: Dyed with a
pigmented base coat, but topped with
later coats of a contrasting pigment,
to give a two-tone effect. The look
imitates that of aniline leather and is
still soft to handle, but offers more
resistance to wear and light.
Corrected grain leather: The grain
layer of the leather is partially
removed by buffing, and a new surface
is built using various finishes. A
decorative grain finish can then be
embossed onto the surface, to give a
high resistance to wear, soiling and light.
Split: Made from the split middle or lower
section of a hide, with a polymer coating
applied and embossed to mimic leather. As tear
resistance on the split is low, it shouldn’t be used on areas
susceptible to wear – generally it’s used only on the sides and back
of sofas.
If leather isn’t for you, then you can expect to be equally spoilt for
choice in terms of fabric options. At Sofas and Chairs there are
natural or man-made fabrics, stain protection treated or washable,
and a range of colours and patterns that cover every home colour
scheme you’re likely to come up with.
One of the fastest-growing choices in fabric upholstery is soft, suedeeffect
microfibre, which is super practical as well as good looking,
because it cleans quickly and simply with a damp cloth.
Keith estimates taking the eight main furniture ranges he stocks,
each of which has over 20 models in each range, a choice of different
wooden fascias, more than 40 different colours of leather and even
more choices of fabric, it multiplies into literally thousands of
different options to choose from.
“We started counting and got to over 1,200 different options from
one single manufacturer before we had to just give up!” he says.
So, next choices:
Fixed or motion furniture:
Another huge growth area is the reclining chairs and sofas market –
arguably the ultimate in comfort at the end of a long hard day.
Exclusive to Sofas and Chairs on the Island are top manufacturers La
Z Boy and the Norwegian company Elano, both of which offer
sumptuous, good-looking furniture with the added comfort of
reclining features.
Going for this option means you’ll need to make some more choices –
manual or motorised for instance, lever handle, push-button or
spring-loaded?
For elderly people or those with mobility problems, there’s also a
great choice of “riser” recliner chairs, which the company supplies to
a number of local rest homes.
Traditional three-piece, or corner group?
The traditional sofa and two chairs is not for everyone – and more
and more customers with open-plan living spaces are going for corner
groups. Remember that you’ll need to consider whether a left or
right-handed layout (determined by the arm unit) will be better for
your living space.
Size matters!
Looking at sofas and chairs in a 10,000 sq ft showroom can skew
your judgement of exactly what your own home will accommodate.
It’s not unusual for customers to misjudge the space they have at
home and choose a suite that’s too big – if not for their living room,
then sometimes too big to squeeze through the front door or
hallway!
The experts at Sofas and Chairs have seen it all, and because they
specialise in personal service, a way can usually be found around
problems such as this.
“We choose manufacturers who offer seating with removable arms,
which helps for starters where space is an issue” says Keith.
“Other units will dismantle into five or six pieces and can be reassembled
in a customer’s home. And if all else fails, we do stock
flat-packed options if space is really an issue”.
But you have to wait SO LONG!
This is a common cry when buying lounge furniture, with some
companies taking up to 16 weeks to deliver.
Sofas and Chairs can usually do much better than this – partly
because it holds a sizeable stock in-house, and partly because it also
has reliable supply sources in the UK. If your furniture choice isn’t
in stock, it can usually be delivered within four weeks – although
sometimes as short a time as five days.
It doesn’t end with sofas
INTERIORS
In fact, Sofas and Chairs lives up to its name by covering every
seating option you’re likely to want – including sofa beds, futons and
other convertibles – and even dining chairs.
Many customers go for a clever re-vamp of their dining space by
keeping the table and replacing old, worn-out chairs with stylish new
ones.
So whatever your needs when it comes to your sit-upon – Sofas and
Chairs is there with the answer!
Located at: Taylor Road, Newport. (By Argos) Tel: 01983 539700
51

