Island Life October/November 2018

GEOFF UNDERWOOD

An insatiable thirst for life, business and cars

SNAPSHOTS

The best events from around the Island

HAMMIE TAPPENDE

The maverick mentor’s remarkable achievement

ISLAND LIFE

Pick up your FREE issue! www.visitilife.com October/November 2018

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Check out our

website

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A WORD

FROM THE

EDITOR

Here at Island Life, we love meeting

people who have a passion for what they

do – whether that’s cooking a delicious

meal, creating inspiring art, or simply

making people’s lives better as they go

about their daily work.

This issue we’ve got passion a-plenty,

embodied in our three big personality

profiles.

There’s business mentor Hammie

Tappenden, who admits she’s ‘rubbish

at maths’ and doesn’t even have a

conventional office, but has spent a

lifetime helping all kinds of people to

realise their dreams. We hear about

her recently-awarded MBE and discover

exactly what it is that drives her.

Also on a business theme, we talk to

Geoff Underwood, the ex-Carisbrooke

High School pupil who started his working

life as a Plessey engineering apprentice

and went on to found a £13 million tech

business right here on the Island. As well

as his business drive, we find out about

Geoff’s absolute passion for cars and some

rather edgy sports.

And then we have Sam Fulford, whose

particular passion is for preserving the

Island’s traditional boatyards from the

creep of waterfront developments. He

tells us why he decided to take on the

long-unused slipway at Clarence Boatyard

and bring back a historic slice of working

waterfront as the new base for his ship

repair business.

Of course you will also find all your

favourite regular columns, plus some

seasonal features including the traditions

behind Halloween, and the wearing of

remembrance poppies.

We hope you’ll enjoy this autumn menu

of reading, and continue to support our

loyal band of advertisers.

ISLAND LIFE

CONTENTS

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2018

INTERVIEWS

p36

p44

p52

Hammie Tappenden: MBE

for business ‘maverick’

Geoff Underwood: Putting

Island on the world map

Sam Fulford: Taking back

ground for Island

boatbuilders

PROPERTY

p12

p16

p19

Featured Property: Plantation

House

Featured Property: Osborne

Cottage

As easy as D-I-Y

FEATURES

p41

p61

p65

Mystery and magic

A happy all-cash Christmas

Wear it with pride

LOCAL SCENE

p42

p50

A touch of glitz and glamour

at Wootton Bridge

Charity evening at Nunwell

House

OUT AND ABOUT

p58

p62

p67

p72

p76

The wonder of Wolverton

Muddy Bull Run

Electric Woods light up Robin

Hill

A storm of colour

Classic bikes on display

COUNTRYSIDE

p80

p83

p84

p86

p88

Quick fixes for winter colour

Matt Noyce: The chill of

autumn

Snug as a bug

Countryside news: Tony Ridd

Corvid confusion

Jackie McCarrick, Editor

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p90 10 things you didn’t know

about common lizards

p91 Ploughing through the rain to

victory

p99 Sam Biles: Conservation

dilemma

p101 Four legged fun at dog show

EQUESTRIAN

p92 Equestrian goodies: Froghill of

Sandford

p93 Training Horses:

Robert Booth

p94 Equestrian goodies: Trumor

Feeds

FOOD & DRINK

p110 Local producers

p113 Recipe: Venison & wild

mushroom terrine

p117 Recipe: Ultimate chocolate

yule log

p119 Recipe: Persian lamb tagine

p121 Recipe: Apple & blackberry

cake

p125 Recipe: Squidgy chocolate

pear pudding

AND MORE...

p6 Island Life contributors

p95

Fancy dressage at Kingates

p8

Notebook

p96

Smashing start to the season

p68

Travel: The unsung island

p98

New challenge for eventers

p74

Motoring

HEALTH & BEAUTY

p103 James Spence: Why your teeth

can move

p105 Supporting your skin

p79

p129

p122

Auction news

Legal: Closing the

‘preparedness gap’

Accommodation pages


Island Life Magazine

Suite 2,

17 St Thomas Square,

Newport, PO30 1SL

01983 216111

email: islandlife@me.com

ISLAND LIFE

Contributors

THE ISLAND

LIFE TEAM

Editor:

Jackie McCarrick

Contributors:

Tony Ridd,

Terence Willey, Sam Biles,

Robert Booth, Matt Noyce,

Warren Riches

Head of Sales:

Natalie Labelle

07814 723610

Accounts:

Carina Farrer

07933 360321

Design:

Colin Clarke

Distribution:

Steve Read

07894 738246

Photography:

Jonathon Sheath

Terence Willey

Legal & travel

Tony Ridd

Countryside

Warren Riches

Antiques

Matt Noyce

Gardening

Front Cover:

An Autumn garden with

pumpkin, chrysanthemums

and decorative cabbage

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back issues

from the last

thirteen years...

www.visitilife.com

www.visitilife.com

Robert Booth

Equestrian

Sam Biles

Countryside


notebook

Christmas at Vintage

Rose Tearooms

Events from across the Island

Harp on Wight 2018

The fifth annual Harp on Wight Festival takes

place in Ryde between 26th-30th October

inclusive. Leading international harpists will be

taking part in a series of concerts and teaching

workshops covering a diverse range of styles

including Classical, Celtic, Breton and Paraguayan.

There will also be opportunities to come and

try the harp for the first time. The festival also

includes a six-day course to make a harp at

Quarr Abbey and an exhibition of harps made by

national manufacturers at Ryde Methodist Church

in Garfield Road which is the main festival venue.

For full details of the festival please visit

www.harponwight.co.uk

A fresh look at military history

During the October holidays come

and be amazed at the Wight Military

and Heritage Museum in Northwood.

The Air Rifle range is open and

weather dependent, armoured car

rides will be available.

There is a 1940s street scene, with

replica buildings, an ARP office,

workshop, and general stores. Items

from WW2 include an American

half-track and a mighty Scammell

recovery truck. From WW1, there are

machine guns on display and items

dug up from the Somme battlefield.

Churchills cafe, is filled with

memorabilia and provides hot and

cold refreshments, while the gift shop

stocks a wide range.

The museum is a registered charity

and conveniently located on the main

Cowes to Newport road. Open daily

from 10am to 3pm except Sunday.

Enjoy a vintage Christmas treat this festive period with

Vintage Rose Tearooms, who from the 1st December

will be hosting Christmas parties and events.

Seven days a week you will be able to book a four

course Christmas dinner, from 9am - 8pm. No party

is too small, call them on 07562 980745 to book now

or for more information.

Not only that, but again from Dec 1st, you can

also enjoy a breakfast with Santa, from Thursday to

Sunday. Running for an hour from 8.30am, it’s best to

book now to avoid disappointment.

Vintage Christmas afternoon teas will be running, or

you can enjoy a festive coffee or mulled wine.

If you want to give a Tearooms treat to others, gift

vouchers are available. Find Vintage Rose Tearooms

on Pyle Street, Newport, PO30 1JW.

Boxing Day swim

with The Salix

Christmas at Quay Arts

For the festive season Quay Arts have

a fun packed schedule with something

for everyone. Starting off with IW Arts

Open Studios holding their Christmas

craft fayre on the 24 & 25 Nov –

find the perfect gift for that special

someone!

From the first week in December Quay

Arts hold Christmas theatre productions

by Origins Theatre, ‘Dine with Dickens’

evening, and for adults only they will be

putting on their popular comedy night

with a festive twist.

For the kids they will be holding a

whole weekend of Christmas activities

to get involved in from a family drop-in

to The Tales of Beatrix Potter theatre

show.

The Annual Boxing Day swim at Small Hope Beach,

Shanklin, has been going for at least 40 years. The Salix

Beach Cafe is organising it for the fourth year running.

Each year it has been growing in popularity and is a

great way to work off that Christmas Turkey.

Fancy dress costumes are a must to join in the fun

and help raise money for The Sandown & Shanklin

Independent Lifeboat. DJ Steppin Out Boogie Bus will

be dropping the beats to help get everyone warmed

up and in the mood.

There is a live countdown at 12.30 in sync with the

Lifeboat crew waiting in Sandown Bay, for the run-in

en masse.

The Salix is open from 9am with hot food available

and have a roaring log fire, hot chocolate, Island

Roasted coffee, hot toddys and mulled wine to help

warm you up after the dip.

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Project Opera Autumn collaborations

Project: Opera’s autumn dates see lead

Soprano, Annalisa Vaughan, collaborating

with local artists of other genres.

Sounds of Heaven in October will be

a recital of sacred songs performed by

Annalisa and Organist Richard Benger,

entwined with poetic depictions of

the Mysteries of the Holy Rosaries,

written and read by local celebrated

poet Edmund Matyjaszek.

It will be held on 13th October,

7pm, at St Mary’s RC church, Ryde

and on 21st October, 7:30pm, at

St Thomas’ RC church, Cowes.

On 3rd November, Ryde Methodist

church, Garfield Road, will host Lest

we forget, a programme of opera,

lieder, blues, folk and sacred music,

performed by soprano Annalisa

Vaughan, singer/songwriter Victoria

Clarke, saxophonist Marie Smith, and

pianists Jane Carter and Alan Nicholls.

The artists will perform pieces that

to them represent how war affects

people from every background.

Guest poet Edmund Matyajszek will

read poetry by Wilfred Owen.

Early in December, Project:Opera

returns to Bembridge and Cowes with

Tea at the Opera - Sacro v Profano, a

programme of Oratorio and Opera,

performed by Annalisa Vaughan,

Clarice Williams, Yuri Sabatini, Adam

Leftwich and Pianist Richard Benger.

Advanced bookings are recommended.

Bookings on www.ticketsource.

co.uk/project-opera. Enquiries

on 07757 965339.

Autumn events

at Seaview

Art Gallery

Seaview Art Gallery has a few more upcoming

events this Autumn.

‘The RSMA and NAPA Autumn Show’ runs from

Wed Oct 17th - Wed Oct 31st. A magnificent

selection of work from all the Gallery artists who

are members of these societies are on show. Not

to be missed!

Fri 23rd Nov is Black Friday and Sat 1st Dec

is Small Business Saturday. On both these

occasions there will be 24 hour offers in the

Gallery and 48 hour offers reserving online.

Including selected artworks, jewellery, maritime

items, lighting, silver items etc. Check out the

website - seaviewart.co.uk - for details and

opening hours nearer the time.

Celebrating 2019 with Electric Disco

The Electric Disco New Year’s Eve party

can’t be beaten. Every year it’s a sell-out

event with up to 1,000 partygoers and

a huge midnight countdown. It’s the

ultimate place to celebrate the start of the

New Year.

In the Main Room, music from Xtreme

Vertigo DJs brings you the best sounds

of the 70s and 80s. This is followed by

your favourite Club Classics from across

the decades to end the night with DJ

Jakey Chan.

The Second Room hosts the Silent

Disco. As you enter, you will be loaned

free headphones and it’s then up to you

to select your DJ. The choice is yours from

House, Rock, Ska, Chart and Pop, our DJs

will be battling it out to win your approval.

Staging and set effects are second to

none, with their very own Big Ben to

chime you into the New Year followed by

a huge midnight show, featuring a funky

countdown, a fountain of sparklers falling

from the skies and confetti showers!

There really is only one place to see

in the New Year, on the Electric Disco

Dance floor! Tickets are £15 -£20, visit

www.theelectricdisco.co.uk or www.

visualimpact.co.uk/events

Christmas fairs

at Quarr Abbey

Quarr Abbey will be holding a series of pop

up fairs this November and December. Crafty

Arts Christmas Fair runs from the 10th - 11th

November and the Food and Drink Christmas

Fair will run from the 24th - 25th November.

December sees Quarr hosting

Fishbourne Art Group on the 8th - 9th.

All will offer free entry and free parking.

The Crafty Artist Christmas Fair will offer

craft and gift ideas from a variety of artists,

to help you find those Christmas present

ideas. The Food and Drink Christmas Fair will

feature suppliers from across the Island and

give you a chance to taste before you buy.

Contact Quarr Abbey on 01983 882420

for more information.


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Fashion, health & beauty

Waverly diamond bubble ring.

Available in a selection of precious

metals. Set with 0.90 carats of

G colour Si1 clarity diamonds in

18ct Yellow Gold. Priced from

£2,300.00.

Actual heartbeat wedding ring.

Laser engraved with a heartbeat.

Includes guidance to capture your

heart rhythm using ECG reader.

Prices from £375.00.

Men’s slight court wedding ring crafted

in 18ct Rose Gold. Available in a variety

of different precious metals, styles and

width options. Shown here laser engraved

with client’s own handwriting and

accompanying fingerprint engraving.

Priced from £500.00.

Avalon pink sapphire

engagement ring with 0.25

carat double row diamond

shoulders. £1,066.00.

Lila design diamond solitaire

engagement ring. Priced from

£980.00 based on 0.30 carat version

set into 950 Palladium. Available to

customise online or in-store.

Double heart pattern fingerprint

wedding rings. Priced from £1,300

for two 4mm wedding rings in

950 Palladium including two

fingerprint engravings. Alternative

styles, widths and precious metals

available to order.

Four claw diamond stud

earrings available in a full

choice of precious metals,

diamond qualities and sizes.

Available from stock or in

store. Alternative styles and

options also available.


Prestige property

FEATURED PROPERTY:

PLANTATION HOUSE

A stunningly contemporary home located in a quiet location

with sea views, a short walk from the beach and sailing club.

Plantation House was constructed for

the current owners in a style inspired

by a house from South Carolina.

The house was built with a great

attention to detail, with features such

as the handmade curved staircase

and beautifully curved bay windows.

In addition to the striking entrance,

the house benefits from a great

combination of five bedrooms and

five bathrooms along with two

large family rooms and impressive

reception room, which combined

with the extensive decked terraces

to the rear makes it an impressive

house for entertaining, yet also a

very comfortable friendly home.

Each bedroom is served by a wellappointed

bath or shower room with

“The house was

built with a great

attention to detail,

with features such

as the handmade

curved staircase and

beautifully curved

bay windows.”

quality fittings and granite tiling. The

rooms have high ceilings of 9 feet

providing a spacious feel.

There is also an integrated Sonos

sound system, which is zoned with

built-in speakers throughout the

majority of the house and also on

the front and rear terraces. There

are sea glimpses from all principal

rooms, which become more open

views in the winter months.

Situated on a lane by the coastal

path, providing direct access to

superb country walks and along the

coast to Priory Bay or Culver Down

and beyond, the nearest beach

is some 150m away. Bembridge

Harbour at the end of the lane has

extensive mooring facilities, whilst

there are also numerous beaches.

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Prestige Property

The grounds

To the front of the property is

a gravelled driveway providing

parking for four vehicles with

automatic lighting. Wide steps lead

up to the south facing veranda

with outside lighting and speakers

providing an attractive outdoor

seating area. The principal garden

lies to the rear of the house, where

there are a series of decked seating

and dining area terraces with

halogen uplighters, providing a

great entertaining space. There are

also outdoor speakers and lighting.

Steps lead down from the terraces

to an attractive lawned garden

interspersed with mature trees

and various borders which form an

attractive setting for the house.

A path leads down onto the

unmade lane (Pump Lane), which

provides easy pedestrian access to

the beach and Bembridge Sailing

Club without having to go onto

main roads. All the trees on the plot

and adjacent land have a blanket

Tree Preservation Order on them.

Where: Bembridge

Agent: Spence Willard Bembridge

01983 873000

Guide Price: £1,450,000

EPC: C


Dedicated to selling the finest

property across the Isle of Wight

A delightful and well-appointed one

bedroom barn conversion with established

productive holiday let business situated

in its own grounds with excellent

countryside views, a summerhouse with

hot tub spa, gardens and parking.

The Barn is situated in beautiful rural

countryside on the outskirts of Newport,

and has been in the same family for 200

years. The Barn is restricted to holiday

accommodation only.

The property lets for around £1,000 a week

depending upon the season; recent gross

income is approximately £30,000 per annum.

Accounts are available on application.

EPC: E

NEWPORT GUIDE PRICE: £375,000 Sole Agents

A spacious four bedroom chalet

style house in a quiet village

location in Shorwell within easy

reach of the coast, Newport and

the wonderful countryside of the

Island’s South West.

With three bath/shower rooms and

mature gardens this light and airy

property with its integral garage

and ample parking will appeal

to families and retirees alike.

This friendly village has a strong

community spirit and is only a

short walk to the church, pub and

other facilities.

EPC: D

SHORWELL GUIDE PRICE: £425,000 Sole Agents

Biles & Co | Estate Agents & Chartered Surveyors

The Estate Office, 13 High Street, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, PO35 5SD

Tel: 01983 527744 E: sam@bilesandco.co.uk

www.bilesandco.co.uk

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Prestige property

FEATURED PROPERTY:

OSBORNE COTTAGE

Osborne Cottage is a historically important, Grade II listed four -

five bedroom house forming part of the former home of Queen

Victoria’s youngest daughter. This delightful attached period

property adjoins the Osborne House Estate.

This is an opportunity to acquire a rare piece

of the Island’s heritage intrinsically linked

with Queen Victoria and Osborne.

Osborne Cottage was built in around 1856

and has been sub-divided into a number of

private residences. This particular property

contains several of the principal rooms of the

original house with many elaborate original

architectural and decorative features; it stands

in its own garden.

The property is part-way through a

refurbishment project and offers a rare

opportunity to complete the detailed

restoration to create a unique family home.

The property has attractive red and yellow

chequer-work brick elevations under an

ornate clay tile roof. Cast iron rainwater

“The property is

part-way through

a refurbishment

project and offers

a rare opportunity

to complete the

detailed restoration

to create a unique

family home.”

goods include hoppers dated 1856.

Original windows, many of which have

been recently refurbished and have unusual

original, concealed rising sash shutters.

Others have folding shutters. Casement

windows have cast iron lights in a lozenge

and diamond pattern. The surprisingly

spacious accommodation has many original

character features including the stunning

galleried landing with vaulted roof and

circular sky lantern.

