Plans for the second Isle of Wight Day, to be held on Saturday 23rd September, have been announced by the Island’s High Sheriff, Robin Courage today (Tuesday).
Local businesses and dignitaries gathered at Barton Manor this lunchtime for the launch of Isle of Wight Day 2017, plans for which include the ‘biggest ever parade’ to be seen on the Island, even more free bunting and a new fund.
Rob Da Bank has thrown his support behind the day and will be helping to create an ‘Island’s Got Talent’ event, with regional heats and a final on 23rd September seeking to find the Island’s most talented entertainers.
Moving from Newport to Ryde, this year’s People’s Parade is set to be the biggest and most colourful parade ever seen on the Island. Planning is already well underway.
Robin Courage MBE said:
“We want to make Isle of Wight Day the Island’s very own Red Nose Day. We are creating an Isle of Wight Day Fund, which will distribute monies raised on the day to deserving Island causes and will hopefully encourage everyone to raise money from the hundred of activities being planned to celebrate the day.
“We want this year’s Isle of Wight Day to be bigger and better, with more activities, involving the whole community. Through the generosity of the ferry companies we will be distributing a further 100 miles of bunting absolutely free of charge, so we can truly cover the whole Island in bunting.
Article continues below this advertisement “With the support of other Island companies we will be organising more Island-wide events to celebrate the Island”.
Following the success of last year’s Yachting Relay, planning has already begun to turn this into a Parade on the Sea, with a large flotilla of boats of all shapes and sizes, decked out in bunting, making their way through the Solent to celebrate the day.
Once again all the Island churches will get together to repeat their highly successful Songs of Praise concert with Symphony Orchestra and Choir, which will be held in Cowes.
All schools on the Island are being encouraged to once again support Isle of Wight Day with an inter-schools competition being introduced this year.
With Isle of Wight Day now firmly established on the Island’s calendar in late September all Island companies and tourist attractions, working together with Visit Isle of Wight, are being encouraged to use the day to persuade more visitors to cross the Solent to visit families and friends and to hold reunions to enjoy this special day of celebration.
A book entitled ‘Celebrating Together’ containing more than 500 photographs taken by islanders for Islanders, of last year’s inaugural Isle of Wight Day has also been launched today and will be available in shops at just £15,00 from next Tuesday. All proceeds go to the High Sheriff’s Trust.
At today’s launch the High Sheriff, together with the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Major General Martin White, encouraged companies and individuals to start planning activities for this year’s Isle of Wight Day and to make it a big fundraising day, with every penny remaining on the Island.
Robin Courage concluded:
“Let’s all wave the flag and make 23rd September a joyful day of celebration to help our whole community”.
