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Black Arrow Project It’s 3,2,1… Blast Off For Pioneering Primary

Pupils in Ryde have been learning the art of rocket science thanks to an iconic rocket with an Isle of Wight link and a dash of grant funding.

The Black Arrow was the UK’s first satellite carrier rocket to successfully launch into orbit.

It was developed and tested on the Isle of Wight but will not be returning as its found a new home in Scotland.

But its history is being kept alive on the Island with a new project which is currently being tried and tested at Dover Park Primary School.

 

Behind the project is Councillor Michael Lilley, who said:

“It is fantastic the Black Arrow is coming back to the UK after 48

years to UK. I would have preferred it to have come home to the Isle

of Wight where it was built. We need to celebrate this wonderful

achievement. The Isle of Wight was Rocket Island from the 1950s to

1970s. It is fantastic that this National Lottery grant will enable us to

tell this amazing story in our local schools. I am a governor of Dover

Park School and the Year 5 children there are already designing a

Rocket Island school’s programme that will be rolled across the Isle

of Wight over the year.”

 

LISTEN: Dover Park Primary pupils give Isle of Wight Radio’s Lauren Roberts a lesson in rocket science

Audio Playerhttps://media.iwradio.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/16110946/black-arrow-1pm.mp3

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The project has also attracted the help of the Wight Aviation Museum in Sandown – which is where a Black Arrow replica has recently landed.Volunteers from the museum visit the school to carry out workshops which see the children get hands on with science and even build their own rockets.

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The Cavalry are coming – and the Island can’t wait!


The Island is busily preparing to welcome 36 elite soldiers and their magnificent horses for the Royal Isle of Wight County Show. The countdown has begun until the Household Cavalry comes to town on Sunday 30 June as the ‘mane attraction’ for the long awaited celebration of rural life.

This wouldn’t be happening without generous support from partners, including the Island’s communication company, WightFibre.  John Irvine, the Chief Executive, commented: “It’s absolutely brilliant having the Household Cavalry on the Island, it’s a real coup. And supporting this giant community event is a great way for us to give something back to the community, which is what we’re all about.”

To plan a few last details, the partners met up for a bit of horseplay at the Island Riding Centre at Newport. The soldiers and their horses will stay here before performing their world famous Musical Ride at the Northwood Showground. This is a display of military manoeuvres, set to music, and it’s breathtaking in its precision, with lots of pomp and pageantry. The Queen’s Household Cavalry are regulars at Trooping of the Colour, Royal weddings and coronations, and it’s their first time performing on the Isle of Wight.

Louise Buckner, owner of the Island Riding Centre, has a very special reason for hosting the soldiers and their horses on their visit to the Island – her grandfather was in the Household Cavalry in the 1940s. She says: “It’s a massive thing for us having the Queen’s horses and soldiers to stay and it’s great for the Island. We can’t wait! Plus so many friends have offered to ‘help’, so they’ll have the shiniest boots!”

Louise and her husband Paul are building two new stables, especially for the giant horses that carry the huge silver drums. They’ve commissioned Martin Coombes from M&J Animal Housing, who says: “it’s a huge honour to build stables for the Queen”. The stables will have crowns on the top as a tribute to their VIP guests.

The Cavalry – who rotate active service with ceremonial duties – will be transported 100 miles from London to the Island in a coach provided by Seaview Services. Phil Robinson, Chairman of Seaview Services, says: “We’ve moved the Polish Army, the Royal Green Jackets, and lots of sailors including Sir Ben Ainslie. We like to do things properly. We’ll also be bringing over the giant silver drums, if they’ll fit in the coach!”

Mary Robinson, Secretary of Seaview Services, who has been a regular at the County Show all her life, says: “It’s always a lovely day out, and I saw the Household Cavalry at the Lord Mayor’s Parade in London and it made feel proud to be British. We’ll be bringing as many people as we can!”

At the Show, the soldiers will be served lunch in the WI Tent. Hazel Breach, Federal Treasurer of the Isle of Wight Women’s Institute, confirmed that the menu would include a ploughman’s lunch with a selection of cheeses, pate and ham. “And because we’re the WI there will be plenty of cake, from the traditional Victoria sponge to more exotic lime and coconut,” she revealed. “We’re really looking forward to welcoming these lovely young men and intend to spoil them.”