The current owners have progressed the

restoration project whilst retaining the

valuable and historic features. The impressive

reception rooms have many exquisite

period features and are quite magnificent,

emphasising the heritage of the building.

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Prestige Property

The grounds

Approached by a long, shared

driveway with car park, the Cottage

enjoys gardens to the rear and side

bounded by mature hedging and

trees with an additional lawned area

to the front.

Where: East Cowes

Agent: Biles and Co

01983 872335

Guide Price: £625,000

EPC: N/A

A home built for

the Royal family

Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) was

the fifth daughter and youngest

child of Queen Victoria and Prince

Albert. Victoria consented to

her marriage to Prince Henry of

Battenberg on condition that Henry

lived permanently with Beatrice

and the Queen at Osborne.

After the Queen’s death at Osborne

in 1901 Princess Beatrice moved into

Osborne Cottage, on the edge of the

estate. In 1913, when Carisbrooke

Castle, home of the Governor of

the Isle of Wight, became vacant,

Princess Beatrice took up her right to

residence and sold Osborne Cottage.

In August 1945 Princess Beatrice’s

coffin was carried by motor torpedo

boat through the fleet at Portsmouth

and Spithead. After a very private

service at East Cowes she was

interred beside her beloved Henry.


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Prestige Property

As easy as D-I-Y

As an idyllic long summer

comes to an end and we

all head back indoors,

our interior space might

suddenly be feeling

a bit drab, closed-in

and uninspiring.

In which case, a quick make-over

might be just the thing, to freshen

up the place and lift the energies.

And that needn’t mean going

in for a costly, full-on decorating

or re-modelling job – in fact,

there are plenty of relatively

small adjustments that can be

made that will instantly breathe

new life into the home.

Take greenery, for instance.

If all that time outdoors has

made you yearn to sit among

lush vegetation, then simply

bring some indoors.

House plants have never been

more popular since the 1970s,

and the huge variety on offer

at garden centres and florist

shops these days is incredible

– from lush orchid plants to

big jungly palms, iconic Swiss

Cheese plants, cascading ferns

and strikingly structural cacti.

Placed in colour-co-ordinated

ceramic pots and grouped for

effect, a display of plants will

soften the edges of any room,

give depth and character – and

that’s not to mention the proven

health benefits of having toxinreducing

plants around the home.

Another easy fix is to embrace

that currently popular interiors

trend from Denmark – Hygge

– and go in for lots of candles,

some new cushions and cosy

blanket throws to make your living

space invitingly winter-ready.

If it’s your furniture that is

looking rather tired, a bit of upcycling

can do wonders, with a pot

of paint and a bit of elbow grease

being all it takes to breathe new

life into a set of kitchen chairs,

a dresser or chest of drawers.

Clutter is probably the biggest

enemy of a restful living

space, though – and as home

improvements go, a simple tidyup

might be all that’s required.

Creating storage solutions to

keep everything in its place can

be as easy as buying a set of

inexpensive storage trunks or

second-hand chest of drawers – or

even getting creative and making

some of your own, by covering

lidded boxes with pretty paper or

plastic in colours that co-ordinate

with your décor scheme.


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Prestige Property

‘Quirk’ rules at The Cowshed!

One of the Island’s quirkiest antiques outlets, The Cowshed, celebrates

25 years of trading this year – and it’s certainly come a long way.

When the family-run business

launched back in 1993 it was

with just a few items of furniture

displayed in the straw-filled

cowshed that was home to

two friendly pygmy goats.

Fast forward to 2018 and

The Cowshed has grown into

the Island’s largest antique

warehouse, full of unusual

pieces of furniture and antiques,

rustic iron and salvage items.

In its unique rustic setting at

Froglands Farm, Carisbrooke, it

offers a laid-back atmosphere

that lends itself to unhurried

browsing among the

Victorian cupboards, folk

art dressers and traditional

sea chests or the lighting,

rugs and decorative items.

At one time, churns, dressers

and old floorboards were the

best sellers, but today from their

user-friendly, up-to-the minute

website they sell everything from

fruit machines to huge tables!

They also sell bespoke

furniture made to order

(staffordroadfurniture.com)

and have a quirky campersite

complete with helicopter as part

of the accommodation line-up

(windmillcampersite.com)

Visitors to the warehouse

will always see something

different as pieces rapidly

change hands – and those

hands behind the enterprise are

Richard, Stafford, Rhys, Linda,

Pat, Judith... and the so-called

‘instigator of quirk’, Stewart!

You can find the Cowshed

in Froglands Lane, near to

Carisbrooke Castle. Browsers are

always welcome, or for enquiries,

call Richard 07884 445 720,

Stewart on 07957 572 221

or Rhys on 07983 613 715.


Prestige property

The electrician

who sparked a

business success

An Island business that started out in 1993 as a

one-man electrician service has evolved over the

past 25 years to become one of the region’s major

players in the construction industry, with a client

list that reads like a Who’s Who of business.

Left to right: Gowan Ruler,

Contracts Manager & Andy

Rothery, Commercial Manager

Trevor Jones was just 19 when

he boldly launched out as an

independent electrical contractor.

At that stage, he had completed

a three-year apprenticeship with

Wight Electrical (part of the

former Island Builders Group),

but due to the recession, saw

his job with them disappear.

“The very next day after leaving,

I started sub-contracting and I

guess I never looked back” he says.

Five years down the line, and

still aged only 24, Trevor had

a business that had become

so successful that he was

employing 15 electricians -

which was why in 1998 he took

the decision to incorporate as

Trevor Jones Electrical Limited.

Fast forward another

five years to 2003, and the

company had branched out

into building & development

work – so much so that Trevor

celebrated the 10th anniversary

of the business by creating an

additional arm of the original

electrical business to specialise

in the development work.

The next five-year milestone

came in 2008 when the

electrical side of the business

responded to the recession of

that period by shifting its focus

to larger contracts, and taking

on major re-fits for big-name

clients such as BAE Systems.

In 2010, this growing arm

of the business was re-named

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Prestige Property

The van when starting the business in 1993

Trevor Jones Contracting Ltd.,

and re-focussed firmly on new

clients and principal works.

“The contracting arm is geared

up to cater for those larger

jobs” says Trevor, “and we have

clients all over the south coast

as well as on the Island”.

Indeed, it was in 2010 that

Trevor made the decision to

move off the island, to Chichester

in order to further expand the

business – although he still

travels back and forth on the

Hovercraft to the Island base in

Havenstreet four times a week.

Among the prestigious projects

the company has worked on in

recent years, there’s been a

£1.1 million refurbishment of

HMS Collingwood, Fareham which

Will with Mark Pitfield ‘Site Manager’ outside

the Palmers Road development in 2017

is for the New Aircraft Carriers

IT Test Facility, an Electrical

installation at Marwell Zoo’s New

Discovery Centre, a 1 Million Euro

Mechanical Project to upgrade

the Air Conditioning in a GKN

Aerospace Factory in Munich

Germany – not to mention other

large-scale projects for clients such

as the IOW & Hampshire County

Council, Isle of Wight College, BAE

Systems, Aircraft Carrier Alliance

and Snows BMW, Snows SEAT,

Snows Mini, Snows Peugeot on

various sites across the South.

Trevor says its success has been

built on providing a uniquely

personal service to every client

whatever their budget – whether

that be a domestic customer

needing a relatively small electrical

Trevor Jones

job or a large company wanting

a bespoke design for building

services, or tailored electrical

and mechanical packages.

A quarter of a century after he

started out, Trevor’s now very wellknown,

own-name business still

employs around 15 people, but

these days it also draws on a large

portfolio of trusted sub-contractors

from all over the island.

Meanwhile he remains

passionate about encouraging

young talent on the island via

apprenticeships. He has employed

seven apprentices over the past 25

years, and two remain with him as

fully-trained and skilled craftsmen.

“Having gone down that

route myself, I have a 100%

belief in apprenticeships” he

says. “We really do need to

encourage them to ensure

the future of our industry”.

And one of them might even be

Trevor’s own 15 year-old son Will,

who has had work experience with

different trades in the company

for the past two summers, and

is currently considering a career

as a Chartered surveyor.


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Prestige Property

Pictures perfectly framed

The combined talents of a

father and daughter have

produced a service that can

capture cherished memories and

favourite images for a lifetime.

The Cowes-based workshop

of A. Hathaway Picture

Framing is run by Anthony

and Laura Hathaway, and

offers bespoke framing and

expert repairs for individual

and contract customers.

Anthony’s technical skills are

combined with the creative

flair of Laura, a local artist who

draws on her Degree in design,

her knowledge of fine art and

natural creativity to complement

her dad’s meticulous work.

The workshop holds a large

selection of PEFC and FSCapproved

mounts and mouldings

with ranges in bare woods

alongside pre-finished mouldings

Safe and secure for 50 years

A second generation

family storage business

is celebrating half a

century of service to

the Island this year.

Image by permission of Jo Hummel-Newell

in wood tones, plastic and plasticcoated.

Anthony and Laura can

also create hand-finished frames

using stains, waxes, paint and

hand gilding techniques.

They’re equally happy working

with watercolours oils, pastels

and fine art prints or photos,

certificates, mirrors and keepsakes

in 3-D settings, and also offer

frame repair and conservation.

As part of their friendly

and personal approach, the

Hathaways are always happy

to give advice and guidance

on how to achieve the perfect

frame and finish. Their workshop

is open weekdays for walk-in

enquiries and they can also offer

weekend appointments as well

as art group visits on request.

Contact A. Hathaway Picture

Framing on 07740 407655 or

you can find them at Unit 6A

Northwood Business Park (rear of

290) Newport Road, Northwood,

PO31 8PE. Visit their websites at

www.ahpictureframing.com or

www.laurahathawayartist.com.

Vectis Storage was launched

purely as a transport and

storage business in Sandown

1968, by husband and wife

team the Harrisons – but as

the enterprise grew, the family

expanded into the self-storage

business in Newport in 1992.

That was followed by acquiring

the Osborne Stable Block site

in East Cowes, where they have

created a small Business Park, and

more recently, they have opened

a site at Kingston for shipping

containers and caravan storage.

The shipping containers at Kingston

For customers Vectis Storage

offers affordable, dry and secure

purpose-built units for the storage

of everything from household

items and business stock, right

through to vehicles and boats.

Customers have the reassurance of

knowing that they are the only keyholder

to their unit and that there is

24/7 CCTV in operation at the site.

The business continues under

the direction of the Harrisons’ son

Richard who joined the family firm

13 years ago and is now Managing

Director, and also his sister Poppy

who has recently joined the team.

To contact Vectis Storage call

01983 281881 or visit the website

at www.vectisstorage.co.uk


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www.visitilife.com

Inside Business

Autumn on the water

The peak sailing season might

be over for another year, but the

view at Bembridge Harbour is

that sailing during the month

of October, albeit with suitable

clothing, can still be a viable

and very enjoyable pastime;

there is usually not too much

rain, and although the days are

shortening, if you are berthed

or moored up before the sun

sets, you can have some of the

greatest sailing available and

extend the summer season.

November and onwards through

to mid-March can be more testing

- however the occasional day

with a bright blue sky and gentle

breeze still takes a lot of beating.

The Harbour attempts to give

the best of both worlds - the

ability to sail when you want to,

by keeping your boat on a fully

serviced walk-ashore pontoon

(prices ranging from £375 for an

8m boat), to storage on land or

inside the Bembridge Boat Storage

shed with prices from £600 (both

prices for 6 months fully inclusive).

In either case, the in-house team

can work wonders in restoring

varnish, RIB tubes, and hulls,

whilst also servicing engines

and electrics, and welcoming

specialist professionals at no

extra cost when required.

You can contact the harbour office

on 01983 872828. Find them at

The Duver, St Helens, PO33 1YB,

email: office@bembridgeharbour.

co.uk or visit the website: www.

bembridgeharbour.co.uk

Christmas Party Nights at

Ventnor Botanic Garden

Whether you are

organising work

celebrations or planning

a friends’ get-together,

a Classic Christmas

Party with us offers a

great opportunity to

let your hair down and

party the night away!

Our Classic Christmas

Party Nights will be

held on Friday 21st and

Saturday 22nd December.

Partygoers will be treated

to a welcome glass of

festive bubbles, a delicious threecourse

dinner prepared by our

AA Rosette-awarded Chef, Brad

Roe, and followed by coffee and

mince pies. Also included are

Christmas crackers and table

novelties, and a great nights

entertainment from our DJ!

Our Pay Bar will be open

throughout the evening, but

you can pre-order your drinks

for the table before you

arrive. The bar opens

at 7.00pm, with dinner

served at 7.45pm. Last

orders will be 11.45pm

with Carriages at 12.30am.

The price per person for

this event is £40.

We also can offer

our venue for private

Christmas parties with

a minimum number of

30. Please contact us to

discuss your requirements.

To see the menu and get a

booking form, please view our

website www.botanic.co.uk,

or phone for details on

01983 858048.


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Prestige Property

Transforming concrete

An everyday building material

is being re-worked and given

a stylish, contemporary look

by two creative designers

on the Isle of Wight.

Trev and Gary launched

their business Raw Concrete

last year, and as the name

suggests, their niche is in

creating bespoke, one-off

pieces of work - from tables

and kitchen worktops to

floors, walls and wetrooms

– out of humble concrete.

Not that the concrete looks

particularly humble when

they’ve finished with it: their

worktops and furniture are

hand-trowelled to give a

beautiful, burnished finish,

and then sealed using the

highest quality sealers with the

option of satin or gloss finish.

They also do concrete tiles and

panels for walls and floors, which

offer a stylish and contemporary

alternative to ceramic or

porcelain - and being superdurable,

these are ideal for

commercial spaces such as

retail units, hospitality venues,

offices and showrooms,

as well as in the home.

With combined skills in

architecture, interior design

and carpentry, Trev and

Gary say they’ve always

enjoyed being creative with

raw materials and building

something different – and

as the Island’s first ‘cast

in-situ’ concrete worktops

and furniture specialists,

they’re certainly doing that.

Call Raw Concrete on either

07429 867772 or 07907

251133 or visit the website

at www.rawconcrete.co.uk.


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Prestige Property

Orangery solution

for light and space

To the rich and powerful of the 17th - 19th centuries,

having an orangery was seen as a definite status symbol.

Owners of villas, mansions and

country houses could effectively

show off their wealth by having

a whole room in which their

prized orange and other fruit

trees could grow indoors

right through the winter.

Now, in the 21st century, the

orangery is enjoying something of

a revival – but far from being just

for mansion-owners, the lightfilled

rooms are being added on

to homes of all sizes and styles.

Different from a conservatory,

an orangery has a brick base

and a flat perimeter roof with

a central roof lantern that

allows the light to flood in.

One Island company that has

seen the growth in demand for

orangeries is Newport-based

White Windows Ltd, who say

Before

that customers love the way that

this type of extension blends so

beautifully into their home.

It effectively becomes another

room, and typically, people choose

to use them as an additional

lounge or dining area, or as an

office, playroom or home gym.

The orangery style roof is

characterised by an aluminium roof

lantern and Bioclean, Aqua-tinted

glass with a high-performance

solar control coating and lowmaintenance

self cleaning.

This means it reflects and

absorbs up to 82% of the sun’s

heat and means there’s usually

no need for air conditioning, or

blinds that obscure the view. The

Aqua tint also reduces glare, as

well as the bleaching effect the

sun can have on soft furnishings.

Another bonus for having

After

an orangery is that it typically

increases the value of a home,

because they are becoming

such a popular feature.

White Windows Ltd say that an

orangery will also link a house

with its garden – even more so

if bi-folding doors, French doors

or patio doors are incorporated

into the design as a beautiful

opening onto the outdoor space.

The other big attraction for

homeowners is that an orangery

can usually be fitted without the

need for planning permission

as they are categorised as

‘permitted development’.

Find White Windows Ltd at

12 Dodnor Park, Newport,

PO30 5XE. Call 01983 523552

or visit the website at www.

whitewindows.co.uk.


Interview

MBE for

business

‘maverick’

After business advisor Hammie Tappenden was named in the New Years

Honours List, she decided that there was only one place she wanted the

presentation of her MBE to take place – and it wasn’t Buckingham Palace.

Instead, Hammie opted to have a ceremony here on the Isle of Wight, presided

over by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant and attended by family and friends, along

with many of the people she’s helped to set up in business over the years.

As it turned out, the MBE presentation wasn’t her only

reason for celebration on that September 1st date, as Jackie

McCarrick discovered when she caught up with her.

When Hammie called her longtime

partner Rob to tell him

about her being awarded the

MBE, she mischievously prefaced

the news with the quip: “Have

you got a smart suit?” and then

swiftly added, “don’t worry, I’m

not asking you to marry me!”

The joke clearly planted a seed

in Rob’s mind, though, because

just a couple of months before

September’s big award ceremony,

he proposed - with the novel

suggestion that they could be

married on the same date.

And so it turned out that

Hammie became Mrs Ford

at Newport Register Office in

the morning - witnessed by

two friends and her daughter

Ellie and partner – and

then, a few hours later in a

different kind of ceremony at

Porchfield Cricket Club, she

officially became an MBE.

Quite a day by anybody’s

standards – not least for the quick

changes of clothes required, from

morning wedding outfit into

tee-shirt and jeans to prepare

the self-catered reception buffet,

and then into posh clothes for

the formal presentation by Major

General Sir Martin White KCVO

CB CBE in the afternoon.

“It was a fabulous day and all the

36

www.visitilife.com

Interview

Major General Sir Martin White

and Hammie Tappenden


Interview

people who most mattered to me

were there” says Hammie. While

most people might have preferred

the traditional grand reception

at Buckingham Palace, she had

actually already been a guest at

the Palace back in 2013, when

she met The Queen, Prince

Philip and Prince Charles after

receiving the Queen’s Award from

Enterprise, so she requested an

Island-based ceremony this time.

