Bembridge & St Helens Guide 2015

BEMBRIDGE &
ST HELENS
GUIDE 2015

Anniversary
Islander

Published by the Bembridge Business Association 1

www.bembridge.org

Perfect for a relaxing
breakfast, lunch & evening meal... by the waters edge
and only a 5 minute stroll along the shore from the marina

2

BEMBRIDGE & ST HELENS GUIDE 2015

BBA Chairman Gail Wade CONTENTS

Welcome & the BBA 3

So much to see and do ... 5

Island Diary 7

Eating & Drinking 13
in St Helens & Bembridge

Bembridge Harbour Food Festival 17

Hovertravel 50th Anniversary 17

St Helens 18

Acknowledgements Village of Angels 23
The Bembridge Business Association would
like to thank everyone who has contributed St Helens' Trails 25
to this venture.
Particular thanks are due to all the companies and Britten Norman 'Islander' 27
organisations that have supported the Guide by 50th Anniversary
advertising and granting permission to use their
material including photographs and illustrations Bembridge Harbour Authority 38
by Brian Langford, Sue McLagan, Carol Pearce,
Carol and Chris Turvey, Ben Wood (Island Images) Map 40
and many of our members and others.
Tide Tables 42
BBA website: www.bembridge.org
Published by: Our Coastline and Safety 45
Bembridge Business Association © 2015
Our Beaches 47
Typeset and designed by:
Desktop Studio Ltd National Trust and Coast 2015 49
Woodnutts, The Duver, St Helens. PO33 1YB
and printed by: Island Digital Printers Ltd Bembridge Shops 50
– Past & Present
Every care has been taken in compiling this
publication and its contents which were believed The Children's House Montessori 59
to be correct at the time of printing.
Terry Weaver and his family 61
No responsibility can be accepted for any
inaccuracies. Views or opinions expressed in this Weavers Yard 66
guide are those of its contributors and authors and
do not necessarily represent BBA policy. BBA Members Directory 69

For additional copies of this guide please Local & Emergency Numbers 77
contact desktop studio
Advertisers Index 78
email: [email protected]
or telephone: 01983 872225

Print & Office Services

Woodnutts • The Duver • St Helens • PO33 1YB Gail Wade
(Chairman)
Est. 1998 Bembridge Barbers
Jim Robinson
For all your typing, printing and (Vice Chairman)
desktop publishing needs ... Bembridge Marine

Very short print runs are our speciality
From small booklets to full size magazines
Business and personal stationery,
Brochures, flyers, posters and more
Colour and mono photocopying
Document scanning & binding
Large format Giclée Fine Art & photo printing

Call us today to discuss your project ...

01983 872225
[email protected]

We undertake the typesetting and production of the Bembridge & St Helens Guide

David Groom
(Secretary & Membership Sec.)

Vectis Web Design

Tim Woodcock
(Treasurer)

T W Woodcock Bookkeeping
2

Welcome to Bembridge and St Helens

and the 2015 edition of our Guide
Here we go again another season for Bembridge and St Helens!

The villages had a great year in 2014, both winning 'Best Village' Awards in different
categories, a lot of hard work will be necessary this year to keep our status. There is
a real community in our villages and we pull together with important matters and
help each other in many ways.
There is so much to do in our area with lots of sports opportunities in both villages including, sailing,
football, cricket, pétanque and the list goes on. We have a beautiful Harbour with opportunities
to 'play' with boats, kayaks, SUPs or a crabline – just whatever you like to do around our amazing
beaches and over six miles of coastline, it's entirely up to you. We have a very relaxed atmosphere
around here. There are lots of nice eating places from beach cafés to more formal restaurants and
pubs all giving lots of choices for lots of taste. This year we are holding a 'Bembridge Harbour Food
Festival' at the end of the season (over the weekend of 2/4 October), it will be a great place to come
and 'Feast on all that's local from our Land and Sea'.
It's our little secret corner of the Island, so don't just drive through, stop and take your time, breathe
in the sea air and just relax.
If you don't already know me, I am Gail Wade and run Bembridge Barbers right in the village centre.
I, or others on our committee, are always pleased to speak to anyone about the villages, if only for
directions, where to go or what to do . We all look forward to welcoming you in our villages.

Gail Wade,
Chairman, Bembridge Business Association (BBA)

Committee (January 2015)

Jon Guy Clare King Sue McLagan
The Beach Hut Café and LP's Anthropometry Training Bembridge Powerboat Training
Desktop Studio & holiday lets

Carol Pearce Caroline Scott Jackson Ben Smith
Artist and holiday let owner Bembridge Building Supplies Tackt-Isle Adventures

3

BEMBRIDGE SAILING CLUB

Visiting yachtsmen from RYA affiliated
clubs always welcome

Friday night suppers and
weekend lunches available
Open daily in High Season

(Rallies by prior arrangement)

01983 872237

[email protected]
www.bembridgesailingclub.org

Bembridge Lifeboat Station

Boathouse & Shop
Open Every Day

2.00pm – 4.00pm
* 11.00am – 4.00pm

* School Holidays,
Half-terms & 29th June –

27th September

For latest information and details of training launches, follow us on bembridgelifeboat.org.uk

@BembridgeRNLI www.tinyurl.com/ Bembridge
BembridgeRNLI Lifeboat Station

The Bembridge Harbour Users Group (BHUG)

A sub committee of BASHHA, created in 2005 to represent Harbour Users in negotiations with the Harbour Owners
and other regulatory bodies. BHUG maintains a BLOG giving up to date Notices to Mariners and other information

Visit: bembridgeharbourusergroup.blogspot.co.uk

4

So much to see and do in Bembridge & St Helens

… and here is a taster of just some of those things …

Our villages have a superb choice of places to We have riding stables, yacht clubs, an
eat and drink, a bustling village full of shops airport, recreation grounds, car boot sales,
of every kind and our highlight, our harbour cricket, football, children's playgrounds
and coastline with beautiful sandy beaches, and fantastic holiday parks and 5-star
rock pools to explore and ideal for fishing. accommodation.
Bembridge RNLI Station is open to the Both Bembridge and St Helens are ideal
public with its state of the art lifeboat, pier start-points for an island adventure. The
and station. The crew are always pleased to Isle of Wight is known for it’s dry and sunny
meet visitors and show you the amazing new weather throughout the year making
facilities and boat. it great for camping and outdoor activities.
If you are adventurous, many on the water Come and have fun and enjoy yourself with
activities are available including kayaking, family holidays and days out in Bembridge
paddle-boarding, windsurfing and sailing, .... and St Helens on the Isle of Wight.
powerboating and fishing trips also run from PS bring your dog - our beaches are
the harbour.
For the more relaxed we have the harbour dog friendly as well as the miles
with its quaint and pretty houseboats, sand of country walks.
dunes and waterside pubs, restaurants and Bembridge and St Helens are
cafe’s dotted around the coast. The local both on the No. 8 bus route
seabed brings an abundance of seafood so (Ryde – Seaview – St Helens/
why not try some of the delicious tastes. Bembridge – Sandown – Newport)
Come to one of the many festivals or village
events, from summer fairs, carnivals sports Further information and details
days, regattas, open garden days and art of attractions and activities
exhibitions to visiting historical buildings, can be found on
forts, etc., and our own Heritage Centre and
Historical Society. our village websites including
There are many country walks and cycle tracks
with stunning scenery, the NT Windmill, www.bembridge.org
Bembridge Fort, RSPB Brading Marshes, the
Duver and of course our beaches. Bembridge Business Association

BRADING HAVEN YACHT CLUB

Welcomes new members,
visiting yachtsmen and club rallies.

At the west end of the Harbour with easy
access from the visitors’ pontoon by tender,

water taxi or on foot along the mill wall.

Bar snacks, lunches and evening meals.
Sail training instruction for all ages.

Please telephone for information and bookings

Embankment Road, St Helens, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 1XQ
www.bhyc.org.uk e-mail: [email protected]

Tel: 01983 872289

5

© National Trust Images. Registered Charity Number 205846.

windmills Bembridge
Windmill

Open 14 Mar-1 Nov
10.30am-5pm (last entry
4.30pm)
Four floors to explore,
children's trails, gift &
refreshment kiosk

01983 873945
nationaltrust.org.uk/isleofwight

& CHARTER for great times out on the water.....

powerboattraining

@BPT_Ribs

Media Rib · Corporate Charter
Treasure Hunts · Nav. Challenges

Rib Experiences

01983 778077 or just family days out....

www.powerboat-training.com All RYA Powerboat Courses
PBL1 & PBL2, Intermediate & Advanced
[email protected]
Woodnutts · The Duver · Bembridge Harbour and other courses, ICC, own boat,
St Helens · Isle of Wight · PO33 1YB refreshers, night time,

local knowledge and more…

6

Island Diary

In addition to the Diary below, many regular events and activities are held in our villages, further and updated
details may be found on www.bembridge.org or from the organisers direct where shown.

Other attractions and activities in our area also include:
NT – Bembridge Fort & Windmill · Bembridge Heritage Centre · Bembridge RNLI Station
Bembridge Powerboat Training & Charter · Tackt-Isle Adventures · Cachalot Charters
Sally's Riding · The Coastal Gardener · Car Boot sales on St Helens Green
Coffee mornings Bembridge Village Hall

as well as beach schools, foraging and fossil walks and much more in and around our area and IoW

Wed 1 Apr APRIL bembridgeheritage.org
Wed 1 – Sun 12 Apr nationaltrust.org.uk
Fri 3 – Mon 6 Apr Bembridge Heritage Centre opens for season isleofwightarts.com
Sat 4 Apr Spring Nature Trail, Bembridge Windmill yarmouthcarnival.org.uk
Sun 5 Apr Bembridge Art Society – Spring Exhibition arretonbarns.co.uk
Sat 11 Apr Yarmouth Duck Race nationaltrust.org.uk
Sun 12 Apr Easter Egg Hunt – Arreton Barns memorialploughingmatch.co.uk
Fri 17 – Sun 19 Apr 50 things to do before you're 11¾ – Windmill islandastronomy.co.uk
Tue 21 – Mon 27 Apr IoW Memorial Ploughing Match, Shorwell charlottehodgethomas.co.uk
Fri 24 Apr Star Gazing Weekend – Yarmouth bembridgeheritage.org
Sat 25 Apr Charlotte Hodge Thomas Exhibition – Lockslane thecoastalgardener.co.uk
Sat 25 Apr Bembridge Heritage Spring Coffee AM – Cloisters isleofwightarts.com
Sun 26 Apr Coastal Gardening thecoastalgardener.co.uk
Bembridge Art Society, Art & Craft Day
Fri 1 – Mon 5 May Plant Sale, Blue Haze, Beachfield Road artisle.org
Sat 2 – Sun 3 May isleofwightchallenge.com
Sat 2 – Sun 17 May MAY isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk
Sun 3 May riseoftheronin.uk
Sun 3 May Isle of Arts Festival cycleisland.co.uk
Wed 6 May The Isle of Wight Challenge nationaltrust.org.uk
Sat 9 May IoW Walking Festival nationaltrust.org.uk
Sat 9 – Sun 10 May Rise of the Ronin , Cheverton Farm rya.org.uk
Sun 10 May IoW Randonnee iwhospice.org
Sat 16 May Discover Culver Down – Bembridge Windmill wolvertonmanor.co.uk
Sat 16 May National Mills Weekend – Bembridge Windmill footprint-trust.co.uk
Sun 17 May RYA Push the Boat Out Weekend thecoastalgardener.co.uk
Sat 23 – Sun 31 May Walk the Wight gallybagger.org.uk
Sat 23 – Sun 31 May Wolverton Folk & Blues Festival nationaltrust.org.uk
Sat 23 – Sun 31 May Riverfest english-heritage.org.uk
The Coastal Gardener “Beach Clean”
Scarecrow Festival, Gatcombe & Chillerton continued on page 10
NT - Bugs & insects ID – Bembridge Windmill
Cavaliers and Roundheads, Carisbrooke Castle

INDIAN CATERING
MARQUEE HIRE
Canapés
plain or colourful linings Moroccan BBQs
tents accommodating 40-150
or Fine dining
seated guests
Lounge seating WEDDINGS, EVENTS
flooring • lighting • decorations & PRIVATE PARTIES

contact Ed & Ana 07971 250957 www.eds-tents.com

7

www. CHARLOTTE HODGE THOMAS .co.uk
AWARD WINNING PAINTINGS & PRINTS
Exhibition Dates for 2015 include:
21 – 27 Apr @ Lockslane Bistro, Bembridge
29 May – 9 Jun @ Brading Roman Villa
9 – 14 Jul Solo Exhibition @ Quarr Abbey
11 Aug – 27 Sep @ Dimbola Lodge Freshwater
15 – 21 Aug Beaux Arts @ Bembridge Village Hall
Check Website for further dates, details and opening times
Private viewing appointments welcome. Call 875727 / 07967 093315

8

For FUN on the WATER and the LAND… © National Trust Images. Registered Charity Number 205846.

