Rookley again

Just received confirmation of our latest Sun holiday, and once again it's Rookley Country Park. Friday July 10th, for three nights, to be precise.

I'm not sure whether Park Resorts, which was our other preference (Thorness Bay and Landguard) is getting really quickly booked up these days or whether Rookley just offers The Sun more of its holiday allocation, but we seem to end up there every time these days.

Not that we're complaining. Rookley is an excellent venue and we're looking forward to it. July seems a long time to wait, but the fishing as well as the weather will be at its best then.

Three ways to holiday at Park Resorts

Park Resorts offers holiday packages at 37 sites around the United Kingdom, including four on the Isle of Wight.

Whether you want to pitch your own tent, hire a caravan or purchase your own holiday home, Park Resorts offers range of options from its own interactive website. And depending on when you want to visit, you can often find some remarkably good value offers.

On the Island you can choose from Thorness Bay (nr. Cowes), Nodes Point (nr. Ryde), or Lower Hyde or Landguard in Shanklin. All four sites have swimming pools, restaurants, shops, bars and evening entertainment. At the larger complexes there are also daytime activities for the children.

Although most of the rented units are caravans, there are also chalets and now luxurious pine lodges available to choose from.

As well as off-peak being unsurprisingly less expensive than the summer months, usually if you book your summer break earlier in the year there are discounts and savings available.

Click here to visit Park Resorts' website and take a look for yourself today.

Some Isle of Wight Attractions

Amazon World

Amazon World Zoo Park combines an educational experience with the enjoyment of seeing some of the world's most beautiful, unusual and endangered creatures. Learn about conservation and the rainforests whilst observing crocodiles, lemurs, tropical birds and a whole lot more. Watery Lane, Nr. Arreton, Isle of Wight, PO36, 0LX. Tel 01983 867122, Email info@amazonworld.co.uk.

Appuldurcombe House

Striking 18th century house with Owl & Falconry Centre, shop and holiday cottages. Stroll through Capability Brown's idyllic 11 acres of ornamental grounds. Appuldurcombe Farm, Wroxall, Isle of Wight, PO38 3EW. Tel 01983 852484, Email enquiries@appuldurcome.co.uk.

Arreton Barns

Traditional working craft village with over a dozen craft shops offering the widest range of local produce on the Island. Gifts for all seasons, local farm produces, wines, beers, ciders and liquers. Main Road, Arreton, Isle of Wight, PO30 3AA. Tel 01983 528353, Email info@arretonbarns.co.uk.

Blackgang Chine

Every year hundreds of school parties from around the UK enjoy the many themed areas which comprise Blackgang Chine. Overlooking the South-West "Heritage Coast" of the Island, Blackgang Chine is an exciting mix of rides, cowboys and indians, goblins and fairies and nursery rhyme characters all set in large Victorian gardens. Chale, Nr. Ventnor, Isle of Wight, PO38 2HN. Tel 01983 730052, Email info@blackgangchine.com.

Brading - The Experience

Waxworks Museum with a number of exciting ongoing developments, including the World of Wheels, a discount factory outlet store and a gift shop. A3055, Brading, Isle of Wight, PO36 0DQ. Tel 01983 407286, Email info@bradingtheexperience.co.uk.

Butterfly World

See hundreds of butterlies from all around the world flying free in a natural environment and learn about their life-cycle and development. The exotic gardens are all attractively laid out. Staplers Road, Wootton, Isle of Wight, PO33 4RW. Tel 01983 883430, Email info@butterfly-world-iow.co.uk.

Carisbrooke Castle and Carisbrooke Castle Museum

Over 800 years of history at the Castle at which Charles I was imprisoned. Visit and explore a fascinating mounment to the Island's history and take part in some of the many events that are available for all the family. Carisbrooke Castle Museum, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1XY. Tel 01983 522107 (Castle) 01983 523112 (Museum), Email carismus@lineone.net (Museum).

Coleman's Farm Park

See and interact with a wide range range of farm animals. Play area, café, tractor trailer rides - a great day of indoor and outdoor fun for the children and for their families. Coleman's Lane, Porchfield, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 4LX. Tel 01983 522831, Email info@colemansfarmpark.co.uk.

Dinosaur Isle

The UK's first purpose-built dinosaur museum and visitor attraction, displaying fossils and life-sized reconstructions of the dinosaurs which once roamed the Island. The Isle of Wight is recognised as the most important site for dinosaur remains in Europe. Culver Parade, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8QA. Tel 01983 404344, Email dinosaur@iow.gov.uk.

Fort Victoria Country Park

The remains of Fort Victoria now play host to a Marine Aquarium, a Planetarium, a Sea Bed Archaeology Expedition and a Model Railway. An excellent educational resource. Fort Victoria, Nr. Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, PO41 0RR.

The Garlic Farm

Farm and shop producing and selling different varieties of garlic and garlic products, from relishes to beer. The Isle of Wight even exports garlic to France. This wonderful farm shop is well worth a visit. Mersley Farm, Newchurch, Isle of Wight, PO3 6 0NR. Tel 01983 865378, Email web@thegarlicfarm.co.uk.

Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary

Established in 1987 to provide a hope for distressed or endangered donkeys, the sanctuary is open to the public and stages a number of events. Sustained entirely by donations and fundraising, the IOW Donkey Sanctuary offers an adoption scheme. St. John's Road, Wroxall, Isle of Wight, PO38 3AA. Tel 01983 852693, Email info@iwdonkey-sanctuary.com.

Isle of Wight Pearl

The largest range of genuine and costume pearl jewellery under one roof in the United Kingdom. Choose your own pearl - pick an oyster from IOW Pearl's tanks and open it. Gold and silver shop, cafe and spectacular cliff-top views. Military Road, Brighstone, Isle of Wight, PO30 4DD. Tel 01983 740352, Email info@iowpearl.co.uk.

Isle of Wight Steam Railway

The largely volunteer-run Isle of Wight Steam Railway began operating trains in 1971 and captured the unique atmosphere of the 54 miles of railway once operated on the Island, most of which has since been closed. All are restored, formerly Island-based locomotives. The Railway Station, Havenstreet, Isle of Wight, PO33 4DS. Tel 01983 882204, Email havenstreet@iwsteamrailway.co.uk.