Amazing record

The MBE was in recognition

of Hammie’s remarkable record

of helping 6,000 people and

800 businesses over a quarter

of a century, and as she told the

110 guests at the ceremony: “A

little bit of the award belongs

to everyone I have worked with

over the last 25 years, because

without my fantastic clients who

take the risk to go self-employed,

I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

So who are these people?

Hammie’s Solent-based IntoBiz

has worked with all kinds of

business start-ups, including

a struggling single mum who

started up a cleaning business

on a windfall bank bonus of just

£100 and managed to secure five

clients on her first day, to a young

martial arts trainer who set up

classes for local youngsters and

had them full within a month.

STS Lord Nelson where Hammie served as cook

Hammie Tappenden

As she says, the basis of her job

is in helping people to believe

in themselves, recognise their

unique strengths and skills

– and then invest in them.

Her approach is distinctly downto-earth,

so this one-woman

morale-boosting service doesn’t

operate from big shiny offices –

in fact, her office is pretty much

contained in “my Smart car and

my briefcase”, while her oneto-one

business meetings are

typically held in coffee

shops ... independent

ones that is, not

Starbucks or Costas!

And she says there

has never been a

greater demand

for small business

start-up advice, as

people search for

solutions to their

financial problems

or an escape from

conventional or

low-paying jobs.

“Huge debt has become

an increasing problem for

many people” she explains,

“and it can send them into a

spiral of self-destruction.

“Often you’ll find that people

have unrealistic expectations

of a business, and think they’ll

be rich in six months”.

Having said all that, working

with start-ups has always given

Hammie her greatest satisfaction,

and over the years she has

helped to turn around the lives

of hundreds of ex-offenders,

ex-addicts, single parents and

older people who struggle to

get back into the workplace.

“The first thing I always advise

people is to do what you love”

she says, “and then find a way

to make it work for you”.

First-hand experience

Hammie’s clients realise pretty

quickly that she doesn’t talk

from an ‘ivory tower’, but from

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www.visitilife.com

Interview

hard-won personal experience.

Having been a single mum

who, in one period of her life

admits “I couldn’t afford to feed

my child and was so depressed

that I would just go back to bed

and sleep for hours”, she can

relate to people’s struggles.

Her particular way out of that

inertia was to buy a charcoal

company together with a

friend, an incredibly physical

and hands-on business but

one that got her back on track

in terms of earning a living.

“We literally chopped

wood and made charcoal

which we then delivered in

a green van” she recalls.

Ultimately they sold the charcoal

business on, but what it had done,

as well as earning her a living, was

to bring Hammie back to herself,

and cause her to miss her old life

in the creative business arena.

The ‘escalator moment’

After graduating in the mid-

1980s, she had started out as a

jewellery and textile designer in

London – and was so successful

that her designs sold all over the

world. However, after a business

decision that lost her money

in the US, she says she had “an

escalator moment” at Kings

Cross Station, and decided she

wanted out of Big City life.

Having been brought up in

Wales, her rural roots were calling,

and she responded by re-grouping

and moved to a studio workshop

at Winchester School of Art,

where she also taught students.

With a lifelong love of boats

and an involvement with the

Jubilee Sailing Trust, she had

also bought a converted Grimsby

fishing trawler, and was looking

for somewhere to moor it: that

was when she discovered that the

Isle of Wight offered the cheapest

mooring rates, and decided to

come here with her boat for what

she planned to be six months.

“And I just stayed” she says. “It

was such a lovely place to live. I

loved the unique environment

and the slower pace of life, and

although I did think I might miss

the mainland, I never have.”

After an idyllic three years living

on the boat at Island Harbour

on the Medina (pre-housing

developments) she moved to

a cottage in Porchfield and

combined her art and design

business with family life and

being a mum to Ellie, now 26.

Finding mentors

Her first foray into business

mentoring came in 1992 when

she began working for the Isle

of Wight Enterprise Agency –

and at that time, she was the

one being mentored, as she ran

the Shell LiveWIRE and Prince’s

Business Trust programmes.

“I had amazing mentors in

the late John Wolfenden of

the Enterprise Agency and Tim

Austin of South Hampshire

Enterprise Agency” she says. “They

encouraged me when I was still

quite young, to just get on with

it. I’d been running a business

myself for several years by

that time, and was on a bit of

a rollercoaster, but they saw

something in me, and helped and

“The first thing I always advise people

is to do what you love and then find

a way to make it work for you.”

Daughter Ellie with pet rescue dogs

Hammie with husband Rob Ford

on the afternoon of their wedding.


Interview

supported me on my journey.

She says she was also

encouraged by Liz Wood, who

persuaded her to get her Masters

Degree in Entrepreneurship

at Durham University, the first

of its kind in the country.

In the years that followed,

Hammie has created and run a

whole range of business startup

and women’s enterprise

programmes across the Island

and Southern counties, including

Women Into Business, Enterprise

Rural Women and Rural Grants,

and has worked for Enterprise First

and West Itchen Community Trust.

There was also the imaginitve

Junk to Funk, with its focus on

teaching people new skills in

upcycling and recycling combined

with business information, and

New Enterprise Allowance,

working with Pinnacle People

and the DWP to take people

from benefits to small business

through workshops, mentoring

and business loans and grants.

Recognition

In the process, Hammie has

been recognised with over 20

awards, including accolades

from Shell LiveWIRE (she was

a national finalist in 1988 and

Co-ordinator of the Year in 1999),

a PROWESS National Award in

2004 for women’s enterprise

support, and the Queen’s

Award for Enterprise in 2012.

In 2000, during her own difficult

‘single parent period’, she also won

a Winston Churchill Foundation

Travel Fellowship that enabled

her to travel around the world

researching women’s enterprises

– and was able to take along

daughter Ellie, for what was

undoubtedly the trip of a lifetime.

The eight year-old went to

schools in different countries,

and the experience clearly reaped

benefits because nowadays,

Ellie is a successful veterinary

nurse in Scotland – and was

a national finalist in the UK

National Veterinary Awards.

Meanwhile Hammie – who

managed a brief “mini-moon” with

Rob after their wedding – was

soon back on the road in her trusty

Smart car as she leads on a new

project, Trading Up 4 Change, a

business programme for people

working less than 16 hours a week.

Describing her approach, she

says “With all my clients, I listen,

I challenge, I laugh, I cry, I hug,

I create, I share, I believe, I help,

I care and I fight. I refuse to

put people through a uniform

process - instead I work with

them as individuals, recognising

Ellie and Hammie

their individual needs.

“I’m rubbish at maths, I

can’t spell, and I don’t have

a conventional office – all of

which I guess makes me a kind

of maverick - but it allows

me to do what I love best.”

“I take individuals on a

journey. We don’t know what it

will be or if it will be successful,

we don’t know if they are cut out

to run their own business, but I

hardly ever turn anybody down.

“I share my own rollercoaster

life because I think it’s important

that people understand that

everybody has challenges and

need to just take a risk every

now and then - and somehow

this does create success.”

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Feature

Mystery & magic!

It’s an ancient tradition that was revved up into

a big sales event by the Americans – and in

recent years the celebration of Hallowe’en has

taken off in a big way here in the UK as well.

In fact, last year, supermarket

chain Asda reported a giant

increase in October pumpkin sales,

with around 2.2 million of the

familiar orange globes being sold,

compared to 1.35 million in 2015.

Of course some of these might be

destined for the pot as a pumpkin

soup – but most will no doubt end

up being carved into the familiar

spooky head-shaped lampshades

for the October 31st celebration.

The custom of making these

so-called jack-o’-lanterns for

Hallowe’en began in Ireland in

the 19th century when the then

more commonly available turnips

or mangel wurzels were hollowed

out and carved with grotesque

faces, to be used as lanterns.

This reflected the fact that

Hallowe’en evolved from the

Celtic festival of Samhain - a

time when supernatural beings

and the souls of the dead were

believed to roam the earth, and

people would light bonfires and

wear costumes to ward off ghosts.

So those young ‘trick-or-treaters’

who roll up at your front door

later this month, demanding

sweets with menaces, are

actually playing the part of

those much-feared ghosts and

ghouls, in a lighthearted way.

Of course Hallowe’en is widely

associated with mystery, magic

and superstition, and this,

too, goes back centuries.

Many of the ancient October

31st rituals were about peering

into the future, and many had to

do with helping young women

identify their future husbands.

In 18th-century Ireland, for

instance, a cook might bury a

ring in her mashed potatoes on

Halloween night, hoping to bring

love to the diner who found it.

Another tale said that if a young

woman ate a sweet concoction

made out of walnuts, hazelnuts

and nutmeg before bed on

Halloween night, she would

dream about her future husband.

And that still-popular Halloween

game of apple-bobbing? Well,

it was originally played as a

contest to find out who would

be the first to walk down the

aisle. Happy bobbing!


Local Scene

A touch of glitz

& glamour at

Wootton Bridge

After nine months of organising and

many sleepless nights, a charity ball

was a huge success, raising an amount

of just under £1,300.

Organised by Southern Co-op’s Funeralcare in

Ryde, 50 people attended the glamorous event at

The Lakeside Hotel on 22 September.

Held in aid of the Phoenix Project, a specialist

day service for adults with learning disabilities, it is

part of Southern Co-op’s community engagement

programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’.

Lesley Borton, Ryde Funeral Co-ordinator, said:

“We are so grateful for everybody’s support. To have

raised so much money for such a deserving charity

is really special.”

Next year’s charity ball has already been booked

in for 7 September. To find out more about the

community scheme, visit www.thesoutherncooperative.co.uk/makingadifference/.

Pictures by Jonathon Sheath

More pictures available to buy online

from our website: www.visitilife.com

42

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Local Scene


Interview

44

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Interview

Putting Island

on the

world map

Everyone loves a story of ‘local boy made good’, and they don’t come

much more inspiring than that of Geoff Underwood, a Newport-born, ex-

Carisbrooke High School pupil who started his working life as a Plessey

engineering apprentice and went on to found a multi-million pound tech

business right here on the Island. Jackie McCarrick spoke to him and

discovered a man with an insatiable thirst for life, business, fundraising,

cars and sport - and an absolute passion for the Isle of Wight.

As the CEO of a company that

turns over £13m a year supplying

cutting-edge products to the

world’s big airline operators,

Geoff Underwood is well aware

that it would probably make far

more commercial sense for his

Newport-based IFPL operation to

re-locate to the West Coast of the

US. Not that he’s about to do it.

“I grew up on the Island” he

explains, “it’s where I live, it’s

a place I love, and I’m proud

of the organisation and the

team we have here, designing

and producing everything inhouse

and spending around

£2.5 million a year with local

business and services.”

In fact IFPL – located in smart

glass-fronted headquarters

at what was formerly a hang

glider manufacturing plant –

currently employs 70 people,

many of them long-servers, and

including employees number

two, three and four who were in

on the enterprise from its small

beginnings over 20 years ago.

Since then the company has

carved out a global niche in

developing technical in-flight

products, stemming from its

original plug-in headphone

socket, which sells 350,000

units a year and currently has

2.5million units in service

worldwide. It has twice been

recognised with a Queen’s Award

for Enterprise, in 2008 and 2014.

So how and why such a highly

specialised business? Geoff says

he can trace it back to boyhood,

and his instinct for ‘problem

solving, and fixing things’.

He explains that his grandfather,

a refuse collector, would often

bring home broken items that

people had thrown away, and

that he, Geoff, would take

delight in mending them.

With the encouragement of

his engineer father, John - who

had been recruited to the Island


Interview

Motor racing historic Formula Ford (Merlyn)

from Portsmouth to work on the

High Down rocket test site in

the 1950s-60s – Geoff skipped

university and went straight from

school into an apprenticeship with

Plessey Radar, who sponsored

him to study part-time at

Portsmouth Poly and subsequently

promoted him to roles in several

different departments.

At 26, he left the Island for the

adventure of spending two years

working on missile systems in

Florida, and then came back to

work for a number of companies,

including one that did inflight

entertainment systems.

This was to be something of a

fated move, because when that

company decided to pull out

of the industry, Geoff instantly

saw an opening to offer the

design service himself.

Growing the business

“I’m basically a problem-solver”

says Geoff, “so I’d go into airlines,

talk to people, and find out what

the issues were”. This was how he

Geoff at “Welly Road”

Middle School, Newport

came to identify the unreliable

on-board headphone sockets,

which at that time would last for

an average of 5,000 plug-ins,

and he designed an alternative

that would last 20 times

longer – with clear cost-saving

implications for the airlines.

His first contract was to supply ‘a

few hundred’ units to US company

Vid-Air, and to fulfil that order,

he had to call on the help of his

parents and his young son to help

build the units in his garage.

The next contract was for

10,000 units, at which point, in

1998, he realised he had to start

taking on staff – and then the

orders started flowing in. Things

really took off when the product

was ordered for the prestigious

Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and

the rest, as they say, is history.

Last year the company turned

over £13 million and looks set

to grow further, with its in-house

research and development team

constantly working on new

products to help the airlines

move towards on-board wifi

and contactless payment

technology in the skies.

Naturally proud of both his

company and its Island base, Geoff

has been a long-time supporter

of the Isle of Wight Chamber of

Commerce, and IFPL has been a

member company for 20 years.

He became involved with

the Chamber at Board level six

years ago, and is about to step

down after serving a three-year

term of office as President.

He sees the role as one of “an

influencer”, bringing the issues

facing business people to the

attention of local government

and other agencies, and along

with others, has been heavily

involved in drawing up the “Vision

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Interview

“I’m basically a

problem-solver, so

I’d go into airlines,

talk to people,

and find out what

the issues were.”

Queens Award 2014 with HRH Prince Michael of Kent

for the Isle of Wight” that aims to

plan head for the next 20 years.

The Chamber has also

introduced an Island Ambassador

scheme, drawing on people

with good off- Island contacts

who can use their networks and

influence to encourage inward

investment on the Island.

Thorny issues

As he points out, top of the

list of issues that still face Island

businesses – especially tech

companies like his own - is

the fundamental difficulty in

recruiting the right people.

“It’s a big issue not only

for us, but also for the NHS,

schools and any type of

specialist business” he says.

“When people do come they

tend to stay, because obviously

they love it here – but we have

several barriers to getting them

in the first place. There’s that

psychological barrier of the Solent

and the bad press we’ve had

about the cost of getting here,

and then for professionals there’s

the issue of our school standards

which may be improving,

but aren’t up to par yet”.

As Geoff says, the ongoing job

is to ‘sell’ the Island as a great

place to live and work as well as

to visit – which will also involve

dealing with issues in some of

the towns that have become

run-down over recent years.

“If I had a magic wand, I’d put

a university here” he says. “Not

only would it serve our local

young people, but would draw

other young people here and

introduce a bit more vibrancy to

the Island, which, as we know,

has a largely ageing population.”

He is also keen to build on

the Island’s traditional tourist

industry by “identifying the new

wave in tourism” to attract the

higher-value end of the market.

Meanwhile he believes that

improved infrastructure such as

the Gigabit internet fibre system

could prove a powerful attraction

for high value individuals who

want to work from home.

Action Man

Heading up an international

business means that Geoff gets to

visit some pretty exotic locations.

“I travel all over the world and

people say, ‘Oh, you must see this

or that place’ but very often I’ll

think OK, it’s all right - but it’s not

much better than the Isle of Wight!

“I feel absolutely spoilt to be

able to live in such a stunningly

beautiful place with its outdoor

lifestyle, the beaches, the

watersports and the walks”.

And, as something of an action

man in his leisure time, Geoff

has seen the Island from all

angles! A long-time paraglider,

he regularly soared over the Island

and many other locations, for 15

years - whilst back on terra firma,

he was heavily involved with Ice

Hockey until the only ice rink

closed down (he’s still working

in the background to try to get

Ice Hockey back on the Island).

He also loves to be on

wheels, and as well as being

an enthusiastic touring

motorcyclist, he also goes in

for historic single-seater motor

racing and has successfully

competed at Silverstone and

Brands Hatch in several of his

stable of collector cars – at least

until last year when, as he puts

it, he “had a bit of a bash”.

Now, he says he’s a bit more

careful. “I watch the ones in

their 20s and realise that I’m

never going to be up there at

the front end, but I do enjoy it”.

Car crazy

Not surprisingly, Geoff’s


Interview

“It’s an amazing

honour to be asked,

and it will be another

great opportunity

to engage in

community and

charitable work.”

Touring Norway on his motorbike

garage at home in Carisbrooke

is something to behold. As well

as his racing cars, which include

a 1961 Formula Junior 1100cc,

a 1970 Merlyn Formula Ford

and a 1961 Cooper Grand Prix

1500, there’s also his collection of

classic motors – all 14 of them.

“I’m trying to stop buying them,

but if someone’s selling a nice

car I feel it would be rude of

me not to buy it!” he jokes.

Among the stable of motors

is the 1954 Morris Minor that

he bought when he was 22.

“I spend a lot of my time

polishing and tinkering with

cars” he says. “Whilst the racing

cars are taken care of by a racing

team, the old classics are my

therapy. Some are all in bits, but

I really enjoy doing them up”

Some of the cars do get to

hit the road though – like the

Belgian-made 1901 Delin that

he took on the London-Brighton

run with his son Chris, 36.

During their run, the manifold

fell apart – which might have been

a disaster for most drivers, but

not, of course for this pair. They

promptly dismantled a barbecue

and used it to re-solder the joint

before getting back on their way!

So, with an entire collection of

classic cars at his disposal, what

does Geoff choose for his everyday

trips? Usually, it’s his Mercedes

e-class estate – although he’s

also the proud owner of a “totally

silent” Tesla luxury electric car.

Charity begins at home

As he steps down from the

President’s office at Chamber

of Commerce, Geoff has a few

months to prepare himself

for another high profile role,

as High Sheriff of the Isle of

Wight from April next year.