All sorts of activities are now available to visitors to our pretty villages to enable them to
take advantage of our coastline and getting out on the water (or in some instances 'in
to' the water!)
From Bembridge Harbour local businesses provide, Kayaks, SUP's Sailing dinghies,
Powerboats, Fishing trips (and of course beach fishing) as well as Prawning and Crabbing.
There's Waterskiing – Donutting and Windsurfing and that's just for starters. We offer
RYA training and other instruction on all types of craft and provide all the kit, we will also
advise on all sorts of beach activities, where to go what to do, etc.
Off the water, there's cycling, mountain bikes and even Segways, kites and a variety of
scavenger and treasure hunts on both land and water. Pony Riding with Sally - in the
summer on the beach off St Helens, (ponies at Nodes Point Holiday Park) and in the
winter at Forelands, near to the Crab & Lobster Inn, enjoy the leafy lanes or spectacular
beaches from horseback.

Just speak to one of our providers … and come and have fun!

For times, dates and prices:
Call: 01983 874100 or 872185

or Skipper: 07974 179310
www.cachalot-charters.co.uk
[email protected]

Robin Hill

adventure park & gardens
See www.robin-hill.com/events
for lots of Cool Events

ISLE OF WIGHT STEAM RAILWAY

Kids go free Easter and August
Special days and Services

see: www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk

views Bembridge Fort for Fossil and Geology Walks:
www.dinosaurisle.com
Enjoy guided tours and
terrific views from this Carnivals
unrestored Victorian Fort. town & village events...
Tours on Tuesdays from
April to October. Booking Many villages and towns have
essential 01983 741020. Carnivals and Fireworks during the summer

01983 741020 Check out local websites
nationaltrust.org.uk/isleofwight
9

Island Diary continued

Mon 25 May Bembridge Street Fair bembridgepc.org.uk
Mon 25 May Bembridge Art Society – Arts & Craft Day isleofwightarts.com
Thu 28 May 50 things to do before you're 11 3/4 - The Duver nationaltrust.org.uk
Thu 28 May NT - BioBlitz, The Duver St Helens 10am -4pm nationaltrust.org.uk
Thu 28 – 31 May Newport IW Jazz Weekend newportjazzweekend.co.uk
Fri 29 May – 9 Jun Charlotte Hodge Thomas Exhibition, Brading RV charlottehodgethomas.co.uk
Fri 29 – Sun 31 May Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival yarmouth-harbour.co.uk
Fri 29 May BMF – On the Water, Cowes Yacht Haven bmfiw.org
Sun 31 May NGS Open Day Blue Haze, Beachfield Road thecoastalgardener.co.uk

JUNE

Tue 2 – Sat 6 Jun RYS Bicentenary Racing & Fleet Review – Cowes rys.org.uk

Thu 11– Sun 14 Jun Isle of Wight Festival isleofwightfestival.com

Sat 13 – Sun 21 Jun B-N Islander 50 Anniversary, Bembridge Airport bnhistorians.co.uk

Mon 22 – 29 Jun Festival of the Sea visitisleofwight.co.uk

Sat 27 Jun JP Morgan Round the Island Race 2015 roundtheisland.org.uk

Sat 27 Jun Royal IoW County Show riwas.org.uk

Sat 27 Jun NGS Open Day, Blue Haze, Beachfield Road thecoastalgardener.co.uk

Sun 28 Jun St Helens Village Fayre JULY sthelensparishcouncil.org

Thu 9 Jul Charlotte Hodge Thomas Exhibition, Quarr Abbey charlottehodgethomas.co.uk

Sat 11 Jul Beach School for Adults! thecoastalgardener.co.uk

Sat 11 Jul Bembridge Summer Festival – Steyne Park bembridgepc.org.uk

Sat 18 Jul – 6 Sep NT – Many Summer Events, Bembridge Windmill nationaltrust.org.uk

Sat 18 – Sat 25 Jul Panerai British Classic & Cowes Classic Weeks cowes.co.uk

Thu 23– Sun 27 Jul America's Cup World Series americascup.com

Thu 23 – Sun 27 Jul V-Dub Island – South Fairlee Farm v-dubisland.com

Fri 24 – Sun 27 Jul Open Studios on the East Wight isleofwightarts.com

Sat 26 – Fri 31 Jul Royal Yacht Squadron Bicentenary Regatta rys.org.uk

Fri 31 Jul – Sun 2 Aug Bembridge Harbour Fun Weekend bembridgeharbour.co.uk

AUGUST

Sat 1 Aug Dance on the Duver danceontheduver.co.uk
Sat 1 Aug Bembridge Village Regatta bembridgeharbour.co.uk
Sun 2 – Sat 8 Aug Bembridge Art Society – Summer Exhibition isleofwightarts.com
Fri 7 – Mon 10 Aug Bembridge Sailing Club – Art Exhibition bembridgesailingclub.org
Sat 8 - Sat 15 Aug Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week aamcowesweek.co.uk
Sat 8 – Sun 9 Aug Jack Up the 80s jackupthe80s.co.uk
Tue 11 Aug – 27 Sep Charlotte Hodge Thomas – Dimbola Lodge charlottehodgethomas.co.uk
Tue 11– Sun 16 Aug Ventnor Fringe Festival ventnorexchange.co.uk

Barbeque – Licensed Bar – Live Music

Saturday 1st August 2015 5:30 – 11pm

Further details and tickets:
www.danceontheduver.co.uk

10

Island Diary continued

Fri 14 Aug Cowes Fireworks aamcowesweek.co.uk
bembridgefestivals.co.uk
Sat 15 – Fri 21 Aug Beaux Arts garlic–festival.co.uk
fastnet.rorc.org
Sat 15 – Sun 16 Aug IW Garlic Festival Newchurch bembridgesailingclub.org
svyc.org.uk
Sun 16 Aug Fastnet Race, Start bembridgepc.org.uk
seaviewvillageregatta.co.uk
Fri 21 – Sat 22 Aug BSC Sailing Regatta vfmscoot.co.uk
bhyc.org.uk
Sun 23 – Mon 24 Aug SVYC Sailing Regatta royal-southern.co.uk
www.sportsandcarnival.co.uk
Sun 23 Aug Bembridge Festival of Sport – Steyne Park
wolvertonmanor.co.uk
Tue 25 – Thu 27 Aug Seaview Village Regatta & Fireworks (Thur) sunseaandcycling.com
littlebritain.co.uk
Fri 28 – Mon 31 Aug IW Scooter Rally bestival.net
bartsbash.com
Sun 30 Aug BHYC Sailing Regatta beckysamuelsonfinearts.co.uk
bembridgeheritage.org
Mon 31 Aug Bramble Bank Cricket Match arretonbarns.co.uk

Mon 31 Aug St Helens Sports & Carnival bembridgefestivals.co.uk
isleofwightliteraryfestival.org
SEPTEMBER thecoastalgardener.co.uk
isleofwightarts.com
Sat 5 – Sun 6 Sep Wolverton Manor Garden Fair isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk
bembridgeheritage.org
Sat 5 – Sun 27 Sep IW Cycling Festival bembridgepc.org.uk

Thu 10 – Sat 12 Sep Little Britain Regatta – Cowes bembridgepc.org.uk
thecoastalgardener.co.uk
Thu 10 – Sun 13 Sep Bestival beckysamuelsonfinearts.co.uk

Sun 20 Sep Barts Bash bembridgepc.org.uk

Wed 23 – Tue 29 Sep Becky Samuelson Exhibition – Quarr Abbey

Thu 24 Sep Coastguards in Bembridge – Tony Gale

Sat 26 – Sun 27 Sep Sweetcorn Fayre – Arreton

OCTOBER

Fri 2 – Fri 9 Oct Bembridge Harbour Food Festival
Thu 15 – Sat 17 Oct IW Literary Festival – Cowes
Fri 16 Oct Gardening by the Book – The Coastal Gardener
Fri 23 – Sun 25 Oct Bembridge Art Society – Autumn Exhibition
Fri 23 – Mon 26 Oct IoW Walking Festival weekend
Thur 29 Oct Bembridge Harbour – Bilko Dyer
Sat 31 Oct Halloween Horror – BYCC, Steyne Park

NOVEMBER

Sat 7 Nov Bonfire & Fireworks – Steyne Park
Fri 20 – Sat 21 Nov Make it Christmas
Wed 25 Nov – 8 Dec Becky Samuelson Exhibition – Brading Roman
Villa

DECEMBER

Sat 19 Dec Christmas Event – BYCC, Steyne Park

Neither the BBA nor this Guide is responsible for the accuracy of content which is based on information received
and which may be subject to change or cancellation.

sound · lighting · rigging
stages power distribution
two way radios · generators
marquees · stage pyrotechnics

firework displays
(conventional & pyromusical)

01983 779337

HO: The Duver, St Helens PO33 1YB

www.spyderuk.com

11

11 High Street · Bembridge

(In the High Street opposite Lloyds Bank)

Family run restaurant
using local produce when available

Frequently changing menus
to reflect seasonal foods

Open for Coffee & Breakfast,
lunch & dinner & Sunday lunches

Please call for opening times,
menu details and special offers.

01983 872626

• Seafood our speciality • Local crab and lobster Chill, relax with friends • Cosy and intimate
• Beachside setting • Vegi & gluten free options Sunny courtyard garden • A place to shelter
• Reservations recommended • Afternoon tea by the sea
• Seasonal flavours • Dog friendly
• Mediterranean sharing platters • Follow us on Facebook

Mediterranean inspired dishes
Tangy and bold flavours

Bookings: 01983 873555

4 High Street Bembridge PO35 5SD

www.shedbembridge.co.uk

free Wifi and parking in the village

12

EATING and DRINKING in ST HELENS & BEMBRIDGE

With a population of little over 5,000 residents we are a gourmet delight with over 30 eateries
including a diverse selection of international and local cuisine, bistro or formal restaurant,
takeaways, club, pub, local coffee shop or beachside café – there's a wonderful choice.
We are hosting the 'Bembridge Harbour Food Festival' in early October 2015 to showcase our
amazing gourmet experiences, see page 17 for further information.
However don't leave it that long to come and visit and feast on all that's local from our land and
sea, whether at one of our established businesses or one of the two which have opened in the last
week - The Spinnaker (see below) or The Wonky Café on Whitecliff Bay...

