The Isle of Wight Beacon – the Island's daily news sport and weather website

News Stories for April 2008


CARISBROOKE'S GLOBAL ROCK SUCCESS
- Carisbrooke High School students have already scooped a handful of awards at Global Rock 2008.
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EDUCATION MEETINGS CONTINUE AHEAD OF NEW REPORT IW Council HQ, Newport.
- The next phase of consultation over the future of education on the Isle of Wight is underway.
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PARISH ELECTIONS TO TAKE PLACE ON ISLAND
- As local elections sweep across the county on 1 May, people living in Ryde and Newport will be heading to the polls to create their new parish councils. 
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HUNDREDS TURN OUT TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF ANTHONY MINGHELLA Island MP Andrew Turner was among those to pay his respects.
- “The most gregarious man you ever met also loved his own company”, said Dominic Minghella of his brother Anthony, at Saturday’s Thanksgiving Service. Actors Jude Law, Alan Rickman and Alfred Molina were among those to attend the gathering at the Minster Church of Sts Thomas, in Newport.
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"PIER OUT" FROM RYDE TODAY AND YOU'LL SEE "CRAWLERS" Rydes historic pier.
- British seaside piers are back on your must-see list, according to broadcaster and author Chris Foote Wood.
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GOODBYE GRIBBLEWORMS AS YARMOUTH PIER REOPENS Yarmouth Pier, before the work started.
- Yarmouth Pier will reopen at 11am on 26 April, after extensive refurbishment to shore up the 1876 structure.
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BUDDY HOLLY TRIBUTE IN VENTNOR
- Ventnor Theatre Group’s preparing to present the story of Buddy Holly, at Ventnor Winter Gardens.
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TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN IN SANDOWN Detail of colourful Junkanoo costume.
- From an island to the Island, the Sandown Carnival Association is teaching a dance usually seen in the Bahamas.
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SCHOOL CLOSURES FOR NUT STRIKE ACTION
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Members of the National Union of Teachers will stage the first national teachers' strike in more than 20 years, on Thursday.  The union wants a wage increase of at least 4%, instead of the 2.5% on offer. The action will affect a number of Island schools.       

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FINAL FLOURISH FOR WEST WIGHT SPRING CLEAN
- Children will be planting-up the entrance to the West Wight Sports Centre today, as an Awards For All funded community environment draws to a close.
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IW SEAMAN'S WW1 RAID REMEMBERED The Mersey ferry HMS Iris after the 1918 Zeebrugge raid.
- A new book will evoke memories of a naval raid on Zeebrugge, during World War One, in which a sailor from the Isle of Wight was killed. 
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PRIZE FESTIVAL TICKETS IN FIREFIGHTERS' DRAW
- The organisers of the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge, which leaves Newport for The Vatican City in September, are behind a prize draw for some coveted tickets to this year’s Isle of Wight Festival.
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SPECIALIST SKILLS SHOWCASED FOR PERIOD PROPERTIES
- The Historic Buildings Trade Show will take place on the Isle of Wight, on 27 April.
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MINGHELLA TO BE REMEMBERED ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT Minster Church of Sts Thomas, Newport
- Isle of Wight filmmaker Anthony Minghella will be remembered at a special thanksgiving service in Newport, at 3pm on 26 April.  From midday today, the IW Council will accept applications from Islanders who want to join his family and friends at the ceremony - a limited number of tickets are being made available.
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ISLAND MARATHON RUNNERS POUND THE STREETS Katherine Spencer (pictured) and Chris Grafton ran 26 miles.
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Two Islanders were among the 35,000 people taking on the Flora London Marathon.  How did they do?

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BOOGIE NIGHTS ON RYDE DANCEFLOOR POSTPONED The girls had been set to jazz up Ryde.
- Dance hit duo Booty Luv have rescheduled their Ryde Theatre gig until October.
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IW WALK WITH GSOH SEEKS MEN Shanklin beach: Where you could find love!
- More men are wanted for the Isle of Wight Walking festival’s speed dating walk.
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CHILDCARE COURSE IN SANDOWN
- People working with children are being offered special training at workshop event in Shanklin, later this month. 
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ROYAL VISIT FOR ISLE OF WIGHT St Marys Hospital, Newport
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HRH the Princess Royal will visit the Isle of Wight, this week.

She will be given a tour of the neo-natal intensive care unit at St Mary’s Hospital and will visit the TA Drill Hall, in Newport. The Princess will also meet the team at Artigiano Logistics, in Cowes.