PROPERTY FEATURE
Blind Buying!
Shopping for houses online
sees thousands – even millions
– spent at the click of a mouse.
Buying a pair of shoes or
groceries online requires a leap
of faith, with many consumers
only just getting used to the
internet as a shopping portal.
In fact, the large majority of
internet purchases consist of
less personable items such as
travel, tickets, music and
DVDs.
Yet now Brits are buying
houses online, without having
even seen them first.
While traditionally a gut feel
goes a long way to influencing
a house purchase, a new wave
of investors are buying homes
using no more than a
photograph and vital statistics
to steer their decision.
Coined ‘blind buying’ by
founders of property website
landlordtrader.co.uk, this new
trend has proven that people
across the UK are willing to put
their faith in the web and each
other.
Research shows that around 60
per cent of online shoppers
spend around £33 or less per
month on goods, yet when it
comes to buying property,
investors are beginning to use
the web as an investment
portal investing far larger sums
of money.
On landlordtrader.co.uk
investors are prepared to sign
away an average spend of
around £135,000 at the click of
a mouse. It claims 93 per cent
of its buyers have agreed an
offer to purchase properties
without conducting a single
viewing over the past six
months.
Landlordtrader co-founder
William Foot says, “Friends of
mine worry about spending as
little as £20 on the web, so
when we launched Landlord
Trader, we knew we would be
asking a lot of our users.
“Yet provided the price is right,
buy-to-let investors are willing
to bid for houses with little
more to go on than a
52
photograph and a few key
figures.”
He believes that the site is
being used as an investment
sourcing tool. Provided the
purchase makes sound financial
sense and the buyer instructs
professionals to carry out
prudent due diligence as a
matter of course, buyers see no
need to view the property first.
While ‘blind buying’ is new to
the residential property market,
investing in commercial
property has typically focussed
more strongly on financial
factors.
Colin Barber of leading online
commercial property listing site
Propex says,
“What we’re seeing now is the
rise of financial over emotional
values when it comes to
investing in the residential
market.
“While investing in commercial
property has always been led by
financial sense, the residential
property market has
traditionally taken more
emotive factors into account.
Curb appeal, décor, ambience
and location typically play a big
part in the purchasing decision.
Nowadays, with the
tremendous rise in the number
of property investors, there’s
likely to be a big increase in the
number of people looking to
buy residential property online.
Sensibly, interest in financial
gain becomes far more
important than the colour of
the wallpaper.”
APPEARANCES CAN
BE DECEPTIVE ON
THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Britain’s premier house builder has just released one of its more
unusual yet very popular homes at its new development on the Isle
of Wight.
The Hursley apartments’ two different designs are based on a style that was
a sell-out success for Barratt at their Endeavour Place development in
Hamble, as well as many other developments in South Hampshire. Barratt is
now building this design at Marlborough Park near Ryde.
As the demand for new homes on the Island continues to grow, the Hursley
is a much needed, affordable property that will attract a range of buyers.
Steve Wilks, Barratt Southampton’s managing director said “Barratt Homes is
committed to assisting the next generation of home buyers as much as
possible. The development of cost effective housing is just one of the things
that Barratt Homes are currently doing to achieve this. These apartments
work really well for first time buyers and professional sharers alike and
we’ve adapted this very successful design for the Island market.”
Looking like a modern, elegant, three-storey townhouse from the outside,
it’s only when you step foot inside the property that you begin to see the
Hursleys’ secret.
A two bedroom maisonette sits above a one bedroom apartment and with
totally separate access buyers are offered a great deal of privacy, with the
benefit of having a neighbour close at hand.
The ground floor one-bedroom apartment has its own entrance at the rear of
the building and the maisonette uses the traditional front door.
The one-bedroom ground floor property offers an open plan lounge/dining
room and separate kitchen. The comfortable bedroom boasts an en-suite
bathroom while there is a cloakroom for visitors.
Spread over the two upper floors the maisonette mixes the advantages of
apartment living with the feeling of a traditional house. While buyers are
effectively sharing a property which means outgoings like service charges
will be lower compared with a conventional flat, house hunters will retain
the feeling of their own home because of the two floor layout and having
their own front door.
The two-bedroom Hursley offers great flexible living. The first floor houses
an open-plan living space with separate kitchen and the home’s main
bathroom.
Upstairs are the large double bedrooms, the master has an en-suite while the
second bedroom has use of a comfortable main bathroom. This set up works
well for sharers; avoiding the morning bathroom queue and offering plenty
of personal space.
House hunters will soon be able to visualise in more detail what life at

Above: Barratt’s Hursleys’ apartments at Marlborough Park
Marlborough Park will be like, with the unveiling of three fabulous show
homes including the two Hursley properties, taking place soon.
“We are very excited by these designs and we’re confident that purchasers
will find that they not only make very stylish homes but are also incredibly
practical and easy to live in,” adds Steve.
The apartments start at an affordable £118,995 and Barratt Homes offer first
time buyers a selection of fantastic starter deals and plenty of help and
expert advice, which makes a new home more affordable than many buyers
think possible.
As a popular holiday destination the Isle of Wight offers residents all the
benefits enjoyed by visitors for 365 days of the year. Alongside the obvious
coastal attractions, the island offers plenty of quiet unspoilt countryside.
There are also great leisure facilities and year round entertainment.
Located close to Ryde town centre Marlborough Park benefits from the
excellent amenities available there, from large supermarkets to the individual
small shops, pubs and restaurants.
The new development on Marlborough Road will have 100 stylish new
homes. With an impressive selection of one and two bedroom apartments,
fashionable two bedroom coach houses and spacious, two and three bedroom
houses, there really is something for everyone.
To find out more house-hunters can visit the sales office open daily
from 11.00am to 6pm or call on 01983 618 769.
PROPERTY FEATURE
53