Tastefully refurbished Edwardian Hotel, bar & restaurant
in the chic village of Bembridge

Now open after extensive refurbishment, from 9am
everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Attentive service in a unique ambience with local real ales,
craft beers and a refined wine selection

Menus featuring seasonal produce from the IOW and south
coast with an introductory offer of a Sunday lunch for
£10.95 with a FREE pudding, pre booked tables only
Weddings, functions and business meeting rooms

Pop in and meet the team, phone
01983 872840 or email

[email protected]
for more information, enquiries or

table reservations
4 STAR AA RATED BEDROOMS AVAILABLE
see our website www.the spinnakeriow.co.uk for
availability alternatively phone our accommodation team

on 01983 873572
1 STEYNE ROAD BEMBRIDGE IOW PO35 5UH

13

Crab and Lobster Inn

This award winning family friendly pub enjoys a superb location with
unequalled sea views over Bembridge Ledge with direct access to the
beach and boasts five AA 4 Star B&B Rooms. Relax and enjoy the exten-
sive menu of pub favourites and seafood specialities in the traditional
beamed interior or on the patio overlooking the beach. Open all year.
Dogs welcome in the bar. Free Wi-Fi Access. Booking advisable.

32 Forelands Field Road, Bembridge, Isle of Wight PO35 5TR
Tel: 01983 872244 [email protected]
www.crabandlobsterinn.co.uk

14

THE PROPELLER INN
overlooking the airport - PO35 5PW

Lunch • Evening Meals • Sunday Roasts • Real Ales • Quiz Nights
Parties • Wakes • Live Music • Weddings • Birthdays
Families Welcome • Business Meetings, etc
Military Museum
Tel: 01983 873611

Telephone: 872742

The Pilot Boat Inn

Station Road
Bembridge PO35 5NN
The pub that looks like a boat!
With 5 en-suite B & B cabins

Telephone: (01983) 872077

www.thepilotboatinn.com

15

CAFÉ RESTAURANT For all your homemade pies,
Great Views · Finest Seafood pasties, quiches, patés, soups,
Log Burner · Friendly Atmosphere frozen meals, cakes, scones &
Open from 10am – 7 days a week during the season florentines
Sandwiches made to order
Either take away or relax in our
friendly deli-café which is a
short walk up from the lifeboat
station.
All of our homemade produce
is available to order for any
occasion

Lane End Road,
Bembridge, Isle of Wight
Telephone: 01983 873951

W.W. Woodford 11 Foreland Road Telephone:
& Sons Ltd Bembridge (01983) 873334
Isle of Wight
Quality Butchers & Delicatessen PO35 5XN

26 High Street, Bembridge Mother Goose Bookshop
Antiquarian & Modern First Editions
01983 872717
Specialists in Nautical, Travel, Children’s Illustrated, etc
• Famous Sausages The best-kept secret on the Isle of Wight
• Black & Gold Beef & Lamb
• Selection of Cheeses Browsers Welcome
• Beef, Lamb & Pork
• Home-made pie-in-a-box, Shop: 01983 874063
including Chicken, Steak Out of Hours: 01983 873897
and lots, lots more ....
E-Mail: [email protected]
Free delivery service to
Bembridge, Seaview & St Helens Lower Green, St Helens, Isle of Wight
also at The Bookroom, Jireh Place, Yarmouth
Mon – Fri: 4pm– 6pm,
Saturdays: 9am – 12 noon

16

feast on all that’s local from our land & sea at

Bembridge Harbour Food Festival – 3rd & 4th October 2015

A weekend of Gourmet Fun around Bembridge Harbour with our restaurants,
pubs, cafés, shops, producers and suppliers

• ‘Festival Food Hub’ at the BSC, Embankment Road, Bembridge
‘Stage kitchen’ with ongoing demonstrations, competitions and more
Island produce stall holders, taster foods, bar run by local brewery Goddards
and Eurovines and promotion of our great eateries in the area

• At our Restaurants, Pubs, Cafés – all featuring Festival Specials and fresh local dishes

• Fishermans Pontoon, our commercial & leisure fishermen with The Best Dressed Crab

• Cycle trails, walking trails and foraging expeditions...

• Free parking and Free entry

bembridgefestivals.co.uk ~ e: [email protected] ~ tel: 01983 770769

woodnutts, the duver st helens isle of wight po33 1yb

@food_on_wight bembridge.harbour.food.festival

In the late 1950s John Britten and Desmond
Norman with B-N (manufacturers of the Islander
aircraft) began designing cushion craft or
hovercraft and in 1965 they set up a cross-Solent
hovercraft service as Hovertravel.
2015 marks the 50th anniversary of this
remarkable achievement
From humble beginnings with one SRN6 craft,
‘caravan terminals’ and pilots collecting the
tickets, thanks to immense effort of staff and fantastic support of our customers, including so many
locals and tourists – over 29 million have travelled on our Southsea to Ryde service

Hovertravel is the world’s longest running commercial hovercraft service,
is the only scheduled passenger hovercraft service in Europe
and offers the fastest way to cross the Solent.

The current fleet includes two API-88 craft, Freedom 90 and Island Express. At
the end of the year we will see the completion of two new 12000TD by
Griffon Hoverwork to enter service in 2016. During 2015 there will be a
variety of promotions, special offers, events and a limited edition range
of 50th anniversary souvenirs

hovertravel.co.uk
08434 878887

17

St Helens

St Helens is very much a traditional English became unsafe, a new church was first built in
village centered around one of the largest 1717 further inland, now Nettlestone. A great
village greens in the country, its origins deriving wave destroyed the old church in 1720 and
from the Cluniac Priory, built circa 1080, the the dressed stones from the destroyed church,
remains of which are now the site of the Priory which were soft sandstone, were found to
Bay Hotel on the outskirts of the village. be good for scrubbing the decks of wooden
St Helens Anchorage just off the coast was, and planked warships - hence the terms 'Holystone'
still is, well known as a safe anchorage and used and 'holystoning the decks'.
during the many conflicts with the French; in St Helens was an important sea port in earlier
1340 a French invasion force landed at St Helens years and press gangs would come ashore and
but was repulsed by Sir Theobald Russell. try to boost crew numbers on ships, hence the
In 1346 Edward III set sail from St Helens to name of Gaggen (or Gaggun) Edge, the path at
invade Normandy. the edge of the Common from the Duver.
Again in 1545 the French navy were in St Helens St Helens Fort, the closest Royal Commission
Roads during the campaign in which the Mary sea fort was built during 1867-1880, one
Rose capsized and sank off Portsmouth. of Palmerston's Follies to protect St Helens
St Helens was famed amongst sailors for the Anchorage – annually on a 'low spring tide' in
purity of its water which, for this reason, was summer visitors walk around St Helens Fort!
often collected by the Navy before long voyages The Duver
as it would remain fresh for longer than any Once a golf course, perhaps the first in England,
other water. In 1805 HMS Victory and Admiral known as the Royal Golf Links and used
Lord Nelson’s fleet gathered off St Helens to by Royalty from both the United Kingdom
collect drinking water, before setting sail for and Europe. It was at the forefront of the
Cadiz and participation in the Battle of Trafalgar. development of the rules of Golf and, in its time,
Holy-stoning and St Helens Old Church (the was as famous as the course at St Andrews.
Seamark near the Baywatch on the Duver) From the 19th century boatyards operated
The original village church was built circa 1200 from St Helens Duver including Wades and then
on the seafront, becoming the Parish Church Woodnutts and Attrills. Woodnutts, under the
in 1414; but in 1700s the church eventually leadership of Alfred Westmacott designed and
built day racing yachts, including the Solent

18

Sunbeam, Victory, Seaview Mermaids, XODs Blue Plaques in St Helens
and Bembridge One Designs. By the time of
WW2, Woodnutts boatyard employed some 200 The blue plaque on Woodnutts Yard
workers, building Fairmile class patrol boats, where the new generation of
MTBs for the Admiralty and airborne lifeboats Alfred Westmacott's Seaview
for rescuing RAF crew who had ditched into the Mermaids are maintained. The most
sea (an Uffa Fox design). recent 'Mimosa' having been built on
Bembridge Harbour was also a key staging these premises by Will Squibb Ltd
point for vessels taking part in the Normandy over the winter of 2011/12.
landings in June 1944. Many of the day boats
built at Woodnutts are still maintained on A further blue plaque may be seen
the Duver at Will Squibb's yard. In latter years on a house on the Upper Green in
hovercraft were built and maintained on the St Helens in recognition of Sophie
Duver. Dawes, Madame de Feuchères, also
known as The Queen of Chantilly
– a story for another time!

A Wade Boatbuilders
and Burden Sailmakers
occupied the yard
which is now John
Rolf's boathouse on the
Duver.
Wade's were
established in 1810
and this photograph
may have been taken
on the occasion of their
Centenary in 1910.
On the left is Walter
(Walt) Wade.

19

Pre-War pictures: (l-r) The duck pond, geese and trees on the Green and East Green looking south

St Helens Village Greens with St Helens Sports Association Ltd

The St Helens 'Green' is actually a series of The popular Car Boot Sales on Sunday mornings
'Greens' split by various roads. The Greens on West Green raise money for the costs of
have a long and complex history with a variety running the Pavilion and funds for Cricket and
of Associations, Organisations, Committees Football Clubs – also run by St Helens Sports
and Councils being involved. Over the years Association.
responsibilities for maintenance, grass cutting, There is an active, well attended Pétanque
village fayres etc., have changed on numerous club run by another committee which plays on
occasions. At present the IW Council are Sunday mornings and sometimes during the
custodians of the Greens but with recent week. There was originally a bowling green but
council budget cuts, their grass-cutting service sadly no longer there.
is likely to be reduced! In Victorian times the The Summer Village Fayre held at the end of
Village Elders had a 'Long Seat' (still there today) June is run by another committee, as is the
where they met to discuss village matters – an St Helens' Sports and Carnival held on the Bank
early form of Parish Council. In years gone past Holiday at the end of August – this is a time
horses, cattle and sheep grazed on the Green honoured tradition in St Helens and at, well over
and geese lived by the pond. 100 years old, is one of the oldest Carnivals in
Currently at least four separate committees the country. The village sports offer something
deal with the various activities on the Green. for everyone from 'toddlers to veterans' it's a
St Helens Blue Star Deal, responsible for the St real family day ending with a popular Carnival.
Helens Football team, unfortunately currently In 2014 St Helens beat stiff competition to win
there is 'no Football Club' – anyone interested two awards: 'The Best Kept Large Village' and 'The
in assisting with the resurrection of the Football Best Kept Village Overall'. Many congratulations
Club please contact St Helen's Sports, Chairman, to all particularly the Parish Councillor gardener,
Henry Rogers on 01983 875257. Presently the Martin Rivers for all his hard work, and local
remnants of the reserves, renamed Lower Hyde people who help with keeping our village and
Galactica play on the East Green and use the beach in 'tip top' shape.
excellent Pavilion Facilities. In years gone past the Village Green was home
The Cricket Club, on the other hand is a to a community bonfire on November 5th. A
thriving club playing in the Island Division 1, telephone pole was erected and the bonfire
last year finishing 3rd in the League; they also built up around it over the preceding weeks –
play mainland touring sides and evening 20 x everything went on, an excellent way to dispose
20 matches midweek. There is a permanent of unwanted furniture and garden debris, sofas,
practice net and another portable one - both chairs, tables – anything went! Once lit on
used by children of the village free of charge.