Isle of Wight Zoo

Home to the largest collection of tigers in the UK, IOW Zoo also plays host to lions, jaguars, leopards, lemurs, monkeys, snakes, lizards and spiders. An educational resource as well as a popular family attraction. Yaverland Seafront, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8QB. Tel 01983 403883, Email enquiries@isleofwightzoo.com.

Needles Park

Pay-as-you-go rides and attractions amid world famous views and multi-coloured sand cliffs. Witness glass blowing at Alum Bay Glass, play junior golf and enjoy a thrilling ride on the chairlift as well as a whole lot more. Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, PO39 0JD. Tel 0871 720 0022.

Osborne House

Queen Victoria's famed palace by the sea. Acres of grounds, play area, horse and carriage rides as well as breathtaking decor. A must-visit for anybody who is serious about our heritage. East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6JX.

Quarr Abbey

Home of Benedictine monks on the Island. Witness the monks celebrating Holy Mass and praying the psalms or even join them in silent prayer. Shop and café on site. Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 4ES. Tel 01983 884850, Email guestmaster@quarrabbey.org.uk.

Robin Hill Countryside Adventure Park

Set in 88 acres of beautiful countryside and woodland on the Arreton Downs, Robin Hill offers a range of attractions in scenic and relaxing surroundings. Toboggan Run, Time Machine, Squirrel Tower, Colossus swinging galleon, falconry and a whole lot more. Downend, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2NU.

Seaview Wildlife Encounter

Formerly known as Flamingo Park, this popular attraction plays hosts to a diversity of birds and mammals. One of the largest tropical aviaries ever built in the United Kingdom, with Tropical House featuring amazing water displays. Oakhill Road, Seaview, Isle of Wight, PO34 5AP. Tel 01983 612261, Email fp@iowight.com.

Shanklin Chine

Enjoy the tranquil setting of this historic gorge surrounded by woodland, rare plants and wildlife. With gift shop, tea rooms and nature trail, Shanklin Chine is conveniently located at the end of Shanklin Esplanade. Chine Hill, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, PO37 6BW. Tel 01983 866432, Email iowchine@msn.com.

Waltzing Waters

The world's most elaborate light, water and music production. Thousands of thrilling patterns of moving water synchronised with music. Gift shop, café and free parking. Brading Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 1QS. Tel 01983 811333, Email iow-info@waltzingwaters.co.uk.

From the Isle of Wight to Broadway!

by Angela Sherry

It wasn't until very recently that I decided to research a different branch of my mother's family, having concentrated on one particular branch for the last 20 years or so. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that a former Broadway star and I shared the same ancestor! James Meader, a builder, was very well known in Oakfield, Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, during the period 1800-1857, and he and his wife Mary had a total of eleven children. I am a descendant of one of their daughters, Sarah Meader, and a lady by the name of Violet Halling Compton was a descendant of their son, John Meader. John Meader himself was quite a prominent and well known figure on the Isle of Wight, having submitted a successful tender for the building of Ryde Cemetery Lodge.

Violet Halling Compton (later known as Betty Compton) was born at 109 High Street, Sandown, Isle of Wight on 13 May 1904, the only child of Frederick William Compton and Florence Susannah Halling. In 1910, the Compton family moved from the Isle of Wight to the remote northwestern part of the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, to join other members of the Halling clan who had gone before them to homestead Canadian land. From Saskatchewan, the family moved to Marquette, Manitoba, finally settling in Toronto where Betty started her theatrical career at the Royal Alexandria Theatre, subsequently moving to the Uptown Theatre where her roles included parts in "Pomander Walk," "Scandal," and "Cinderella" which was described as a Canadian offshoot of the venerable British institution of pantomime.

Apparently, Betty's parents did not approve of their daughter's choice of career and wanted her to become a nurse, causing Betty to take her father's car and drive to Montreal with a friend. Her father subsequently forgave her misdemeanour and allowed Betty to remain in Montreal where she secured employment at the Venetian Gardens, the equivalent of a night club. At some point, the lure of the bright lights necessitated a move to New York where the aspiring actress ultimately found stardom on Broadway after appearing as a member of the Ziegfeld Follies in a number of high class vaudeville roles, culminating in a prominent role in the original stage production of Funny Face (1927) alongside Fred and Adele Astaire, as well as Oh, Kay! in 1926. She also had a leading role in Fifty Million Frenchmen which was a musical comedy with music and lyrics written by Cole Porter. This production opened on 27 November 1929 at the Lyric Theatre, New York City.

The Isle of Wight's leading lady was married a total of four times. Her first marriage was to a man 11 years her senior, Toronto-based barrister Charles Stanley Rees Riches. They were married in Toronto on 19 October 1922 when Betty was just 18 years old. Charles Riches later cited desertion by Betty as grounds for divorce. Her second marriage was to Paramount Studios movie director Edward Duryea Dowling in February of 1931. This marriage ended in divorce the following month after Betty obtained a "quickie" divorce in Mexico on the grounds of cruelty. This marriage took place whilst Betty was in the throes of an affair with the man who was Mayor of New York at the time, James John Walker; although the world press always referred to Betty and Jimmy as "friends" when in fact they were a lot more than that. They were going through a rough patch when Betty decided to marry Edward Dowling. Mayor Walker was married to Janet Allen Walker at the time, and had been since 1911, but rumours were rife as to his numerous affairs and a penchant for showgirls, in particular.

Things really came to a head when an investigative committee led by Judge Samuel Seabury forced the mayor to testify and answer to charges of corruption within his administration. On 1 September 1932, Mayor James (Jimmy) Walker was forced to resign office when Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt pressured him into doing so. Eight days later he set sail onboard the Italian ship Conte Grande for Europe. Betty was waiting for him in Paris.