www.pittis.co.uk
Sandown £375,000
4 double bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, annexe
style option, garage block, G.C.H and D/G
Sandown Office: 01983 407444
Colwell £350,000
Older style property, 4 bedrooms, 2 receptions,
kitchen/breakfast room, garage & workshop.
Freshwater Office: 01983 756222
Whippingham £310,000
4 Bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, lounge,
conservatory, study, garage.
Newport Office: 01983 528888
54
Sandown £249,950
Attractive semi detached property situated within a highly regarded Rd in Sandown. The
property comprises of 3 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms a kitchen, bathroom and separate
downstairs cloakroom. Externally the property has sizeable mature well maintained
gardens. A rare opportunity.
Sandown Office: 01983 407444
Shanklin £425,000
Executive style residence with 5 double bedrooms (3 en-suite) 19'10 sitting room, dining
area, study, kitchen, utility room, cloakroom & bathroom. Double garage with store. D/G
windows, GCH.
Shanklin Office: 01983 868777
Offices in: Newport - Bembridge - Shanklin - Sandown - Cowes - Ryde - Freshwater

Wootton, From £350,000
Backing onto fields with views of surrounding countryside. Comprising 3 bedrooms (with
en-suite to master), utility room, and conservatory. In addition are 4 acres of land, ideal for
keeping horses.
Ryde Office: 01983 564646
East Cowes £255,000
A first floor apartment which has been converted from a Grade 2 listed Manor House which
has been refurbished to an extremely high standard. There are three bedrooms, one of
which is en-suite and two have fitted wardrobes. There is a fabulous fitted kitchen/dining
room. A 16' lounge and a family bathroom.
Cowes Office: 01983 292345
Ventnor £349,950
Gurnard £279,950
Totland Bay £340,000
www.pittis.co.uk
Detached Character Cottage, 3 Receptions, 3
Bedrooms, Gas Central Heating, Sea Views.
Shanklin Office: 01983 868777
Sea views, Two double bedrooms, 20' lounge
with sea views, modern kitchen. 21' workshop.
Cowes Office: 01983 292345
Detached bungalow, 3 bedrooms, conservatory,
garage & parking, gardens. Must see property.
Freshwater Office: 01983 756222
D o y o u v a l u e y o u r h o m e ? W e d o F R E E o f c h a r g e
55

PROPERTY FEATURE
Buying a property nowadays is difficult enough even for an
established buyer – so when it comes to your children, they have
more than a mountain to climb. It's almost impossible these days
for first-timers to get on the property ladder, with the average price
on the Island of a one or two bedroom flat being in excess of
£117,000 .
Obtaining mortgages is also increasingly difficult, with the income
to loan ratio in most cases being only 3 times joint income.
However, some building societies will go as far as seven times
income, although this would be really stretching your monthly pay
packet. If we take the average income for a 25-30 year old being
approx £15,000 on the Island, simple maths will tell you this makes
it impossible for your children to get onto the property ladder.
As Simon Wratten of Fox Property commented “The sad thing for
kids is that most who live away from home pay more in rent than
they would do on a mortgage, and it's simply the initial deposit that
holds them back”.
So, how can you help them? Simon has a few suggestions for
making the first step easier.
“The biggest stumbling block that most youngsters hit is finding the
56
Estate Agent Simon Wratten
working hard to find a
solution for keen first time
buyers...
Buying a
home for
the first
time can
be an
uphill
struggle
initial deposit, but there are several options open to parents,
depending on their personal circumstances” he says.
You or your children have access to deposit funds
First, parents or grandparents might be generous enough to simply
lend or give the deposit to the children, which they regard as an
early inheritance. If parents are looking for a more secure option,
then a charge can be placed on the property which will protect the
parents’ investment if they decide to lend. As soon as the loan is
paid back, the charge can be lifted. Another favourable option to look
at is the range of offers from major developers, such as Barratt
Homes, who are keen to help the first time buyer. They run such
schemes as "equity share", which works by using the equity held in
the parents’ home as a guarantee against the new property, and has
proved to be popular with both buyers and parents.
The government has realised the difficulty facing first-time buyers
and is now looking at putting schemes into place to help balance the
situation. One such scheme would allow the mortgage lender to
retain a share of the property and then charge rent on that share.

