Category: News

On Wednesday 14th April 2021, HRH The Princess Royal visited both the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes and Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Fishbourne.

At the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Princess spoke with a wide range of students about their experience and interest in sailing.  She then went on the Commodore’s boat, Warrior and viewed the students sailing.

The Princess Royal then made her way round to Fishbourne and as Patron of the Royal Yachting Association, viewed cadets sailing and power boating on the water.  The Princess then came ashore and learnt about the volunteering aspect of the Club and was shown an exhibition of the Club’s 175th year history.

A Service of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the life of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was held at the Newport Minster on Sunday 11th April 2021

The Isle of Wight Lieutenancy takes a look back at HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s recent visits to the Isle of Wight

The Duke attended the naming of the Solent Express at Hovertravel’s St Helens works in 2006

Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by the HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, visited Cowes, on Wednesday 25th July 2012.

The visit formed part of the Queen’s and Duke of Edinburgh’s tour of the United Kingdom to mark the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Duke had a number of engagements lined up on the Isle of Wight in August 2012 and his visit coincided with the beginning of the Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week regatta.

The Duke visited AJ Wells and Sons’ factory and studio which was celebrating its 40th anniversary.   He also had lunch with members of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry at the County Club.  The royal was offered the opportunity to view the chamber’s mobile health unit which was parked in St James’ Square.

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HRH The Duke of Edinburgh attended the annual Cowes Week service at Holy Trinity Church in August 2014, before attending a reception and dinner at the Royal Yacht Squadron to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Cowes Combined Clubs, which was formed in 1964 on his suggestion.

The Duke of Edinburgh visited Clare Lallow, a Cowes-based boat building company established in 1867. HRH met staff and viewed work in progress as well as some previous builds, including ‘Opposition’ (formerly called ‘Morning Cloud II’) which was commissioned in 1970 by the then Prime Minster, Edward Heath.

The Duke also visited Beken Ltd to view a photographic exhibition with the theme ‘Royalty at Cowes’ followed by a visit to Cowes Yacht Haven to meet representatives from Aberdeen Asset Management, the title sponsor of Cowes Week.

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June 2015 saw the Bicentenary of the Royal Yacht Squadron; 200 years to the day since the inaugural meeting at the Thatched Tavern.  Members of the British Royal Family attended the celebrations including, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, HRH The Earl & Countess of Wessex & HRH Prince Michael of Kent.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was on the Island for a few days during Cowes Week in August 2016 where he undertook official engagements including a visit to Osborne House to see the newly refurbished Durbar Room and Spinlock in Cowes where he presented the company with The Queen’s Award for Enterprise (International Trade).

With the approval of The Queen, HM Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Mrs Susie Sheldon JP, has appointed the new Vice Lord-Lieutenant. Brigadier Maurice Sheen CBE QVRM TD DL will succeed Lieutenant Colonel Sir Guy Acland Bt. LVO DL when he retires on 24 March this year.

Maurice was born, educated and grew up in Carisbrooke and gained two degrees before joining the teaching profession. For 39 years he served full and part time in the British Army in the UK, Germany, the Gulf region and the Balkans. In particular, working closely with the officer corps of
fledgling armies, he led British military teams that re-established the Iraqi Military Academy in 2005 and established the Afghan National Army Officers’ Academy in 2013. The media dubbed both academies as “Sandhurst in the Sand.”

In addition to being invested with the Queen’s Volunteer Reserve Medal, Maurice was unusually honoured by the award of the United States Bronze Star for his work in Iraq and was created CBE for his service in Afghanistan. He lives in Totland and amongst several voluntary activities he is currently the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Chair of South East Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, County Chair of St John Ambulance, a member of the Deanery Synod and a volunteer at Osborne House.

He said, “I am both humbled and honoured by this opportunity to serve the diverse community of the Island, a place of great beauty and a place that wherever I have served in the world has always been my real home. If I can do half as good a job as Sir Guy, who has served the Island with great
distinction over many years, I shall be a very happy man.”

Since its launch at the beginning of February the ‘Looking out from Lockdown’ project run by Independent Arts has seen Islanders contribute a huge variety of their creative work’.

To view further pieces which have been contributed, click here.

Mandy Sweet

Wendy Holleyman

Ben Homes

Michelle Marsh

Glyn Locke

Claire Speight

HM The Queen has recognised people on the Isle of Wight for their hard work and dedication.

Lynne Patricia CHRISTOPHER  Deputy Principal, Isle of Wight College
– receives an MBE for services to Further Education

Laura Jane GAUDION  Assistant Director, Commissioning for Adult Social Care,
Isle of Wight Council
– receives a BEM for services to Social Care during the Covid-19 Response

On Tuesday 8th December 2020,  Mrs Susie Sheldon JP attended the Completion Ceremony of the Friends of Quarr Accessible Paths Project at Quarr Abbey.

The Lord-Lieutenant unveiled the donor board and The Chairman of the Friends of Quarr, Dr Rebecca Ashton spoke about the project and gave thanks to all those involved.  Further information on the project can be found here.

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On Tuesday 8th December 2020, Mrs Susie Sheldon JP attended an awards  ceremony for the 2020 Royal Isle of Wight Agricultural Society’s (RIWAS) Isle of Wight Rural Awards sponsored by the CLA at Nettlecombe Farm.

The winners of the awards were:

• Rural Business of the Year – Nettlecombe Farm
• Rural Tourism Business of the Year – Nettlecombe Farm
• Small Countryside Business of the Year – Four Winds Dairy
• Rural Young Person of the Year – Abbie Morris
• Lifetime Achievement – Hugh Milner
• Wight Marque Food Business of the Year – Brownrigg’s Farm Shop and Café
• Countryside Business of the Year – Farmhouse Fayre

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