“It’s an amazing honour to

be asked,” he says, “and it will

be another great opportunity

to engage in community

and charitable work”.

He has already founded one

charitable organisation on the

Island - the Wight Aid Foundation,

which raises funds exclusively for

local charities and community

groups, and makes it easier for

companies to donate by handling

all the admin side for them, and

distributing funds on their behalf.

“We sit every month and

make monthly donations of

between £10,000-20,000 to local

organisations” says Geoff, “and I

like the idea of this flow-through

from business to the community

that can really make a difference”.

Indeed, the difference that the

Wight Aid Foundation has made

since it was established just two

years ago amounts to £200,000

worth of donations that have

helped a total of 70 charities.

“From my point of view I am

really pleased with that, but

it’s not a massive ego thing

– I just want more people in

business to give more money.

“Ultimately I have a passion for

the Island and for making things

better – and I’ve always thought

that the best way to achieve that is

to give a hand-up, not a hand-out.”

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Local Scene

Charity evening

at Nunwell House

Nunwell House, Brading, recently hosted an evening

raising money for the Rainbow Trust Children’s

Charity and Brading Community Partnership.

Many local businesses donated or supported the

event which included harp playing, an auction,

raffle and a one-man performance by Charles

Dickens’s great-great-grandson, Gerald Dickens.

The event was a great success, and it was

a lovely evening, not quite summer, but not

yet autumn. The guests enjoyed the house

as well as the beautiful gardens.

As well as raising vital funds, which totalled

over £3,000, to support families and youths on

the Isle of Wight, the event helped raise muchneeded

awareness of Rainbow Trust and Brading

Community Partnership’s work on the Island.




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Local Scene


Interview

Taking back

ground for Island

boatbuilders

The demise of many of the Island’s traditional shipyards to make way

for a succession of glossy new waterfront building developments

is an issue that pains people like boatbuilder Sam Fulford.

But rather than just sit and complain, this passionate craftsman

rolled up his sleeves and put his money where his mouth is.

After his business was caught up in the battle over the Medina Yard

site, he made the bold decision to take on the long-unused slipway

at Clarence Boatyard at East Cowes, and now, after a complete sixmonth

overhaul, this historic slice of working waterfront has become

the new base for his business, Wooden and Steel Ship Repairs.

Having grown up in Arctic Road,

Cowes in the 1980s, it was the

evocative sights and sounds of the

Medina’s shipyards that provided

the backdrop and soundtrack

to Sam Fulford’s earliest life.

His father was a boatbuilder

and the young Sam spent his

childhood playing on the river,

playing among the old wrecked

and abandoned hulks and barges.

“There were lots of interesting

old boats on the river” he recalls.

“To be able to row past huge

North Sea fishing trawlers and

light ships moored waiting for

whatever might be planned, or

ships built by the Souters and the

FBM shipyards, sitting there halffinished

on the pile moorings at

Medham, was amazing - and that

was our everyday experience”.

He vividly describes climbing

about on the old Paddle

Steamer Ryde, as well as the

old wreck of the Yellowfin (she

whose giant propeller now rests

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Interview

“There were lots

of interesting old

boats on the river.

To be able to row

past huge North

Sea fishing trawlers

and light ships

moored waiting

for whatever might

be planned.”

opposite Newport’s Quay Arts

Centre), and says they provided

“a first class playground”.

On his way to school in the

morning, Sam would walk past

the Coles Shipyard on Arctic Road,

and peer over the fence to the 500

Ton slipway, seeing various ships

in repair, from beautiful coasters,

to the fast ferries in for repair

during the Cowes Express time.

“It was such an interesting

and wondrous sight, it ignited

one’s imagination - and it

certainly inspired me. I probably

didn’t even realize to what

extent at the time” he says.

Launching out

Never particularly academic,

Sam says he could not wait to

finish school. His passion was

for ‘creating and fixing things’

so as soon as he left school,

he went to work at Bannisters

Garage in Cowes where he did

an apprenticeship as a mechanic,

working and training with what

he describes as “an excellent

team who taught me well and

influenced me to the value

and respect of hard work”.

By the relatively tender age

of 22 he had launched out

with his own garage business,

in a workshop at the Coles’s

old shipyard at Arctic Road,

“I did OK, I was busy, but at that

young age, with inexperience

of such things, I found it

difficult to survive the overhead

costs of the business” he says.

“Ultimately I was just unhappy

in what I was doing and wanted

a change of direction”.

And that change of direction

came about through buying an old

wooden boat. Sam had decided

he wanted a project, something

totally absorbing – and he found

it in the shape of a 65’ Admiralty


Interview

“So my life was

two or more weeks

working 7 days,

10 hours a day in

London, and then

restoring MFV119

back here on the

Isle of Wight until I

ran out of money!”

Shortly after starting the MFV119 project

type motor fishing vessel.

Labour of love

The MFV119 was a WW2

boat, built for the Royal Navy for

wartime use, and Sam later found

out that it was the last survivor of

its type used at Omaha Beach in

the D-Day landings of 1944, by an

Sam Fulford

American Special Services crew,

and as such, is listed in the Historic

Fleet of the United Kingdom.

MFV119 turned into a huge,

15-year project, which involved

completely re-designing

and re-building the boat,

to the extent that the only

remaining original part is what

sits below the waterline.

“That’s often the case with

wooden boats” explains Sam. “The

salt water preserves the timbers

while the fresh rain decays, so

they rot from the top down”.

To fund the project, Sam’s

brother Toby supplied him with

work in London, converting and

refitting barges to turn them

into sea-going houseboats.

“So my life was two or more

weeks working 7 days, 10 hours a

day in London, and then restoring

MFV119 back here on the Isle of

Wight until I ran out of money!”

Sam and Toby had such a good

amount of work in London that

they began to look for riverside

work space, a place where they

could take barges and larger

boats to be repaired and fitted

out - but nowhere was available.

And that was when Sam

started to become aware of

the big squeeze on traditional

boatbuilding sites: “It seemed

that all the derelict riverside

yards had been bought up

by developers, or set aside by

Government agencies for building

development sites” he explains.

“The places near London that

were available, were totally

54

www.visitilife.com

Interview

unsuitable - and certainly not

inspiring places to work from!

One must have inspiring places

to work from or one’s imagination

simply won’t work, and good

work cannot be produced”.

The result was that brother

Toby bought a place in Kent,

Sam headed back to the

Island, and their lives went

in different directions.

Island enterprise

Sam started the business

‘Wooden Ship Repairs’ in July

2013, with the idea of utilizing

the skills he had learned in the

restoration of MFV119 – but

before long, it was turned into

‘Wooden & Steel Ship Repairs’

as the need to diversify into

both materials became clear.

As the name suggests, the

business specializes in the

repair and maintenance of

larger wooden and steel

vessels, including everything

from mast and spar repair

and construction, to interior

refitting and engineering. Sam

now works with a group of

highly skilled contractors who

come in and help for tasks

such as electrical works and

traditional rigging, as required.

The restoration of MFV119 had

got Sam’s work noticed, and as

a result the jobs started to come

in. The greatest proportion of the

work was carried out at Medina

Yard, in Cowes, and it worked very

well – although Sam could see that

the 60 ton weight lift limit of the

hoists there would be restrictive,

and that if he could haul out

heavier boats than any other yard,

then work would surely come.

A huge boost for the business

came when Sam was joined by

other local experts, including

Justin Gardner, one of Cowes’

highly skilled boat builders

with particular expertise in

mast and spar construction.

Then in September last year

Sam was given what he describes

as a ‘fantastic opportunity’ to

take on the slipway facility in

Clarence Boatyard - long-unused,

and requiring a complete

overhaul after over 100 years

of constant heavy hard work.

It was a massive undertaking,

but in the face of the proposed

developments at the Medina

Yard site, where Sam and his

colleagues had previously

done most of their work, he

decided to take the plunge.

“The recently-agreed planning

permission to build on the

Medina Yard site was a clear

indication that industry is

being forced out” he says.

“Shipyard sites are looked upon

by developers and the like, with

hungry eyes. In very recent times

Inspecting the ship

we see a threat to the industrial

work space like has never been

experienced at any time.

“During the war years, bombs

may have been dropping from

enemy aircraft, but the only result

was newer and better workshops

that were built to replace what

was lost. Now, those who are

bent on removing these yards

will do so in such a way that

work will never, ever be able to

be carried out in Cowes again”.

Preserving history

As Sam points out, it is incredible

to think, that in Cowes, not one

existing quay wall would exist for

a vessel of any size to lay for repair

works to proceed afloat, to be

able to bring a crane in alongside

for the removal of engines or

heavy equipment, or to remove


Interview

the rig from a large yacht.

“I wanted to stop that trend” he

says. “I wanted to show that these

unused and unwanted facilities are

needed and can be bought back

to life with relatively little work”.

The painstaking work that

he undertook along with his

friend Dougal Burns and others,

involved stripping the cradle right

down to its component parts,

which revealed that all of the

130 cast iron wheels had been

worn out by 100 years of work.

So, a cast iron bar 8 inches in

diameter had to be meticulously

sliced into three-inch segments, a

hole bored through and machined

to make a bearing surface, and new

axles machined with grease ways

for lubrication, as the river mud is

no friend to rotating metal parts.

Then, half of the timber

backbone was replaced, with

new steel work and bolts holding

the whole thing together.

Meanwhile, the outer sections

of the cradle, that stabilize the

whole thing, were repaired by

reusing the original wheels - the

best of them being selected and

machined to be all of equal size.

New track sections had to be

laid, working between the tides,

but luckily when it came to the

original steam-driven winch (now

converted to run on electricity)

that had been well-maintained

and remained in fine order.

“The winch was probably fitted

in 1899 at the start of the original

yard” says Sam. “A testament

to good British engineering!”

The slipway is in a historic

shipyard, built by ‘Groves and

Gutteridge’ in 1899, for engineers,

yacht and small craft builders.

It was modernized in 1930 as

a completely self-contained

shipyard, and in parts is still an

excellent example of what a

1930’s shipyard would look like.

While it’s certainly a historic

yard and of great interest,

says Sam, he’s adamant

that “it is no museum, but

a home for many excellent

businesses, all working hard.

“I run the slipway as hard as

it would have been in its early

days” he says. “But now we have

the efficiency of modern tools

and materials. It’s a combination

of using the old and the new

which works well. I strongly

believe that just because a thing

is old, doesn’t mean it loses its

capability of effective work”.

“The younger generation should

have the opportunity to learn to

build and fix impressive objects

such as ships. They need that

ability like they need air to breathe.

There are many people who may

not have that creative bent, and

would not understand that need,

but they don’t have the right to

remove the work space from those

who want to work this way”.

Sam’s vision is already bearing

fruit, with the slipway steadily

bringing in work to the business,

creating jobs, preserving skills,

and ultimately, supporting the

Island’s heritage and economy.

And that, as he says, was

the whole purpose.

MFV119 moored in Newport Harbour

“The younger

generation

should have the

opportunity to

learn to build and

fix impressive

objects such as

ships. They need

that ability like

they need air

to breathe.”

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www.visitilife.com


Out & About

The wonder

of Wolverton

The annual Wolverton Garden Fair returned for it’s

19th year. Supporting Age UK once again, Wolverton

Garden Fair is the largest garden event on the Island,

attracting people from all over to partake in the fun.

There were a wide range of amazing nurseries

on display, from both the Island and mainland,

also a chance to watch Elizabethan dancing with

Passamezzo, magic from magician David Randini ,dog

agility displays, classic cars and bikes, military vehicles

and engine displays, and a climbing wall. Not only

that, but the event was wrapped up with music from

Last Orders.

Over the last 10 years of supporting Age UK Isle of

Wight, Wolverton has raised over £200,000, which has

helped Age UK offer services to local older people that

help to improve their quality of life, whatever their

situation might be.




58

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Out & About


Inside Business

60

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Feature

A happy, all-cash Christmas!

We all tend to groan and roll our

eyes when the shops start piling

up their Christmas stock the

minute the summer holidays are

over – but the fact is that more and

more of us are getting into the

‘shop early’ habit.

According to the latest survey

by stats company Statista, on

the Christmas spending habits

of Britons, the majority of us

actually start our shopping in

October – with only 24% waiting

until December to make a start on

festive purchases.

And the main reason, it seems, is

to help spread the cost.

Last year the average household

spend was £821, and if that is all

done last-minute, and slapped

on a credit card, then the January

bill hitting your doormat can

come as something of a New Year

dampener.

A bit of organisation and

forward-planning can ease all

that, and spreading the spending

out over the three months from

October to December is probably

the most sensible way to do it.

So – make a gift list, decide

how much you want to spend

per person, and put the money

to one side out of three months

worth of income. In the old days it

would have been a case of filling a

savings jar or piggy bank, but now

you could set up different savings

‘buckets’ in your bank or savings

account, allocated for festive

gifts, food and drink, travel and

entertainment.

Setting a Christmas budget now

makes it easier to achieve an allcash

Christmas – and having gift

lists and grocery lists organized in

advance means you know exactly

what you need and can take

advantage of sales and seasonal

specials as they pop up during the

Autumn.

With hand-made crafts currently

enjoying something of a revival,

you could even consider opting for

a hand-made Christmas this year,

and creating your own gifts and

cards. If that’s the case, get busy

as soon as the autumn evenings

begin to draw in, and you could

have a stash of gifts made by

December.


Out & About

Muddy Bull run

The inaugural Muddy Bull Run was billed as

“The ultimate team event” and was certainly

a challenge for all the teams who took part.

Taking place at Three Gates Farm, Calbourne, the course was

challenging, enjoyable and massively muddy, especially after

a few laps. Full of ups and downs, the competitors, who were

all raising funds for charity, seemed to enjoy themselves,

though some looked rather less impressed when down in

the mud filled trenches. A great success, all who took part in

the event were keen to see it go from strength to strength.

A spokesman for the event said: “A great deal of time and

effort has gone in to make the route both interesting and

challenging and to provide the runner with the opportunity

to stretch themselves physically, mentally and

emotionally. Geared to team participants, the

obstacles often require a joined up thinking

approach and ability to work together as one, to

achieve a fast and effective solution.”




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Out & About


64

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Feature

Wear it with pride

The next few weeks will

see the re-emergence of

those familiar red paper

poppies, adorning coats

and jackets everywhere

from our TV screens

to workplaces, schools

and the High street.

Originally designed to be

worn just on November 11th,

remembrance poppies are now

widely worn from late October

until mid-November, and more

than 40 million of them will be

made for sale in the UK this year.

But how many of us actually

know the origin of this tradition?

Most will grasp the connection

with the poppies that sprang

up on European battlefields

after the bloody horrors of the

First World War – but perhaps

not so many are aware that

the wearing of poppies can be

attributed to a century-old poem.

Penned in 1915 by Canadian

physician John McCrae, the poem,

“In Flanders Fields” was inspired

by his witnessing of the death

of his friend, and describes the

humble field poppies (Papaver

rhoeas) that were the first flowers

to grow in the churned-up earth

of soldiers’ graves in Flanders.

When the poppy was first

adopted as a remembrance

symbol in 1921, the artificial

poppies for Britain’s first appeal

had to be imported from France

– but by the following year, the

Disabled Society was awarded a

grant of £2,000 from the British

Legion for the employment of

disabled ex-service people to

make the symbolic red paper

flowers here in England.

The Poppy Factory was set up

to make them, at a former collar

factory on London’s Old Kent

Road, and before long, it was

employing 50 disabled veterans.

By 1926, demand for the poppies

had increased so much that

the factory outgrew its original

premises and moved on to a

disused brewery in Richmond,

Surrey. Housing for the workforce

and their families was built on

adjacent land and in 1932 the

present factory was built, and

continues to this day to offer

work all year round for disabled

veterans and dependants.

As well as making some 36

million poppies each year (a

further 5 million being made

at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory

in Scotland), the operation also

creates wreaths, symbols and

remembrance products for the

Royal Family and the Royal British

Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal.

In recent years, celebrities have

taken to wearing somewhat showy

and expensive crystal-clad poppy

brooches instead of the simple

paper variety – and in fact the

British Legion has introduced its

own range of ‘bling’ poppies.

It’s a move that some might

argue, goes against the

whole essence of the poppy,

whose delicate form remains

such a powerful symbol of

the fragile beauty of life.


ACCOMMODATION

VICTORIA LODGE

HOTEL

WIGHTBAY HOTEL

THE LECONFIELD

Situated in a rural location one mile from

Ventnor and two miles from Shanklin with

a stop on the main No 3 bus route outside.

You can enjoy panoramic sea views

from most rooms, the breakfast

room and conservatory.

We are an idyllic base for walks on

coastal paths or St Boniface Down

without the need to use the car.

Contact us or book online via:

T: 01983 852196

85 Leeson Road, Upper Bonchurch,

Ventnor, PO38 1PU

Facebook/Theleconfieldhotel

www.leconfieldhotel.com

MEDEHAMSTEDE

HOTEL

GRACELLIE HOTEL

The Victoria Lodge hotel is open

all year round to offer you a warm

welcome. Ferry deals are available,

contact for details. Offering

evening meals. Both pets

and children are welcome.

T: 01983 862361

5 Alexandra Rd,

Shanklin, PO37 6AF

INGLEWOOD

GUEST HOUSE

Friendly family run guesthouse in

prime location 200m from

Sandown beach. OPEN ALL

YEAR. Delicious breakfasts. Eight

comfortable guestrooms. Call for

our best prices and winter offers.

T: 01983 403485

15 Avenue Rd, Sandown,

PO36 8BN

www.inglewoodsandown.co.uk

THE WHEATSHEAF

An excellent venue for your next

event. With 40 en-suite Guest

Bedrooms, the Hotel features

a large restaurant and lounge,

with a 100 guest capacity.

Full catering, bar, free WiFi.

Parking available for 20 vehicles.

Evening meals available

to non-residents.

2019 dates available. Contact

us now for full details.