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NEW HQ FOR EMPLOYMENT FIRM Cutting the ribbon at number 34.
- A recruitment company’s formally opened its new HQ.
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EXTREME 40S WILL RETURN TO COWES
- After some spectacular racing during Skandia Cowes Week 2007, Cowes will welcome back the iShares Cup Series this August.
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FROM MIDDLE WIGHT TO MIDDLE EAST The Yemeni flag.
- Carisbrooke High School is making friends in the Middle East. 
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GRAMMY AWARD WINNING AMY RETURNS TO THE ISLAND Amy Winehouse will play Bestival 2008.
- Amy Winehouse will return to the Isle of Wight, for Bestival 2008. 
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ISLAND DOGS TAKE THE LEAD
- The Isle of Wight Council's cabinet has backed new dog control orders making it an offence not to have dogs on leads on pavements and roads. 
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MORE IW FESTIVAL TICKETS ON SALE
- The final tickets, released by the sponsor of the Isle of Wight Festival 2008, are on sale. 
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TEAMS WANTED FOR NEW FOOTY LEAGUE
- A new 6-aside football league takes to the Astroturf in May, at Smallbrook Stadium. 
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NIGHTCLUB EVENT FOR TEENAGERS
- A club night for under 18 year olds in Cowes takes place on Thursday. 
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NAMES CONFIRMED FOR STORY TELLING FESTIVAL The festival will be launched on board a Wightlink ferry.
- A host of names are already confirmed for the Isle of Wight Storytelling Festival, due to take place in May. 
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ISLANDERS WORKING WITH NATURE Their new course will teach how to work with cob.
- It’s nearly the end of the season for Islanders James Bradley from Ventnor and Angela Guille from Cowes who have been working together over the winter to make Living Willow Domes.
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SNOWY BLOWY ISLE OF WIGHT The white stuff starts to settle.
- The Island was hit by spring snow on Sunday. Here are some pictures of the winter chill.
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SPEEDWAY CATCH UP, AS ISLANDERS PREPARE TO HOST REBELS
- In Speedway, the Somerset Rebels visit Smallbrook Stadium in Ashey on Tuesday night in the return leg of their Premier Trophy clash with the Wightlink Islanders. 
Read more about - SPEEDWAY CATCH UP, AS ISLANDERS PREPARE TO HOST REBELS
DOG RULES CONSIDERED AT COUNCIL
- The Isle of Wight Council's cabinet will consider plans to ban dogs from a number of beaches, on Tuesday, and may even make it an offence not to have dogs on leads on roads and pavements.
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NEW HGH SHERIFF HAS GREEN FINGERS
- Broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh has become the new High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight.
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MUSEUM, SANDOWN, SEEKS FREINDS
- A new group is setting out to support the work of a popular Sandown museum.
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BESTIVAL FAVOURITES HEAD TO RYDE THEATRE Ryde Theatre, Lind Street where tickets were still available this week.
- Soul II Soul Soundsystem take to the stage at Ryde Theatre, on Friday.
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NEWPORT MAN'S 26 MILE CHALLENGE Charity runner Chris Grafton, 44, from Newport
- Fresh from a desert race in China, a 44-year-old Newport man is preparing to take part in the annual Flora London Marathon. 
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CHINE REUNION FOR DIEPPE TASK FORCE
- World War Two veterans will gather at Shanklin Chine this weekend, for their 23rd annual reunion.
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NEW MONEY FOR TRAINING SAILBOATS
- Three new keelboats are sailing their way into the UKSA’s GBR Yacht Racing Academy at Cowes.
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BRADING NATURE RESERVE EXPANDS The nature reserve to Dynamite Ponds
- The RSPB’s unveiled an extension to its nature reserve at Brading. 
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PFI DEAL FOR ISLAND ROADS
- A multi-million pound private finance deal is to be spent on upgrading the Island’s roads.
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YELLOW CARD CRIME WARNINGS REPLACED BY REAL FIXED FINES County Hall, Newport.
- The IW Council’s cracking down on crime, including dropping litter, graffiti and putting out rubbish before collection day.
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IW 46 – 43 NEWPORT IN SPEEDWAY'S PREMIER TROPHY CLASH
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It may have been cold on the terrace, but it was hot on the track as Welsh side Newport pushed the Islanders all the way in Tuesday’s Premier Trophy clash. 

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NAVIGATING THE SOLENT....FOR BOUY RACERS The 2008 Solent Buoy Racer Guide is on the shelves.
- Bouy Racers ahoy! The 2008 guide to navigating the Solent has been published. 
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TAPES UP FOR ISLAND SPEEDWAY SEASON The Islanders line up at pre-season press call.
- Racing’s underway at the Isle of Wight’s speedway circuit. The season hit the track on 22 March, when the Wightlink Islanders went wheel to wheel with the Reading Racers. 
Read more about - TAPES UP FOR ISLAND SPEEDWAY SEASON