The buyer will then be able to buy out the share as funds allow,
either in whole or by staged payments.
We simply have no funds for the deposit, but we
can easily afford the mortgage payments.
If you do not have a deposit, then despair not, you can still
purchase a property. Some mortgage companies will lend a 100% of
the purchase price, although you need to be aware that this comes
at a slightly increased interest rate, normally between 0.25% and
0.5% higher than the norm.
There are also some lenders who will put up as much as 125% of the
property value. The purpose of this being that the homebuyer can
also pay off any other borrowings such as car loans and credit cards
that they may have. These type of payments can be a major drain
on your monthly finances, and by paying them off, it releases more
monthly income for the mortgage.
I have some friends who are willing to invest with
me and buy a property..
Because first time property prices in the UK are now so high, it’s
quite common for a group of two or three friends to get together
and purchase a property. In some ways this is a good idea, although
it could get messy, especially if you fall out with one another. If
this happens there are three options open to you: buy out the other
party’s share in the property, or if this cannot be achieved, sell the
property and split the funds, or retain the property and rent it out.
This way, you both keep your investment. Whatever happens, as
long as you have a water-tight agreement drawn up by a reputable
solicitor before proceeding, these eventualities should be covered.
Rental Income?
Another great option is to buy a 2 bedroom property, even if this
means stretching yourself a bit. By doing this you then have the
potential of renting out the spare bedroom. The average rent for a
room in a flat nowadays is approx £60.00 p/w exclusive of bills. This
can be a great solution, one that can lighten your mortgage
payments by up to £240.00 per month. If you decide to go down this
route, always ensure you do things officially, by way of a Shorthold
Tenancy Agreement, which protects both yourself and the tenant.
Summing Up
We have looked at various ways in which your offspring can get
their first step onto the property ladder. Buying a property usually
beats renting, as over the course of time you are building up an
asset, even if the property market is slow. History suggests that
property always increases in price, whereas renting can be a case of
lining someone else’s pocket.
To give you an idea of what’s available we have selected some first
time buyer properties from Fox Property’s portfolio, and as you can
see they offer some good options for a first home.
If you would like to discuss this any further then Simon would be
more than pleased to go over any of the points above in greater
detail. As he says, the first-time market needs to keep moving so as
to keep the rest of the market on the move.
You can contact Simon at the Cowes office on 01983 292929.
PROPERTY FEATURE
The Strand, Ryde
Tel: 01983 811811
-Immaculately presented
-one bedroom
-fitted kitchen
-close to town centre
-chain free
Price £95,000
Ryde
Tel: 01983 811811
-recently refurbished
-one bedroom
-town centre location
-private courtyard area
-chain free
Price £96,750
Esplanade, Ryde
Tel: 01983 811811
-Lift to All floors
-One bedroom
-Sea View
-Communal c/p and gardens
-Chain free
Price £125,000
Ryde
Tel: 01983 811811
-Two bedrooms
-Mews style cottage
-Parking and Garden
-Kitchen & Bathroom
-Close to amenities
Price £125,000
The Strand, Ryde
Tel: 01983 811811
-spacious top floor flat
-two bedrooms
-sea views
-gas central heating
-off road parking
Price £137,500
Ryde
Tel: 01983 811811
-Charming semi-detached ---
-cottage
-two bedrooms
-double glazing
-Conservatory
-Parking for three cars
Price £137,500
57

PROPERTY FEATURE
58
Binsteads best
kept secret..
Bridges - Ryde
Price £485,000
Call Ryde Office:
01983 811811
This truly outstanding, detached home
is positioned on its own within an
amazing ‘valley’ plot and simply has to
be one of Binsteads best kept secrets.
The property has the potential for seven
bedrooms and is offered for sale in
excellent decorative condition. There is
much parking, double garage and beautiful
surrounding gardens with lovely
picturesque stream running through.
The home, built to a high specification
also boasts quality fixtures and fittings
throughout, such as the gas living flame
lounge fire set in a marble surround, oak
laminate flooring, limed oak kitchen units,
with integrated gas hob and double oven,
dishwasher and fridge/freezer.
A feeling of space is essential when
having a large family and while the
children can take their pick of rooms to
entertain their friends in without getting
under your feet, the master bedroom suite
is an ideal hideaway for the parents to
escape to, with built-in wardrobes,
telephone and television point, and ensuite
shower room. Or why not take to the
patio with a glass of wine and friends and
just enjoy the country feel the garden has
to offer.
Tucked away from nearby properties and
yet still offering easy access to Ryde town
and local ferries, an early viewing on this
home comes very highly
recommended.
prestige department