T: 01983 402518

2 Royal St, Sandown, PO36 8LP

www.wightbayhotel.com

THE CALEDON

GUEST HOUSE

A warm welcome awaits you,

only minutes from Shanklin town

centre, sea front and ‘Old Village’.

On-site restaurant and bar with

entertainment most evenings, Wi-Fi

throughout. Call for discounted

ferry tickets with your room.

T: 01983 862101

9 Queens Road Shanklin, PO37 6AR

www.medehamstede.co.uk

GRANGE FARM BED AND BREAKFAST

Grange Farm sleeps eight, with two ensuite

bedrooms and family suite. Includes

two sitting rooms and large kitchen diner.

Large garden & 50 acres woodland.

Red Squirrel Lodge is a new three bedroom

build with facilities for the less mobile,

kitchen / living area & covered veranda.

Amenities include off road parking,

a cycle store and drying facilities.

Please visit the website for more

information and booking.

T: 01983 882147

Grange Farm, Staplers Road, Wootton

Bridge, PO33 4RW

www.grange-farm-holidays.co.uk

66

www.visitilife.com

Receive a warm welcome at the

Gracellie Hotel, with modern

en-suite rooms and plenty of

amenities. Start the day with a

traditional English breakfast, and

enjoy a varied dinner menu in the

evening. Free WiFi access.

T: 01983 863243

25-27 Hope Rd, Shanklin, PO37 6ED

www.gracelliehotel.com

The Wheatsheaf can be found

in St Thomas Square, Newport.

Original features. A top-notch

dining experience for breakfast,

lunch and dinner. Cosy en-suite

rooms and a very warm welcome.

T: 01983 530777

16 St Thomas Square, Newport,

PO30 1SG

www.thewheatsheafhotel.com

HEWITT’S HOUSE

Offers contemporary dining

and a bar with free Wi-Fi. The

rooms are festooned with

period charm and each benefits

from either an en-suite or

private external bathroom.

T: 01983 822994

33 Lugley St, Newport, PO30 5ET

www.hewittshouse.com

info@hewittshouse.com

The Caledon Guest House

in Cowes, is a peaceful,

welcoming B&B. It is beautifully

decorated with spacious

rooms and amazing views.

Enjoy a great breakfast with

locally sourced produce

and friendly, helpful

service with a smile.

The Caledon is conveniently

located only a short walk from

the heart of West Cowes and

the Red Jet ferry, but far enough

away to enjoy some peace

and quiet during your stay.

A real home away from home.

T: 01983 293599

59 Mill Hill Road,

Cowes, PO31 7EG

www.the-caledon.co.uk

stay@the-caledon.co.uk

Out & About

Electric woods

light up Robin Hill

Inspired by Diwali, immerse yourself in

colour at Robin Hill’s Electric Woods this

Autumn.

As night falls, discover the lush colours, flavours and

sounds of the Asian subcontinent spring up around

you as you embark on a spirited journey through Indian

inspired experiences.

This year also brings a new adventure, Jungle Heights,

which will involve LED lighting, smoke machines and

an exciting soundtrack that immerse participants in

energetic, jungle inspired fun.

Take time to enjoy the authentic Indian menu of

curries and kebabs, Asian sweet treats and traditional

teas, providing a true taste of India.





Travel

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www.visitilife.com

Travel

‘unsung’

The

island

Lying on the south eastern side of the Caribbean, and

washed on one side by the Atlantic Ocean and the other

by the Caribbean Sea, is the beautiful, unassuming

Island of Grenada. This jewel of an island is one not to

be missed if you are visiting the Caribbean. Having now

visited three times in the last five years, I always leave

with a certain regret, and a powerful desire to return.

By Terry Willey

The Island boasts the first

underwater sculpture park which

was designed by Jason deCaires

Taylor as a marine habitat, and

created post-hurricane Ivan. It

now offers to divers and snorkelers

from all over the world a unique

experience of the most wonderful

variety of vibrant fish and corals,

along with a stunning underwater

collection of sculptures, reflecting

the Island’s legends and history,

and added to periodically by

local artists. This is located just

five minutes from one of the

Island’s most picturesque and

beautiful beaches, known as

Grand Anse, and the sculpture

park and facility was named by

National Geographic as one of

the top 25 wonders of the world.

Widely known as “the Island of

Spice”, it is not surprising that

Grenada’s capital, St. Georges,

is home to a huge spice market,

selling a wide range of locallygrown

crops and spices. For

holidaymakers, Grenada boasts

some of the best beaches which

never seem to be crowded,

and although the beaches are

public, no shoreline buildings

are allowed to be taller than

the tallest palm tree. Lush

Levera beach on the northern

tip provides dramatic views of

the Atlantic Ocean and a sailing

trip around the Island - which

is not to be missed - offers the

exhilaration of experiencing the

variance between the Caribbean

Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

In recent years, luxury allinclusive

hotels have emerged,

offering their guests tailored

tours of the Island and then

returning them to their havens

of relaxation. Interestingly, unlike


Travel

other holiday destinations, the

planners have ensured that

these remain inconspicuous

and do not mar the landscape.

The culture in Grenada

incorporates a blend of African,

French and British, with West

African influences especially

found in the food and music of

the sister island, Carriacou. Many

place names are French and

some dialect words can be traced

back to the time of the French

rule. Initially inhabited by Caribs

when Europeans arrived, Grenada

thereafter was passed between

French and British rule until it

was ceded to Britain in 1763.

The most famous of all the

crops on the Island is nutmeg,

and the fact that Grenada is the

world’s largest nutmeg producer

can be seen represented on its

national flag. Independence was

finally declared in February 1974,

a revolutionary Government

took control in 1979, and

in then1983 a second coup

prompted intervention by

the USA, when Constitutional

Government was reinstated.

In September 2004,

hurricane Ivan hit the island

causing loss of life and severe

damage – an extremely rare

occurrence since the Island

sits south of the hurricane

belt, and so rarely experiences

such extremes of weather.

There is so much to do and

to see on the island in addition

to just simply relaxing and

enjoying the stunning scenery

and beautiful unspoilt beaches.

Cocoa and chocolate production

is widespread, and there is now

a total of five ‘tree to bar’ cocoa

producers on Grenada. The first

was the Grenadian Chocolate

Company founded in 1999. The

big annual Chocolate Fest is

celebrating its sixth year in May

2019, and would be well worth

a visit. Visitors can spend a day

on a cocoa farm, tasting cocoa

direct from the tree, followed

by a journey from harvest to

fermentation and drying to the

chocolate making itself, and

then head off to the Belmont

Estate to see the Cocoa Estate

Factory. Grenada Chocolate

Company recently opened

a new Bon Bon Boutique by

its factory in Hermitage.

Like many of the Caribbean

islands, Grenada also boasts

excellent rum, there being three

distillers on the Island that have

remained pretty much unchanged

since their construction in the 18th

century. Sugar cane and water

from its fields make the rum, and

the distillery is run by a watermill.

Tours and tastings are free.

If you are looking for spices,

then Grenada is one of the

finest places in the world to find

them, with an amazingly wide

variety that includes nutmeg,

mace, cinnamon, ginger, allspice

and pimento, all grown by local

farmers and families and on sale

islandwide. You will also find

nutmeg in many of the local

recipes, from salad dressings

to ice cream, and it is usually

grated on top of a rum punch.

70

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Travel

Snapshot

“There is so much to

do and to see on the

Island in addition to

just simply relaxing and

enjoying the stunning

scenery and beautiful

unspoilt beaches.”

Above all, the Grenadian people

are very special and always offer

an exceptionally warm and friendly

welcome to visitors. They are

justifiably proud of their island’s

reputation as a safe and authentic

place to visit and enjoy a stay.

I am sure, like me, that once you

have tasted this “unsung island”

you too will want to return!


Out & About

A storm of colour

Porchfield Cricket Club recently held it’s

annual Fun Day, with the centrepiece

event being the powder run.

Raising over £2,000 for Age UK Isle of Wight, the powder

run made for a colourful sight with all the runners

becoming a rainbow of colour by the end of the event.

The run was supported by Red Squirrel Property Ltd,

NFU Mutual, Wight Home Care and Wheelers Solicitors.

The other attractions of the Fun Day included

funfair games, a bake sale, a bouncy castle,

stalls, skittles and a BBQ, plus much more.




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Out & About


74

www.visitilife.com


Classic Bikes

on display

A beautiful display of bikes was put on by

the Vintage Motorcycle Club when they

held their Scurry in Newport’s St Thomas

Square. This was just one part of a four day

event held on the Island.

Growing from it’s start back in the late 1940s the club now

has over 15,000 members all across the world, who get

together for day trip adventures, excursions and scurries.

Member Roger Tweedy explained that the club has 50

members on the Island and the event saw a great showing

of both vintage and classic bikes as well as models from

the mid 1930s.




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Out & About


78

www.visitilife.com

ARRETON BARNS

ASK THE EXPERTS:

AUCTIONEERS CORNER

Warren and Rex have been auctioning and valuing for over

40 years in total and as a forward looking business are now

ready to try and take on the next generation of staff to shape

the future. Warren says “This business is such a varied and

interesting one, to ensure the future has the personnel with

the skill set and character to go forward we have decided to

advertise for a trainee auctioneer & valuer.

“I left the Royal Navy to come into the family business back

in the 90s and then started my journey of learning about

Antiques & Collectables. On that journey I met Rex who was

already a renowned Antique Dealer and eventually he left

dealing to become an Auctioneer & Valuer.

“It’s all about preparing for the future, this industry takes time

to build up the knowledge base, skills and nature to deal with

anything from deceased estates to a rowdy room when you

are on the rostrum.”

HRD auction rooms held

their outdoor sale as usual at

Arreton with the weather for

once fine and sunny. The lot

variation was its usual random

and interesting amount,

with anything from a MG

Convertible to a cow feeder!

The buyers flocked in

and this was helped by the

weather, range of lots and

the refreshments. Warren

said “It is almost a social

event people look forward to!

For us at the auction rooms

it is an opportunity to get

the team out and about.”

AUCTION SUMMARY

RECENTLY SOLD ITEMS

September Auctions proved

very lively, interesting and full

of surprises. Director Warren

Riches says, “the sale was

packed with quality, just the

right amount of variation and

fresh-to-the-market lots”.

With a fine coin collection

making over £10,000 in total,

and a classic Mercedes car

going for over £15,000 there

was interest online, on the

phone and in the rooms.

A first for the auction

rooms was an old Yeomans

of the Guard uniform, sold

to a German collector for

over £1200. A selection of

local Norman Wilkinson

watercolours made over

£2,000, whilst four unusual

Hungarian watercolours made

over £3,500. A vintage Rolex

watch created much interest

as always, selling for £1,600.

Yeoman uniform

Sold for over £1,200

Wilkinson watercolours


Antiques & Collectables

Modern & Vintage

Brading Auction Rooms

Quay Lane, Brading, Sandown

Isle of Wight, PO36 0AT

T: 01983 402222

E: brading@hrdauctionrooms.co.uk

Hungarian watercolours


Coin collection


Vintage Rolex

Sold for £1,600

Classic Mercedes

Sold for over 15,000


Gardening

Quick fixes for

winter colour

After a stunner of a summer during which gardens have

looked at their most glorious, the onset of autumn and winter

can feel like a bleak, downer of a time in our outdoor spaces.

Many gardens after October can

start to look rather dog-eared and

colourless, with all those empty

borders and drifting piles of windblown

leaves, so it can be tempting

just to shut the door on it all until

next spring.

However, it doesn’t have to be

like that. There are plenty of quick

fixes to ensure that you enjoy

colour and texture in the garden

right through the winter.

The simplest solution is to invest

in some hardy winter bedding

plants, and plant them into all

those bare spots in your flower

beds, as well as using them to fill

troughs, urns, baskets and other

containers to brighten up your

exterior space.

Probably the most popular

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Gardening

bedding plant choice for instant

colour is the cheerful Pansy, with

its flowers that almost seem

to smile. A stalwart of winter

bedding displays, the Pansy will

bloom for far longer than most

others, producing a seemingly

endless rainbow of blues, purples,

yellows, oranges and reds. Just

make sure you dead-head the

plants regularly and they will

flower pretty much continuously.

There’s also the Pansy’s slightly

smaller cousin, the Viola, which

produces masses of daintier

flowers and comes in upright

varieties that are ideal for planting

in pots or beds, as well as trailing

varieties that look fabulous in

hanging baskets and urns.

Other popular winter bedders

include Primrose and Polyanthus,

sweetly-scented wallflowers and

delicate little Cyclamens, which

will fill your garden with colour

even on the dullest of January and

February days. As a more subtle

kind of winter-flowering bedding

plant, Cyclamen’s dainty pink and

white flowers and pretty marbled

leaves look good teamed with

snowdrops, evergreen grasses,

boxwood and trailing ivy.

The Royal Horticultural Society’s

advice on creating interest in the

garden through the winter is to

aim for scent, berries, coloured

stems and dramatic, evergreen

foliage.

But remember that evergreens

don’t necessarily have to be green!

You can include some more

unusual leaf colours such as blue

spruce, Juniper Blue Star or yellow

and gold conifers. Frilly pink

ornamental cabbages look great

in containers while photinia and

euonymous will light up borders.

You can also try berry-bearing

shrubs like holly, cotoneaster

and pyracantha, to add vibrant

splashes of winter colour.

Among the most useful

perennials to include in your

garden for winter colour and

texture, there’s winter-flowering

heather which comes with pink,

white or purple flowers; evergreen

viburnums with their lovely little

clusters of flowers; and Mahonia,

a range of evergreen shrubs

commonly known as barberry,

with sunny yellow flower spires

that rise out of rich green leaves.


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Gardening

THE CHILL OF AUTUMN

by Matt Noyce, Head Gardener at Quarr Abbey

In contrast to the extreme weather we

were having just a few months ago, the

autumn chill has now begun. The leaves

are changing colour and falling, creating a

multi coloured carpet where foraging birds

and other wildlife can be seen flitting about.

Many of the leaf colours are akin to the hue

of the brickwork of the Abbey Church.

Within the gardens and grounds of Quarr Abbey, we

now see the shift of workload. Moving away somewhat

from the intensive vegetable plot and ornamental

areas and starting to focus on the wider estate. Hedges

are being cut now without the worry of disturbing

nesting birds. Also, you can be sure that the deciduous

hedges are entering dormancy so won’t put on any

more growth until the next growing season in spring.

Although growth is also slowing down in the

vegetable plot, there is still produce to harvest. Time

is spent bringing in our squashes, pumpkins and

patty pans. These create a really colourful display in

the farm shop at a time when most plants are fading.

Potatoes are being lifted along with other root crops

that may be more susceptible to pest damage and

rotting off if left in the cool damp soil. We dry store

our onions to use as we need them.

The apple harvest doesn’t seem to have been as good

as last year, but maybe that is to be expected as last

year was a bumper crop. There seems to be a natural

fluctuation between great years and good years. The

apples that have been harvested are being stored in

the abbey for use by the community and their guests.

In the borders, herbaceous foliage that is dying

back is being cut and removed to tidy areas but it is

important to leave some seasonal interest, such as

grasses and rose hips, which also act as autumn and

winter food for resident birds.

The bees are currently being put to bed for

winter. The hives are checked to see that they have

enough food stores until their next ‘feed’ at around

Christmas time.

I can now announce the fantastic news that one of

our trees, the Quarr Abbey Oak, has been shortlisted

as a contender for ‘Tree of The Year 2018’. The

competition is run by the Woodland Trust and voting

for our Oak tree can be carried out on their website

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/treeoftheyear. It would be a

treemendous honour to win this marvellous accolade!

Pictures by Matt Noyce.


Country Life

w

By Lianne de Mello, Hampshire

& Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Snug as a bug

Shortening day length and dropping temperatures are the

signal for many species to go into torpor, a period of sleep.

Their hibernation can vary from a few days to several

months to avoid the winter.

Photo: Dormouse by Danny Green 2020 Visi

84

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife

Trust, working for a better future for

wildlife and wild places in Hampshire

and the Island.

Phone: 01489 774 400

E-mail: feedback@hwt.org.uk

Website: www.hiwwt.org.uk

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife

Trust, Beechcroft House, Vicarage Lane,

Curdridge, Hampshire, SO32 2DP

www.visitilife.com

Join us today and enjoy the benefits of being a member of

the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust:

• Unlimited visits to 57 wildlife reserves in Hampshire and the Isle

of Wight and 2,500 reserves nationwide.

• A welcome pack when you join.

• Wildlife, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s magazine,

delivered to you three times a year.

• The chance to take part in local group and community activities,

offering you a variety of opportunities to be involved in. More than

350 walks, talks and events throughout the two counties.

• Join by Direct Debit & receive your FREE full colour Local Wildlife

Reserve Guide.

Country Life

Many animals hibernate, including

reptiles, newts, insects (such as

ladybirds and queen bumblebees),

bats and dormice. It helps them

conserve energy as food becomes

harder to find over the winter

months - they use less energy by

slowing everything down, such as

heart, breathing and metabolic

rate. For example a dormouse will

drop its heart and breathing rate by

around 90% while in hibernation.

However, not all animals

remain asleep for the whole

of the winter. Bats for example

will move around on warmer

evenings to find food or to move

position within a roost, whereas

a dormouse rarely wakes up from

its deep slumber until the leaves

are back on the trees in spring.

The ideal spot for hibernating is

usually somewhere that will not be

disturbed, where the temperature

will remain stable no matter what

is happening outside, and often

humid places to avoid dehydration

while they are asleep. Like us,

many animals lose water through

breathing, so need to take care

during hibernation.

The sorts of places they look

for are around log and rock piles.

These are ideal hidey holes for

amphibians and reptiles, which will

often find a nice safe place buried

in the middle to spend the winter.

Dormice are typically found in the

bottom of coppice stools, so try not

to disturb areas of woodland where

dormice may be dozing.