2000s pictures: (l-r) Centre Green, East Green (from the air) and East Green (from Lower Green Rd)

November 5th it often continued burning for 2 St Helens is still host to a number of families
or 3 days! H&S, insurance and the like brought who have been residents for over 300 years.
an end to this in the late 1980s. Common St Helens names include Attrill,
However since 2013, another event – The Bennett, Burden, Dyer, Henley, Jacobs, Phillips,
Village of Angels – transforms the village and Squibb, Toogood and Wade.
the Greens into a magical, Christmassy feel with There is a well stocked village shop with Post
over 60 locally made Angels, at least 30 of which Office – now open 7 days a week throughout
are on the Green or face the Green! (see pictures 'shop hours', The Vine is our village pub and we
of some of these from 2014 overleaf ). have many other eateries … Do come and visit.

The official opening of the
newly erected boundary net

back row: Aby Parsons,
Jonathan Bacon, Hadleigh Carkeet,

Mike Parsons, Chris Parsons,
Mark Allen, Chris Wright, Rob Love,
Steve Brown, Christopher Bland (then

Lord Lieutenant of the IW),
Carol Hermans,

Bob Hermans (Chairman)
middle row:

Charlie Millington (Secretary),
Lord Brabazon

(Foundation for Sports and the Arts)
front row: Sam Rockley, Simon Moxlow,

Lee Brown (Club Captain),
Gareth Garvey.

The New Boundary Net them around the village, and the villagers again
After a few too many 'flying cricket balls' the came up trumps with donations, and help from
villagers voted for the erection of a boundary net. the Parish Council in the guise of Aby Parsons
The Foundation for Sports and the Arts kindly and Jonathan Bacon who made up the rest to
donated £3,000, mainly through the efforts of the eventual cost of £4,500.
Michael MacInnes, and the rest of the cost was The irony of the deal with Networld (who
mainly thanks to Lin Rogers and her school provided the materials), was the delivery
children who made posters and distributed disappeared and eventually was found in
St Helens, Lancashire!

DANS KITCHEN
DAN AND CARLA MASKELL
01983 872303
Come in, sit down, relax

Enjoy the local produce, great food & fine wines

Open Tuesday evening to Saturday evening

(closed, Sunday, Monday & Tuesday lunchtime)

LOWER GREEN ROAD ST HELENS
ISLE OF WIGHT PO33 ITS

www.danskitcheniow.co.uk

GANDERS RESTAURANT HANDMADE HOMEWARE GIFTS AND ART
Upper Green Road, St Helens PO33 1UQ
Tel 0 1 9 8 3 8 7 2 0 1 4 shop at www.seashellsandlavender.co.uk
www.ganders.co.uk
07788316617 [email protected]
Light lunches from £5.50 www.facebook.com/seashellsandlavender
Traditional Sunday Lunch from £9.50

Blackboard Specials

2 Courses from £17.95
3 Courses from £21.95

Local produce
Varied a la Carte Menu

David & Christine Welcome you to... Refurbished for 2015

ST HELENS New: 'Popples Coffee Shop'
POST OFFICE & STORE – stay in or take-away
New: Wi-fi internet access
01983 872710 New: PO services now open
ALL shop hours 'early to late'
Open 6 days 06.00 ~ 20.00 and Sundays 06.30 ~ 19.30 6am–8pm & Sundays 6.30–7.30

and our store stocks even more – local fresh produce, meat, veggies, cheese, etc.
more selection, more gifts, local art and much much more ...

Only 5 minutes from Duver Marina in the centre of St Helens – We're well worth a visit...

22

VILLAGE OF ANGELS 2014

Milk Bottle Choir – Carol Turvey

Devine Nutrition – John Day St Helens Toddler Group Angels Landing Pad – Penny Walford

Watching over you – Leigh Jackman Angel in Memory of Howard Brown Angel Woodstore!

23

THE CASTLE St Helens WALKS with GUIDES

Two superb Holiday Lets in the grounds of The Castle There are many organised and more informal
close to the village and minutes from the beach walks to appreciate our area, the following
are a couple that may be of interest:
The Studio sleeps up to 7 in 3 bedrooms St Helens NHS Health Walks with Maurice
Sociable walks including café stop for a chat
plus day bed on mezzanine and refreshments! Wednesday mornings
10am, 2 – 2.5 hours, meet at the car park on
The Castle Flat sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms St Helens Green

Extensive facilities including use of Maurice Dix 07854 368419
The Castle grounds and ample off-street parking [email protected]
Fruit of the Land, Foraging Walks with Paul
01983 875993 [email protected] Foraging walks learning what is edible from
www.sthelenscastle.co.uk our land, coast and sea. Approx. 2 - 3 hours
by arrangement with
and on facebook: sthelenscastleholidays Paul Noakes 07954 772689
[email protected]
Hill Farm or through Tackt-Isle Adventures
St Helens Past and Present in Bembridge with Colin
Gentle strolls around Bembridge, stories of
www.hillfarmbrading.co.uk both the past and present of our village
By arrangement with
Colin Firth 01983 872727 or 07929 006137

[email protected]

Beautifully restored accommodation Sheila Lovegrove
Hill Farm Barn ~ 4 bedrooms Tel: 01983 875184 ~ Mob: 07929 044 205

Hill Farm Lodge & Little Black Barn ~ 2 bedrooms [email protected]

Old Mill Holiday Park

     ETC
Beautiful position overlooking the harbour.

Small, quiet and relaxed family park.
Choice of quality centrally heated accommodation.

Pine cabins, caravans & apartments.

Open all year - please call in

Mill Road, St Helens, Nr Ryde PO33 1UE
Tel: 01983 872507 • www.oldmill.co.uk

24

1.
2.
3.

4.

5.

Contains OS data © Crown copyright This map is for illustrative
purposes only showing
approximate routes of the
various trails above.
Most paths are marked,
many contain stiles and are
often 'muddy' trails!

1. The Duver circular trail
2. Broomlands/Priory trail
3. The Farm trail
4. The 'Long trail'
around Brading Haven
5. Bembridge Harbour ...

Dogs are welcome but please
keep under control on leads
particularly around livestock
and bring your 'poo bags'
home or use an appropriate
bin.

25

(01983) 872241

Rijnstroom IV – Historic 90ft Magnolia Lodge Bed and Breakfast
Dutch Barge

Bed & Breakfast
or Self-Catering
accommodation in
Bembridge Harbour

• Prices from £80.00 per cabin per night 27 Beachfield Road Bembridge PO35 5TN
• Self-catering for August t: 07788 849890

www.rijnstroomiv.co.uk 01983 874789 e: [email protected]
[email protected] w: magnolialodge.co.uk
07563 722846

Mrs Gill Lloyd Bed & Breakfast
Sheepstor Cottage
West Green, St Helens PO33 1XA
Tel: (01983) 873132
Mob: 07962 919024
[email protected]

En suite, double & twin rooms – £70/day each Open all year

Embankment Rd, Bembridge PO35 5NS
Telephone: (01983) 874596
www.xoronfloatel.co.uk

The Chicken Shed One-bedroom (twin or super-king double)
self-catering accommodation

Close to Foreland beach, with wonderful views of
the Channel and Whitecliff Bay

For booking information, visit www.cottage4you.co.uk
using reference 26254

Sea Change, 22 Beachfield Road, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, PO35 5TN

Tel: 01983 875557
[email protected]
Open All Year
Luxury holiday accommodation ...
just a few footsteps from the sea

4–star rating. Gold and Green Awards 98% customer satisfaction score

26

Bembridge pays tribute to the
Britten-Norman Islander

2015 will see the 50th anniversary of the first
flight of the Britten-Norman Islander light
transport and utility aircraft.
The Islander is the most successful British
aircraft ever and was created by what could
be considered as one of the last British aircraft companies to come into
existence, the Britten-Norman Company (B-N), based at Bembridge Airport.
The 50th anniversary of the first flight will be commemorated at the
'Islander 50' event to be held at Bembridge Airport from 13-21 June 2015.

The Britten-Norman Aircraft Tiger Moths, for agricultural use. However by
Preservation Society Trust (BNAPS) 1954 the demand for these conversions was
beginning to decline, and attention was turned
BNAPS is preparing plans for the commemora- to improving crop spraying techniques, leading
tion event alongside work currently well under to the development of the Micronair Rotary
way at its Bembridge Harbour workshop to Atomiser for crop spraying in 1955. The design
restore the oldest B-N Islander in existence, successfully replaced the clumsy boom-and-
G-AVCN, construction number 003, as a high nozzle style equipment of the era, and by 1958
quality static exhibit. The restored Islander over 500 Micronair Rotary Atomiser units had
will be a tribute to John Britten and Desmond been sold worldwide. In order to operate aircraft
Norman and all who worked with them and fitted with the Atomiser, a company known as
the B-N Company over the years to make the Crop Culture (Aerial) Ltd was formed in 1956
Islander an outstanding success for the British when John Britten and Desmond Norman
aviation industry. joined up with Frank Mann and Jim McMahon
to pursue crop spraying business world wide.
Origins of the BN-2 Islander aircraft

The B-N Company evolved
from the vision and ambition
of particular individuals when
two young de Havilland
apprentices, John Britten and
Desmond Norman decided to
build their own light aircraft in
1949 after they had finished
their apprenticeships at the
de Havilland Technical School.
Thus the B-N partnership came
into being. Their first project
was the construction of an
ultra-light monoplane, the
BN1-F Finibee.

During the early 1950s, John John Britten and Desmond Norman with their classic B-N Islander aircraft
Britten and Desmond Norman
specialised in converting
surplus training aircraft, mainly

27

The BN-2 wooden mock -up (l-r) are Ernie Perkins, Desmond Norman, John Britten and Denis Berryman

In 1963, B-N turned its attention back to aircraft proceed with building a prototype was made in
design. For years aircraft manufacturers had January 1964. To supplement its own resources,
focused their design expertise on the quest B-N had contracted the Miles Company at
for more speed, greater range, and bigger Shoreham to provide the services of a group
payloads, and small commercial aircraft had of designers. From the outset it was decided to
been overlooked in the process. Private and produce a low cost, rugged all weather aircraft
business aircraft had been designed with an which incorporated the features that had
eye to performance and little thought given become apparent during the market survey.
to their commercial use. John Britten began It was shown that twin engined reliability
designing the BN-2 with this in mind, looking combined with a good payload, were essential.
for a low-cost 'Dragon Rapide' replacement. A small reduction in range was acceptable
Accordingly, a survey was carried out of all as the average sector involved flights of 40
twin engined aircraft available at a cost not minutes duration or less.
exceeding £25,000, but none met the required
specification. The conclusion was that an aircraft The prototype BN-2 design that emerged was a
tailor made for the company’s type of operation, high wing, lightly loaded monoplane, powered
combining short take-off and landing (STOL) by two Continental IO-360 210hp engines,
capabilities, with large capacity, simply did not with a fixed tricycle under-carriage and room
exist. It was felt that they could not be alone for up to 10 persons. The design was of classic
in their requirements and that a gap existed in simplicity, with a one piece wing without
the types of aircraft that were available. As John dihedral. The wing was provided with a degree
Britten pronounced, “we must design our own of“washout”by means of Hoerner-type wing tip
plane to do these chores”. sections that served to reduce drag and helped
to obtain acceptable stalling characteristics.
Following an initial design study, a board level Frontal area was reduced by arranging the
decision was made to go ahead with the BN-2 passenger seats in bench-type pairs with no
project in January 1963. Detailed design work space wasting central aisle. This necessitated
began in November 1963, and the decision to three separate doors, two on the port side

28

and one on the starboard, for easy access to work force were rewarded when the prototype
the five rows of seats. The port rear door was was awarded a Special Category Certificate of
of extra width for added ease when loading Airworthiness, and flew to the Paris Air Salon
cargo. By using a large wing in conjunction with 1965, four days after the first flight.
single slotted flaps and ailerons, the BN-2 was Two problems were revealed during the
expected to achieve better STOL performance early test flights, one of handling and one
than more expensive and specialised types. of performance. The decision was taken to
The first metal was cut in September 1964 and increase the wingspan by 4 feet, increase the
work continued rapidly. News of the project was maximum permissible operating weight from
first made public in the same month, when a 4750lb to 5700lb, and to fit Lycoming O-540
model was displayed at the SBAC Farnborough engines. The re-engined prototype first flew on
Show. 17 December 1965.

