Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2013 | Page 11

ISLAND LIFE

Coldstream Guards
anniversary dinner
Robin Hill 'Lost
before time'
Experience Robin Hill’s beautiful ‘electric
woods’ illuminations this October half
term with a special prehistoric twist. ‘Lost
before time’ is the latest in the park’s series
of evening experiences this year and has
a distinctive dinosaur flavour, not to be
missed by visitors of all ages.
From October 18 to November 2,
Robin Hill’s autumnal woodland will be
transformed into a spectacular blaze of
light, colour and sound. But beware, some
prehistoric friends will also be making
a few surprise appearances to give the
evenings an extra special bite! Visit www.
robin-hill.com for more details.

Hop, hop hooray!
Ventnor Botanic Gardens will be
holding its annual Hops Festival
from Friday, October 25 to
Monday, October 28.
Now in its fourth year, the Hops
Festival celebrates the harvest of
the hops grown on site, as well as
the continuation of the tradition
of picking them by hand. After
the hops have been dried they
are brewed into Ventnor Botanic
Gardens’ own beers ‘Tropic Ale’
and ‘Botanic Ale’ by local brewery,
Yates.

This year, VBG is launching
the ‘Sponsor a Barrel’ scheme.
Local businesses, organisations,
groups and teams are invited
to sponsor a barrel for £100. In
return the sponsor will receive
complimentary tokens to sample
the barrels they are sponsoring,
with the proceeds from the sale
of the remaining contents split
between two local charities.
Hops Festival will be running
from 10.0am until 6.0pm each day.
Entry and parking is free.

The Isle of Wight Branch of the
Coldstream Guards Association is
celebrating its 20th year as one of the 36
branches that stretch across England and
Wales. To mark the occasion a charity
dinner is being held at the Bourne Hall
Hotel, Shanklin, on Saturday, October 26.
Guests will include Lord Lieutenant Major
General Martin White, Island MP Andrew
Turner, the president of the Isle of Wight
Association Captain J.J.P Jeffcock, as
well as two serving guardsmen in tunic
and bearskin ceremonial dress.
The Coldstream Guards Association was
formed in 1913 as a charity that aids
soldiers who are acting service personnel
or who have left the Regiment, and also
aids their families.

Writers line up for
Literary Festival
The Island will again play host to the
Isle of Wight Literary Festival, which
takes place over three days from
Friday, October 18.
There will be a fine line-up of
writers and speakers, with literary
stars from across the country,
including novelists, biographers,
historians, explorers, gardeners
and poets, as well as local talent.
The event also incorporates walks,
workshops, competitions, debates,
children’s story telling, lots of music
and a chance to sharpen your wits
at a pub quiz. Delicious food will be
available throughout the weekend in
the Food Court.
Much of the Isle of Wight Literary
festival will be hosted at Northwood
House, Cowes, but there will also be
satellite venues throughout the town.
www.visitislandlife.com

11