From her home in Miami, Florida, Janet Allen Walker finally sued for divorce, claiming that Jimmy had deserted her on 15 October 1928. Enough was enough. The granting of a divorce then left the way clear for Jimmy and Betty to wed. They were married on 19 April 1933 in Cannes, France. Their European exile lasted until 1935 when they returned to New York City, once they considered the danger of criminal prosecution appeared remote. Neither would, however, return to public life. Jimmy was President of Majestic Records for a while, as well as being employed as impartial chairman of the garment industry. Betty opened a flower shop on Madison Avenue. They adopted two children; one boy and one girl. Unfortunately, this marriage was not to be "third time lucky" for Betty. She filed for divorce in February of 1941, charging extreme cruelty against the former mayor.

Betty's final marriage was to civil engineer and West Point graduate, Theodore T. Knappen whom she met in South America. They married in May of 1942, and became the proud parents of a baby boy in early 1944. Sadly, Betty's happiness was to be short lived. She died of breast cancer in Doctor's Hospital, Manhattan in July of 1944, aged just 40. More than 350 people attended her funeral service in New York which was led by an official of the Church of Christ Scientist.

Former Mayor James John Walker died in November of 1946 aged 65 after suffering a clot on the brain. New York's 100th mayor was buried in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, New York. Betty's father, Frederick Compton, returned to the Isle of Wight in the 1920s. He died on the Island in 1943 and is buried in Ventnor Cemetery. Florence Halling Compton died in Miami in 1959 and was cremated.

In 1957, the actor Bob Hope starred in a movie entitled "Beau James" which was based on the book of the same name published in 1949 by the author Gene Fowler. The part of Betty Compton was played by the actress Vera Miles. Gene Fowler's book chronicled the life and times of Jimmy Walker, and his tenure as mayor. It tells the story of how Walker first set eyes on Betty when she was appearing in a musical showOh, Kay! at the Imperial Theatre in 1926.


This article is reproduced with acknowledgements to the Isle of Wight Family History Society.

Rookley Country Park in February - The Verdict

Having returned and spent 24 hours at home with my family, it seems appropriate to deliver a verdict on the experience that was five nights at Rookley Country Park in the February cold.

Since the recent changes of management each section of the operation now effectively seems to be the responsibility of a different manager, and so several people can take the credit for the service that the Park continues to provide. Responsibility for entertainment rests with Danni, who acts as compere, calls the bingo, organises karaoke and fun nights as well as - as she demonstrated to us on our last night - having a magnificent singing voice herself.

The bar staff are all friendly, helpful, sociable and - just as importantly - efficient, while Tim Oakley continues to manage the fishing lakes to their usual high standard.

The food we had was enjoyable and of a high-quality (I especially recommend the burger which is meaty and substantial and can be enjoyed either plain or with cheese or bacon). For the kids the spaghetti bolognese also does a turn (although it isn't listed on the menu I often ask for, and get, an adult portion).

There were few minus points. As previously mentioned the closing of the Midnight Bar to save on the wages of a member of staff sent the wrong message (during half-term week) about how far the Park's management was prepared to go to make life easier for its guests. And occupants of the small cluster of caravans beside the lake, where we were located, are forced to endure the sounds of industry emanating from the neighbouring trading estate from about 8.00am whether they like it or not. Anybody who can afford to pay a few more quid to stay in one of the Park's beautiful bungalows can be assured that they will be spared this dubious delight.

Other than that any negatives were really driven by the time of year and completely outside of the Park's control - sometimes it was very cold and the fishing was not at its best, and of course in February many of the tourist-facing shops and attractions are closed for the season.

Would we go back? We're checking our calendars for the Easter holidays already.

From Rookley Country Park in February

For the first time since Isle of Wight Review was launched I am actually blogging from the Isle of Wight. To be precise, from Rookley Country Park where, like everywhere else in the UK at the moment, it is darned cold.

We arrived Sunday evening and shortly afterwards ventured to the Midnight Bar when an in-house karaoke was in full swing. However the room was half-empty and the bar itself closed, with customers having to make their purchases from the restaurant bar and walk them through.

On the Monday though the half-termers arrived in force, and the last two nights have seen us struggle to find a seat. However the winter bar arrangements remain in force, I'm told so as to save on the cost of an additional member of staff. I would guess that on other weeks this would be a prudent economy, but on this week in particular it is a bit of a pain, although the staff that are on are extremely pleasant and efficient.

Another discovery I have made is that Simon (Elvis to some), mine host the last time we stayed here (November 2008), has now moved on to pastures new. I sensed there was a story to be told about this, but as yet I don't know what it is.

Fishing on Monday was a bit of a damp squib with only two modest tench reporting present, but that's to be expected at the time of year. It's still a pleasure to be away on the Island in spite of the cold air and the closed shops.

More to follow when family time allows for it.

Where We've Stayed (Part Four) - Lower Hyde, Shanklin

The fourth park we were located to on the Isle of Wight was Lower Hyde, in Shanklin. Lower Hyde was at the time one of three (now four) holiday parks on the Island that was owned by Park Resorts.

Having only stayed the once at Lower Hyde, for three nights, my memory of the site does not afford great detail. I suppose the best way I could describe it would simply be to say that it is in many respects a smaller version of Thorness Bay. The entertainment, as I recall, was particularly good, although as immediately after our stay we moved on to Thorness Bay for another four nights we saw much of it again, as when Park Resorts brings acts to the Island they often "tour".

One big plus point for some would be that Lower Hyde, unlike Thorness Bay, is not in the middle of nowhere. For those visitors who don’t have their own transport, at Lower Hyde one is not stranded on site for the duration. The park is just a short walk to the charming old town of Shanklin, with its quaint thatched cottages, and a slightly longer but very downhill walk to the equally charming seafront (of course, it’s uphill on the way back!).

For those who like Shanklin, or shopping (there is Lidl and a Somerfield within yards of the site), Lower Hyde is well worth considering.

It's Rookley Country Park...on Friday the 13th!

The problem with Sun holidays is that one can't always be certain that one will be given the date of one's choice.

As it happens we did - our fifth choice!

Friday 13th (of February) is when we head off to Rookley Country Park (see article below) for the first of this year's cheap Island visits.

It's not that I'm superstitious, you'll understand. No, the problem with Friday 13th of February is that I'm away at our low-season timeshare in Portugal until the 14th, so will have to join my family on the Saturday night (for the benefit of anybody who is asking themselves what kind of guy holidays alone on the Algarve before taking the wife and kids off for a £9.50 Sun break let me just explain that, this year, my family were unable to travel on that particular week!).

