Mal Butler

1 week ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler

Isle of Wight Festival organiser, John Giddings, looked forward to a packed weekend of music featuring Sting, Justin Timberlake and Stereophonics and said: “I’ve booked the weather – I’m the luckiest man alive!” The IW Observer caught up with him on Wednesday evening as he attended the launch of ‘godfather of British music PR’ and long-time friend, Alan Edwards’ new book ‘I Was There – Dispatches from a Life in Rock and Roll’.

1 week ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler

A seven-year-old, from Newport, is claiming an unofficial world record for Junior Parkrun. Phoenix Docksey, who attends Carisbrooke CE Primary School, only started running 5km Parkruns a year ago, but has already clipped nearly six minutes off his first effort. Phoenix’s exploits have even got proud dad, Nathan, putting on his running shoes once more and joining in with him.

2 weeks ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler |Carole Dennett

A pile of bricks is all that remains of one of the luxury houses being built on a site on the outskirts of Yarmouth, after it was demolished last Friday (June 7). The half-built house was razed to the ground at ‘The Salterns’, West Bay, Norton, which were originally for sale at £492,000 but are no longer on the market. Last week, the IW Observer reported that the scheme was under threat with rumours that the houses which have been started so far were to be demolished.

3 weeks ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler |Carole Dennett

The councillor, who represents the area Wroxall, Lowtherville & Bonchurch, Rodney Downer, announced on Monday he was standing down, saying: “I want more family time.”Independent Cllr Rodney, 74, has served on the IW Council for 16 years, with 12 years spent representing Godshill and Wroxall, before changing wards when the Boundary Commission made adjustments in 2020. He has always been determinedly ‘non-political’ and has won friends and admirers across the chamber.

3 weeks ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler

Retiring Mountbatten CEO, Nigel Hartley, has hit out at mainland NHS bosses’ decision to withdraw around £1.4million funding for the Island’s only hospice, claiming: “The NHS has always ignored the dying.”The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) has just announced a ‘reallocation of system funding for hospices’. Their devastating decision means Mountbatten will lose £1.4m-a-year in critical funding, with around £600,000 being cut this autumn, without prior warning.