In fact, she confided, her members are so keen to meet the servicemen, that they’ve all volunteered to cater for the lads. “The ladies at the WI are having duals at dawn to decide who’s going to be serving them!” she joked. “I’m chairman of the catering committee, so I’m top of the list! Some of the WI members are even offering their spare bedrooms and saying the horses can stay in the garden!”

Graham Biss, Chairman of the Show, commented: “It has only been possible to bring the Household Cavalry to the Island due to the support from our partners including Wightlink who are bringing the troop across the Solent. This is going to be the event of the summer.  As well as the Cavalry, there’s so much else to see and do, from tractor rides, to clay pigeon shooting and handling a pig. Plus you can get up close to loads of amazing animals. We’ll see you there!”

  • Tickets are available online now from iwcountyshow.co.uk for £9 for adults (or £10 on the gate) and it’s free for U16s with a paying adult.

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Isle of Wight NHS Trust Ambulance Service can’t wait to celebrate Restart a Heart Day (RSHD) 2019

Following the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Ambulance Training and Community Response Services (ATCoRS) success in training of over 1000 people in CPR on Restart a Heart Day last October, the ATCoRS team has now adopted Island schools as part of their CPR guardian scheme and will kick start this year’s Restart a Heart Day (RSHD).

Starting on 20th May 2019 the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Ambulance Service will be the first UK (United Kingdom) Ambulance Service to commence 2019 RSHD celebrations.

The IW NHS Trust ATCoRS team will be providing free CPR training sessions throughout the year to Island school children in a pledge to help make every Island child a lifesaver.  Brighstone Primary School will be the first school to receive their free CPR training on Monday 20th May 2019.

The ATCoRS will also be offering free CPR training at various venues across the Isle of Wight in support of Restart a Heart Day, 16th October 2019.  More information regarding the training sessions will be published throughout the year on their website www.isleofwightambulance.co.uk

Louise Walker, Head of the ATCoRS explains; “We know first-hand only too well how important it is for people to learn lifesaving skills and we are thrilled to be part of the Restart a Heart Day campaign again.”

Victoria White, Head of Ambulance, IW NHS Trust said “We are proud to be supporting Restart a Heart Day again this year.  We feel it is so important that people know how to recognise cardiac arrest and do not feel afraid to provide CPR and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), as it is proven that bystander CPR and early defibrillation greatly increases survival rate for an out of hospital cardiac arrest.

Unfortunately cardiac arrest can occur at any time to any one which is why the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service is passionate about educating our community and we are grateful to all the schools that have committed to our free CPR training sessions.

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Half price hovercraft travel for dog owners (dogs always go free)

To demonstrate their dog-friendly approach, Hovertravel is dedicating a weekend in March to encouraging dog owners to try the fastest ferry across the Solent. All dogs always travel free on Hovertravel and for Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March, adult dog owners can also benefit from half price Day Return tickets.

Hovertravel connects Southsea in Portsmouth with Ryde on the Isle of Wight in just ten minutes and dogs stay with their owners throughout the journey. Our current fleet are much quieter than our previous craft, so there is less noise to disturb dogs or their owners and water bowls are available in both our terminals.

Loretta Lale, Head of Commercial at Hovertravel, adds: “We welcome all well-behaved dogs on our hovercraft and we are using this weekend offer to show just how easy and simple Hovertravel is for dogs and their owners. The Isle of Wight has superb walking opportunities, from a straightforward stroll along the sand at Appley Beach to a strenuous scramble up Culver Down where the dog-friendly Culver Haven Inn even offers a free dog biscuit for all customers.”

Customers can only book this offer in Hovertravel’s terminals at Southsea and Ryde on the day of travel with a dog present. For more details on this offer and information on dog friendly hotels and beaches please visit https://www.hovertravel.co.uk/Dog-Friendly-Island/index.php

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Cowes Primary School

Cowes Primary School were delighted to welcome Mark Russell and Ray Harrington-Vail from the Footprint Trust, to clear their pond ready for spring.
They were joined by parents and children who all did a fantastic job! Mark and Ray will be returning to the school in the next few months to do pond dipping with children but in the meantime we would just like to say a massive thank you to them all for all their hard work, it really does look fantastic!
To find out more about Cowes Primary School go to www.cowesprimaryschool.co.uk