By way of a little peace offering we'll be staying on for another four nights after our weekend is up by extending our break privately.

I'm looking forward to our first family trip to the Island in 2009. And if you're a 25lb carp reading this, now's the time to go on a diet.

Where We've Stayed (Part Three) - Rookley Country Park

The third place they sent us to was Rookley Country Park, in the town of Rookley which is a little inland of Ventnor.

My feelings were mixed. We had kind of adopted Thorness Bay, and this was completely different. Smaller, and independent - the bar was more of a pub than an entertainment complex, indeed one section was largely inhabited on most evenings by locals enjoying the Real Ale rather than by holidaymakers.

On the plus side, for me, there was a fishing lake. Rather, there were two fishing lakes, but one was the sole preserve (no pun intended) of the serious carp anglers, those anoraks of the thousand-quid rods with the irritating alarms and apparently limitless patience.

I had been quite a good angler as a kid, but hadn't found the time to pursue my interest into adulthood. Shortly before my first stay at Rookley I had made a half-hearted attempt to rectify this omission by purchasing some cheap tackle, but I had never been a carp angler at the best of times. For my first few visits to Rookley I contented myself with the relatively untaxing pursuit of small roach, rudd and perch.

Anyway, the site itself then comprised a few rows of caravans. We were impressed, on our first visit, by the size and cleanliness of the one that had been allocated to us. Despite it allegedly being a Bronze Standard model it ranked amongst the best that we had stayed in.

The site, even then, boasted a swimming pool and a pitch and putt course. In the bar, where as it turned out there was indeed nightly entertainment (including an Elvis impersonator called Simon who was resident on the Island), there was also a pool table. The bar area was sectioned in such a way as to create an entertainment area for visitors and a smaller pub-like area, as mentioned above, for the locals.

We have stayed at Rookley several times during the years that have passed following our first visit. It is now a considerably bigger operation, with a few dozen holiday homes having been constructed where the caravans used to be, and the caravans themselves relocated (in greater number) elsewhere on the site. Owned by the Island View Holidays chain, it now boasts a small shop, a fine restaurant-cum-lounge bar as well as a spruced-up entertainment bar (the Midnight Bar), a children's play area and a very modest mini crazy golf course. By an apparent twist of fate, Simon/Elvis is now the manager!

Last year I stayed at Rookley twice on my own (working holidays, when The Sun gave us dates that were inconvenient to us as a family), and once with the clan. On the latter occasion we were lucky enough to have been allocated one of the new holiday homes, which are simply magnificent. The entertainment is often of a very high standard - on one of my solo visits there was a Madness tribute group (the highly-rated Ultimate Madness) which, despite there being a small entrance charge, provided for a really excellent night.

This upgrade in overall quality, as it happens, has been mirrored (again no pun intended) in my fishing, where despite the cheap tackle and light line which I still use I have somehow managed to land several carp - including fine specimens of 11lbs, 13.5lbs and 20lbs successively - as well as innumerable green and golden tench and not a few crucians.

Rookley has long become one of our preferred ports of call on our frequent visits to the Island, and seems to be going from strength to strength.

It's that time again

The Sun newspaper is running the first of its regular £9.50 holiday promotions for this year as I write.

For us unless we are lucky enough to secure a half-term week that means a short weekend, leaving London on Friday afternoon after the kids have finished school, and returning on Sunday night in time for them to go back on Monday. I always feel a tad cheated when this happens, missing the last night of our booking, but one mustn't be selfish.

This time we decided to let the kids choose and interestingly both of them opted for Landguard, a neat little site in Shanklin of which more another time. Other choices (one is required to list a minimum of four) were Fairway, Rookley Country Park, Thorness Bay and Whitecliff Bay.

There was a time when I felt disappointed not to draw our site of choice out of the hat. Now we feel at home at any of them.

Our tokens go off in the post next week and all will be revealed soon, no doubt.

Your IOW Business Reviewed?

Do you run a business serving the public anywhere on the Isle of Wight?

A café perhaps? A pub, a restaurant, a guest house, a shop?

If so, we'd be happy to visit your premises and publish a review here on this site. Our visitor base is already increasing by the day and we intend to keep on expanding it until it becomes a well-established resource, both for people living and operating on the Island and for visitors.

If you'd like us to review your business please e-mail us at isleofwightreview@live.co.uk with your details and we'll let you know when we're next on the Island.

Where We've Stayed (Part Two) - Thorness Bay, nr. Cowes

After a few years at Fairway The Sun decided in its infinite wisdom to consign us to a different holiday park.

We were so displeased that we booked up a few days at Fairway independently, to run concurrent with our Sun holiday, but when we arrived at Park Resorts' Thorness Bay site we were pleasantly surprised. Although a larger site, it seemed well organised and there were plenty of activities on offer, even if our children were not by nature inclined to join Sparky the rabbit and his Krew Club on his morning adventures. The caravan was smart, even though it was Bronze Standard, although we discovered after several subsequent visits that the difference in quality between the various classifications does on occasions become blurred - we have had some excellent Bronze caravans and some unspectacular (but never bad) Gold ones.

The site has a shop, which is well-stocked unless your holiday happens to occur at the very tail end of the season, a decent swimming pool, a play area for toddlers, and a small basketball-type court. For socialising it had a pub (now gone) attached to the Reception area as well as the Regatta Bar, where both house and visiting entertainment is offered until late in the evening. Over the years in which we returned the Regatta Bar became a bit tatty, but last year Park Resorts spent a considerable amount refurbishing and redesigning it, and it has now been enhanced with a pleasant lounge and eating area as well as making for a more salubrious atmosphere in the main bar itself.

On our first visit there was a house band called Exodus who were truly excellent, playing a frighteningly diverse range of material which seemed to drift seamlessly from Abba to Black Sabbath to the Spice Girls. The lead vocalist was a guy of about my own age called John who came to our table for a drink during the interval and we enjoyed quite an interesting chat about music, Margate (whence he originated) and lots besides. John was concerned that the owners of the site wanted a female vocalist and indeed on our next visit he had been replaced. Although the young lady who stepped into his shoes put on a good show it wasn't quite the same. I was pleased to discover when googling recently that John still seems to be playing with Exodus, and I make no apology for giving his website a plug.

