Island Update: May 2025

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

Cowes Classics Day 

Cowes Classics Regatta is delighted to announce the 5th annual Cowes Classics Day on Sunday 1 June, a free community event on The Parade in Cowes, organised by the Royal London Yacht Club.

Isle of Wight residents and visitors will be able to enjoy a display of 60 vintage cars and classic boats, meeting the owners and finding out more about their history and care. Asil Nadir’s 1986 Bentley Continental will be on display – one of the last Bentleys to be coach built, and following careful restoration it took part in the 2023 Le Mans Classic Meeting.

Among the classic boats moored on Trinity Landing this year we have Steam Pinnace 199 – the last known functioning Pinnace and a unique part of our naval heritage.

Entries are now open for classic cars. Owner cans apply to take part at: www.cowesclassicsregatta.org/classicsday/about-displaying

Book your place for £5, which includes a voucher for a bacon roll and hot drink on arrival, and a great discount offer on ferry travel from Red Funnel. 

Cowes VE Day 80th Anniversary 

Cowes is all set to welcome veterans and members of the public as the Town Council hosts a special event to celebrate 80 years since World War II officially ended in Europe (VE Day). 

The VE Day 80 celebrations, on Thursday 8 May, will begin with a parade of local cadets through the town, led by the Vectis Corps of Drums marching band. 

The parade will set off from Shooters Hill at 7pm and will proceed through the town to The Parade, where local veterans will be invited to a tea party with entertainment on The Bandstand from Vectis Corps of Drums and singing duo Double Take. Veterans will be served with the official Women’s Institute VE Day 2025 Orange and Ginger Cake, made by Cowes WI. 

At 9.30pm, the town will be part of a global initiative when over one thousand beacons will be lit across the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories to signify the light that emerged from the darkness of war. The Cowes Beacon lighting will be part of the celebrations on The Parade. 

Mountbatten New CEO 

Mountbatten is delighted to announce that Deputy CEO, Becky McGregor will succeed Nigel Hartley, MBE as CEO of the Mountbatten Group. Becky will take over from Nigel, who has been Mountbatten’s CEO for a decade. Nigel retires in September and has set a highbar, steering Mountbatten to become one of the country’s leading hospice providers and inspiring staff, volunteers and supporters. Becky McGregor started her career as a physiotherapist and has worked at Mountbatten for over twenty years. 

She has taken on key roles, delivered improvements to our Isle of Wight services and led Mountbatten Hampshire’s transition, from NHS-run to an independent charitable hospice.

Becky McGregor said: “I look forward to leading the Mountbatten Group on the next phase of its journey – it is a real honour and privilege. We will continue to develop ambitious plans, despite these challenging financial times and as more people need our services.” 

The Footprint Trust Warns Residents of Upcoming Signal Switch-Off 

Local island charity, The Footprint Trust, is urging residents on the Isle of Wight who are on an Economy 7 tariff and have a Radio Teleswitch (RTS) to take immediate action ahead of an important change to their electricity supply. 

The signal that controls these meters will be switched off on 30th June 2025. Residents who rely on RTS for their off-peak electricity supply are advised to take steps now to replace their meters before the signal is disconnected. 

If you are a customer with a Radio Teleswitch, your energy provider should be in contact with you to arrange for a meter replacement. However, if you have not yet received communication from your provider, The Footprint Trust recommends getting in touch with them directly to begin the process. 

Bethan Curtis, Senior Energy Guide at The Footprint Trust, stated, “This is an important event, and we don’t want anyone to miss this crucial opportunity. Please check with older residents or vulnerable neighbors who may have a Radio Teleswitch to ensure they have been contacted and are in the process of replacing their meter.” 

She continued, “Failure to replace your meter could result in losing access to off-peak rates or even losing heating and hot water. Don’t treat letters from your energy supplier as junk mail – it’s vital to have your meter changed.” 

The Footprint Trust advises residents to act now to avoid disruptions and to continue receiving the benefits of the Economy 7 tariff.

For more information or assistance, please contact The Footprint Trust on 01983 82 22 82 or email: info@footprint-trust.co.uk 

image: Silas Gregory

Isle of Wight Open Studios

Isle of Wight Open Studios invites you to step inside the creative world of over 150 artists from Friday 16 May, through to the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 26 May.

Across the Island, painters, potters, sculptors, photographers, woodturners, jewellers, printmakers and digital artists are just some of the creatives who will welcome visitors into their studios; offering a rare opportunity to witness their creative process, engage with them, and even find a unique piece to take home. 

Make the most of your visit with the interactive website, featuring four Area Maps, artist profiles, and venue details, plus the Island-Wide Artists Directory, which is available both online and in print. For a preview, visit the free Showcase Exhibition at West Gallery, Quay Arts, running until 31 May.

Don’t miss this inspiring Open Studios event. Immerse yourself in creativity and explore the artistic heartbeat of the Island - there’s something for everyone to discover! 

www.isleofwightopenstudios.co.uk 

UK Scouts Conference 

In a first of its kind event ever to take place in the UK, four young people from the Isle of Wight supported by two leaders recently travelled to Oxford to have their say on the future strategy and direction of the Scout Movement. 

The young people joined other Scouts from across the UK at the world-famous University of Oxford, to help shape the future of the Movement, to help the largest youth organisation in the country to create its next decade of sustainable growth. 

Naomi Hallam, 14, from East Wight’s Endeavor Explorer Scout Unit, said: “On the Isle of Wight, we have a Scout forum focused on equality, diversity and inclusion, so it’s really exciting to be here today to make youth voice heard, especially on such an important topic to us. Young people are the future, so if we aren’t listening to them then we can’t expect them to be invested in the positive change that’s to come. Today is all about listening to ideas so we can shape positive change.” 

Calling All Young Creatives 

A new opportunity has arrived for young creatives (14-21 year olds) who live or go to school in the Sandown Bay Area (Sandown, Lake & Shanklin) and Ventnor. In an exciting collaboration between Tide Nor Time Players CIC, Building the Bay, and Bembridge Fort Trust, the Bay Area Young Creatives Grant 2025 has been launched, offering up to £1,500 to support new, innovative, and multidisciplinary performance projects.

This initiative, made possible through generous donations from WightFibre, Co-Op, and Domestic & General, is designed to nurture emerging talent and provide a platform for original and dynamic artistic work. Whether it be theatre, music, storytelling, immersive experiences,or something entirely unique, this grant is aimed at empowering the next generation of creatives to bring their vision to life.

• Email applications to: tidenortimeplayers@gmail.com 

• Application Deadline: Midnight on 31st May

• For more details, visit: www.tidenortime.uk/grant-2025

• Phone Number: 07500864417

• Note: Applicants under 18 must have parental/guardian permission