Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2007 | Page 7

EVENTS GONE BY

New arrival
takes up
the reins at
Carisbrooke
Castle
A four year-old brown and
white donkey arrived at
Carisbrooke Castle on the
Isle of Wight this week to
take over from veteran
donkey Joseph, who retires
next year after 17 years
service working the 17th
century waterwheel – one
of the castle’s most popular
highlights for visitors.

Arriving safe and sound
from her former New Forest
home thanks to a free crossing
from Lymington to Yarmouth
provided by Wightlink, the
pretty ‘coloured’ donkey who
stands just 10.1 hands high
takes up the reins alongside
Joseph (25), Jimbob (8),
Jack and Jill both aged 7
and six year-old Joffee.
Old timer Joseph will show
her the ropes until he retires
next spring from his 10 minute
a day stint demonstrating the
treadmill, which was used
for centuries to draw water
up from the 49 metre well.
The latest arrival – who has
yet to be named – will be
introduced to her new chums
and to her new tasks by

trainer Rachael Hunter, who
said: ”I chose this lovely little
donkey because of her easy
going temperament. She is
nice and quiet and will get on
well with the other donkeys
and will I am sure be an
instant hit with our visitors.”
When he retires, Joseph
will remain at the castle as
a role model for his young
apprentice and to keep his
hoof in with occasional parttime work on the wheel.
Visitors to Carisbrooke Castle
can see the new arrival and
her new friends and find out
about their day-to-day care
in the Donkey Centre, with
its stables and hands-on
exhibition. Also to enjoy
are interactive exhibitions
and a museum tracing the
castle’s fascinating history,
including the imprisonment
of Charles I. Visitors can
see the room from where the
king tried unsuccessfully to
escape through a window
– his bid for freedom ended
when he got stuck!
Carisbrooke Castle is
open daily from 10am to
5pm. Admission is just
£5.60 for adults, £4.20 for
concessions, £2.80 for
children and £14.00 for a
family ticket. English Heritage
members are admitted free.
For information on Carisbrooke
Castle or other English Heritage
properties on the Isle of Wight
call 0870 333 1183 or visit
www.english-heritage.org.uk

Island Life - www.isleofwight.net

AIR AMBULANCE - Finally the
Isle of Wight got to see the new
Air Ambulance up close. The
new Air Ambulance which is
jointly owned with Hampshire
has already rescued and
transported casulties off the
Island. The helicopter touched
down at Newport Football Club
on its day off, where approx 500
spectators turned up to talk to

the pilot and paramedics. Also
present on the day were the
Fire, Police, Ambulance, and
the IW Road Traffic Safety unit.
Rosemary who is in charge of
fund raising commented "the
day went incredibly well and
it definately raised awareness
on the Island. I would like to
thank everyone who attended."

Charity Bike Ride
for Hospice
A big bike in Ryde was the
centrepiece of a big bike ride.
Ten teams of 23 bike riders
took part, raising money for the
Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
Organiser Sue Birch said: “It
was a way of giving something
back for the excellent care my
Dad received in the hospice.”
Teams from Isle of Wight

Sports Club, Motorcise, NHS
staff and friends, and council
staff, all added to the carnival
atmosphere of the bank holiday
Saturday. The big bike moved
to Havenstreet, and from there
to Sandown, where the Fire
Brigade, White Bell 2