There was no delay in manufacturing the During 1966 certification trials progressed
prototype and within 9 months the BN-2, well and the production prototype, c/n 002,
now registered as G-ATCT, was ready for trial G-ATWU, was flown on the 20 August 1966
hops in the evening of 12 June and made its and joined the test programme. To enable the
first official flight on 13 June 1965. With John production prototype to appear at the SBAC
Britten and Desmond Norman at the controls Farnborough Show in 1966, some 300 B-N
and Andy Coombe as flight test observer, the employees sacrificed their annual holiday. A
flight was incident free and lasted about 70 new factory, with an area of 56,000 sq. ft., was
minutes. Desmond Norman commented upon completed by the end of 1966.
landing: “Absolutely delightful, it flies like a fully
developed aircraft that has been in service for a The company suffered a severe setback on 9
couple of years”. November 1966, when the BN-2 prototype,
Later that month the BN-2 was christened G-ATCT crashed in Holland on the way back from
“Islander” as the winning entry in a naming a demonstration tour of West Germany. The
competition organised within the company. occupants, Peter Hillwood, B-N demonstration
The efforts of the company’s small but loyal pilot, and his passenger Albert Weerda, the
prospective representative for Islander sales in

Germany, both died in
the crash which was
believed to have been
caused by severe icing
conditions.

Islander goes into
production

The first production
Islander, c/n 003, later
registered as G-AVCN,
had been assembled
in the original B-N
hangar and not in the
newly-constructed
factory as it appeared
to the press. G-AVCN,
first flew on 24 April
1967, in time to be
displayed at the Paris
Air Show that year.
Now named “Islander” the BN-2 prototype stimulated much interest when it appeared Some time had been
at the Paris Air Show in June 1965

29

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30

lost due to the prototype’s
demise, but with the burden
of certification testing being
assigned to G-ATWU, full cer-
tification was obtained on the
10 August 1967. The first air-
craft, G-AVCN, c/n 003, was de-
livered to Glos Air on 13 August
and c/n 004 and c/n 006 were
delivered to Loganair later the
same month, with six more de-
livered during the remainder of
the year.

Sales of the Islander far
outstripped the available pro-
duction capacity at Bembridge
and a major production sub- The Bembridge Airport Hangar is a hive of activity with
contract was let to Westland the BN-2 prototype G-ATCT under construction around March/April 1965

Aircraft’s Saunders Roe Division at East Cowes. high wing and fixed undercarriage and ideal
Over 300 sets of Islander airframe components for carrying up to 9 passengers or freight,
were delivered to Bembridge where final and of a configuration that was relatively
assembly and flight testing was undertaken easy to be adapted for numerous specialist
by B-N at their new factory. Subsequently roles – air ambulance, parachuting, photo/
production of bare Islander and later on geophysical survey and many others. The most
Defender aircraft was transferred to Romania revolutionary variant of the BN-2 family is the
as a result of a technology transfer agreement three engined Trislander that enjoyed around
associated with setting up production of the 80% commonality with the Islander. The military
BAC 1-11 airliner in Romania. Bembridge version of the Islander, the Defender, launched
remained the centre for final fitting out of the in 1971, has been used in a multitude of
aircraft to customer requirements, flight testing, different roles for military and related purposes.
delivery and support. Later Turbine powered versions have been
developed as the BN-2T Islander and Defender
The Islander’s sales success was due to its simple and the BN-2T-4S Defender 4000.
and robust design with its capacious fuselage,

Following its delivery to Glos Air in August 1967, BN-2 Islander G-AVCN emerged in early 1968 in the colours
of the newly formed Channel Islands operator Aurigny Air Services.

This aircraft operated the airline’s first passenger carrying flight on 1 March 1968
31

G-AVCN, now with registration mark N290VL, in a derelict state at Isla Grande Airport Puerto Rico, late 1999

The BN-2 Islander is Europe’s most successful hands of a number of operators in the region In
modern light twin-engined aircraft. More May 1998 N290VL was sold to Flamenco Airways,
than 1,250 BN-2s of various models have been Culebra, Puerto Rico. However, shortly after this
delivered since 1965 and at present around 600 sale, N290VL was acquired by Air Charter, after
are still operational in 126 countries worldwide. Flamenco Airways entered receivership, and
Remarkably the BN-2 design in its various forms subsequently withdrawn from use and left in
has remained in production from 1967 to the open storage at Isla Grande Airport, San Juan,
present day and will continue to be produced Puerto Rico. The engines were removed and
for the foreseeable future. sold and it appeared that the remains of this
historic aircraft would be left to rot.
G-AVCN Restoration Project at Following information received in the UK by
Bembridge Peter Graham and BN Historians, from contacts
in Puerto Rico a recovery plan was devised and
B-N Islander G-AVCN, or 'Charlie November', is implemented as a joint effort by Peter Graham
under restoration by the Britten-Norman Aircraft and his company Airstream International Group
Preservation Society as a high quality static with Allan Wright and Andy Clancey of BN
exhibit in a workshop alongside Bembridge Historians and Tim Barton, Service Engineer
Harbour that is in sight of the original hangar with B-N Group. With help from local contacts in
at Bembridge Airport where it was built in 1967. Puerto Rico it appeared to be feasible to acquire
Charlie November is the first B-N production the remains and get them back to the UK.
aircraft and is the oldest Islander in existence. Recovery of Charlie November was supported
The project is seen as a tribute to the talents of by a number of organisations with Wightlink
John Britten and Desmond Norman and all who providing sponsorship for the final leg of the
worked with them over the years to make the journey across the Solent.
Islander a success and to ensure preservation of An organisation called the Britten-Norman
a part of Britain’s aviation heritage that is both Aircraft Preservation Society (BNAPS) was
unique and of great importance. formed to carry the project forward (later to
After entering service with Aurigny Air Services become BNAPS Trust, a Registered Charity
on 1 March 1968, in August 1968 Charlie No. 1100735). Several former B-N employees
November returned to Bembridge to be including the late Peter Ward and the late Jack
converted to BN-2A standard. After more years Griffin participated in the restoration work.
of service with Aurigny, Charlie November was Despite the best efforts of all involved at the
traded in, refurbished and converted to BN- time, the work did not proceed as originally
2A-8 standard. envisaged and for a number of years the aircraft
In January 1976 “Charlie November” was components have been stored at B-N Group’s
delivered to Air Sport, St Jean, St Barthelemy as Bembridge Airport factory.
F-OGHG and subsequently passed through the

32

In recognition of the historic significance of made and installed, the nose landing gear
Islander G-AVCN a working group was formed brackets have been rebuilt.
in May 2009 to see how best to re-start the A major element of the work has involved a
project. It was decided that a new location complete refurbishment of the instrumentation
should be found as the first priority. After panel and associated flying and engine
several years of uncertainty the project entered controls. A simplified electrical wiring loom has
a crucial second phase, when, during 2010 been made to enable all internal and external
workshop facilities were found (with the help of lighting to be powered.
Bembridge Heritage Society) in the East Wight Other work has involved de-corroding and etch
for use as the restoration workshop, allowing priming the tail plane, fin, rudder and flaps
work to proceed. together with preparation of the pilot’s door
A major milestone was achieved on 17 July and the two passenger’s doors with etch primer
2010 when the dismantled aircraft was moved ready for painting.
to the new site; having secured its future, At the end of September 2014, the fuselage
attention was turned to how the restoration was prepared and ready for spray painting in
work should proceed. its top coat of Aurigny yellow. This represented
At the end of 2011 the survey and cataloguing another major milestone for the restoration
work was near to completion, the workshop project.
required the walls and floor to be painted The workshop was then re-arranged with the
together with some false flooring to be fuselage to one side and the wing in its vertical
fabricated and laid in part of the workshop. stands moved into a position to allow repair
By March 2012 all building work was complete and refurbishment work to proceed. Recent
and the next phase of the plan came into action work has included the installation of the doors
by bringing all VCN’s components together in and windows.
the one place from a nearby temporary store. Other refurbishment work is continuing, etch
By April 2012 the workshop had been organized priming the fin, rudder and elevator, flaps and
to allow work to proceed with restoration of the ailerons. In early 2015, when temperature and
fuselage. humidity conditions are suitable for spray
Over the past two years the restoration work painting, the fuselage will be moved back into
has proceeded at a steady pace. The fuselage the central part of the workshop for application
has received extensive attention to repair areas of the full Aurigny Air Services titling, and
of damage and to de-corrode the external skin decorative side flashes as it was when in service
and under floor framing. A new floor has been in the Channel Islands.

Charlie November travelled back to Bembridge in a 40ft container, Support from a number
seen here being unloaded in March 2000 of organisations has been
generous. Surplus parts have
been donated by B-N Group,
Isles of Scilly Skybus, Cormack
Islander Aircraft and Saywell
International. Two propellers
have been refurbished to
exhibition standard by
Portsmouth-based Proptech.
Two non-functional Lycoming
540 engines are being
constructed by Norvic Aero
Engines works at St Neots
with planned delivery in the
early part of 2015.

33

July 2010 – "Charlie November" fuselage loaded by H.J. Bennett and the move to Harbour Farm with volunteers
loading the last bits: (l-r) Bob Wilson, Peter Gatrell, Tim Barton, Norman Hobbs and John Kenyon.

Some of the Restoration Team get ready to move the fuselage upright
so that the sides could be spray painted, October 2014

The Britten Norman Aircraft Preservation Society (BNAPS)
www.ivanberrymandirect.com/bnaps.htm

For further details about BNAPS and to register your interest please contact us:
Tel: 01329 315561 · email: [email protected]

or post: BNAPS (BG 2015) c/o The Propeller Inn, Sandown Rd, Bembridge. PO35 5PW
34

Close up view of the restored instrument panel and throttle box area, June, 2014.
The fully fitted out fuselage of G-AVCN
complete with instruments and controls,
trim, seating and carpets and finished in its
original Aurigny Air Services colours will be
on show at the “Islander 50” event to be held
at Bembridge Airport in June 2015.

Some of BNAPS Engineering Team above,
make ready for starting work on VCN’s
fuselage, April 2012.

Doors and windows installed October 2014

35

The Osteopath & Sports Injury Clinic

Andrew Long BSc (Hons)

Osteopathy is an established, recognised medical discipline which
uses its unique skills in diagnosis & treatment for problems which may
have occurred by injury or mechanical stress.
In addition to back pain, treatments for other conditions include:

• Arthritic/ageing conditions • Upper/Lower limb pain
• Sciatica • Ligament strains
• Sports injuries • Headaches
• Frozen shoulders • Digestive disorders
• Whiplash

Osteopathy can also help with conditions not obviously associated with
the discipline such as asthma, sinusitis, etc.