Anyway, back to Thorness Bay - anybody who is a beer-head like myself with a long-suffering family who occasionally opt to return to the caravan before the evening is properly finished will appreciate the value of having somebody to engage in admittedly laboured conversation whilst dispensing the drinks. The large majority of the staff that I've encountered at Thorness Bay and indeed at Park Resorts in general have been friendly, sociable and very professional (not to mention tolerant).

Thorness Bay became our next "base" on the Island from then onwards, which we would usually opt for when filling out our Sun coupons as well as on those occasions when we booked up separately such as during the peak season. I would recommend it to anyone.

Isle of Wight Holidays

The island is made up of 3 major towns, Ryde being the biggest, followed by Newport and Cowes. Unlike many of the European resort islands, the Isle of Wight has a very beautiful and has a rugged landscape. It has some of the most stunning coastlines in all of Britain. From the soft sandy beaches, one can view the rocky coastline with its rugged sea ledges. All along the island, rocks from different eras are seen some which date back to 30 millions years ago.

The northern part of the coast is also rich in fossilized shellfish, crocodile and mammal bones. While the actual beach area is minimal the coastline does have a number of cliffs and ledges which appears very precarious. Standing atop the cliffs, one can see the large waves bashing the sea wall- an experience which is thrilling to say the least. The island is also rich in wildlife which ranges from red squirrels and bats.

For the backpacker, there are opportunities to go hiking, cycling, fishing and even sailing. Inland, there are ample sites for camping. For those who want to live in style, there are all types of accommodations available-from the bed & breakfast to the luxury hotels. Dining is not a problem on the island either. Surrounded by the sea, the dining is always something succulent- from lobsters to garlic shrimps. Of course, there are plenty of places which offer the traditional Fish & Chips.

The majority of tourists come to the island of Wight because of its rich natural heritage, geology and wildlife. All the towns have cafes, restaurants, amusement parks, hotels and rides. For those who like the sea, sailing is a big part of the island. Unlike a European holiday, a visit to the Isle of Wight is more of culture and a time to reminisce with the past.


This article is reproduced with acknowledgements to St.Maur - Luxury Isle of Wight Hotel

Where We've Stayed (Part One) - Fairway Holiday Park, Sandown

Fairway Holiday Park in Sandown is a fairly small, independent site comprising about 120 units, all of them six or eight berth caravans which are well-maintained and always clean.

Although it no longer appears to have a shop on site, there is a grocer's store immediately opposite the entrance to the park which sells a reasonable selection of all the basic foods, as well as newspapers and most of the usual provisions. If what you are looking for can't be found there then Sandown itself is about 15-20 minutes away on foot.

Fairway boasts a small swimming pool, a mini-arcade, a launderette and a children's play area. It also has an excellent clubhouse where one can purchase food, which is of a pretty good quality.

Later in the evening the entertainment is well worth the experience. Although it being a small site Fairway doesn't enjoy the range of visiting acts that some of the bigger holiday parks can call upon, its own resident entertainer is hugely versatile and more than a match for many if not most of the guest cabaret acts that you'll see elsewhere on the Island.

Having spent our first few years as regular visitors to the Island staying at Fairway, by accident rather than design we ended up broadening our portfolio of holiday venues. Nevertheless when The Sun sent us to Fairway again in June 2007 we were very happy to be going back, and very pleased to learn that in spite of some welcome asthetic improvements to the site itself the entertainment that we had been so fond of was still the same.

I'd be extremely interested to learn of others' experiences at this very pleasant holiday park.

The Human Side of Island War Memorials

By Geoff Allan

This is an edited version of the talk which Geoff Allan gave at the One Day Conference in May. Geoff has been researching the Island’s War Memorials for over 15 years. He is a Regional Volunteer for the War Memorials Trust and a fieldworker for the National Inventory of War Memorials.

Before the mid-Victorian period, wars and battles were rarely commemorated at the soldiers’ or sailors’ level. Often, memorials were erected to honour distinguished Admirals or Generals, or massive structures such as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. During the Crimean War, which is considered to the first modern war, advances in telegraphic systems meant that the daily progress of the War could be followed from the despatches of Roger Fenton of The Times and this made it apparent that it was individuals in the rank and file who often contributed to the success or failure of the war. The instigation of the Victoria Cross for valour, available to all ranks, whether officers or men, emphasised the personal nature of the award.

The Isle of Wight has contributed much in the way of manpower and materials to war efforts, but for the purposes of this article, it is the human side of the Memorials which will be discussed. We know of very few Islanders who fought in the Crimean War. The next major conflict, the South African or Boer Wars of 1899 – 1902 saw hundreds of Island men volunteering for service; the Newport Memorial names 154 men, of whom perhaps 5 or 6 died. The Great War of 1914 – 1919 had the greatest effect on the Island’s population. Very few families could not have been impacted, with thousands of men, Territorials and Regulars, conscripts and volunteers, going off to fight. As an indication, the Barton School Memorial names 79 old boys who died, but it also records the fact that 750 served. A total of 1650 men and women died in the Great War, according to the count made by the Isle of Wight County Press based on the casualty reports in The Times and it is this number whose names appear on the County War Memorial at Carisbrooke Castle. It is almost impossible to give a precise figure for the Second World War; over 800 names have been recorded on Island Memorials, but there must be more as even today, no names for the Second World War have been compiled for the Cowes area. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, some 227 Island civilians lost their lives as a result of enemy action, mainly in air raids, between 1939 and 1945. Subsequently, a number of Island men have been killed in the small wars and campaigns of the 20th and 21st century, including in Korea, Malaya, the Gulf, the Falkland Islands, and Northern Ireland.

