Island Update: December 2025

Your community news, achievements and feel-good stories. Please do continue to send them in to editorial@iwbeacon.com

Top Dog Walking Beaches

Travel expert at Away Resorts, Dan Doherty shares his insights on the top dog-friendly beaches on the Isle of Wight. Cooler temperatures, quieter sands and coastal sunsets make this one of the most rewarding times of year to explore the shoreline with your four- legged friend. 

1. Bembridge Beach 

Bembridge Beach stretches from the harbour spit along the coast and features pebbles, stones, and sand, making it perfect for a long blustery beach walk. It offers scenic views across the Solent to Portsmouth, the south coast, and St Helen’s Fort. 

2. Brook Bay Beach 

Brook Beach can be found on the unspoiled south-west coast of the Island and is made up of golden sands adjacent to the popular Compton Bay. Brook Beach is renowned for its unique fossilised forest, which appears from beneath the waves at Hanover Point at low tide. Beyond this is a sandstone ledge with the fossilised footprints of dinosaurs imprinted within it. 

3. Alum Bay 

Alum Bay is well known for its multi- coloured sand cliffs, stunning views across the Solent and especially for its iconic attraction, the Needles. It’s a great beach to explore and one of the best dog- friendly beaches on the Isle of Wight. 

4. Freshwater Bay 

A picturesque, semi-circular sandy bay surrounded by white chalk cliffs and downland scenery makes Freshwater Bay a great dog-friendly beach. It has a natural, unspoiled feel with the beach being a mixture of grey flint and chalk pebbles 

5. Compton Bay 

This National Trust location is situated between dramatic white chalk cliffs, offering golden sands and a gently sloping shore. There is a seasonal ban west of Compton Bay carpark; however, dogs are welcome on the beach between Hanover Point and Brook Chine all year round. This beach is a fossil hunter’s paradise, rich in prehistoric history including dinosaur bones, foot casts and fossilised wood. 

STEM at Cowes School 

Pupils in Yr 3 and Yr 4 from Northwood Primary School in Cowes visited BAE Systems’ site for a guided tour of the Radar manufacturing facilities to inspire their interest in STEM. 

The children learnt about the history of the Cowes site - which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary - the role of Radar, and the modern science and technology behind it. 

The children turned their impressions of radar into an artwork and recently presented it to BAE Systems to display in their reception. 

James Reed, Future Radar Product Lead at BAE Systems in Cowes said, “It’s great to see the children’s artistic representations - they’ve really bought to life the power of our radar. We’re delighted to have been working with the school and glad to have had the opportunity to share our passion for the work we do. Hopefully we’ve inspired them to want to come and work with us in Cowes when they leave school.” 

Council Donates 170 Laptops 

The Isle of Wight Council has donated 170 decommissioned laptops to the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA), helping children and families across the Island gain better access to the online world. 

The move is part of a wider drive to tackle digital exclusion, with the DPA working to get unused laptops and tablets into the hands of those who need them most. 

It comes as more than 6,600 Island households face educational deprivation, and over 3,500 residents face employment challenges — widening the digital gap for many local families. 

Elizabeth Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Poverty Alliance, said, “We are pleased to be partnering with the Isle of Wight Council. We want to ensure that we get these devices in the hands of children and families who need them.” 

Roger Brown, the council’s Strategic Manager for ICT and Digital Services, added, “We’re really proud to support this amazing initiative.” 

The DPA is also encouraging local businesses to donate unused tech to further boost access to digital resources across the Island.

Families can find out how to apply for a donated laptop —or how to give one — on the Digital Poverty Alliance website: digitalpovertyalliance.org/donate-devices 

Handmade Poppies

Residents at Ryde Village, Southern Housing’s extra care scheme in Woodland View, have made over 500 handmade poppies to raise funds for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. 

The initiative was launched at the beginning of this year and has been led by Brian, a dedicated Veteran Champion at the scheme, who has supported veterans for more than 60 years. In the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday, Brian can often be found aboard the Isle of Wight ferries, selling poppies to passengers. 