Whether you are young or old, fit or unfit, osteopathy can help you.
If you are not sure whether treatment would be beneficial for you or
your child, please telephone us at the practice to discuss whether a
consultation would be appropriate.

Telephone: (01983) 872659 • Mobile: 07884 212193
E-mail: [email protected] • www.findanosteopath.co.uk/andrewlong

THE LIMES

CARE HOME FOR THE ELDERLY

The Limes aims to provide a safe, caring and homely
environment in which residents can maintain their

independence and have a lifestyle as close as possible
to that which they might enjoy in their own home.
• Close to all local amenities
• Weekly GP visits & close contact with District
Nurses
• Regular entertainment & Exercise classes
• Unrestricted visiting hours
• IW Council registered

43 Foreland Road, Bembridge. PO35 5XN
Telephone: (01983) 873655

36

C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
MY
K

37

Bembridge Harbour Authority
www.bembridgeharbour.co.uk
Tel: 01983 872828

Bembridge Harbour Authority extends a warm welcome to all our visitors, whether discovering
the delights of Bembridge and St Helens for the first time, or making a return trip to this beautiful
part of the Island. We hope you enjoy your stay.
Improvements continue in and around the Harbour. We very much value the views and input of
all Harbour users and the Bembridge Harbour Advisory Group, meeting every 2 months, brings
together stakeholders to discuss all aspects of the Harbour (more information on our website).
2014 saw the "Bembridge Harbour Family Fun Weekend" in support of the Hampshire and Isle of
Wight Air Ambulance. 2015’s event will once again support this wonderful charity and we hope
you can join us - dates are 31st July, 1st, 2nd August - events include the Great Bembridge Paper
Boat Race, beach games, crabbing, kayaking and paddleboarding, Dance on the Duver and a
Fireworks display.

Visiting the Harbour by boat

Tides & Navigation Communications & Visitors’ Moorings
Bembridge Harbour is tidal. When approaching Berthing staff operate on VHF Channel 80
from seaward, the outer harbour limit is marked callsign “Bembridge Harbour”. Visiting boats
by a tide gauge (topmark X Fl. Y2s) situated should radio the Berthing Office from channel
NW of St Helens Fort, indicating the minimum marker 12a. Visitor berths are available at the
depth of water in the approach channel in Duver pontoon which is dredged both sides to
metres. From there a course of approximately approx 2m MLWS. Electricity and water (own
240O brings you to the start of the buoyed hose required) are available. At busy times,
channel. especially during the summer months, boats
On spring/medium tides, 1.5m draft vessels can are rafted out - berthing staff will be on hand to
enter approximately 3 hours +/- HW. On neaps give instructions and help with lines.
with a HW height of less than 4m at Portsmouth, Rallies of 5 boats or more are very welcome
the channel depth sometimes does not exceed and outside July and August attract discounted
2.2m and it is recommended to check the tide berthing fees, especially for mid-week visits. It
gauge carefully. On spring tides the depth in is necessary to book in advance through the
the channel can exceed 3.5m. Harbour Office.
No 1 and 2 buoys are lit, other channel marker Boats can also moor, anchored fore and aft,
buoys are marked with reflective numbers and on the drying beach, to port on entering the
tape. Full details and a pictorial navigation harbour.
guide can be found on the harbour website. A full list of charges is available from the
Speed Limit Berthing and Harbour Offices and on the
The recommended speed limit of 6 knots harbour website.
should be observed within the entrance Water Taxi service
channel and harbour at all times. Please do not Available to all harbour users and visitors by
proceed in such a manner as to cause damage calling VHF Ch 80 or telephone: +44 (0)7582
or annoyance to other vessels, or excessive 806017, our 2 water taxis, based at the Duver
wash on the shore. Anchoring is not permitted pontoon, operate 3 hours +/- HW during office
in the entrance channel. hours, and by prior arrangement after 1900.

38

In winter months a restricted service operates Weather forecasts
- check with the Berthing Office for timing and A 5 day local forecast can be found on the
availability. harbour website and a 2 day forecast is
Shoreside Facilities displayed in the Berthing Office. Please ask a
Visitors moored on the Duver pontoon have free member of staff if you need forecasts for other
use of the shower/toilet facilities. Coin operated areas.
laundry facilities are available at Bembridge Safety in the Harbour
Marina (next to Brading Haven Yacht Club) - £1 Bembridge Harbour is committed to complying
coins are required (own detergent). Entry code with the Port Marine Safety Code. Please
available from the Berthing Office on the Duver. contact a member of staff or the Harbour Office
Disposal for domestic rubbish is available at all if you have any safety concerns or comments.
pontoons and the beach. Our local Byelaws and current Local Notices to
2 marquees are available for the use of visitors, Mariners are available on the harbour website
with bench style tables and chairs. 2 commercial and displayed in the office.
barbeques can also be hired. All must be
booked in advance to avoid disappointment. Prohibitions in the harbour are there for the
We are now a WiFi Hotspot with complimentary safety of everyone and include:
log-on for visitors for the first ½ hour. Charges
thereafter from the Berthing Office or on the No swimming, 'tomb-stoning', waterskiing or
website (payment on line). pumping of oily bilges.
Dogs are very welcome and there are some
wonderful walks in the immediate vicinity and Please be mindful of safety near the water.
surrounding countryside. Please keep them Adults are expected to be responsible for
on leads and under control whilst on harbour themselves and any children in their care at all
property. There is a dog bin on NT land – Duver times, and to wear lifejackets where and when
Marina entrance and we ask all our dog owning they deem it appropriate.
visitors to please make use of this facility.
In the case of someone in the water needing
assistance, please raise the alarm and give
as much assistance as you can without risk
to yourself. Life-rings and safety ladders are
available on all harbour managed pontoons.

Reminder: if your boat is fitted with a kill cord it Bembridge
should be worn at all times when operating the boat Harbour

VHF Ch 80

Water Taxi:
07582 806017

39 39

Priory Bay Duver Rd
Hotel
B
Nettlestone Eddington Rd The Duver

Seaview & Ryde

Medical Lower Green Rd

Centre Upper Green Rd

A

Latimer Rd Harbour
Office

The Green 12a

St Helens Station Rd BHYC Bembridge Harbour

Carpenters Rd Embankment Rd

THE DUVER Brading & RSPB
Ryde Brading Marshes
A Activity Centre • Boat Trips
Harbour Office • The Duver Shops Brading &
Boatyards • Beach Accommodation Sandown
ST HELENS GREENS Wine & Dine Culver &
Community facilities Bembridge Downs
B Shops • Cricket / Football
Car boot sales • Play area inc. Churches • Library
Post Office • Cash Point Halls • Recreation Ground
Medical Centre
EMBANKMENT Information

C Sailing Clubs • Boatyards Bembridge PC
Beaches at the Point
BEMBRIDGE ‘CBD’ Bus Stops

D Shops • businesses (Approx)
Chemist • Bank
Cash Point • Vet Footpaths &
LANE END & Coastal Path

E Weaver’s Yard
Shops • businesses
Post Office • Cash Point

F FORELANDS

Beaches

ALL AREAS

Cafés, Pubs & Restaurants
Artists Studios

40

St Helens & Bembridge

Not to Scale – Illustrative purposes only
Produced by Penny Watts MMX111

exclusively for Bembridge Business Association
edited by desktop studio 01983 872225

Bembridge

BSC Ducie Ave
Love Lane
DSherbourne St Foreland Field Rd
C Egerton RdMeadow Dr
Kings Rd
C of E Vet Foreland Rd Swains Rd E
Heritage
Centre & Methodist
Library

High St Lane End Rd Hotel

Mill Rd Steyne Rd RC

Steyne Steyne Howgate Rd
Woods Park

Sandown Rd Coastguard

F Station

Forelands

Hillway

Whitecliff Bay

41

2015 BEMBRIDGES APPROACHES

TIMES AND HEIGHT OF HIGH AND LOW WATER

Times between 29th March and 25th October are shown in BST

Time March m Time April m Time May m Time June m
m Time m Time m Time m Time
1 0122 1.8 1 0341 1.2 1 0347 1.0 1 0425 0.9
0813 161.8 0041 4.0 1027 161.5 0323 4.6 1039 161.5 0345 4.7 1130 161.2 0458 4.7
SU 1352 1.6 W 1559 0.9 F 1601 0.9 M 1643 1.0
4.0 0729 4.2 4.2 0958 4.8 2301 4.3 1021 4.9 4.5 1143
2059 1.6 M 1318 2254 1.3 TH 1543 1.3 SA 1605 2341 1.2 TU 1718
4.0 2015 4.4 2228 4.5 2249 4.6

2 0220 1.7 17 0151 1.5 2 0422 1.3 17 0410 0.9 2 0425 1.3 17 0432 0.8 2 0504 1.1 17 0001 4.8
0908 4.1 0833 4.3 1106 4.3 1043 4.8 1119 4.4 1108 4.8 1205 4.6 0544 0.9
M 1443 1.4 TU 1416 1.2 TH 1639 1.2 F 1630 0.7 SA 1640 1.2 SU 1651 0.8 TU 1723 1.1 W 1232 4.7
4.2 2108 4.5 4.5 2312 5.0 4.6 2334 4.9 1804 1.0
2147 2330 2338

3 0307 1.5 18 0244 1.2 3 0459 1.1 18 0454 0.7 3 180459 1.1 0516 0.7 3 0015 4.7 18 0045 4.8
0950 4.3 0922 4.6 1144 4.5 1128 4.9 1156 4.5 1155 4.8 0543 1.0 0627 0.9
TU 1528 1.2 W 1506 0.9 F 1715 1.0 SA 1714 0.5 W 1240 4.7 TH 1320 4.7
4.4 2152 4.7 2355 5.0 SU 1715 1.1 M 1736 0.8 1.0 1847 1.0
2221 1803

Tide Tables – March – June 2015 4 0349 1.2 19 0331 0.9 4 0006 4.6 19 0537 0.5 4 0011 4.7 19 0018 4.9 4 0050 4.8 19 0129 4.7
1029 4.4 1006 4.8 0534 1.0 1212 5.0 0534 1.0 0600 0.7 0624 0.9 0710 0.9
W 1608 1.0 TH 1552 0.6 SA 1221 4.5 SU 1757 0.5 M 1230 4.6 TU 1243 4.8 TH 1318 4.7 F 1407 4.7
4.5 2236 4.9 1.0 1.0 1820 0.8 1.0 1931 1.1
2256 1749 1751 1844

5 0428 1.1 20 0416 0.6 5 0041 4.6 20 0040 5.0 5 0044 4.7 20 0103 4.9 5 0127 4.8 20 0213 4.6
1107 4.5 1048 5.0 0605 1.0 0620 0.5 0608 0.9 0644 0.7 0704 0.8 0751 1.0
TH 1645 0.9 F 1636 0.4 SU 1256 4.6 M 1259 4.9 TU 1303 4.6 W 1333 4.8 F 1359 4.8 SA 1453 4.6
4.6 2319 5.1 0.9 1840 0.6 1.0 1904 0.9 1926 1.0 2012 1.3
2333 1820 1825

6 210503 1.0 0459 0.4 6 0113 4.6 21 0124 5.0 6 0114 4.7 21 0148 4.8 6 0209 4.7 21 0256 4.5
1145 4.6 1133 5.0 0636 0.9 0703 0.6 0643 0.9 0727 0.8 0747 0.9 0831 1.2
M 1327 4.6 TU 1348 4.9 W 1336 4.7 TH 1425 4.7 SA 1447 4.7 SU 1537 4.6
F 1719 0.9 SA 1719 0.3 1.0 1924 0.7 1.0 1948 1.1 1.1 2052 1.4
1851 1900 2009