Stunning
Views
“Highfield” is a substantial period
residence located on a private road, just
off Nettlestone Green. The property, home
to three generations of one family, is
currently arranged as two maisonettes,
each with its individual central heating
system, but could be converted back to
one house with the reinstatement of an
internal staircase and other associated
modifications. The property benefits from
double glazing. Local amenities include a
primary school, convenience store, post
office and public house, and it is also
conveniently located for the local bus
routes. The adjoining village of Seaview
has further facilities available.
The accommodation includes six bedrooms,
two reception rooms, a study, two
bathrooms, two kitchens and a utility
room.
The ground floor home has a substantial Lshaped
hallway, doors from which lead
into the living room with its bay window
and feature gas fire and hearth, the three
bedrooms, one of which has French Doors
opening out to the rear garden, and to the
kitchen from which you access the utility
room.
The first floor home, which is accessed via
a separate external staircase, affords views
across the countryside towards the Solent
from the front facing rooms. Again a
hallway (landing if one was to convert the
property back to a single residence), has
doors leading off to the living room, again
with a bay window and feature gas fire
and hearth, the three bedrooms, study,
kitchen, bathroom and separate w.c.
To the front of the property there is offroad
parking. There is side access to the
rear garden, which is in excess of sixty
feet square and has two wooden garden
sheds. Price: 430,000.
Contact Pittis on
01983 875757
PROPERTY FEATURE
59

ACCOMMODATION
Staying
Over
Luxury hotels and restaurants
that cater to your every whim.
Tourism News
During 2006, we will be expanding this section and turning the
spotlight on the very best of the Island’s accommodation,
restaurants, and leisure attractions. This feature, aimed both at
local residents and visitors to the Island, will be packed with ideas
and suggestions for things to do, places to visit, and eating places to
savour during the spring months and school holidays. As residents,
it’s easy to forget just how spoilt for choice we are on our lovely
Island, so we will offering you timely reminders of what’s out there.
Meanwhile, if you have any feature suggestions or tourism news for
the next issue (March/April 06), please contact the editor on
01983 861422 or 07976 797455 or email
news@isleofwighttouristboard.com
THE ROYAL HOTEL
Belgrave Road, Ventnor
Tel: 01983 852186
60
AA 4 Star - 2 Rosette
Also: Weddings - Fine Dining
Sunday Lunch
The Pond Cafe
Bonchurch Village Road, Bonchurch
Walk into the Royal and step back to
an era of elegance, class and
Empire. Queen Victoria herself
enjoyed the charm of this delightful
hotel. Gracious restaurant and
lounges, immaculate gardens with
heated swimming pool.
www.royalhoteliow.co.uk
Experience our sensational fine dining menu in the
fantastic restaurant overlooking the pond in Bonchurch.
Victoria Ave, Shanklin
Tel: 01983 862329 Fax: 01983 866666
- 7 Bedrooms all en-suite - Direct dial telephone
- Colour TV and DVD/CD - Sunbed
- Luxury whirlpool spa - Children not allowed
- Health & beauty salon - Non smoking
Foxhills is a well situated Hotel within easy walking distance of Shanklin's
many attractions. A warm & friendly Hotel with comfortable bar/lounge, sun
lounge and an enviable reputation. Melt away your tensions and clear your
mind in the luxury whirlpool spa and indulge yourself with a choice of health
and beauty treatments and our fast tan sunbed.
www.foxhillshotel.co.uk
Seaview
ETC - 3 Star
“The Country House
Hotel by the sea”
Two AA Rosettes for
outstanding food.
Stylishly refurbished
country house hotel
in a 70-acre seaside
estate.
Private beach.
www.priorybay.co.uk
26 Bedrooms
All en-suite
THE PRIORY BAY HOTEL
Eddington Road, St. Helens
Tel: 01983 613146 Fax: 01983 616539
Foxhills
www.thepondcafe.com
Tel: 855666
Open 7 days a week
10am - late
5 Diamond
info@foxhillshotel.co.uk