On the Isle of Wight, perhaps the earliest example of a War Memorial is that placed by William Henry DAWES on the Hoy Monument on the Downs above Chale Green. This is somewhat ironic bearing in mind that the Monument was originally erected by Michael Hoy in honour of the Russian Tsar Alexander I. Dawes dedicated his plaque to the 22nd Regiment who fought against the Russians in Sevastopol, Alma and Inkerman. Little is known of Dawes; he was born in St Helens, lived for a time in The Hermitage, Hoy’s former home, and died in Whitwell in 1863.

A further connection with the Crimean War is to be found at St John’s Church in Ryde, where the Calthorpe chapel contains several plaques to members of that family including one to the Hon Somerset John Gough CALTHORPE. It states that he was ADC (Aide-de-Camp) to Lord Raglan during this war, and mentions that he was first Chairman of the Isle of Wight Council from 1890 to 1898. What it doesn’t mention is that he was embroiled in a law suit begun by Lord Cardigan who believed that Calthorpe had libelled him in an account of the Cavalry charges of the War. Although the initial review of the case indicated that a libel had been made, the case never came to court, so neither was able to fully satisfy their honour.

One further mention of Crimea can be found at St John’s Church in Wroxall. In the porch is a plaque which records the gift of the church clock by Henry Charles MILLETT, RN. The church tower was built especially to receive the clock, supposed to have come from a London Department store. Although Millett is shown as formerly of the Royal Navy, further research is required to determine his role in the War, and for this, it is necessary to know which ships he served in. However, by examining the Census returns from Wroxall in 1901, we find that he was described as a Marine Engineer, born in Bradford in Wiltshire, and going further back he was engaged by Trinity House as a Lighthouse Engineer at Souter Point in Co Durham, where he was resident with his wife, eleven children and two servants. In 1887 he was posted to St Catherine’s Lighthouse at Niton, and in the 1891 Census the family appears twice; once in the normal returns living in the lighthouse keeper’s cottage, but also the returns for Vessels, lighthouses being considered as such at that time.

A link with the Second World War can be found in St Catherine’s Lighthouse. On the 1st June 1943, the three keepers were engaged in storing bird perches in the boiler house when a Focke-Wulf Fw190 fighter bomber released its bomb on a tip and run sortie. A direct hit on the boiler room killed them outright, and all are buried in nearby St John’s Churchyard. They were Principal Keeper R.T. GRENFELL, and Assistant Keepers C. TOMPKINS and W.E. JONES.

In the remainder of this article I shall be concentrating on the Victorian wars and the Great War since space limits any further discussions of the Island in the Second World War.

Returning to the Victorian colonial wars, there are several Victoria Cross holders buried on the Island. In Ryde Cemetery, there are General Samuel BROWNE VC (of Sam Browne belt fame) who gained his award during the Indian Mutiny, and William Thomas RICKARD VC (also a Crimean veteran). At St Mary’s Churchyard in Brook, we find the grave of Colonel Henry GORE-BROWNE VC. Born in Ireland in 1830, Gore-Browne was awarded his VC for an action in Lucknow in India during the Mutiny, where he prevented enemy heavy guns from being used against British and loyal Indian troops, and it is supposed about 100 mutineers died in the process. Following the war he became the land agent for the Seely estates in the West Wight, marrying Jane Anne, the sister of Sir Charles Seely, in 1882. He died in 1912 after a long life serving his adopted County in a number of offices, most latterly as Deputy-Governor.

Just down the hill from Colonel Gore-Browne’s grave is a poignant memorial bearing a midshipman’s cap and sword in stone. Geoffrey GORE-BROWNE was the grandson of the Colonel, and died at just 15 years and 1 month old, in the sinking of HMS Aboukir. Over 60 officers and nearly 1000 men died in this incident, on 22nd September 1914. Gore-Browne had been Cadet Captain at Osborne Royal Naval College just months before his death. With no known grave other than the sea, he is commemorated at Chatham Naval Memorial.

The SEELY family figure largely in the history of the Island, and in their involvement with warfare. Colonel Gore-Browne’s nephew was J E B Seely, nicknamed “Galloper Jack” because of his role in the South African War. Captain Seely raised a force of over 40 men to become part of the Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa. This body were formed almost exclusively of volunteers from the county militia regiments throughout the UK. Seely was engaged in a number of actions, where his horsemanship saw him allocated to communications duties – hence “Galloper”. While in South Africa he was elected MP for the Isle of Wight in his absence. His name appears at the head of the list of volunteers on the Ryde South African Memorial at the Town Hall. He continued his political and military career in parallel, and by the Great War he was Secretary of State for War in the Asquith government. However, a number of political setbacks caused him to be re-engaged as an Army staff officer and he embarked for France, having first dyed his grey horse “Warrior” brown to make him less conspicuous. During the war he had the misfortune of losing his son Frank (a Lieutenant in the Hampshire Regiment) in the battle of Arras on 13th September 1917. Three days later, his nephew Charles Seely died in action with many hundreds of fellow Isle of Wight Riflemen in Gaza, Palestine. Both are commemorated at St Mary’s Church in Brook.

The Duke of Connaught’s Own Hants Militia and Isle of Wight Royal Garrison Artillery were based at Sandown Barracks at the time of the South African Wars. A plaque in Christ Church, Broadway, Sandown, commemorates Major Charles Westrow HULSE and four Gunners from this unit who died in South Africa. Hulse was a career soldier, the son of a Baronet, who went to Oxford University and played one game of first class cricket for the MCC. He was killed in action at Braklaagte on 4th June 1901. Of the four artillerymen mentioned, three died of disease (probably enteric fever) which accounted for a substantial number of deaths in that campaign. Their names also appear on panels in Winchester Cathedral.

One aspect of the war which is not well known is that the Royal Army Medical Corps were strengthened by several hundred volunteers from the St John Ambulance Brigade, 12 of them coming from the Newport area, and their names are to be found on the Newport South African Memorial which is currently displayed in the Military Museum at Calbourne Mill.