7 0009 4.6 22 0003 5.1 7 0142 4.6 22 0212 4.9 7 0147 4.7 22 0235 4.7 7 0255 4.6 22 0338 4.4
0536 1.0 0542 0.4 0705 0.9 0746 0.7 0719 0.9 0809 1.0 0832 1.0 0909 1.4
SA 1221 4.6 SU 1218 5.0 TU 1357 4.6 W 1441 4.8 TH 1413 4.7 F 1517 4.6 SU 1542 4.7 M 1616 4.4
0.9 1802 0.4 1.0 2006 0.9 1.0 2032 1.3 1.2 2132 1.6
1750 1922 1938 2058

8 0043 4.6 23 0049 5.0 8 0211 4.6 23 0259 4.7 8 0223 4.6 23 0321 4.5 8 0350 4.5 23 0420 4.2
0603 1.0 0625 0.5 0737 0.9 0829 1.0 0756 0.9 0853 1.2 0922 1.1 0950 1.5
SU 1253 4.6 M 1308 4.9 W 1429 4.6 TH 1538 4.6 F 1455 4.6 SA 1604 4.5 M 1643 4.6 TU 1657 4.3
0.9 1845 0.5 1.0 2052 1.2 2018 1.1 2119 1.5 1.4 2217 1.7
1819 1954 2154

9 0113 4.6 24 0139 4.9 9 0243 4.5 24 0348 4.5 9 0306 4.5 24 0407 4.3 9 0455 4.4 24 0504 4.1
0631 1.0 0707 0.7 0811 1.0 0916 1.3 0840 1.1 0941 1.5 1022 1.3 1037 1.7
M 1321 4.5 TU 1401 4.8 TH 1506 4.5 F 1630 4.4 SA 1547 4.5 SU 1650 4.3 TU 1745 4.5 W 1740 4.2
1.0 1929 0.8 1.1 2145 1.5 1.3 2213 1.7 1.5 2312 1.9
1846 2031 2105 2302

10 0140 4.5 25 0231 4.8 10 0322 4.4 25 0438 4.2 10 0400 4.4 25 0456 4.1 10 0603 4.3 25 0556 3.9
0700 1.0 0752 0.9 0852 1.1 1013 1.6 0930 1.3 1038 1.7 1136 1.4 1138 1.8
TU 1351 4.5 W 1459 4.6 F 1553 4.4 SA 1722 4.2 SU 1650 4.4 M 1739 4.2 W 1848 4.5 TH 1832 4.1
1916 1.0 2015 1.1 2115 1.3 2254 1.8 2202 1.5 2319 1.9

11 0210 4.5 26 0322 4.5 11 0412 4.3 26 0533 4.0 11 0507 4.2 26 0551 3.9 11 0020 1.6 26 0017 1.9
0734 1.0 0842 1.3 0941 1.3 1129 1.8 1033 1.5 1147 1.8 0710 4.3 0658 3.8
W 1427 4.4 TH 1557 4.4 SA 1654 4.2 SU 1825 4.0 M 1800 4.3 TU 1839 4.1 TH 1252 1.4 F 1247 1.9
1952 1.1 2111 1.5 2210 1.6 2318 1.7 1951 4.5 1936 4.1

12 0249 4.4 27 0414 4.2 12 0518 4.1 27 0008 2.0 12 0622 4.1 27 0025 2.0 12 0129 1.5 27 0119 1.9
0813 1.2 0946 1.6 1043 1.6 0644 3.8 1202 1.6 0704 3.8 0813 4.3 0826 3.9
TH 1511 4.2 F 1656 4.1 SU 1810 4.1 M 1239 1.9 TU 1912 4.3 W 1251 1.9 F 1355 1.4 SA 1345 1.8
2035 1.3 2230 1.8 2326 1.8 1937 3.9 1952 4.0 2049 4.6 2057 4.1

13 0338 4.2 28 0516 4.0 13 0639 4.0 28 0114 2.0 13 0054 1.7 28 0124 1.9 13 0229 1.4 28 0216 1.7
0902 1.4 1109 1.8 1222 1.7 0803 3.8 0736 4.2 0820 3.8 0911 4.4 0934 4.0
F 1608 4.1 SA 1805 3.9 M 1935 4.1 TU 1340 1.8 W 1325 1.5 TH 1346 1.8 SA 1451 1.3 SU 1438 1.7
2129 1.6 2346 2.0 2046 4.0 2019 4.4 2055 4.1 2141 4.7 2153 4.3

14 0440 4.0 29 0731 3.8 14 0123 1.8 29 0214 1.9 14 0202 1.5 29 0218 1.8 14 0323 1.2 29 0305 1.6
1005 1.6 1319 1.9 0804 4.1 0906 3.9 0840 4.3 0919 4.0 1003 4.5 1025 4.2
SA 1723 3.9 SU 2018 3.9 TU 1355 1.5 W 1434 1.7 TH 1425 1.3 F 1435 1.7 SU 1543 1.2 M 1528 1.5
2242 1.8 2048 4.3 2139 4.2 2116 4.6 2145 4.3 2230 4.7 2236 4.4

15 0559 3.9 30 0153 1.9 15 0230 1.5 30 0305 1.7 15 0257 1.3 30 0303 1.6 15 0412 1.1 30 0352 1.3
1143 1.8 0843 3.8 0908 4.3 0956 4.1 0933 4.5 1009 4.2 1054 4.6 1105 4.4
SU 1855 3.9 M 1421 1.8 W 1453 1.2 TH 1521 1.5 F 1517 1.1 SA 1520 1.5 M 1632 1.1 TU 1615 1.3
2128 4.0 2142 4.6 2223 4.4 2204 4.8 2228 4.4 2317 4.8 2314 4.6

31 0252 1.8 31 0344 1.4
0942 4.0 1052 4.3
TU 1514 1.6 SU 1602 1.4
2219 4.2 2307 4.6

Full Moon New Moon
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office. (www.ukho.gov.uk)

42

BEMBRIDGES APPROACHES 2015

TIMES AND HEIGHT OF HIGH AND LOW WATER

Times between 29th March and 25th October are shown in BST

Time July m Time August m Time September m Time October m
m Time m Time m Time m Time
1 0439 1.0 1 0009 4.6 1 0113 4.6 1 0138 4.7
1142 161.1 0529 4.6 0552 164.9 0049 0.9 0700 165.1 0139 1.1 0722 165.1 0142 1.2
W 1700 1.1 SA 1242 4.7 TU 1348 4.7 TH 1412 4.7
4.6 1219 0.6 0631 1.0 0.4 0706 1.1 0.6 0706 1.1
2351 1.1 TH 1750 1815 4.9 SU 1320 1924 5.1 W 1401 1945 5.1 F 1358
4.7 0.7 1850 0.6 1922 0.7 1922

2 0523 0.9 17 0028 4.7 2 0050 5.0 17 0128 4.6 2 0159 5.0 17 0209 4.6 2 0230 5.0 17 0212 4.6
1220 4.7 0612 0.9 0636 0.5 0706 1.0 0744 0.5 0734 1.2 0805 0.8 0736 1.2
TH 1745 1.0 F 1302 4.7 SU 1325 5.0 M 1358 4.7 W 1440 5.1 TH 1430 4.6 F 1504 4.9 SA 1427 4.6
1832 1.1 0.7 1924 1.1 0.7 1948 1.2 2031 1.0 1953 1.2
1859 2007

3 0029 4.8 18 0110 4.6 3 0134 5.0 18 0206 4.6 3 0252 4.9 18 0237 4.5 3 0329 4.8 18 0245 4.6
0607 0.8 0653 0.9 0721 0.5 0737 1.1 0829 0.8 0801 1.2 0853 1.2 0809 1.3
F 1301 4.8 SA 1344 4.7 M 1414 5.0 TU 1435 4.6 TH 1537 4.9 F 1458 4.6 SA 1600 4.7 SU 1501 4.5
1829 0.9 1913 1.1 0.7 1952 1.2 0.9 2018 1.2 1.3 2030 1.3
1943 2054 2120

4 0109 4.9 19 0151 4.6 4 0222 4.9 19 0239 4.5 4 0353 4.7 19 0309 4.5 4 0435 4.6 19 0328 4.5 Tide Tables – July to October 2015
0651 0.7 0731 1.0 0804 0.6 0804 1.2 0916 1.1 0834 1.3 0949 1.6 0850 1.5
SA 1344 4.9 SU 1427 4.6 TU 1507 5.0 W 1505 4.6 F 1634 4.7 SA 1533 4.4 SU 1657 4.5 M 1546 4.4
0.9 1949 1.2 0.8 2019 1.3 2147 1.3 2054 1.4 1.6 2114 1.5
1915 2029 2226

5 0152 4.8 20 0232 4.5 5 0316 4.8 20 0308 4.4 5 0458 4.5 20 0352 4.3 5 0537 4.3 20 0423 4.3
0736 0.7 0805 1.1 0850 0.8 0833 1.3 1015 1.4 0913 1.5 1110 1.9 0940 1.7
SU 1434 4.9 M 1506 4.6 W 1605 4.9 TH 1536 4.5 SA 1729 4.5 SU 1618 4.3 M 1758 4.2 TU 1646 4.2
0.9 2022 1.3 1.0 2051 1.3 1.6 2139 1.5 1.8 2211 1.7
1959 2117 2255 2348

6 0241 4.8 21 0308 4.4 6 0416 4.7 21 0344 4.3 6 0602 4.3 21 0446 4.1 6 0644 4.1 21 0535 4.1
0821 0.8 0836 1.2 0941 1.0 0907 1.4 1135 1.8 1003 1.8 1225 2.0 1047 2.0
M 1529 4.8 TU 1542 4.5 TH 1702 4.7 F 1613 4.4 SU 1830 4.3 M 1715 4.1 TU 1908 4.0 W 1802 4.0
1.0 2054 1.4 1.3 2129 1.5 2238 1.8 2337 1.9
2046 2213

7 0336 4.7 22 0344 4.3 7 0519 4.5 22 0427 4.2 7 0014 1.8 22 0555 4.0 7 0056 1.9 22 0659 4.1
0909 0.9 0908 1.4 1041 1.3 0949 1.6 0710 4.1 1113 2.0 0759 4.0 1258 2.0
TU 1627 4.8 W 1615 4.4 F 1758 4.6 SA 1658 4.2 M 1250 1.9 TU 1826 4.0 W 1329 2.0 TH 1927 4.1
1.2 2129 1.5 2321 1.5 2217 1.6 4.1 4.0
2139 1939 2021

8 0438 4.6 23 0422 4.2 8 0623 4.3 23 0521 4.0 8 0122 1.8 23 0008 1.9 8 0157 1.9 23 0126 1.8
1004 1.1 0947 1.5 1157 1.6 1041 1.8 0824 4.0 0720 3.9 1000 4.2 0820 4.3
W 1725 4.7 TH 1655 4.3 SA 1857 4.4 SU 1753 4.1 TU 1355 1.9 W 1317 2.0 TH 1428 1.9 F 1405 1.8
1.4 2213 1.7 2321 1.8 4.1 1954 4.0 4.1 2040 4.3
2238 2049 2224

9 0542 4.4 24 0509 4.1 9 0036 1.6 24 0625 3.9 9 0225 1.7 24 0150 1.8 9 0251 1.7 24 0226 1.5
1109 1.3 1034 1.7 0730 4.1 1156 2.0 1015 4.2 0854 4.2 1053 4.4 0920 4.6
TH 1823 4.6 F 1740 4.2 SU 1309 1.7 M 1858 4.0 W 1454 1.8 TH 1426 1.8 F 1519 1.7 SA 1457 1.4
1.5 2307 1.8 4.3 4.2 2111 4.3 2215 4.3 2134 4.6
2349 2003 2150