Priory Bay’s, next
phase gets under way.
After seven years, the Priory Bay is beginning the next phase of its
development as a luxury country retreat.
Says owner Andrew Palmer, “Given the seasonal nature of business on the
Isle of Wight, I am keen that we should develop facilities that can be used by
residents and businesses on the Island during the quieter months, and I
would also like to use our facilities to help raise funds for Island-based
charities.”
In 1997, Andrew Palmer literally stumbled across the hidden gem that is the
Priory Bay Hotel, when his boat broke down in Priory Bay. Shortly
afterwards, he purchased the hotel with his brother James, and spent over £1
million restoring the building to its former glory.
Parties/Celebrations at the Priory Bay Hotel
A set of beautiful, locally-made French windows have recently been installed
in the Bay Restaurant, which
open out onto a new stone
terrace with spectacular views
out to sea over the grounds,
terraces, and the newly upgraded
golf course. The gardeners are
now planning the planting
around the terrace, so guests
will be able to eat outdoors
surrounded by flowers and views
reminiscent of a Tuscan villa.
The New Bay Terrace
The hotel has always specialised
in providing wonderful food and
service for weddings, but the Bay
Restaurant and new terrace,
covered with our own marquee,
now offers the capacity to
provide functions for up to 180
people. Andrew is keen for
local charities to take advantage
of the facilities, and the hotel is
currently working with Gloria Minghella and the Motor Neurone Disease
Association to promote a charity ball in late March.
“We were delighted to do our first big wedding at the beginning of December
using the terrace marquee, and not withstanding a force 10 gales on the
Friday afternoon, it provided a wonderful setting for Tom Howe and Sophie
Hobart’s celebrations”.
Dining at the Priory Bay
The intimate grandeur of the Regency-muralled Island Dining Room makes it
an outstanding location for intimate private parties, both for business and
special celebrations.
The Island Room menu has been awarded two AA Rosettes for fine dining.
Chris Turner, the Head Chef, is introducing a new menu, as always, using the
freshest ingredients and wherever possible, produced on the Island.
Specialities include Fillet of Island lamb with char-grilled Provençal
vegetables, garlic rosti and a rosemary jus; Feuillete of scrambled duck egg
with Island asparagus and white truffle oil. A fabulous dining experience,
and Island residents can make the most of this by taking advantage of halfprice
Dine & Stay promotions, which are available at various times
throughout the year.
The more informal Bar Brasserie menu offers specialities such as Venison
Pudding, Smoked Duck Salad, and a perfectly turned Risotto.
Golf
Says Andrew Palmer, “I’m not a golfer myself but we had the editor of Golf
ACCOMMODATION
Above: A real importance is placed upon service at The Priory Bay.
Magazine to stay, and he encouraged us to turn our quirky 9-hole par 3 golf
course into ‘the best 6-hole golf course in the world.’ “
No sooner said than done, and if the weather is with us, the new greens
should be ready by mid to late spring.
In the meantime, anyone who wishes to pop in for a light lunch is invited to
inspect the new holes and play a round of the existing 9-holes for free.
Golf Academy
Most exciting for both Islanders and guests is a new venture with two Island
based PGA golf professionals, Nick Clemens and Konrad Brochocki of
Provision Golf, who will be offering private golf instruction from the spring.
Says Nick Clemens, “We are really excited about the new 6-hole course. It
provides a variety of challenges and we will be able to provide coaching on
the course, which is always the best way to learn.”
Opera
Left: The Regencymuralled
Island Dining
Room was awarded two
AA Rosettes for fine
dining.
The Priory Bay has the most wonderful setting with its range of period
buildings overlooking the sea. We have always dreamed of putting on an
evening of open air opera, and were approached by Will Sussman, a producer
from Classic FM, now living locally. The first Midsummer Operas at the
Priory Bay will take place in June 2006. Dress code is ‘Barefoot or Black Tie’,
and tickets will include a fabulous dinner with lobster, champagne and other
specialities sourced from the Island.
61