A link between the South African War and the Great War is provided by Stanley Winther CAWS, who appears as Pte S W Caws on the Newport South African Memorial. He came from St Helens, and during the 1900’s emigrated to Alberta in Canada, where he was engaged in opening up trade with that province. In 1912 he joined the League of Frontiersmen, a body of men formed in anticipation of a possible war in Europe. He came back to England with the Canadian Forces on the outbreak of war, and within a year he had joined theRoyal Flying Corps. He was killed at a height of 11,000 feet in a dogfight. His Observer Flight-Lieutenant Nicholson managed to bring the aircraft safely to land. Caws was buried by the Germans with full military honours but his grave has subsequently been lost and he is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial in France. Nicholson survived the war. Caws’ biography can be found in de Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, an ambitious work commenced early in the war which attempted to list every one who died. The scale of the project became too great; after 5 volumes it was abandoned.

Returning to the ordinary solder and sailor, an example of the type of commemorative display of Great War medals, death plaque and a photo of the recipient can be seen at Calbourne Military Museum. Stoker 1st class Arthur DOWNER died on 31st May 1916 in the sinking of HMS Invincible. He was the son of Harry and Lucy Downer of Yafford.

Probably unrelated, Albert DOWNER was a bugler with the Isle of Wight Rifles who was killed in action during the Gallipoli campaign. Many of those who died have no known grave; he is buried in 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery alongside 640 others, half of whom are unidentified. The Isle of Wight Rifles, despite being a Territorial Force, served gallantly in many of the Great War campaigns, including Gallipoli, Egypt, Soudan and Gaza.

There are two memorials to the regiment – at the Drill Hall in Newport, and at Carisbrooke Castle. 36 Officers and 489 other ranks lost their lives in the Great War.

One of those killed was Captain Charles SEELY, the nephew of Jack Seely. He fell at Gaza on the 13th April 1917 and he is remembered in St Olave’s Church, Gatcombe by a sculpture of a box tomb which bears a recumbent marble likeness of the young officer.

One of the features of the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission’s work is that a standard headstone may be erected on the grave of anyone who died while serving with the colours during the two world wars of the 20th Century. There are many examples in local churchyards and at Parkhurst Military Cemetery of those who died while on home service. At Ryde Cemetery, for example, we find the grave of Rifleman Arthur WOODNUTT of the Isle of Wight Rifles, who died of pneumonia one month after enlisting at the age of 42.

There are few women commemorated on Island Memorials from the Great War era. An unusual pair of inscriptions at Binstead War memorial hints at the war service of an elderly married couple. Lt-Cdr Henry GARTSIDE-TIPPING is reputed to have been the oldest naval officer killed in the war. At the age of 67 he was in command of HM Armed Yacht “Sanda” which was sunk while operating out of Dover. A motor boat was named in his memory in 1916 which also operated from Dover. His name is also found on the Nieupoort Memorial in Belgium. His wife, Mrs Mary GARTSIDE-TIPPING was some 18 years younger than her husband. She joined the Women’s Emergency Committee organisation and went to France to provide services such as canteens for the troops. She was killed by a deranged French soldier in 1917. As a result the French Government awarded her the Croix de Guerre and she was afforded a full military funeral.

I have mentioned a number of those killed or who served in the Great War, but of course, many who served did return. At the Military Vehicle Museum in Northwood is a plaque which records the Island Old Contemptibles and their dates of death from 1935 up to 1985 when Frederick William ATTRILL of Brading died at the age of 93. His service papers survive – there is correspondence from the Old Contemptibles Association, his attestation papers showing that he joined the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) as a Driver, and his Medal Index Card.

Coincidentally, another Frederick William ATTRILL, this time from Ryde, also joined the RFA. His Medal Index Card and service papers tell a different story, as he was posted to Bombay in India where he was promoted to be a Corporal Shoeing Smith. He died of enteric fever, a common cause of death in the tropics. Since he was not in a war zone, he was only entitled to the British War Medal.


This article is reproduced with acknowledgements to the Isle of Wight Family History Society.

Relax in the Isle of Wight

By Sean Revell

The Isle of Wight is a popular destination for many – and growing as a vacation destination. It is less than three miles from the South Coast of Britain and directly on the English Channel! The reason it is such a popular vacation destination being on the south coast of England makes the Isle of Wight even more popular as it is easy to get to – and there are many transit services that take visitors to the Isle.

Although there are only over a hundred thousand inhabitants on the island there are over a million visitors each year! This is an astounding amount of visitors on these small islands. The Isle runs on tourism and all workers in the industry strive to get things right and keep visitors coming back year, after year.

There are less than five hundred miles of roadway on the Isle of Wight. Efficient trains and small roadways link the small towns and communities together.

Not only are the beaches spectacular but the festivals that occur through the year are a wonderful way to experience the Isle of Wight culture. The food and drink festival at the end of the summer is a great way to immerse yourself in the Isle of Wight Culture. It is world renowned as the month of taste!

Interestingly enough, there are more than thirteen award winning beaches on the island. That is many to choose from. It’s a good thing that there are large assortments of beaches to house the millions of tourists that visit each and every year. The beaches are great destinations because they are inspected daily for safety and upkeep – not like many other beach destinations that are available to visit. From Colwell to Seagrove – each beach is bound to be just as perfect as the rest. From the beautiful seas to the seaside resorts, the Isle of Wight is perfect for your next holiday destination.


This article was written on behalf of Utopia Spa, Spa Breaks and Health Spa.

Source: SelectiveArticles.com.

The Green future of the Isle of Wight

Thanks to a £6,500 grant to the Isle of Wight Council, residents of the island could find their homes and workplaces being heated by sustainable bio-fuels.

The generous grant from the South-East Woodland & Timber Fund is to be spent on making an evaluation on how much fuel the island can produce from their own woodlands. The type of fuel that they are looking to make is called Biomass which contains logs, pellets and wood chips. The benefits are its renewability and that its carbon neutral making it environmentally friendly.

If successful the council hope to show the islanders that Biomass is a better, cheaper and friendlier option than other fuels. Councilor Tim Hunter-Henderson believes the grant will prove beneficial as "The grant will enable us to increase the number of carbon neutral biomass boilers on the Island."

As well as making the assessment the council plan to hold an open day so that the local residents can see the various fuel types and how they work as well as the Biomass boilers. A training day will also be made available for owners of woodland.