Hedgehogs often build a nest

of loose material which can

often just look like piles of dead

leaves under shrubs and hedges.

Meanwhile bats may be found in

cellars or outbuildings, squeezed

in to any suitable gap like where

mortar has fallen out between

brick work. But it’s not just outside

where you should keep your eyes

open, ladybirds can often be found

indoors, for example making

use of gaps around our window

frames and doors.

Don’t forget that not all animals

hibernate - some just become less

active, like badgers, while others

can still be seen daily including

birds. You can help these animals

make it through the winter by

leaving out fresh water (don’t

forget to check it isn’t frozen each

morning!) and food, to help keep

them going through the winter.

Remember it can be risky for

animals to be woken up before

they are ready, as it uses a lot of

energy. For this reason warm

winters can confuse hibernating

animals, and risks them starving. If

you find a hibernating animal, put

them back where you found them

as quickly as possible.


Country Life

Countryside news

By Tony Ridd

Conserving Treefields Pond

Local people will have the chance

to help conserve the inhabitants of

a historic wildlife pond on Friday 26

October 2018 from 11am -1pm.

Volunteers from Southern Water

will be lending a hand as part of

an ongoing project to conserve

community wildlife ponds on the

Island. We like to think of old ponds

as being natural features – but in

fact, most of the 340,000 or so

ponds in England and Wales are

artificial.

The same is true of the historic

Treefields Pond, situated on the

north side of the Binstead Road on

the northwest outskirts of Ryde.

This pond, hidden behind trees and

shrubs on the edge of Southern

Housing Groups’ Treefields Estate,

is one of the few of Ryde’s ponds to

survive into the modern age. The

town’s old ponds have long since

disappeared under the rapid pace

of development, which engulfed

the area in Victorian times and has

continued ever since.

The pond at Treefields is at the

junction of the picturesque Spencer

Road and the ancient Binstead

Road. From earliest times, tracks

were routed to take advantage of

natural watering places. Springs

or damp hollows developed into

ponds caused by trampling from

livestock or by human endeavour.

Many man-made ponds were

situated next to a road which acts

as a catchment, providing some

run-off water. These roadside ponds

would be used for the watering of

cattle on the way to market and for

horses. This man-made pond is not

fed by a spring but by rainwater. As

with many old ponds it is dug into

the natural clay. Even during the

recent drought it remained half-full,

still doing its job of holding water at

least 150 years after its creation.

Winter is the ideal time to care

for and manage ponds, as action

during the breeding season and

summer can harm creatures.

Local Pond Wardens and experts

from The Footprint Trust’ ecology

management team, are on hand

and are always looking to recruit

local people who wish to help care

for this and other historic ponds.

Today Treefields pond is owned

by the Southern Housing Group.

Thanks to the partnership with

The Footprint Trust and its pond

wardens, it supports a wide range

of wildlife, including dragonflies,

newts and frogs. It is a small

remnant of Ryde’s rural past, and

recent surveys have revealed that

it is doing very well – with a good

diversity of wildlife.

For more details please contact

Ray at The Footprint Trust on

01983 822282.

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Country Life

Discovery Bay

Become a Bayologist and celebrate National Biology

Week and Earth Science Week in Discovery Bay -

with a day packed full of life science activities for all

ages. You can try out the powerful microscopes, sieve

for life in the soil, fire up the mighty bug hoover, dip

for pondlife and fill up the wildlife aquarium, and

marvel at the mole-in-a-jar!

The Bay science team from Arc, Artecology, The

Common Space, Dinosaur Isle and The National Poo

Museum will all be there, and it’s free for all the family!

So head over and take part in the discovery in

the Education Room, Dinosaur Isle, Culver Parade,

Sandown PO36 8QA. You can follow on: Facebook:

Shaping The Bay. Instagram: Arc.Ways, or for more

information on Discovery Bay, email claire@arcconsulting.co.uk.

Harvest festival

IW Coppice group

The Isle of Wight Coppice Group, launched at this

year’s County Show, has been set up by Island

woodland workers to promote the sustainable

management of Isle of Wight coppice woodlands.

Membership is open to anyone who shares an interest

in coppice management and supports their broad

aims to:

• Increase the area of Isle of Wight woodland under

sustainable coppice management.

• Support those involved in producing coppice

products on the Isle of Wight.

• Promote the environmental, social and economic

benefits of coppicing.

• Increase the market for coppice products on the Isle

of Wight.

• Provide opportunities for those wanting to learn

coppice crafts and woodland skills.

The Group is affiliated to the National Coppice

Federation. If you would like to join the IWCG, a

subscription for the grand sum of £2 for membership

of the Nc Fed, with all its associated benefits (see

www.ncfed.org.uk ) would need to be paid. If you

would like to become a member of the Isle of Wight

group and be on our mailing list, please e-mail Geoff

Mason who is currently acting as membership coordinator

on iwcoppicegroup@gmail.com. There’s

also a Facebook page, iowcoppicegroup.

The Coppins Community Food Forest met at the end

of September with a successful day spent harvesting

their fruit and veg, which they offer and distribute free

of charge.

The Coppins Community Food Forest group is

independent from, but works in partnership with the

Church on the Roundabout (who have responsibility

for Barton Green) and the IW Foodbank, using the

church as a distribution centre.

They meet monthly for a garden work session on

the second Saturday of the month 10am til 1pm.

Volunteer help is always welcome especially as they

would like to move the project forward. Donations

of plants (particularly herbs) and garden tools are

always appreciated - Find them on Facebook or email

ccfoodforest@gmail.com.

LANDSCAPE

THERAPY

Bare-rooted tree and

shrub nursery. Fruit trees,

tree guards, canes and

stakes. Woodland and

hedgerow planting and

management.

LANDSCAPE &

COUNTRYSIDE

SPECIALIST

Tel: 01983 760011

Mob: 07966 292334


Country Life

Photo: Carrion Crow

w

By Alice Ashcroft, Hampshire &

Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Corvid confusion

Is it a rook, raven or crow? The three all-black corvids

cause a common ID challenge but they can be

identified by their size, shape and calls.

Corvids tend to have strong social

groups and communities. Crows

for example, often mate for life

and are co-operative breeders,

meaning other adults in the family

help with rearing offspring.

They are considered among

the most intelligent of birds, with

magpies having demonstrated

self-awareness in mirror tests, and

crows and rooks showing their

ability making and using simple

tools.

Here’s a brief guide from your

local Wildlife Trust to our all-black

corvids and some useful tips on

how to identify them.

Carrion Crow

Carrion crows (Corvus corone)

are widespread throughout the

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Country Life

UK. They are scavengers by nature

and seek out carrion, as their name

suggests. They also eat insects,

earthworms, small mammals,

amphibians, food scraps and are

known to steal eggs.

Carrion crows can be

distinguished from other corvids by

their tidy black plumage, black bill,

square tail and hoarse ‘caw’ sound,

usually repeated three times.

Unlike rooks, they do not have

‘feathery trousers’ on their legs and

are much smaller than ravens.

Rook

Rooks (Corvus frugilegus) are

often seen together in groups

known as rookeries. The male

courts the female with a display of

strutting, bowing and cawing; once

they mate, between three to five

eggs are laid.

Rooks differ from crows by a

pale, straighter bill with a bare grey

bill base. They display ‘feathery

trousers’ on their legs and have an

oily, loose plumage compared to

crows. However, young rooks have

fully feathered faces so can be

mistaken for crows. In flight, rooks

have longer wings than crows

Photo: Rook

which narrow towards the body

and a long graduated tail.

Raven

Ravens (Corvus corax) are much

larger than other corvids – a similar

size to buzzards. Ravens mainly

breed in rural areas in the west

and the north of the UK but are

expanding their range eastward.

Most birds are resident and have

a distinctive deep, gravelly call

or ‘cronk’. Ravens pair for life;

males perform breeding displays

of posturing, preening and bill

caressing, and females lay four to

six blue-green eggs in a nest of

twigs and moss.

Their plumage is black and they

have a strong, heavy bill and throat

feathers. Ravens have long broad

wings in flight, well-fingered wing

tips and a diamond-shaped tail.

Their wing beat is very slow and

purposeful.

Photo: A Raven at the Tower of London

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife

Trust, working for a better future for

wildlife and wild places in Hampshire

and the Island.

Phone: 01489 774 400

E-mail: feedback@hwt.org.uk

Website: www.hiwwt.org.uk

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife

Trust, Beechcroft House, Vicarage Lane,

Curdridge, Hampshire, SO32 2DP

Join us today and enjoy the benefits of being a member of

the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust:

• Unlimited visits to 57 wildlife reserves in Hampshire and the Isle

of Wight and 2,500 reserves nationwide.

• A welcome pack when you join.

• Wildlife, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s magazine,

delivered to you three times a year.

• The chance to take part in local group and community activities,

offering you a variety of opportunities to be involved in. More than

350 walks, talks and events throughout the two counties.

• Join by Direct Debit & receive your FREE full colour Local Wildlife

Reserve Guide.


Country Life

Photo: Common Lizard by Ross Hoddinott 2020 Vision

10 things you didn’t know about

Common lizards

1. The common lizard is our most

widespread reptile, one of only

two ‘legged’ lizards in the UK.

2. Common lizards are variable

in colour, but are usually

brownish-grey, often with

rows of darker spots or stripes

down the back and sides.

Males have bright yellow or

orange undersides with spots,

while females have paler,

plain bellies.

3. If threatened by a predator,

the common lizard will shed

its tail to distract the attacker

and make a quick getaway.

This leaves a scar, but the

lizard can regrow its tail,

although it is usually shorter

than the original.

4. Common lizards hibernate

through the winter, usually

beneath piles of rocks or logs,

or in small burrows under the

ground.

5. Common lizards can lay eggs

and ‘give birth’ to live young;

the young can hatch inside

their mother and emerge as

fully formed lizards. They lay

eggs in warm climates, and

deliver live young in cold ones.

6. Common lizards are diurnal

animals, meaning they sleep

at night and are active during

the day.

7. Sadly, there appears to be a

decline in the population of

UK common lizards. For this

reason, they are listed on the

UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

8. Adults emerge from

hibernation in spring, mate in

April and May, and produce

three to eleven young in July.

9. Common lizards are sunseekers,

and can often be

found sunbathing in warm

weather.

10. The common lizard feeds on

invertebrates, mostly small

insects, spiders and small

snails. The lizard shakes its

prey in its jaws before chewing

it and swallowing it whole.

Discover more with your local

Wildlife Trust: www.hiwwt.org.uk

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Country Life

Ploughing through

the rain to victory

The IW County Ploughing Match was hit by a

torrential downpour this September, but that

didn’t stop both spectators and ploughers from

enjoying the event at Atherfield Farm, Chale,

held there with the kind permission of Mrs Ann

Henton.

Ricky Attrill put on a sterling display and was

awarded the IW County Ploughing Match Open

Championship Trophy. Not only that, but he also

won an award for best kept modern tractor, and

The Roy Kingswell Perpetual Challenge Cup for

the Best Work by a Match Plough.

Other events included The Ryland-Short

Challenge Trophy - Young Competitors Class

won by Mr Ealey, and the NFU Mutual Finance

Cup - Best Work Done by a General Purpose

Plough, won by Mr Slocombe.

Ploughing matches are a tradition of the

agricultural calendar that span back to the

1800s. Then they were a means to prove the

most skillful farm worker, and could lead to a

better job in the autumn! These days, the winner

earns the right to represent the Isle of Wight at

the National Ploughing Championships. The

winner of this goes on to represent Great Britain

at the World Ploughing Championships.

Above: Ploughing match winner Ricky Attrill


Equestrian goodies

Masta Fieldmasta fixed

neck tournout rug

This award winning rug has many

features to keep your horse warm and

comfortable this winter. Made from tough

600 denier polyester with reinforced

1200 denier ripstop polyester sections

where needed. Fully waterproof and

breathable. Articulated full neck design.

LeMieux Bandages,

Square & Fly Hood

A matching colour set of LeMieux

products. The LeMieux Luxury Polo

Bandages are made from high quality

fleece to avoid pilling. The LeMieux Signature

Fly Hood is handmade from two styles of closeknit

crochet with comfortable high density fabric

ears. The classic Close-Contact cut luxury suede

square from Le Mieux is designed to fit a wide

range of more forward cut jumping saddles.

Equetech Dinky

Rider Unicorn fleece

and headband

Lovely fun unicorn printed

fleece and headband. Designed

specifically for the younger rider

with a pull over envelope style

collar, easy to fit a head through.

All this and more is available in a variety of colours from Froghill of Sandford, Godshill,

PO38 3AN. Tel: 01983 840205. www.froghillofsandford.co.uk

Ariat Langdale boots

Waterproof leather boots

with suede detailing and

gold buckle. Laces at back

of shaft for adjusting the

width. Designed with Ariat

4LR technology. Duratread

sole designed to fit stirrup.

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Equestrian

TRAINING HORSES

with Robert Booth BHSI

Over the hot summer

months we have been

holding a series of

jumping and dressage

clinics at home, and

these have proved very

popular.

Teaching a certain theme or

subject is a little different to

my daily one-to-one lessons.

Keeping the groups

small, with no more than four

participants, meant I was able to

take more time to explain and

work through exercises, and

hopefully to get across the fact

that there is so much to learn.

Sometimes we just go through the

motions and never ask ‘why?’

I enjoy this way of teaching

and going back to the basics and

actually training, the reasons we

do this is to help in the overall

outcome.

In the clinics, we worked on

subjects such as gymnastic

gridwork for agility and rider

position, how to ride related

distances and courses and on the

flat, how to ride certain movements

and ride a simple dressage test.

There are so many more subjects to

cover and most are related to

others. Discussion is a big part

of teaching and hopefully by

me explaining what I saw and

how to improve things will help.

As the lessons progressed

I could see riders and horses

improving just from their

understanding of what they

were trying to achieve. You

never stop learning, and a good

rider is one who opens their

mind to learning and develops

a natural feel for the horse.

It was good to see some new

horse and rider combinations

coming along to take part, and

we shall continue to hold these

clinics through the winter months,

weather permitting.

Robert Booth is an equine trainer

for Rodgebrook Horses. Visit

www.rodgebrookhorses.co.uk or

telephone 01983 521870.

Training your horse:

Improving the canter

The canter is a three-beat stride

with a moment of suspension

when no feet are on the ground.

The aim is to create more

air time in the moment of

suspension, to get more jump

and balance in the canter.

The rider must learn to feel the

three beats and apply a half halt

as the horse is on the third beat,

with the horse’s inside foreleg

on the ground ready to rock

back and push up into his next

stride. How often you do this

will depend on the quality of the

horse’s paces.

RODGEBROOK HORSES

Excellent purpose built facilities,

Newport area for full, breaking,

schooling, sale and competition

preparation livery.

Tuition by Robert Booth BHSI

experienced Accredited Professional

Coach. Group or individual lessons

on your own horses here or your

home, all levels and disciplines.

Regular courses

throughout the year

Tel: 01983 521870

www.rodgebrookhorses.co.uk


Equestrian goodies

Likit refills

The Likit refill is designed to be used with the

Likit holder or Boredom Breaker. Perfect for

keeping your horse occupied in his stable,

they’ll

love the

range of

flavours!

Shires Halter

These eye popping colours characterise

these zesty headcollars from Shires.

Featuring cushioned, anti-chafe

padding on the fully adjustable

noseband and headband for a

comfortable, customised fit. Made from

durable nylon web with a clip on rolled

throatlash and chunky fittings.

Hy5 Extreme reflective

softshell gloves

Don’t get caught out in the

dark with these fantastic

softshell gloves. The safety

conscious design features

a soft grip palm with

reflective detail around the

index finger and across the

knuckle for added visibility.

Advent Calendars

for horses

A fun advent calendar packed with

24 individual opening windows, each

containing a delicious carob and peppermint

flavoured treat. Great for sharing as each

treat is breakable into four smaller treats.

Featuring a seasonal decorative design,

your horse or pony will love the annual

count down to Christmas as much as you.

All this and more is available from Trumor Feeds. You can find them at Forest Road,

Newport, PO30 4LY. Call 01983 521690 or you can find them on Facebook as TrumorFeeds

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Equestrian

Fancy dressage

at Kingates

The end of September saw Kingates Equestrian

hold its last show of 2018, a fun dressage

competition where competitors were allowed to

wear matchy matchy sets (coloured saddle pads

and bandages) and fancy dress.

The classes were still judged under the usual dressage rules

with the exception of the attire being their choice.

A pairs class was also held where competitors would make

up their own test and create a theme with their fancy dress.

It was a great day and nice to finish off the season with a

bit of fun. Dawn and everyone at Kingates are now looking

forward to the 2019 show season.

Pictures by Dawn Norris


Equestrian

Smashing start

to the season

Mark and Kathy Domaille were the very

generous hosts of the Opening Meet of the

sixth season of the IW Farmer’s Bloodhounds,

at their beautiful Godshill Park Farm. Always a

popular place, over 30 riders and a great crowd

of foot followers enjoyed a warm welcome.

Despite a very wet and windy morning, the

clouds parted to give way to the sun and a

great day out with friends and the Bloodhound

family, who followed 10½ couple of enthusiastic

bloodhounds, nowadays all homebred, over

some of the Island’s best countryside.

After three hours of fun riding and good

camaraderie, the field gathered at the horseboxes

for an excellent tea and homemade cake as is the

Bloodhounds’ tradition. What a smashing start

to what promises to be another great season.

Pictures by Andy Thearle

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Equestrian


Equestrian

New challenge

for eventers

Recently the Pony Club held their Eventers

Challenge, it was a super friendly event

which they hope to run annually as the

feedback was very positive.

It consisted of a course of mixed fences being showjumps

and rustic fixed, spread across two fields, with the winner

being the one closest to the optimum time.

The winner of the first two classes went to the same

pony, Peanut, ridden by Carole Lyth in the first class and

then her daughter Meg Lyth in the second class.

