© Island Pulse
Todays Weather
Lucy Baker reports:  BBC 1’s Weakest Link are currently working towards a new series and are seriously looking for contestants from the Isle of Wight. Remember, anyone who applies for an audition has to be brave enough to face the ‘Queen of Mean’ (pictured) Anne Robinson.Â
If you wish to be considered for an audition and be in with a chance of winning up to £10,000 (more…)
Trish Jenkins reports:  Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) with the support of Red Funnel Ferries. Over 6,000 miles of Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) organised racing kicks off this Easter with the 17th edition of the Red Funnel Easter Challenge.
There is a mouth-watering prospect of a huge variety of yachts scheduled for seven races in just three days from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd of March. Competitors take note that it is two weeks earlier than last year. (more…)
Simon Butler reports:Â Â The work of two Isle of Wight schools to improve their meals by introducing more local produce may be highlighted as a beacon to others across the South East.Â
The Soil Association has paid a visit to both Gurnard and Cowes Primary schools to see how they are working towards making their meals healthier while also encouraging pupils and the community to engage in cooking activities. (more…)
Louis Lawrence reports:  The Ventnor Enhancement Fund who hold the licence for entertainment in the Park at Ventnor and are inviting Island bands to come and play throughout the summer season on Sunday afternoons from May Bank Holiday through to the Autumn.
There’s no charge and bands can make their own arrangements about collecting money from the audience. (more…)
Gavin Foster reports: Over 3,000 questionnaires are now being independently evaluated ahead of next month’s crucial Isle of Wight Council vote on the proposed education reforms.
Members at the Full Council meeting on March 19th will decide which of three models for a new schools structure will be taken forward. To help members decide, an extensive consultation exercise was held. Ten public meetings attended by well over 2,400 people were held Islandwide and 25,000 questionnaires seeking views were distributed to all Island parents, teachers, governors and pre schools. (more…)
Tim Hollis of Amen Promotions reports:  One of the UK’s finest delta/slide guitar bluesmen, Papa George will be headlining the fourth annual Spring Blues concert at Ventnor Winter Gardens on Saturday 15th March from 7.30pm. (more…)
John Coles reports:Â Â Police on the Isle of Wight are trying to trace the owner of an outboard motor found inside a trailer stolen from Newport.
It is thought the Yamaha 40 outboard motor, which is grey with a red band around it, was taken from somewhere on the Island. (more…)
Isle of Wight MP Andrew Turner’s Office reports:  Five more Island councils have joined the campaign Ferry Fares Fair? this brings the total now to 25.
The parish councils which have responded are: Brighstone, Calbourne, Chale, Freshwater, Godshill, St Helens, Lake, Nettlestone and Seaview, Newchurch, Shalfleet, Shorwell, Totland, Wroxall. The town councils are: Brading, Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and Yarmouth. The management committees are: Newport, Northwood and Ryde. (more…)
Carolyn Keene reports: Isle of Wight Police are appealing for information after the body of a man was discovered at Ryde cemetery. The body was found by a member of the public at around 7.12am on Wednesday, February 27th.
Detectives are not treating the death as suspicious but are seeking help to identify the deceased. (more…)
Stephanie Welch reports:Â Â The Island Youth Music Festival 2008 is taking place at Medina Theatre (Isle of Wight)Â on Sunday 2nd March.
This year’s concert involves Vectis Youth Brass Band, Wight Diamonds Marching Band, Music Centre Brass Band and Music Centre Wind Band. Also featured is a group performing musical theatre, young singers and dancers from various dance schools have got together to produce an eclectic programme as their contribution to what promises to be a varied and enjoyable afternoon’s entertainment. (more…)
David Newble reports:  Isle Of Wight Council working with partner organisations including the police has hailed the latest CREW Week in West Wight as a great success.
Council trading standards officers “test purchased” nine shops selling alcohol and tobacco in Yarmouth, Freshwater and Totland during the week and were pleased to find that no premises sold the age restricted products to under aged people who tried to buy them on behalf of the council. (more…)
Isle of Wight Council Media reports:Â A list of 30 projects, schemes and initiatives each designed to make an improvement to life on Eco Island have been unveiled.
One Island schemes were outlined by IW Council leader Cllr David Pugh at the authority’s annual budget meeting on last week. The schemes have been divided under Eco Island and its aims and are intended to benefit all sections of the Island community. (more…)
Peta Stuart-Hunt reports:  It’s the end of an era as a new dawn breaks over Cowes. After a very successful 14-year tenure, 2008 will see Skandia’s last year as title sponsor of Cowes Week.
The Organisers of the world’s oldest and largest annual sailing regatta which this year is held between the 2nd and 9th August, are looking positively to the future as they continue their search for a new headline sponsor to join them in taking this great British sporting event to its next phase. (more…)
Hannah Birks reports:  Artists and friends of the Isle of Wight ‘Gift to Nature’ scheme will be at Dimbola Lodge Museum at 11am on Sat 8th March to view a new range of unique and specially commissioned donation boxes for the scheme. (more…)
Annie Winter reports:  On Monday 3rd March 2008, a valuable relic of Britain’s maritime history is being returned to her place of birth in Cowes (Isle of Wight) almost 40 years after making headlines around the world!
BRITANNIA was the first boat ever to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean when she and her British owner John Fairfax completed the incredible 5,300 mile journey over 6 months back in 1969. This record remains unbroken as the longest ever single-handed Atlantic row in history. (more…)
John Coles reports:Â Â Isle of Wight police have now named the man whose body was found at Bramble Chine beach, Freshwater, on Thursday, February 21st. (more…)
David Newble reports:  The Isle of Wight Council intend to spend an additional £1.75m on the upkeep of the Island’s roads this year.
Councillor Tim Hunter Henderson Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport said: (more…)
John Coles reports:  Three people from Sandown have been arrested following a public order incident at a nightclub in Ryde. At around 12.12am on Saturday, February 23rd, police were called to Liquid Lounge on Union Street to reports of drink glasses being thrown around. (more…)