Award-winning producer and screenwriter, Dominic Minghella, has a deep affection for his hometown of Ryde and has recently shared his ideas of the hopes he has for the town’s High Street.
In a blog post, he has created exclusively for the High Street’s Heritage Action Zone website, Minghella shares fond childhood memories and his hopes for how the High Street can thrive in the future.
No stranger to blogging, the creator of the popular ITV show Doc Martin, which returns to our screens on 7th September, reveals charming details about growing up as part of the famous Minghella family.
The youngest of 5 children, Dominic’s parents Edward and Gloria were on the council, serving on committees, supporting charities and running a very active business on the High Street. His brother Anthony, was the Oscar-winning film director who made his name with films such as The English Patient and The Talented Mr Ripley.
On his blog on the Ryde Heritage Action Zone website, Dominic said:
“I had a very particular childhood growing up in Ryde and became independent from a very early age. Because my parents were so busy, I was left to my own devices with so much freedom to do what I wanted.
“That was the advantage of being part of a tightly knit community. As a child, I thought it was great because if I needed anything I could just go to the shops where we had an account to get what I needed.
“If my Mum was too busy I would take myself off to the shops where I could get my school uniform and buy my own trousers”.
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Looking at the plans to breathe new life into the High Street in Ryde, Dominic said:
“Looking to the future of the high street in Ryde and what can be done to bring people there, I think about what I’ve noticed on my travels around the world.
“When you have a defined centre or square, people will gravitate towards it. Everything flows when there is a nice place to sit and there are good restaurants, bars and coffee shops to visit”.
The full blog by Dominic Minghella is available here – https://iwhaz.uk/2022/09/05/award-winning-producer-and-screenwriter-dominic-minghella-reminisces-about-ryde/.
A family that has contributed a lot to the island.
Maybe there should be a Minghella square in recognition or Minge square if it’s in Ryde
There is a Mingella Square in Ryde its opposite Ladbrokes in the high street …
How can a statement of fact get 2 thumbs down lol
Whilst seeing Mr Minghella’s point of view where abroad an attractive open air square attracts people to gravitate there, sadly it is different in the UK.
Our Police are toothless now, and any square would soon be filled with drunks, druggies, and nere do wells, shouting abuse, fighting and leaving litter, only to be replaced by destructive chavs, and screaming mouthy chavettes each Summer evening.
The Island has changed since Mr M’s boyhood, as it has for all who were born here.
With the council filling our Island with those who use the Island & UK as a low Police presence soft touch to commit crime it will now never improve
He is right. Ryde would benefit from street food pop-ups. There’s nothing better than the waft of tasty morsels being fried on the skillet to get the punters in. And it fights against the weed smell.