Pictures by Kev Cant

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Country Life

CONSERVATION DILEMMA

– ARE BADGERS EATING THE ISLAND’S HEDGEHOGS?

By Sam Biles, Managing Director of country Estate Agents Biles & Co

If you asked the average person

if they liked badgers the answer

would probably be ‘yes’; if you also

asked them if they liked hedgehogs

the answer would also probably

be positive. It is in vogue to love

animals, especially mammals – and

why not? They look cute, and cuddly

– especially when young with their

big eyes and soft fur.

Loving animals shows that you

are a caring person, however,

to quote the Island’s own Poet

Laureate, Tennyson nature is

often ‘red in tooth and claw’ - it is

an uncomfortable fact that some

animals eat other animals and

badgers eat hedgehogs. There

are more badgers about than

a few years ago and there are

fewer hedgehogs–this simplistic

statement ignores other causes

of Mrs Tiggywinkle’s decline such

as busier roads and reduced

habitat, but when did you last

see a squashed hedgehog on an

Island road? The sight of a roadside

badger scuttling along in the

headlights at night is now common

as is that of a bloodied heap of grey

fur at the side of the road.

It may not only be the fact that

badgers eat hedgehogs but that

they also compete for their food

– both love earthworms. A 2009

Royal Holloway study showed close

geographical links between the

presence of badgers and falling

hedgehog numbers. Badgers

and their setts were protected in

1992 since when the population

has soared. Badgers are not

native to the Island as noted by Sir

Richard Worsley in 1781 but were

introduced in the 19th century.

The Island is currently relatively

free from Bovine TB though here

have been some individual cases in

imported cattle. In the West Country

and other areas where Bovine TB is

endemic in the badger population

it has proved very difficult to control

without large scale badger culling

which is a very emotive issue.

Conservation is a complex

matter – it implies some positive

management of nature by man

but poses a real dilemma when the

protection of a species much loved

by the public leads to a population

imbalance which adversely effects

another adored species. It’s

perhaps easier when rats need to be

eradicated from a Pacific island to

save rare flightless birds. There are

no easy answers to this situation.

COUNTRYSIDE TIP

You don’t need to wait for the

first frost to pick your sloes for

sloe gin, or prick each one to

release the juice – pick them

when they are abundant and

freeze them on trays, this will

soften the hard fruit and split

the skins allowing the juice

to seep out into the gin.


Hope for

Pandora

Island Referrals, the

Island’s only veterinary

specialists, came to the

rescue of a beautiful,

young Labrador

called Pandora.

‘Dora’ as she is called, was born

with her main artery (aorta)

on the wrong side, trapping

her gullet in a tight band of

tissue and meaning that any

solid food that she ate (such as

apples from her garden) would

get stuck and come back up.

“She’s a Labrador so this

was happening a lot” said

Dora’s family. “When we

heard of Island Referrals,

it gave us hope”.

Specialist surgeon Ian and

his team performed a rare

procedure involving open

chest surgery. The anaesthetic

team controlled her breathing,

whilst Ian nudged her beating

heart gently to one side and

cut the tight band. After an

overnight stay, she was able to

go back home the next day.

Only weeks later Dora’s family

reported that she is now a

thriving, happy ‘normal’ puppy.

“We are so grateful to

Island Referrals for giving

our rescue dog a fantastic

quality of life - which for a

Labrador is food-driven!”

If you would like to discuss

your pet’s problem with a

specialist, simply ask your vet to

refer you to Island Referrals or

visit www.islandreferrals.co.uk

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Country Life

Four legged fun

at dog show

The Leverets held their annual Fun Day in conjunction

with Porchfield Cricket Club on Saturday 15th

September. The afternoon included the popular Fun

Dog Show, judged by Mr Nick Williams.

This is always well supported but even more so this

year as the weather was warm and sunny. Rosettes

were given to fourth place with first place winners

also receiving a goody bag kindly donated by Pets

with Hart. The champion dog or bitch went to Sonia, a

rescue bitch, owned by Debbie Ware.

A new event held this year was a Hobby Horse

Show organised by Sian and Lynn Dyer. Classes

included show jumping and gymkhana games. Two

special classes were for the Best Decorated and Best

Homemade Hobby Horses. Jill Broomfield kindly

judged these classes and the winners went home with

vouchers donated by Froghill Tack.

The Leveret tent was kept busy with refreshments

and homemade cakes, along with the bar and BBQ all

in the beautiful surrounds of the well tended cricket

grounds.

The Leverets thank Porchfield Cricket Club for letting

them be part of this event and to Kev Cant for being

their photographer for the day.

Pictures by Kev Cant


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Why your teeth

can move...

James Spence from James Spence & Colleagues

Dental Surgery in Ryde discusses Acute Gum

Disease and why teeth can move.

This case looks

at how rapidly

teeth can drift to

new positions,

and what causes

them to move.

Your teeth are supported by a base layer of bone,

which can be lost due to gum disease. Experiencing

bleeding gums is an early sign of this, and smoking

can disguise the problem so you may not notice.

In this case in 2014 there was a fairly stable

gap between the lower left 5 and 7 teeth

which had been closing very slowly ever since

the 6 tooth had been extracted about 40

years previously. This is one of the reasons

we don’t advise mid arch extractions.

Life then got in the way and Christine was

unable to attend the surgery regularly, so

that acute gum disease set in and tooth 5

moved backwards while tooth 7 continued

to move forward as the teeth loosened.

This movement between teeth 5 & 7 took four

years and could have been prevented had regular

exams and hygiene visits been maintained.

Some surgery has been carried out and the bone

loss is now stabilised and the teeth firmer.

If you are having problems with teeth moving,

or are experiencing bleeding gums, we offer

a diagnostic and preventative course of three

visits for £160. Just call 01983 615108 and

discuss booking this with Jasmine or Maxine.

Above: 2014

Below: 2018


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Compassionate care

When a loved one reaches the stage of life where they may need extra

care, it’s important for all concerned to find just the right place.

Offering compassionate and dignified care, Inglefield is a well-established

nursing and residential home, set just a stone’s throw from Totland Bay.

A majestic Victorian

house, it sits in beautiful

grounds and was once

the family home of

Lord Beaverbrook.

The home is part

of Buckland Care, a

family-run group of 12

care homes across the

South of England which

also runs Blackwater

Mill in Newport. As

such, it benefits from a

long-standing, experienced staff

team, a warm, family atmosphere,

and in-house cooks who prepare

delicious and nutritious meals.

Inglefield also offers plenty

of activities and organises

entertainment and regular

outings to ensure that residents

continue to live as independently

as possible.

A tour of the home

can be arranged by

calling the manager

Alison – or you are

invited to attend an

event such as the

Halloween party

on October 31st

from 4-8pm or the

Christmas party on

December 14 from

4pm to see the home

in friendly party mode.

Call Inglefield on 01983

755559 or email inglefield@

bucklandcare.co.uk.

Supporting your skin

If your skin tends to flare up

when autumn leaves begin to

fall, then it’s probably time to

review your skincare routine.

After all that fresh air and sun

you’ve probably enjoyed during

our stunning summer, your skin

now has to adjust back to the

stark realities of biting winds

along with tights, woolly jumpers

and central heating - so extra

TLC is definitely in order now.

According to skincare experts,

it’s best to avoid soap, or any

of those shower and bath

products containing detergents

and alcohol, which tend to

strip the natural oils from your

skin and make it more prone

to irritation and dehydration.

It’s worth spending a bit

more to find a good quality

nourishing milk bath, even one

of those prescribed for people

suffering from psoriasis and

skin allergies. A gentle, milkrich

bath product will support

the acid mantle and the natural

moisturising factor of the skin.

It’s important to make sure

your bath isn’t piping hot,

though, because extreme heat

can cause broken veins and dry

out the skin at a rapid rate.

If you’re feeling chilly and

really craving some heat, it’s

best to use a body brush before

a bath to stimulate circulation

and warm the body – and it’s a

great exfoliator, so you’ll have

baby-soft skin afterwards.


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Luscious lips made easy

“I was so excited to get my lips done - it’s going to save

me so much time!”

Be bold, or opt for a more natural

look - Permanent Lip Make-up is

an excellent way of enhancing the

shape, colour and fullness of your

lips, and they will look fabulous!

• Gives volume and fullness

to every woman’s lips.

• For a very natural finish, the Lip

Blush is perfect, or for bolder

colours, choose the Full Lip

Colour. Both treatments will

add contour and definition

to your lips, perfecting the

shape and making them

look fuller. Gorgeous!

• Restores youthful definition

to fading lips.

• No more lipstick bleed.

• In fact you can forget about

lipstick altogether! Just

apply a dab of lip gloss

and you are good to go.

• Small imperfections can be

corrected.

Call Karen for a free, noobligation

consultation

on 07511 398797.

Find FAQs and more at

www.carefreebeauty.co.uk

By Karen Douglas-Bhanot,

Microblading & Permanent

Make-up Specialist, Carefree

Beauty Studio, East Cowes

Your questions answered

by Rebecca Taylor,

Practice Principal, Cowes

Chiropractic Clinic

In clinic, patients often ask us

‘what’s the difference between a

chiropractor and an osteopath?’

And ‘what does a physiotherapist

actually do?’ These are very

good questions and deserve

good answers! So here goes…

Actually we all want to achieve

the same thing which is to reduce

your pain, improve mobility and

enable you to live your life in

the way that you want. We all

use hands- on techniques, and

our training is to Degree level.

Physiotherapists generally

use prescriptive exercises in

combination with soft tissue

techniques, sometimes combined

with ultrasound, kinesio-taping

and dry needling. Osteopaths

focus on bones and muscles

and use long lever manipulative

techniques in conjunction with

soft tissue work. Chiropractors

are trained to look at the effects

of spinal misalignments on

the nerve roots and therefore

the muscles, and McTimoney

chiropractors use high-velocity,

low-force adjustments in the

whole body treatment.

All these professions are required

to do continuing professional

development each year and will

offer their further knowledge

of additional techniques.

So your physiotherapist

may use manipulation

and your chiropractor will

prescribe exercises!

As with anything, the best way

to find the most suitable therapist

for you is to ask friends and

family for their referrals. Always

trust your first impressions and

always ask (good) questions!

Find Cowes Chiropractic

Clinic at 24 - 26 Birmingham

Road, Cowes, PO31 7BH. Call

them on 01983 282810.


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LOCAL PRODUCERS

TIPSY WIGHT

Tipsy Wight ® believe that

Christmas is the perfect time to

celebrate the lovely fruits, flowers

& berries that grow in the English

countryside. What better way than

with the ‘12 Days of Christmas’

handmade gift set, brimming

with quirky & gorgeous tipples.

A grown-up advent treat!

Tipsy Wight ® produce a range

of beautifully packaged

vodkas and vodka liqueurs

in three different sizes.

For gifts and serving suggestions

visit tipsywight.com.

@tipsywight

#tipsywight

J. WILKINSON’S PIES

Various pies, pasties and slices

made by hand on the premises

and sold in our shop to the public

as well as to various restaurants,

cafes and other shops. Orders

taken please phone for details.

Tel: 07716 106926

Address: 1 High Street,

Sandown, PO36 8JW

THE BORNEO PANTRY

Est 2011 in Brunei, Borneo, now

handmade on the Isle of Wight.

Specialising in Chutneys and

Pickles, producing an extensive

range to suit all taste buds. Uses are

only limited by your imagination.

Tel: 07809 707837

Address: Unit 19, Faulkner

Lane, Sandown, PO36 9AZ

Web: www.borneopantry.com

E: theborneopantry@gmail.com

PHILLIPS FINE FOODS

Phillips Fine Foods offers a wide

range of whole and filleted fresh

fish, such as Cod, Haddock, Hake,

Salmon & Trout to name but a few.

We source from local and national

markets up to five times a week to

meet the demands of the chefs.

The business also operates

two retail shops, one on Cowes

High Street and the other in

Northwood, selling a wide range

of fresh, frozen and smoked fish

and seafood direct to the public.

We can offer cooked crab and

lobster, subject to landings, and

for a special occasion why not try a

poached and decorated Salmon?

Tel: 01983 282200

Address: 339 Newport Road,

Northwood, Cowes, PO31 8PG

Tel: 01983 245247

Address: 111 High Street

Cowes, PO31 7AT

Web: www.phillipsseafoods.co.uk

FARMHOUSE FAYRE

Farmhouse Fayre, growing on

the Island for the Island. We are

now the third generation farming

at Ash Hill farm. Locally sourced

produce wherever possible.

We stock IOW free range eggs, cheese,

milk, garlic, tomatoes and vegetables.

Also in the shop we have the finest

fruits from all around the world.

Visit our shop and be welcomed

with our personal touch.

Tel: 01983 525836

Address: 85-86 Upper St James

St, Newport, PO30 1LG

farmhouse.fayre@btconnect.com

VENTNOR BOTANIC GARDEN

Ventnor Botanic Garden reintroduced

hop growing on the Island back in 2009.

Our Original Ale is a light golden colour,

punchy and earthy with a hint of apricot

fruit. Our Pale Ale combines green

Sovereign Hops with dried Cascade and

Admiral Hops. The latest addition is our

Botanic Lager with a hint of Eucalyptus.

Innovative, yet totally refreshing.

Available now to enjoy in the Plantation

café and edulis restaurant, also in the gift

shop. For sale in individual bottles, small

kegs, crates and three bottle gift packs.

Tel: 01983 855397

Address: Undercliff Drive, Ventnor, PO38 1UL

www.botanic.co.uk

Facebook: /ventnorbotanicCIC

BROWNRIGG’S

Get ready for Christmas with

Brownrigg’s free range poultry

& other festive meats, all reared

on our family farm. Visit our farm

shop & cafe which is well stocked

with gluten free, vegetarian &

other local produce. Order online

at www.brownriggfarmeats.co.uk.

Tel: 01983 840191

Address: Brownrigg’s Farm

Shop and Cafe, Newport

Road, Godshill, PO38 3LY

ISLAND ROASTED

Island Roasted have been

producing the Island’s finest

hand roasted artisan coffee

for wholesale and retail since

2010, sourcing direct trade

coffees where possible ensuring

ethical and sustainable trade.

Tel: 01983 857670

info@islandroasted.co.uk

Website: www.islandroasted.co.uk

BEAU’S ICE CREAM

Beau’s Ice Cream handcrafts

luxurious vegan artisan ice

cream using only the best natural

ingredients.

We have a

full menu

of exciting

flavours which

provide the

delicious,

creamy taste

of traditional

ice cream

without the

dairy, all made

locally in our 100% vegan facility.

All our ice cream is lovingly made

to order, and we also offer bespoke

guest ice creams for any occasion.

Tel: 07507 814458

Email: info@beaus-icecream.com

www.beaus-icecream.com

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Food & Drink

Briddlesford Farm

Dairy scoops five

Great Taste Awards

Great Taste is among the world’s most coveted food awards,

with over 15,000 products from around the world coming

under scrutiny - so it’s an amazing achievement for Island-based

Briddlesford Farm Dairy to have been awarded not just one, but a

remarkable five awards - for its farmhouse cheddar cheese, halloumi

cheese, double cream, whole milk and semi skimmed milk.

Judged by over 500 of the most

demanding palates, belonging

to food critics, chefs, cooks,

restauranteurs and producers,

as well as a whole host of food

writers and journalists, Great

Taste is widely acknowledged

as the most respected food

accreditation scheme for artisan

and speciality food producers.

As well as a badge of honour,

the unmistakable black and gold

Great Taste label is a signpost to a

wonderful tasting product, which

has been discovered through

hours and hours of blind tasting.

Briddlesford’s Great Tasting

products can be found in the

farm’s shop and Bluebells café, as

well as all good shops, delis and

coffee houses across the Island

– and, if you travel on Wightlink

ferries your tea or coffee will be

served with Briddlesford milk.

‘We are delighted to have won

so many Awards,’ explained

Louise Griffin of Briddlesford,

‘My great- grandparents started

farming at Briddlesford in

1923 and today’s herd are all

descendants of the original 15

Guernsey cows. Guernseys

are the traditional breed of

the Isle of Wight but there are

now very few herds left in the

country. Their milk and cream

is renowned not only for its

rich, creamy flavour but also for its

golden colour, and we have now

developed some unique cheese

recipes that complement this.’

The hard cheeses at Briddlesford

are matured on wood from the

farm’s ancient woodlands which

adds subtlety to the delicious

flavours. The halloumi is probably

the freshest you can get. The

cows are milked in the morning,

their milk is pasteurised, sent

through to the cheese room, and

by the end of the day it is on the

shelves in the farm shop. The

same goes for the milk and the

cream, which means customers

can’t get any fresher than that,

or clock up so few food miles!


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Food & Drink

Venison & wild mushroom terrine

with juniper, orange, thyme, baby spinach salad, spiced red onion & port glaze

Recipe by The Bandstand

Ingredients

Method

200g wild mushroom

300g venison loin of the bone

350g unsmoked streaky bacon

150g venison liver

or chicken liver

250g diced pork belly,

rind removed

½ medium onion,

finely chopped

3 cloves of garlic crushed

& finely chopped

¼ grated zest of orange

3 juniper berries finely chopped

3 bay leaves finely chopped

3 fresh thyme sprigs,

leaves chopped

50g fresh bread crumbs

1 medium free range egg

2 tbsp brandy

You will also need a 1

litre terrine or loaf tin

1. Chop half the bacon and put in

a bowl with liver & belly, onion,

garlic, zest, juniper & chopped

herbs. Mix well. Pass through

a mincer or food processor.

2. Return to the bowl, mix in egg

& breadcrumbs, then season

with sea salt & black pepper.

3. Cut venison lengthways

into strips 2cm thick, fry

in a very hot pan the wild

mushrooms & brandy.

4. Stretch out rest of the bacon

with the back of a knife, make

it as wide & long as possible.

