Category: News

Two Island companies have been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in the category 2024 International Trade

AJ Wells –  Established on the Isle of Wight in 1972,  is family business with 172 staff, known for designing and manufacturing Charnwood clean-burning wood stoves, Vlaze outdoor kitchens and innovative architectural vitreous enamel solutions. 
More information about AJ Wells & Sons can be found here.

Stainless Games – founded in 1994, is a videogame developer of international renown. Over the last 30 years, Stainless Games has made games for some of the biggest companies in the world, including Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Hasbro, with best-selling titles including Carmageddon, Risk: Factions, Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers and Scrabble.
More information about Stainless Games can be found here.

On Sunday 5th May,  the Lord-Lieutenant attended a Remembrance Ceremony for the ORP Blyskawica at the memorial on Cowes Seafront.  The High Sheriff, MP and other Island dignitaries also attended.

Representatives from the Polish Embassy in London and from Gdanzk where ORP Blyskawica is a museum ship, were joined by many of the local Polish community.

The ceremony, organised by the Friends of the ORP Blyskawica Society,  annually commemorates the defence of Cowes and East Cowes by Polish destroyer ORP Blyskawica, an event which took place on the night of the 4/5th May 1942 claiming the lives of 70 townspeople from the two towns.

ORP Blyskawica and her sister ship ORP Grom were built in a local Isle of Wight shipyard, J.S. White & Co.

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On Wednesday 1st May 2024, HRH Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh visited the Island.   He was received by Mrs Susie Sheldon, HM Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight.

His first visit was to  OSEL Enterprises, Wight Crystal and the Way Forward Project in Newport, where he was given a tour of the bottling plant and met staff and clients of the Project.

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He then went to the Royal Yacht Squadron and met representatives from the Royal Yacht Squadron Foundation, followed by a visit to Clare Lallows Boat Builders to meet apprentices who had benefited from the RYS Foundation.

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From there His Royal Highness was taken to Spinlock Production Facility in Cowes, to meet staff and see the production of life jackets.  The Duke of Edinburgh then presented Spinlock with the King’s Award for Innovation for the design of the ALTO, a waist-worn lifesaving device, primarily targeted at those in the fishing and water sports sectors.

And finally His Royal Highness visited the Minster Church in Newport and attended a church service to officially open the church.  The church had undergone a £2.6m project to complete the renewal of the building’s exterior and to refurbish its interior has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, the National Churches Trust, the Benefact Trust, other grant-giving bodies, private individuals and local fundraising.

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On Tuesday 30th April, HM Lord-Lieutenant, along with the High Sheriff,  Mr Graham Biss BEM DL and Councillor Ian Dore, Armed Forces Champion (IW Council) visited 4 Troop (RLC) Freshwater, Gallipoli Company for their open evening.

The cadets took great pleasure  showing them a range of the equipment and activities they undertake.

On Monday 8th April, The Lord-Lieutenant and Mr Sheldon attended the  High Sheriff’s Declaration at the Island Riding Centre, along with the Vice Lord-Lieutenant and many of her Deputy Lieutenants.

The new High Sheriff, Mr Graham Biss BEM DL read his Declaration of Office and April Newton was sworn in as the Under Sheriff.

Mr Biss aims to support and promote the Island’s voluntary sector and in particular the groups who support our young people.

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On Monday 4th March 2024, Mrs Sheldon met with Mr Darren Cool Chief Operating Officer of Northwood House Charitable Trust, Trustees and Mr Graham Biss DL.

Mrs Sheldon planted a tree in the grounds of Northwood House, funded from a national tree planting fund, to celebrate His Majesty’s passion for the environment and as a reminder of the Coronation.  An Island wide survey had asked for suggestions where the tree should be planted resulting in Northwood House being the favourite.

You can find more information on the tree planting fund by clicking here.

On Sunday 3rd March 2024, HM Lord-Lieutenant, along with other dignitaries attended a Service at St Mary the Virgin, Brook to commemorate 200 years of the RNLI.  The Isle of Wight’s first RNLI lifeboat was based in Brook in 1860.

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