Wight Floyd - an Island-Based Tribute to the Music of Pink Floyd

Somebody sent us this sample of sounds played by Wight Floyd, an IOW-based Pink Floyd tribute act who have been playing at the King Lud and other local venues. We've not yet had the opportunity to see them live, but from this promo we reckon they are pretty good.

The line-up of the band (from the Wight Floyd Facebook Page) is: Roy Lindsay - Lead Guitar, Jana Meszarosova - Keyboards, Robert Berry - Drums and Backing Vocals, Zoe Lindsay - Bass Guitar and Backing Vocals, Bryony Davies - Backing Vocals, Martin Birch - Saxophone, Stewart Woodward - Vocals and Guitar. Check out the page for up-to-date information.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from IOW Review

The Isle of Wight Review would like to wish all its users and visitors a Merry Christmas and a joyful and happy New Year.

Mobile Investment Should Benefit Isle of Wight, says MP

Isle of Wight Member of Parliament Andrew Turner has welcomed a £5 billion investment into the UK's mobile phone network by four major providers - O2, EE, Vodaphone and Three - and hopes that some of it may be on its way to the Island.

The project will bring about a significant reduction in the number of blackspots and will commit operators to ensure 90% coverage across the country by 2017. The government announced this week that 4G technology is now available in Newport, and that this is soon to be extended to Bembridge and Cowes. However, large swathes of the Island still receive at best an erratic reception.

New Leaseholder Set to "Restore Gurnard Pines to its Former Glory"

The new leaseholder of Gurnard Pines Holiday Village on the north of the Island has spoken of his plans to restore the complex to its former glory.

Island-based businessman John Perrett, who already runs thriteen Spar convenience shops on the Island, has secured a twenty-year lease on the swimming pool, gym, and other leisure buildings. The lease does not cover the holiday homes, which will be continue to be hired out by a new company.

"All funds paid in respect of ground rents and service charges will be protected. A statement will be sent to all leaseholders in due course with details of how to pay in future," said Terry Prosser, director of the freehold operator. "Any deposits paid for holidays or parties will be honoured by the new company."

Book Launch in Aid of Isle of Wight-based Charity

An Isle of Wight charity helping children with cystic fibrosis is set to benefit from a book launch on Tuesday.

My Computer Doesn’t Work! and Other Problems was written by London author Marion Hertz and illustrated by Christian Hennessey, of Newport.

The anthology of poetry written from the perspective of a youngster, takes a witty journey through day-to-day problems faced by children.

An auction and raffle will accompany the launch at Waterstones, Newport.

Lots include sailing trips, the chance to play former world amateur snooker champion Luke Simmonds and gym memberships at Medina Leisure Centre.

Some 2,500 copies of the book have been produced and all profits will go to the Island-based national charity Children With Cystic Fibrosis Dream Holidays, also known as CF Dream Holidays.

The charity provides holiday respite care for families with children suffering from severe cystic fibrosis.

Elaine Tozer, of CF Dream Holidays, said: "Marion lives in London. She wanted to write a book for a children’s charity and came to us. I am really delighted. I think it’s a lovely book."

The event starts at 7pm.

Reproduced with acknowledgements to Isle of Wight County Press.

Isle of Wight Walks (Part One) - Niton

A new series of occasional articles by Isle of Wight Review on some walks to be enjoyed around the Island.

The Niton walk outlined below features some magnificent scenery including views across the Channel, however it is only for accomplished walkers. Much of it is beside the cliff-edge and it also includes a steep descent using a path which is damaged in places. On the plus side it passes some splendid pubs. In all it is 4.1 miles (6.6 kilometres) in length.

1. Park up at the car park serving Niton Youth Club, beside the White Lion public house. Turn right out of the car park, then left at the T-junction and continue to the Church. At the lychgate turn right into Pan Lane. Continue along the lane, which becomes Bridleway NT53. At some point along this path you will think you have taken a wrong turning or misread the instructions - everybody does. Have faith, you are going the right way. Eventually you will reach Bridleway NT58 at which you should turn left and proceed until you reach a gate with a cattlegrid.

2. Go through the gate and look for a stile roughly ahead of you on the skyline. Climb the hill and over the stile before continuing towards a second stile beside a triangulation point. If you are in the right place you will probably have passed a lot of cows. After crossing the stile bear left and head towards St. Catherine's Oratory before continuing down the slope towards the sea. Follow the path down the hill, over a stile and around the edge of a field (more cows) to another stile which is at the top of some steps. Walk down the steps until you reach the road and cross into Blackgang View Car Park.

3. Walk across the car park and climb the steps to the Coastal Path, which runs along the clifftop. Turn left when you reach the cliff edge (please!) and follow the path until you see a triangulation point on your left (please note that many walkers are tempted to switch to a lower path running parallel, which is accessed by walking through some vegetation. This is okay, except that when the path finishes walkers then need to rejoin the clifftop path by walking back through some more vegetation, which at this point is considerably more dense and contains some nettles). About 10 yards before a second triangulation point on your right take the path NT36 with steps on your right. These steps are very steep and broken in parts, and need to be negotiated with caution. At the foot of the steps turn left onto the tarmac road. At the first junction turn right and continue down the hill, then left into St. Catherine's Road towards The Buddle Inn.

4. Immediately beyond the beer garden at The Buddle Inn turn left onto Footpath NT30 and upon reaching the tarmac road turn right. When the road joins Barrack Shute continue up the hill for about 150 yards before turning right onto the Coastal Path and at the next footpath junction turn right again and continue along Coastal Path NT29. Almost immediately the footpath forks and walkers should take the left fork up a hill until reaching a junction with Footpath NT27. Turn left onto this footpath (which by now is on an open field and thus partially obscured, but if you miss it there is another running broadly parallel) and head back into Niton, which is straight ahead of you.

This walk will take experienced walkers perhaps some 2 hours, whilst others should plan for 3 hours just to be safe.

Please note the author personally "tests" these walks before sharing them on this site, so please be patient for the next one.

New IOW Review Facebook Page

At the "suggestion" of Facebook our previous People account has been converted to a Page.

This has its advantages and disadvantages, but one of the plus points is that we will now be more visible to the wider community. Meanwhile all our existing Friends have been automatically converted to Likes, giving us a total at the time of going to press of 2,224.

If you haven't done so already please visit our Facebook Page and hit "Like". This way you will automatically receive our posts, updates, news and information on your wall.