Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2006 | Page 12

TRAVEL FOREWORD Left: Andrew Turner, Colin Boswell, David Holmes, Andy Sutton Garlic men breathe easy ‘This years Garlic Festival was a definite success ‘under new management’, although Chairman David Holmes says had it not stopped raining just in the nick of time on Saturday morning he’s certain it would have lost money! The Island’s Hospice has already benefitted from almost £2,000 collected in the festival car park on Saturday morning. The event featured star names and entertainers such as Radio presenter Johnnie Walker, these days at BBC Radio 2 but for many years hosted a daily lunchtime show on Radio 1. He also worked in the US at K-SAN. Johnnie’s schoolboy ambition was to be a racing driver but he never quite got around to it! Johnnie and 12 Andrew Turner, MP Geoff Hughes pictured with some young fans who knew him from his role as Onslow in “Keeping up Appearances.” Clem Curtis wife Tiggy love the island and are frequent visitors. Another well known name helping out was much loved actor Geoff Hughes. Geoff has been sailing from Cowes for decades and recently decided to work a little less and enjoy his newly purchased island home and woodland. Geoff and wife Sue are becoming familiar faces at many island events, joining in as full time members of our big village community. Chas n Dave attracted quite a crowd on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday at the same time Clem Curtis and The Foundations took the stage. Soul star Clem is best known for his transatlantic number one smash ‘Baby now that I’ve found you’ and hits including ‘Build me up Buttercup’ and ‘In the bad bad old days.’ The afternoon crowds were amazing on both days. Without doubt all the acts at this years festival, both local and international were well received. Speaking after the event David Holmes joked ‘When I was asked to help save the festival it was as a part time bit player.’ ‘Had I realised how it would come to dominate my life on a daily basis, I would never have got involved!’ ‘However I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, it had a real buzz. More importantly thankfully the visitors seemed to love it too.’ Johnnie Walker, David Holmes, Alex Dyke Island Life - www.isleofwight.net