To celebrate the residents’ efforts, Brian recently invited the Chief Officer of the Poppy Appeal to visit the scheme. The entrance area was beautifully decorated with the handmade poppies in a striking tribute to those who have served. 

Brian said, “Supporting veterans has always been close to my heart. It’s wonderful to see our community come together to honour their service and raise money for those who need it.” 

WRS Wins Prestigious National Award 

Isle of Wight–based technology provider, WRS, has been crowned Business Enabler of the Year at the 2025 British Business Excellence Awards, held at London’s prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel. 

Judges unanimously selected the firm for redefining what true business enablement means - helping hospitality and retail businesses operate more efficiently, grow faster and deliver better customer experiences through its innovative solutions. 

The awards ceremony, hosted by ITV’s Ranvir Singh, was a celebration of British business brilliance. Guests were treated to a moving performance by Lucy, the ten-year-old blind pianist from Channel 4’s The Piano, along with entertainment from comedian Josh Berry, before a surprise keynote from journalist and documentary- maker Louis Theroux. Surrounded by some of the UK’s most inspiring companies, WRS’ win marked the highlight of an unforgettable evening. 

Founded and headquartered in Newport on the Island, WRS has grown into a leading national provider of POS (point- of-sale) technology, supporting bars, restaurants, universities, ferries, retailers across the UK. The company’s ‘customer-first mindset, continuous innovation and commitment to long-term partnerships’ were highlighted as key reasons for their success. 

David Jackson, Chief Executive Officer at WRS, said: “This award is a tremendous honour for everyone at WRS. We are incredibly proud of our Isle of Wight roots, and to now be recognised on a national stage, while supporting clients not only across the UK but increasingly internationally, is something we’re extremely proud of.” 

Co-Op’s Magical Moments

Communities on the Isle of Wight are set to receive a boost this winter thanks to Southern Co-op’s Magical Moments, a festive initiative combining £75,000 in funding for local causes with 500 free Christmas shops in store. 

Customers at random will be surprised with free Christmas shops (of £30) across its Isle of Wight stores during December, to bring festive cheer to the tills and help ease some of the financial pressure that the holidays can bring as households continue to face rising living costs. 

Whether they’re stocking up on household Christmas essentials or choosing special items from Irresistible Range to add that extra magic to festivities with friends and family, shoppers will be able to enjoy a free festive treat. 

Cycle Event News 

Mountbatten Isle of Wight and the team behind the popular annual Isle of Wight cycling event, Randonnee, are excited to announce new plans for 2026. In the biggest shake-up in the family-friendly event’s 40 year history, Mountbatten will take on running this historic round the Island cycle. And, instead of its usual weekend in May, the next Randonnee will be held on 6 September 2026. 

Until now, Randonnee has been organised by members of The Wayfarer Cycle Touring Club. Their hard work has created a must-take-part cycling challenge, which is proudly NOT a race. 

The Wayfarer Cycle Touring Club said, “After 40 years, it’s time to pass the handlebars over to Mountbatten Isle of Wight for the next exciting phase of this enduring and hugely successful annual cycling challenge.” 

Randonnee attracts around 3,000 cyclists from the mainland as well as Islanders, and people of all ages take part. Participants traverse scenic routes and quiet roads and lanes, through some of the most beautiful scenery on offer. 

Christmas Concert 

The Tritone Singers’ Christmas Concert at 7pm on Saturday 13th December 2025 is directed by Richard Wilkins and returningto the popular and welcoming venue of Garfield Road Methodist Church, Ryde. 

They will be singing some well- known and many lesser-known carols, some accompanied on keyboard by Michele Brock and some a cappella. Theresa Ellis (harp) will be accompanying As Dew in Aprille from ‘A Ceremony of Carols’ by Benjamin Britten and also a beautiful setting of ‘That Night in Bethlehem’, sung in Gaelic by the ladies. 

There will be carols for the audience and maybe a singing game as well, so come along and help raise the roof! Everyone is welcome to attend this festive event. 

Tickets are £10 (children free) available online at www.tritonesingers.com or on the door. There will be refreshments available during the interval. Please note this concert starts at 7pm.