Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2006 | Page 10

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FOREWORD
Diary
25th - 27th August
COWES POWERBOAT FESTIVAL
Thrilling and really exciting, see the
most expensive powerboats ever
built race on the Solent. Includes
the P1 World Championship.
Held at Cowes Seafront.

25th - 28th August
SCOOTER RALLY

BRITISH JUNIOR CONKER CHAMPIONSHIPS - 1st OCTOBER

GOING CONKERS!
Last year Blackgang
Chine hosted the event
and a modest 43 entrants
took part. With most
of the players coming
from Island families,
the winners were Oliver
Wilson from Newport in
the 5-9ys section and Jack
Tharle also from Newport
in the 10-14yrs section.
Prestigious is perhaps
not the word to describe
the traditional game of
conkers but the game
has strong links with the
Island as the first recorded
use of using horse
chestnuts in the game
comes from Newport in
1848.
In the playground, the

aim was to get hold of a
champion nut, victor or
numerous bouts – tenners
or more- and there were
tricks of the trade to
help create that elusive
champion, such as baking
them gently, soaking them
in vinegar, or even leaving

them in a darkened
cupboard for a few
months
before
bringing them out
a year later.
The
World
C o n k e r
Championships
are held each year
in Ashton, in
Northamptonshire
in late October
so Robin Hill has
been authorized
to hold the British junior
competition for entrants
14 & under.
Previous competitions
have not been without
controversy,
including
the year when Michael
Palin, the actor & travel

writer, was disqualified
for cheating. However in
the latest competitions,
all conkers and laces are
supplied by the organizers
and experienced stewards
make sure there is fair
play.
Entry forms for this
year’s competition will be
available from Robin Hill’s
website as well as from
the admission desks at
each park later this year.
Each entrant will gain a
certificate for taking part
and there will be prizes for
the winners and runnersup. Blackgang Chine Tel:
01983 730330.

BUS MUSEUM ANNUAL RUNNING DAY - 15th OCTOBER

Over 3,000 scooters descend
on Ryde for the three day Bank
holiday weekend. Owners come
from all over the UK to the Island
for this event. The climax is
the “rideout” which leaves from
Ryde seafront on the Sunday.

Ding, Ding, all aboard

1st - 4th September
OPEN ART STUDIOS
Visit a variety of local art studios,
galleries and artists homes across
the Island. Contact the Arts Unit on
01983 823813 for further details.

16th September
AN EVENING OF MUSIC
Jennifer Pike - Violin (winner of
the BBC Young Musician of the
Year competition) and Jeremy Pike
- Piano play at the West Wight
Arts Association, Freshwater.

10

The Isle of Wight Bus
Museum was created in
1996 to house a growing
collection of preserved bus
& coach vehicles.
Whilst two Open Days
were held during 1997,
the Museum became open
to the public from Easter
Sunday 12 April 1998.
The museum houses a
varied collection of Buses

and Coaches dating from
the 1910’s onward many,
of course, having formerly
operated on the Isle of
Wight. The oldest item
housed, however, is a Ryde
Pier Tram dating from the
1900’s.
The first floor (upstairs,
above the shop) of
the museum houses a
Photographic
Archive

of Island Buses in days
past together with other
memorabilia.
The museum shop - Just
The Ticket - is stocked with
various memorabilia such
as photos, old timetables,
books, videos, etc.
The museum also holds an
Annual Autumn Running
Day - over 20 visiting
classic buses together with

the museum’s vehicles will
give free bus rides around
the Island, and there will
be trade stalls located
within the museum.
The museum is located at
Seaclose Quay, Newport
Harbour, Newport.
Tel: [phone]
or 01983 533352

Island Life - www.islandlifemagazine.net