Line the loaf tin with cling film,

leave 10cm overhang. Use the

bacon to line the terrine so

they overhang by about 6cm.

5. Preheat oven to 170°c /

150°c fan / gas 3½.

6. Fill the terrine with ⅓ of the

minced meat mix. Lay half

the venison strips along it’s

length, surrounded by the wild

mushroom. Add another third of

the meat mixure pressing it down,

repeat the next layer, finish with

meat mixture. Make sure it’s level.

7. Fold the overhanging bacon to

cover and fold the cling film over

the top press down to enclose.

8. Put a lid on the terrine or use

foil to cover tightly. Fill a deep

roasting tin with hot water

and lower the terrine into the

water. The water should come

up ⅔ of the side. Cook in

oven for 1 hour 20 minutes.

9. Once cooked remove the

terrine from the oven and

water. Leave to cool at room

temperature then chill.

10. Use a weight to press the

terrine overnight this will

give it a better texture.

11. Take the terrine out of the fridge

30 minutes before eating.


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Food & Drink

Memorable cakes

from Cara Lucas

It’s been a busy summer in the kitchen

for Cordon Bleu-trained baker Cara Lucas,

creating over 40 hand-crafted wedding cakes

in the space of five months – not to mention

a whole range of other celebration cakes.

To cope with the growing demand

for her artistically-inspired

cake creations, Cara relocated

her Gladys May Cakery from a

shop in Cross Street, Ryde to a

purpose-built bakery she’s had

created in her own garden.

“It’s great” says Cara, “as it

allows me to focus more on

my work and I can still do cake

tastings by appointment.”

Her busy wedding season

has certainly been hard work,

but as she says: “It’s so worth it,

because it’s what I love doing.”

In fact next year she plans to

focus more on the wedding

cakes, with bookings flowing in

already. She also plans to venture

into more vegan recipes, and

says she’s recently perfected

some vegan macaroons that

taste just like regular ones.

Meanwhile, bride-to-be Cara is

also focusing on her own wedding

in October - for which she’s

planning to create her first six-tier

cake in a dramatic 1920s Art Deco

theme with a cupcake tower.

“It will be a lovely way to finish

the wedding season” she says,

“and then take a short break to

regroup before the Christmas

orders start coming in!”

Call the Gladys May Cakery

on 07870 800 323, email

info@gladysmaycakery.co.uk

or visit the website at www.

gladysmaycakery.co.uk.


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Food & Drink

Ultimate chocolate yule log

Ingredients

For the cake

6 large eggs

(separated)

150g caster sugar

50g cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

extract

For the chocolate

ganache topping

300ml double cream

300g dark chocolate

(around 35-40% cocoa

solids), broken into

small pieces

For the cream filling

300ml double cream,

whipped

For decoration

Icing sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark

4/350ºF.

2. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites

until they make thick peaks. Still

whisking, sprinkle in 50g of caster

sugar and continue whisking until

the whites are holding their peaks.

3. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks

and the remaining caster sugar until

the mixture is pale and mousse-like.

Add the vanilla extract, sieve the

cocoa powder over, then fold both in.

4. Fold in a few spoons of egg whites

into the yolk mixture. Then add the

remaining whites in thirds, folding

them in carefully to avoid losing air.

5. Line a Swiss roll tin with baking

paper, leaving a generous overhang.

6. Pour in the cake mixture and bake

in the oven for 20 minutes. Let the

cake cool a little then turn it out

onto a piece of baking parchment.

Dust the parchment with a little

icing sugar to help prevent stickage.

7. Cut a score mark 2.5cm/1in in along

one of the longer edges. Starting

with this edge, begin to tightly roll

up the sponge using the paper. Roll

with the paper inside and sit the roll

on top of its outside edge to cool.

8. While the cake is cooling, make the

ganache topping. Heat the cream in

a pan, just so as you can keep your

finger in it. Remove from the heat

and add the chocolate, stirring until

melted. Cool to room temperature,

then put into the fridge to firm up.

9. Uncurl the cold Swiss roll and remove

the paper. Spread the whipped

cream on top, and re-roll tightly. Cut a

quarter of the cake off from the end

on the diagonal. Transfer the large

piece of cake to a serving plate and

angle the cut end in to the middle of

the large cake to make a branch.

10. Put the chocolate icing into a piping

bag fitted with a star nozzle. Pipe

long thick lines along the cake,

covering the cake completely so it

looks like the bark of a tree. Cover

each end with icing. Alternatively, just

use a knife to spread on the icing and

create rough bark texture with a fork.

11. Dust with icing sugar and garnish

with fresh holly.


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Food & Drink

Ingredients

2kg lamb neck fillets

5 tbsp mild olive oil or

sunflower oil

3 medium onions, cut into

thin wedges

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

4 tsp ground cumin

4 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp hot chilli powder

1 tsp ground turmeric

large pinch of saffron

2 cinnamon sticks

2 preserved lemons (from a

jar), drained and cut into thin

wedges

300g ready-to-eat dried

apricots

250g ready-to-eat dried

pitted dates

100g shelled pistachios

2 tsp rosewater

25g cornflour

small bunch coriander, leaves

roughly chopped

cooked couscous or basmati

rice, to serve

Persian Lamb Tagine

Method

1. Heat oven to 1800C/1600C fan/

gas 4. Trim the lamb of any hard

fat, cut into chunks and season

all over.

2. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large

flameproof casserole dish and

brown the lamb in 3-4 batches

over a high heat for 1-2 mins

until lightly coloured. Add 1 tbsp

more oil between each batch and

transfer to a bowl each time a

batch is browned.

3. Heat the remaining oil in the

same dish over a medium heat

and fry the onions for 5 mins

or until softened and lightly

coloured.

4. Stir in the garlic, cumin, coriander,

chilli powder, turmeric, 1 tsp

ground black pepper and 1 tsp

flaked sea salt. Cook for 1 min,

stirring.

5. Return the lamb to the dish and

add 1.5 litres of water, the saffron,

cinnamon and lemons. Bring to a

simmer, stirring a few times. Cover

with a lid and transfer to the oven.

Cook for 1 hr.

6. Carefully remove the dish from

the oven and stir in the apricots,

dates and half the pistachios, then

cover once more and return to the

oven. Cook for a further 30 mins

or until the lamb is very tender.

7. Transfer the dish to the hob and

adjust the seasoning to taste. Mix

the cornflour with the rosewater

and 3 tbsp cold water, then stir

into the tagine.

8. Cook over a medium heat for

1-2 mins or until the sauce

thickens. (Thickening the sauce

with cornflour isn’t traditional but

helps the tagine to freeze more

successfully.)

9. When ready to serve, roughly

chop the remaining nuts and

sprinkle over the top. Garnish

with coriander and serve with

couscous or rice.


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Food & Drink

Apple & Blackberry Cake

with Caramel Drizzle

Recipe by The Gladys May Cakery

Ingredients

Method

Cake

115g unsalted butter

or baking spread

115g light brown sugar

1 large egg

5tbsp milk

225g self raising flour

2tsp ground cinnamon

225g diced cooking

apple

150g blackberries

Caramel Drizzle

120g light brown sugar

120g butter

100ml double cream

Cake

1. Cream the sugar and butter/spread

until light and fluffy, then beat in

the egg, followed by the flour and

cinnamon mix.

2. Loosen the mix by adding the milk,

then fold in the diced apple and half

the blackberries.

3. Spoon the mixture into a lined 8

inch tin and push the remaining

blackberries into the top of the

batter.

4. Bake at 160c for approximately

30-40 minutes until golden and

a skewer inserted into the centre

comes out clean.

Caramel Drizzle

5. This sauce will make enough for

four servings, so can be stored in

the fridge and reheated for use with

other desserts.

6. Melt the butter and sugar in a

saucepan over a low heat until the

sugar is dissolved.

7. Stir in the cream and simmer gently

for about 30 seconds, then take

of the heat. Drizzle over the warm

apple cake and enjoy!

8. Alternatively, a good quality shop

bought caramel sauce/dulce de

leche will work, just heat gently

before drizzling.


®

Lg Island

longislanddining.co.uk

What our customers are

saying so far on

our Facebook page

Kerry Draper - My husband and I visited

Long Island for dinner this evening and

wow! What an amazing place to sit and get

away from the world outside. Beautifully

renovated, with a lovely feel. The staff were

so helpful, friendly and attentive. The food

was faultless and I can’t recommend the

waffles enough! Yum! We will be returning

and suggest anyone that is thinking of

visiting to go as soon as possible! Thank

you everyone at Long Island

Sue Hart - Lovely food, very welcoming

happy staff.. the cocktails were very good

122

www.visitilife.com

too!! Highly recommend

giving this place a try.

Well done Long Island

Natalie Jade Davis

- I had a crispy duck

salad, good size portion and was very

yummy, my mum had a rib eye steak which

she enjoyed. Staff were very welcoming. I

definitely recommend ! Great food· Stylish

interior · Large menu Hip atmosphere

Tracy Howe - Amazing food and friendly

staff, highly recommended!

Chic décor · Classic cocktails · Large menu

· Stylish interior · Great food

Ian Jackman Read - Everything

about Long Island is beyond good, food,

atmosphere, music, staff, cocktails etc etc

etc...had the best steak I’ve ever eaten.

Can’t wait to go back again and will spread

the word, soon to be the hippest place on

the Island 11/10

Katie Johnson - Was super excited to try

this place out after seeing the menu. Lived

up to all expectations and more...homemade

coleslaw...amazing burger and the best fries

ever....topped off by a free pudding!! Be sure

to check out their deals through October!!!

Highly recommended and can’t wait to come

back in a few weeks.

OCTOBER

OFFERS

WEDNESDAY

This offer applies to all burgers purchased

on Wednesdays only. Offer expires 31st

October 2018

THURSDAY

Offer does not include Frozen Mountain

This offer applies to Thursday evenings

only. Expires 25th October 2018

FRIDAY

Offer expires 26th October 2018.

Glass of house wine 125ml

BURGER NIGHT

Buy two of our tasty burgers, get the

cheapest one free!

Includes stealth fries and slaw

DESSERT NIGHT

Buy one main meal get one dessert free!

RIBS NIGHT

Full rack of ribs & bottle of beer or glass

of house wine between 5-7pm £13.00pp

THE PERFECT

VENUE FOR

ANY PARTY!

BIRTHDAYS, CHRISTMAS, OFFICE,

HEN/STAG, ANNIVERSARIES,

IN FACT ANY CELEBRATION!

Happy

Hour

A bottle of

Prosecco 15.00

or any bottle

beer 2.75

*6.00 cocktails

for 5.00

WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY

& FRIDAY 5-7PM

longislandiow - To Book: 01983 716281

OPEN: WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY/FRIDAY/SATURDAY 5pm - 11pm

24 HOLYROOD STREET, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT. PO30 5AZ (Above Newport www.visitilife.com Ale House) 123

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Food & Drink

Squidgy chocolate pear pudding

Serves 8

Ingredients

200g butter, plus extra for

greasing

300g golden caster sugar

4 large eggs

75g plain flour

50g cocoa powder

410g can pear

halves in juice, drained

100g plain dark chocolate

(70% cocoa solids)

25g flaked almonds (optional)

Cream or ice cream, to serve

Method

1. Heat oven to 1900C/1700C fan/

gas 5. Lightly grease a roughly 20

x 30cm shallow ovenproof dish.

2. Put the butter in a large saucepan

and place over a low heat until just

melted. Remove the butter from

the heat and stir in the sugar until

well combined.

3. Whisk the eggs together in a large

bowl. Gradually add the eggs to

the butter and sugar, beating well

with a wooden spoon in between

each addition.

4. Sift the flour and cocoa powder on

top of the egg mixture, then beat

hard with a wooden spoon until

thoroughly combined.

5. Pour into the prepared tin or dish

and nestle the pears into the

chocolate batter.

6. Put the chocolate on a board and

cut into chunky pieces roughly

1.5cm with a large knife.

7. Scatter the chocolate pieces

over the batter and sprinkle with

almonds, if you like. Can be frozen

at this stage.

8. Bake in the centre of the oven for

30 mins or until the mixture is

crusty on the surface and lightly

cooked inside.

9. Do not allow to overcook, as the

cake will become spongy rather

than gooey in the centre. Serve

warm with cream or ice cream


Inside Business

How safe is your

play area?

Hospitality businesses often rely on families as

part of their trade, and the benefit of providing

play equipment for children is understandable

– happy kids equals happy parents!

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Just putting up some equipment

and letting them get on with

it is a risky approach. NFU

Mutual received 100 claims per

year between 2014 and 2016

relating to injuries to children

at commercial properties.

For those claims reported,

there will be a host of

unreported incidents, which

can lead to reputational

damage for the business.

Common injuries were broken

bones or cuts from falls; not all

from monkey bars and swings.

Some innocuous objects were

cited in claims, and business

owners should remain vigilant

and ensure all areas are safe.

Having a system of checks, and

recording them is essential for any

business in the event of a claim.

To read the full article please

visit nfumutual.co.uk/newsand-stories/play-safe/

or contact

the local office on 01983

52290 for a printed copy.

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Inside Business

A family approach to funerals

A programme of

expansion works has

been going on this year

at the Newport premises

of independent funeral

director Geoff Leather –

and the result has finally

been unveiled with a

much larger car park,

a more spacious and

welcoming reception

area, disabled facilities,

and an additional

funeral consultation

room. Meanwhile,

the garage has also been

extended to accommodate the

company’s hearse, limousines,

and traditional funeral bier.

According to second generation

funeral director Robin Leather,

the aim of the whole 12-month

improvement programme has

been to remove as many of the

external stresses as possible

for clients, at what is naturally

a difficult time in their lives.

The business, launched by

Robin’s father Geoff and now into

its third decade, also employs

Robin’s brother Marcus, who is

based at the Cowes office with

funeral director Rob Cheney.

Working alongside his father,

Robin believes that

their family-centred

approach offers clients

a service that is personal

and compassionate as

well as being totally

professional. They are

members of both the

National Association of

Funeral Directors and

the independent funeral

directors’ society, SAIF.

Robin adds that the

company can also offer

advice and guidance

on pre-paid funeral plans, and is

happy to talk about any aspect

of the service they offer.

Find Geoff Leather in Newport

at 45 Upper St James’ Street,

telephone: 01983 529090.

Find them in Cowes at 40 Place

Road, Cowes, telephone: 01983

292932. www.geoffleather.co.uk

Enjoying the magic of guitars

You don’t need to be a guitar

player to be fascinated by Willy’s

Guitar Shop in Cowes – the

well-known musical ‘boutique’

with a distinctive vibe and

window displays full of wonderful

vintage pre-owned guitars.

The magical atmosphere extends

into the shop, where there are

between 60 and 70 guitars on

display – all perfectly tuned and

with amps ready set up and stools

just waiting for people to try out

the amazing selection of lead

guitars, bass guitars, acoustic nylon

stringed, and steel stringed guitars.

Owner of the business is

musician Roland White, who has

an encyclopaedic knowledge of

his subject, thanks to his lifelong

passion for guitars. So if there’s

something you’re particularly

looking for, he will more than likely

be the man who can help you.

Even for non guitar players, a

guitar can actually be a worthwhile

investment as they tend to

increase in value. Or, if the sight

of all those stunning instruments

makes you tempted to learn,

Roland can offer lessons, as he’s

also an experienced guitar teacher

of both children and adults.

With Christmas on the horizon,

he also offers a payment plan

for customers who wish to

pre-order guitars as gifts.

You can find Willy’s Guitar

Shop at 12 Shooters Hill, Cowes,

PO31 7BG or on Facebook.

Call them on 01983 242680.


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Legal

Closing the

‘preparedness gap’

By Anthony Peter Charles Freelove TEP of Terence Willey & Co

It is human nature to avoid talking

about certain issues: death is most

certainly one of them. But what about

illness and incapacity? Who will make

decisions about our financial affairs,

and, should we need it, our medical

and home/residential care, if we legally

are unable to do so?

A recent report from the

Centre for Future Studies

(CFS) showed that the

majority of the United

Kingdom population is

leaving such matters to

chance. According to

the Office of The Public

Guardian, the proportion

of over-65’s who have

actually Registered a

Health and Welfare

Lasting Power of Attorney

(LPA) is a shockingly low 7%. A CFS forecast indicates

that this so-called “preparedness gap” will continue,

potentially leaving over 13 million people by 2025

unable to have their voices heard, and their wishes

respected, if they lose capacity.

The typical age for making an LPA is between 81-90,

and in my experience, it is sometimes sadly left too

late. There is no need to wait for signs of declining

health. If an individual wishes to make preparations

in advance, they can make an LPA, in the nature of an

insurance, and keep it against future eventualities.

It is a common misconception that next of kin can

make decisions for family members who have lost

capacity about financial, medical and care matters, but

this is not so. If an appropriate LPA does not exist, such

decisions may be made by medical practitioners, Social

Workers, or, in extremis, by the Court of Protection. This

can be heartbreaking, and, it has to be said, extremely

expensive to resolve in cases of dispute.

Whilst it is undeniably a sensitive subject, it is also

vital to discuss your wishes with family concerning

potential future medical and care issues. Far from

being morbid, or, indeed, a self-fulfilling prophecy, it

is in fact empowering for the individual, and provides

a logical complementary document to have lying

alongside a Will.

The advantages of an LPA include:

• The ability to choose who will make decisions on

your behalf.

• The ability to have some control over end-of-life

care.

• To be used, with your consent, if capacity still

subsists, but perhaps physical health is declining.

• The ability to preserve functioning of a business,

with an appropriately worded LPA.

• The ability to limit what decisions the Attorneys may

actually make.

• Ultimately, peace of mind - which is priceless.

It is not possible in such an article to cover all relevant

issues, and legal advice is strongly recommended before

completing a Lasting Power of Attorney.


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ISLAND LIFE ISSUE 82 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018


Island Life October/November 2018

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