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2 weeks ago | 
iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler |Carole Dennett
The multi record-breaking Thunder Child II caused quite a shockwave when it moored up in Cowes last Friday. It brought admiring looks from the locals, who were lucky enough to be near Trinity Landing at the time. Thunder Child II is owned and piloted by Nick Ogden, founder of Worldpay, and dubbed the “inventor of e-Commerce” and “Godfather of Fintech”.
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2 weeks ago | 
iwobserver.co.uk | Carole Dennett |Mal Butler |Rufus Pickles
The long-delayed accounts of one of Red Funnel’s group of companies have raised serious issues. Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (SIOW), the trading arm of Red Funnel, filed its accounts last week, six months later than expected, and they contain information that has left the Island’s MPs and others concerned. No other companies within the group have filed their accounts, meaning it is still impossible to see the full financial picture.
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2 weeks ago | 
iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler
The long-running dispute over the ownership of a collapsed wall in Bath Road, Ventnor, has taken a new turn this week. The road, one of only two which leads down to the seafront, is still closed 18 months after the collapse, leaving residents frustrated that the only action being taken so far is the threat of legal action to determine who owns the wall in question.
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2 weeks ago | 
iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler
The Ineos Britannia sailing team, which was skippered by Ben Ainslie at the last America’s Cup, has abandoned its challenge for the 38th running of the event. The four-time Olympic champion helped the British boat reach its first final since 1964 in Barcelona last year, but then split with Ineos in January and joined Athena Racing.
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3 weeks ago | 
iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler
The first Homegrown Music Festival, featuring some of the top Island performers, was hailed a ‘great success’ by its organisers. The day-long festival was the idea of Phil Norris, from Cowes, in collaboration with Richard Taylor, of Rockhopper Sound, and took place at the Riverside Centre, Newport, on Saturday. Phil explained: “I was diagnosed with a chronic illness a couple of years ago. It changed everything in me – my thinking, my character, everything in my life.
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3 weeks ago | 
iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler
The familiar gates of Robin Hill swing open again today (Friday), welcoming visitors eager to revisit old favourites and experience the new rides on offer. But it’s not just the visitors who are buzzing with excitement; the park’s new owners, Lee Priddle and John Smith, along with their team, have plenty to look forward to as they unveil their bold vision for this favourite Island destination. The IW Observer was invited to a sneak preview to see Robin Hill’s remarkable transformation.
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3 weeks ago | 
iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler
The IW Council has confirmed it spends an astonishing £119,000 in transport costs, taking students to the mainland for their education. The response follows a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, after we recently revealed the IW Council was paying for a student to be taken by a Newport taxi firm to Birmingham on Sunday mornings, and collected the following Friday, costing £200 for each trip.
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3 weeks ago | 
iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler
A day of action, calling for the eradication of fuel poverty and the nationalisation of the UK’s energy resources, took place in Newport on Wednesday. Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, was continuing its ‘Unite Energy 4 All’ campaign, to demand that nobody should choose between heating or eating. It came the day after the latest energy price cap rise came into effect, which saw a rise of 6.4 per cent from £1,738 to £1,849, for an average dual-fuel household.
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4 weeks ago | 
iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler
The Community Hall of Yarmouth and District (CHOYD) celebrated the 10th anniversary of its formation on Monday, with a party for around 50 past and present committee members and guests. Among those attending were Yarmouth Mayor, Debbie McCleary, and CHOYD supporter, Terry Kelsey, who has been a member of the club, formerly The Institute, for 60 years having been introduced by his uncle, who brought him down to play billiards.
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1 month ago | 
iwobserver.co.uk | Mal Butler
The first Yarmouth Beer Festival weekend, a collaboration between the town’s three pubs, which includes free live music and around 25 real ales, starts Friday, until Sunday. From 11am The Wheatsheaf, Bugle Coaching Inn and the King’s Head will all be open with a variety of ales including blond, dark and porters for all beer lovers.