MOTORING
Mercedes-Benz
a real multi-tasker
Called a Sports Tourer, this six-person crossover is designed for utility—
without sacrificing luxury, comfort or driving enjoyment.
So what is it? The R-Class is a vehicle that can comfortably carry six
adults (or four adults with ample legroom and plenty of luggage
space), but still drives like a high-performance luxury car.
The exterior design of the R-Class cleverly disguises the vehicle's size,
particularly from the rear view. The R-Class offers a fun-to-drive
element that is hard to find in a traditional SUV or minivan. The sixpassenger
R-Class offers individual seats in each seating position.
Second- and third-row seats can be folded separately to create
additional cargo room. The rear seats fold to create a flat cargo floor,
and the optional second-row centre console can be removed.
The R500 has enough power to satisfy all but the most hard-core
enthusiast, yet the R350 still delivers in the performance department
with a 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine combined with the sevenspeed
G-Tronic automatic transmission and 4MATIC all-wheel drive.
The R350 delivers enough power for confident passing on two-lane
62
highways; even without the optional air suspension the handling is
good. Amazingly enough, for a vehicle with this level of passenger
and cargo volume the fun factor remains.
The R-Class design is immediately recognizable as a Mercedes-Benz,
with the signature grille that relates it to other models in the lineup.
The R-Class has a large volume of interior space for passengers or
cargo, but it really shines in the driving department. The R-Class is a
people mover that enthusiasts can love.
For the Affluent Late-Forming Family or the Socialite Empty-Nesters
that Mercedes-Benz has identified, or anyone who enjoys driving
sports cars but needs the capacity for passengers or cargo, the R-
Class might fit the bill—just don't call it a minivan.
Prices will range from £42,000 to £55,000 when this stylish Merc
goes on sale spring 2006. The R-Class will be offered in both long
and short wheelbase versions, but the extra £1500 asked for the long
wheelbase version is more than worth it, if for nothing else than how
good the car looks with a few more inches on the wheelbase. Both
petrol and diesel versions will be available.
For information contact:
Esplanade Ltd
Medina Avenue
Newport
Isle of Wight
01983 52 32 32
www.esplanade.co.uk

the new R-class
MOTORING
Skoda + vRS =
Horsepower
Unless you've had your head stuck in a bucket of sand for the
past few months you'll know that there's been a hot-hatch revival
going on.
The second-generation Skoda Octavia vRS has subtle changes from
the previous model such as the front bumper is slightly deeper; there
are some nice 18" alloys and a rather sporty rear spoiler, and green
brake calipers. The engine's a proper hot-hatch powerplant - namely
the 2.0-litre turbocharged FSi engine from the Golf GTI. Headline
figures are 197bhp and 206lb-ft of torque.
Inside, the sporty theme continues with a grey leather and plastic
combination. The seats look great, though: deeply sculptured with
impressive-looking side bolstering, and a contrasting colour scheme
of perforated leather and hard-wearing fabric. There are even some
vRS logos embroidered into the seat backs.
Once you're sitting comfortably among the cool interior, fire up the
engine and the instruments come to life.
The new Octavia vRS does have a seemingly endless amount of grip.
Throw it through a sequence of twisty bends and it delivers a decent,
if not spectacular, performance. However the ESP is rarely troubled
though and even when it does flash its telltale light, it doesn't spoil
your fun.
The engine is nice and gruff. It allows the vRS to reach the 62mph
benchmark in 7.3seconds and reach 149mph. The vRS also rides some
12mm lower than a regular Octavia and is fitted with some stiffer
sports springs that give a nice ride.
F.H Winter now have their Black vRS available for demonstration, if
you would like a test drive then please contact them at:
F.H Winter & Son
Havenstreet Garage
Ryde, Isle of Wight.
Tel: 01983 882455
63

MOTORING
64
Citroen C3
Citroen has freshened up its C3
supermini for 2006, with revised models
on sale now. There have been minor
changes to the front-end design, plus
new wheel trims, alloy wheels and rear
lights, and a more substantial facelift
for the cabin, which gains higher-quality
new door panels and dash.
The C3's roly-poly suspension has been
modified for a more comfortable ride,
too, with the VTR versions firmer than
before for more precise handling, and
Citroen promises that "numerous
additional structural reinforcements
make the C3 even safer in the event of
an impact"; these include a new central pillar and floor crossmembers,
and extra reinforcement for the front doors. The variableassistance
power steering has been retuned and the SensoDrive
gearbox comes with new paddle-shift gearchanges and a new
gearlever and gate.
The 1.6 HDI 16v (110bhp) diesel engine is new to the range, and the
1.6i 16v petrol engine is now offered with an automatic gearbox.
The C3 now starts from £6,995 (1.1iL, including the current
cashback offer).
1.4i 16v Stop&Start SensoDrive versions, which automatically switch
off when the car is idling then restart to move off, continue, as do
the higher-riding XTR versions. Standard equipment across the
range includes ABS, twin airbags, five three-point seatbelts, remote
central locking, CD player and electric front windows; Desire
models add air conditioning, deadlocks, electric door mirrors, full
body-coloured bumpers and side rubbing strips;
SX versions have digital air conditioning, auto wipers and lights,
front fog lights, front side airbags and electric heated door mirrors;
Exclusive versions have a speed limiter, auto-folding door mirrors, a
second rear-view mirror and 77fold-down rear tables (the Child
options pack), alloy wheels and the Moduboard rear storage system,
and the VTR has gained new 16-inch alloys, a black grille and door
mirrors and ESP stability control. XTR versions have 15-inch alloys,
an electric sunroof, the Child pack and exterior styling kit.
For a test drive contact:
Central Garage, Newport, IW
Tel: 01983 526541