10 0645 4.3 25 0603 3.9 10 0144 1.7 25 0046 1.9 10 0320 1.5 25 0250 1.5 10 0338 1.5 25 0217 1.2
1222 1.5 1135 1.8 0840 4.1 0747 3.9 1117 4.4 0950 4.5 1055 4.5 0907 4.9
F 1923 4.5 SA 1835 4.1 M 1414 1.7 TU 1333 1.9 TH 1545 1.6 F 1520 1.4 SA 1603 1.4 SU 1444 1.1
2107 4.3 2022 4.0 2233 4.4 2201 4.6 2249 4.5 2120 4.8

11 0101 1.6 26 0015 1.9 11 0246 1.6 26 0208 1.7 11 0407 1.3 26 0340 1.1 11 0421 1.3 26 0304 0.9
0750 4.3 0707 3.8 0949 4.2 0925 4.1 1116 4.5 1033 4.8 1117 4.7 0949 5.1
SA 1329 1.5 SU 1251 1.9 TU 1513 1.6 W 1441 1.7 F 1630 1.3 SA 1607 1.1 SU 1643 1.3 M 1530 0.8
2024 4.5 1940 4.0 2203 4.4 2138 4.3 2311 4.5 2243 4.8 2327 4.6 2203 5.0

12 0205 1.5 27 0128 1.8 12 0340 1.4 27 0309 1.4 12 0449 1.1 27 0428 0.8 12 0458 1.1 27 0348 0.7
0853 4.3 0835 3.9 1048 4.4 1016 4.4 1141 4.6 1114 5.0 1151 4.8 1032 5.2
SU 1430 1.5 M 1401 1.8 W 1604 1.5 TH 1537 1.4 SA 1710 1.2 SU 1652 0.8 M 1719 1.1 TU 1613 0.7
2123 4.5 2105 4.1 2249 4.5 2226 4.5 2348 4.6 2325 5.0 2246 5.1

13 0303 1.4 28 0232 1.6 13 0428 1.2 28 0401 1.1 13 0528 1.0 28 0512 0.6 13 0004 4.7 28 0432 0.6
0953 4.4 0955 4.1 1126 4.5 1058 4.7 1217 4.7 1155 5.2 0534 1.1 1115 5.2
M 1527 1.4 TU 1500 1.6 TH 1650 1.3 F 1627 1.1 SU 1748 1.1 M 1736 0.6 TU 1227 4.8 W 1657 0.6
2216 4.5 2206 4.3 2330 4.6 2307 4.8 1753 1.1 2332 5.1

14 0355 1.2 29 0328 1.4 14 0512 1.0 29 0448 0.8 14 0027 4.6 29 0007 5.1 14 0041 4.7 29 0516 0.6
1048 4.5 1040 4.4 1202 4.6 1139 4.9 0605 1.0 0555 0.4 0607 1.1 1159 5.2
TU 1618 1.3 W 1553 1.4 F 1733 1.1 SA 1712 0.8 M 1254 4.7 TU 1238 5.2 W 1301 4.8 TH 1740 0.6
2303 4.6 2249 4.5 2347 5.0 1823 1.0 1819 0.5 1823 1.1

15 0444 1.1 30 0419 1.1 15 0009 4.6 30 0533 0.5 15 0104 4.7 30 0051 5.2 15 0113 4.7 30 0019 5.1
1136 4.6 1121 4.6 0553 0.9 1219 5.1 0638 1.0 0638 0.5 0637 1.1 0600 0.8
W 1705 1.2 TH 1643 1.1 SA 1241 4.7 SU 1757 0.6 TU 1329 4.7 W 1323 5.2 TH 1331 4.7 F 1245 5.1
2346 4.6 2329 4.7 1813 1.0 1854 1.1 1901 0.5 1852 1.1 1825 0.8

31 0506 0.8 31 0029 5.1 31 0111 5.0
1200 4.8 0617 0.4 0644 1.0
F 1730 0.9 M 1303 5.1 SA 1335 4.9
1840 0.5 1909 1.0

© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office. (www.ukho.gov.uk)

43

British Marine Federation Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight has a long and illustrious For millions of people across the UK, boating
association with the marine industry and the and watersports provide a base around which
local association of the British Marine Federation they organise their leisure time - providing
(BMF) provides a forum for discussing the excitement and relaxation, discovery and
issues affecting local businesses, together with learning whilst also keeping active and healthy.
representation of industry interests to local BMF IW will once again be hosting their On the
authorities, Government offices & business links. Water Day 2015 at Cowes Yacht Haven.
Nationally the BMF has more than 1600
members representing many of the diverse Our members include:
marine and inland waterways businesses, the Bembridge Powerboat Training Ltd
turnover of those markets is worth £2.9 billion and Will Squibb Ltd from Bembridge
a year to the UK economy.
The BMF mission statement states that they will along with others including:
lead and promote the industry and work with Cheetah Marine LLP, Creative Partners Ltd
their members to achieve sustainable growth Dame Ellen McArthur, Harold Hayles Ltd
in a competitive global environment, through
the provision of world-class goods and services. Hudson Wight Ltd, Hybrid Marine Ltd
The BMF's show organising arm, National Boat Solent (IHM Ltd), Medina Yard
Shows, produces a series of major boating
events across the country that promote Moreton Marine, One Stop Sailing Ltd
industry and membership businesses including River Yar Boatyard, Ryde Harbour
both the London & Southampton Boat Shows. Seasafe Systems Ltd, Spinlock Ltd

The Boat Development Co Ltd, UKSA
Voyaging Yachts Ltd, World Cruising Club Ltd

Guy Whitehouse Yacht Design Ltd
To find out more visit: bmfiw.org

Friday 29th May Get out on the water under
Cowes yacht haven sail or under power.

10am - 4pm

Free of charge

Demonstrations and entertainment throughout the day,
UKSA Try Sail fleet, RIBs, Flare Amnesty and a showcase
for Island-built boats including Red Funnel’s Red Jet 3.

For more details visit: www.bmfiw.org

44

Our Coastline

We have many miles of varied coastline and beaches, from cliffs and rocks, to mud, shingle and
sand bars. Its all great to explore but the sea and seashore can be dangerous, the following are a
few pointers to having a happy, safe day on the coast. Please take care:

On the shore: Swimming:
• Check the tides and the weather • Don’t swim alone,
• Don’t try to climb up or down cliffs • Don't swim directly after a meal,
• Don't swim under the influence of alcohol
(always keep away from cliff edges)
• Beware of steeply shelving beaches and or drugs or when feeling unwell
• Don’t go into unknown water
long sand spits • Beware of boats
• Respect our sealife, seaweed, shells, etc • Seawater is cold – seldom over 200,
• If using inflatable toys/ lilos, keep hold of
even in August and perhaps only
it on the beach 40/50 in March
• Children should always be supervised

Whether on the beach or on or in the water – always tell somebody what you are doing

If you see someone in trouble on the beach, do not risk your own safety
dial 999 and ask for the COASTGUARD

45

Marine Engineers Motorbike MOT testing

Embankment Road Bembridge PO35 5NR 01983 873744 bms-iow.co.uk

46

BEMBRIDGE BEACHES

Our 6.5 miles of coastline provides varied shores, sand, mud, shingle, rocks and pools. Many
are ideal for paddling and swimming at varying states of the tide but NOT the entrance
channel into the harbour where currents can be very strong and large boats are navigating.

Tide times and heights are available on pages 42 & 43 of the Guide – do watch out on low
tides that you are not cut off at the waters edge on the incoming tide.

The Point (Harbour and entrance channel) sandy/stony beach between high and low water
West-facing, sheltered from easterly winds, marks. Known for windsurfing & kite surfing at
sandy/muddy beach between high and low high water.
water, sand dunes usable at high water. Facilities: same as The Point (above)
Note: Swimming or paddling in the Harbour Ducie
entrance and channel is dangerous due to the North facing, gently shelving sandy beach to
steep drop of the beach, currents and boats rocks on low water mark, stones above high
navigating. water mark, ideal for swimming.
Facilities: Public toilets (not accessible to Ducie Beach is accessed down Ducie Avenue
wheelchair users) in Station Road. where parking is available, there are no other
Tollgate Café – traditional beach café with light facilities on the beach and is not accessible to
meals, etc. (see page 15) wheelchair users.
Car park available - charges made in season.
Under Tyne and Swains
Silversands Beach (Beach Road / The Point) North/NE-facing beach with stones above the
North facing and sheltered from prevailing high water mark, a narrow sandy belt and rocky
south-westerly winds, long shallow shelving pools and ledges on the low-water mark.

A.A. COOMBES

Proprietors W F T & C J Mitchell
YACHT BUILDERS –
MARINE ENGINEERS
MAINTENANCE
SLIPPING
STORAGE
MOORINGS
BUILDERS OF GRP SCOWS

EMBANKMENT ROAD BEMBRIDGE
ISLE OF WIGHT PO35 5NR

Twewl/Fwax.a0a1c9o8o3m87b2e2s9.6c·oE.umkail [email protected]

47

Under Tyne and Swains continued ST HELENS BEACHES
Accessed through Swains Road, parking on the
roadside is possible further up on Swains Road, St Helens Beach (The Duver)
there are no facilities on the beach and is not An East-facing beach sheltered from the
accessible to wheelchair users. prevailing South westerly winds by The Duver.
This sandy beach gently shelves to the stoney
Lane End (Lifeboat beach) harbour channel is protected by a new seawall
North-easterly facing, sea wall promenade, promenade. The vegetated sand dunes are
short sandy belt above the rocky pools and usable at high tide and sheltered from the east.
ledges to low water mark. A popular beach with Facilities: Public toilets (accessible).
beach huts (private) however the 'hut' occupants Licensed Baywatch beach café (see inside
hold a two week event later in August, including cover). Also an ice cream and beach toy kiosk.
beach sports, sandcastles, swimming, etc. There are two car parks, one on The Duver
Facilities: Public toilets adjacent to public car (free to NT members), another on the sea front,
park (accessible) – parking charges. owned by IWCC (fees applicable). There is free
Lifeboat Station and Shop open to visitors. parking on Duver Road towards the village.
Forelands Sandy Cove
East/South-east facing is a more exposed beach Further north of the main St Helens beach below
with wide areas of sandy beach and rocky Nodes Point is a small sandy cove accessible
ledges. A multi-purpose beach with fantastic from Old Church in all but the highest tides; at
rock pools – good for prawning with a net. low tide it extends to rocks and rock pools. It
Facilities: The Beach Hut – café and restaurant is possible to walk around to Priory Bay, at low
(see page 12). tide on the beach and at high tide through the
Crab and Lobster Inn – pub overlooking the Priory Woods.
beach (see page 14).
Whitecliff Bay Dogs (under control) are generally very
South-east facing, but sheltered by Culver welcome on the beaches off Bembridge
Down. A sandy bay with public access through and St Helens.

Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park (see page 68). Full details of the Isle of Wight Council
Tuppenny Café open daily right on the beach Byelaws are online at www.iwight.com
(see page 12).

There is no Public car
park.

The next beach around
Whitecliff is NOT access-
ible from Whitecliff Bay,
but is from Yaverland.

It is NOT advisable to try
and walk around the cliff,
whilst it may look inviting
there are occasional cliff
falls which are dangerous
and unless you have
good knowledge of the
tides it is very easy to get
cut off.

48