The Isle of Wight is also being host to a series of Future Energy days. Based in Freshwater and Newport, people are given the opportunity to swap their old lightbulbs new money saving ones. It is believed that people who use these new bulbs will save at more than £5 a year on their electricity bills. The events are ran over the next few weeks between 11am and 4pm by the Isle of Wight age concern team.


This article was written on behalf of Garden Isle Holidays, Isle of Wight Holidays and Isle of Wight Accommodation.

Source: ArticleTrader.com.

Isle of Wight Tourism

by Martin Ager

The term Isle of Wight Tourism conjures up images of sunny beaches, dramatic coastlines and glorious countryside. Isle of Wight tourism brings in an estimated £350 million plus per year, which is vital to the Island’s economy. With more people visiting each year, that figure can only rise. The Isle of Wight is the perfect place for a holiday as there are so many things to see and do. Whatever your interests, you will be spoiled for choice and will find that one visit to this special place is never enough. Most people that visit this wonderful island find themselves coming back time and time again which is great for Isle of Wight tourism.

The Isle of Wight is the smallest of England’s counties, with the resident population being around 130,000. To the north lies the Solent and to the south is the English Channel. Known as "The Garden Isle", this jewel of England indeed resembles a diamond in shape, measuring 23 miles west to east and 13 miles north to south, an area or 147 square miles. The Island is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK, with around one million visitors each year. There is over 60 miles of coastline which ranges from award winning beaches to spectacular chalk cliffs. The Island, which is divided into two boroughs - Medina & South Wight, was known as “Vectis” by the Romans. Newport is the county town, although Ryde is the largest town. The exact centre of the Island is at Shide Corner, on the outskirts of Newport and the highest point is St. Boniface Down at Ventnor

Walking on the Isle of Wight is a popular past-time and there are over 500 miles of public footpaths including dramatic coastal paths. The climate here is almost sub-tropical and Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor are regularly at the top of the UK sunshine table. Over 50% of the Island has been designated an “Area of Outstanding Beauty” with about half of the coastline named as “Heritage Coast” - an honour only awarded to the finest stretches of coastline in the country. Red squirrels have a particular penchant for the surroundings (due to the lack of grey squirrels) and are widely prevalent on the Island - almost the final stronghold in the south of the country.

The most famous landmark here on the Isle of Wight is “The Needles” - three jagged chalk projections running out to sea at the extreme west of the island at Alum Bay, which is also renowned for its multi-coloured sand cliffs, which are caused by a mixture of minerals in the sand. There is a lighthouse here too, clinging to the base of the most westerly rock of the Needles group. It originally became popular here with tourists over 200 years ago when they used to visit by paddle steamer from the mainland. Another popular landmark is the Bembridge Windmill, the only existing windmill on the Island. It is located at the opposite end of the Island, was built around 1700 and still has its original machinery intact.


Isle of Wight tourist guide caters for all the tourist needs on the Isle of Wight. It is an extensive guide for all tourism and leisure activities. Martin Ager is the author, please see www.isleofwighttouristguide.com. Or send an email to info@isleofwighttouristguide.com.

Source: ArticleCity.com.

A dedication to my Island bolthole

The Isle of Wight has long held a special appeal for me. Ever since the mid 1980s, when I helped a couple of friends move away from my home town in London to start a new life in Ryde, it has served as a kind of sanctuary for me whenever I want to escape for a few days from the pressures of work and everyday life. Maybe it is the psychological impact of crossing water that instills in one a sense of liberation, but being on the Island relaxes me in a way that I don't quite achieve whenever I stop at the South Coast.

Back in those days I would travel across on my own, or with my late friend and drinking partner. More recently I have married and become the father of two children, and thus most of my visitations now are family affairs.

As a family, the Isle of Wight became our regular holiday destination about ten years ago. We enjoy staying in holiday parks in a chalet or a caravan, often on a cheap Sun holiday but also at times on a private booking whenever we are given to venture across in peak time. Now that the kids are a bit older, I even manage to get across on my own once or twice a year for a spot of fishing.

The first park we encountered was Fairway in Sandown. A smallish but well-kept independent site, Fairway has for many years enjoyed the services of talented resident entertainer James Matthewman, who basically takes care of every aspect of the evening's programme, from singing and telling jokes to calling the bingo. The last time we visited the site he was performing an impromptu double act with Bruce Jones, better known to some as Les Battersby from Coronation Street, who himself holidays at the park.

After a couple of years at Fairway we were offered a Sun booking at Thorness Bay, a large Park Resorts site near Cowes. We found we liked Thorness, which boasts some splendid views over the sea and a pleasant coastal walk, and this became our "base" in the few years that followed.

Other parks we have stayed at have included Lower Hyde and Landguard in Shanklin, both Park Resorts although the latter only recently so, and Orchards in Newchurch. Lower Hyde is essentially a smaller version of Thorness. Landguard is smaller still, but classy and with a personal touch. Orchards, independently owned, is a nice, pleasant site but with little for socialites such as us to do in the evenings.

This year, for the first time, we founds ourselves at Whitecliff Bay in Bembridge. The chalet was modest but fit for purpose, and we found that we were very impressed with the site and its facilities, as well as its location at the top of a quite beautiful beach which boasted two lively cafés.

Although we found that we were sad to leave, we didn't as it happens have far to travel because I had booked us an extra four days at Rookley Country Park, which is really the jewel in the crown of Island View Holidays' portfolio of sites. This year I have had the pleasure of staying at Rookley no fewer than three times, and it seems to have edged its way to the top of our list of choices. It has been seriously upgraded and improved since we first visited it a few years back; the newly-built bungalows are actually superior to the much-heralded executive villas at Center Parcs, where we spent a few days back in March, and it boasts two superb fishing lakes. When a two-bit occasional angler such as myself can land a 20lb carp on what is essentially Woolworth's tackle, you know you are in a good place.

Some of my friends think we are unadventurous, even cheapskates, for spending most of our holidays in the modest environs of Vectis. We don't agree. We visit other places, we even have a timeshare on the Algarve, yet when I'm stressed and overworked it's always the Isle of Wight that is calling.

This blog is dedicated to my peaceful and unspoilt bolthole on the opposite side of the Solent. Long may it remain that way.