You pay just £2,300 and in
return you get a a wealth
of extras from BMW...
BMW have recently introduced the new “M Sport” range for their ever
popular 3 Series Saloon and Tourer. What is M Sport I hear you ask, well it’s
a standard 3 Series that has some nice refinements. Sales at the Island’s
BMW dealership Snows have been healthy, Snows Sales Manager Steve Coe
puts it all down to the M Sport package being such good value for money.
The M-Sport model features a wealth of details for an even more sporting
look. The special aerodynamics package makes for a visually
consistent exterior, with a choice of two BMW light-alloy wheels.
Exterior parts in body colour, the lowered M Sports suspension, and
High Gloss Shadow Line window finisher's compliment the look. In
the interior sports seats with exclusive cloth/leather upholstery, the
M leather steering wheel, Brushed Aluminium interior trim and an
Anthracite headliner create an equally dynamic ambience. The
finishing touches are provided by the M door sill finisher's, M
footrest, shortened shift lever knob and the exclusive exterior colour
Le Mans Blue metallic paint.
Front Air Dam: A distinctive design with additional air inlets makes
for a more muscular look. The bigger inlets also help cool the brakes.
Rear Apron: The integrated diffuser increases the downforce acting
MOTORING
BMW 3-Series
M Sport
on the rear wheels. A sporty look that also enhances ground contact at high
speeds.
2ME Double Spoke Light Alloy wheels or 2MF Star Spoke Light Alloy: Both
sets come with mixed tyres 8J x 17” wheels and 255/45 R17 front and 8.5J x
17” wheels and 255/40 R17 tyres at rear.
M Leather Steering Wheel: The extra thickness of the steering wheel ensures
good grip. Integrated multifunction buttons allow the driver to operate the
radio, CD player and telephone (if fitted) during a
journey.
Interior trim Brushed Aluminium: sets a sporting tone
and underlines the dynamic character of the M Sport
models.
Sports Seats: for outstanding side and under-thigh
support, finished in exclusive Blue Shadow
cloth/Alcantara combination. Tel: 01983 522555
65

66
ISLAND LIFE CLASSIFIEDS
Subscribe for only £12.50 per year
and guarantee your copy of Island Life
Island Life is the Islands lifestyle magazine highlighting the finer
things of life on our Island. It is the perfect gift for a friend or
relative - or even as a treat for yourself. You can take out one
years subscription and pay only £12.50 for 6 issues (bi-monthly).
Simply complete the coupon below or call our Subscription hotline on:
01983 861422
Mr/Mrs/Ms/ First Name Last Name
Address:
Tel No: email:
Post Code:
I enclose a cheque for £12.50 made payable to Island Life
Signed: Date:
Send your completed form to:
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GENERAL ROOFING SUPPLIES
Tiles, Slates, Felts, Flat Roofing, Guttering, Fascias
Stockists of Eternit Weather Boarding
St Georges Down, Blackwater,
Newport. PO30 3BX
(Down the hill from the quarry)
Tel:825463
View my work at www.claireeastgate.com
In the next issue...
Paintings of Dogs
by Claire Eastgate
Original portraits of dogs
Oil on canvas or chalk
pastel drawings
Guaranteed likeness
Limited edition prints
now available
Call 01983 296973
or email:
info@claireeastgate.com
We also “buy & sell”
secondhand
materials
DINING AT THE CHEF’S TABLE
we’ll give you the insight to the only restaurant on the
Island that has a Chef’s table
ANDY SUTTON
the Council Leader, a man with a mission..
FARMING
we talk in-depth to David Biles an
established Island character.
EQUESTRIAN
Philip Legge and his life with horses
Find out about advertising in Island
Life Classifieds call 01983 861422

Voted as The Island’s No1 Furniture Store
For Quality, Variety & Price
RICHWOODS
- Suites
- Chairs
- Recliners
- Sofa Beds
- Beds
- Display Cabinets
- Tables & Chairs
- Mirrors
- Occasional
35 years of friendly advice
- Custom Made to Measure
Showroom at: 48 Melville Street, Ryde
Telephone: (01983) 565304
www.richwoodsfurniture.co.uk
67

fine dining
sophisticated service
chef’s table
the ocean restaurant
at The Hambrough . Ventnor
reservations:
01983 856333