Feature Writer

Did you know that Carisbrooke Castle Museum holds regular talks all through the winter?

The next illustrated talk takes place on 6th November and features the Pollard family, ‘Johnny’ Walker, Toné Milne, and F.M. Minns.

20th November will see David Langford and Lin Watterson talking on two aspects of the war which involved activities hidden from the public eye: The life of a local man who rose to a position of vital importance in the Middle East, but acted in secrecy; and back in this country, we learn about women who worked hard behind the scenes to support the troops.

On 18th December, Justin Smith and Virgil Philpott (aka ‘The Dollymopps’) introduce us to some of the most interesting characters they have encountered during a decade of researching the Island’s musical traditions.

Where and when
All are welcome to the illustrated talks which take place on a Tuesday between 2-4pm at the Museum.

Tickets are £8, including tea, coffee and biscuits.

See our What’s On Section for more details of other upcoming talks.

On Sunday 14th October (10am til 4pm) Dinosaur Isle will be hosting Discovery Bay, an event for Biology Week & Earth Sciences Week.

Become a Bayologist and celebrate National Biology Week and Earth Science Week with a day stuffed full of life science activities for all ages.

Try out the powerful microscopes, sieve for life in the soil, fire up the mighty bug hoover, dip for pondlife and fill up our wildlife aquarium, and marvel at the mole-in-a-jar!

It’s a free event and sounds like lots of fun, so tell your friends and family to head to Dinosaur Isle between 10am-4pm on Sunday 14th October.

This Saturday (29th September) sees the return of Dimbola Museum and Galleries‘ Islander discount day.

You can visit this fantastic museum and see all their latest exhibitions for just £2! (Don’t forget to take proof of Island address).

There’s always lots to see and when you’ve finished looking around the galleries, head down to the cafe for a great selection of tea and cakes.

The 26th Richard Hutchings Lecture
Coming up in a couple of weeks, Isle of Wight historian, John Medland – who some of you may have heard talking about Isle of Wight Hidden Heroes earlier this year – will be giving the 26th Richard Hutchings Lecture.

John will be sharing the adventures of two Freshwater naturalists, father and son, James and Henry Roberts, who went on an extraordinary trip to Brazil in 1869-71.

The talk takes place in Julia’s Tearoom at Dimbola at 4pm on Friday 12th October. Donations to the Julia Margaret Cameron Trust will be appreciated.

This Saturday (22nd September) is your last chance to see the brilliant Isle of Wight Hidden Heroes exhibition at the Classic Boat Museum Gallery in East Cowes.

Ever since the waters rose and created the Isle of Wight, Islanders have depended on the sea for food, transport, defence and leisure.

Of the many maritime heroes linked to the Island, the Classic Boat Museum’s exhibition celebrates less well-known individuals who have made a significant impact on the maritime heritage of the Island.

The Galley on Columbine Road, East Cowes will be open this Friday and Saturday between 10am – 3.30pm. Some fantastic research work was carried out to pull the Hidden Heroes exhibition together, and it’s well worth a look before it goes.

The Boat Museum’s Hidden Heroes exhibition will be making way for a new exhibition opening on 20th October about WWI. More details of that to follow.

Image: © Classic Boat Museum

This Saturday you can walk in the footsteps of one of our Isle of Wight Hidden Heroes, dinosaur hunter, Rev William Fox.

Meet at Dinosaur Isle for a 10am start of a two hour walk along the surf-line to Culver Cliff foreshore, returning along the upper foreshore.

Learn about the different environments recorded in the geology of the cliffs over a 40 million year time span.

Organisers advise taking along a drink, chocolate or other supplies.

Booking is essential so call 404344 (£5 Adults, £4 children, various concessions).

Image: arg_flickr under CC BY 2.0

An important part of the Isle of Wight Hidden Heroes Project (kindly funded by Arts Council England) was to open up the Island’s museums and galleries to a wider audience – To be able to reach those who might not have stepped inside a museum since their childhood, or perhaps those who are unsure of what they might find behind the imposing entrance doors.

Thanks to the wonders of 360 degree photography, we’re now able to provide virtual tours of many of the participating venues – with more being added in the next few weeks.

Take the tour
Pop over to venues page to explore inside Carisbrooke Castle Museum (and Princess Beatrice’s Garden), the Classic Boat Museum Gallery and newly opened Boat Shed, County Record Office, the Museum of Island History at Guildhall, Newport Roman Villa and Quay Arts.

How to use it
Taking a tour is as easy as using Google Streetview. Click into the photo, hold and move around looking up down and around.

Click on the large arrows to navigate through the venues. Some are on several floors, which you’ll see indicated on the right-hand side of the screen (1st and Gnd).

We hope you enjoy the tours.

If you were lucky enough to make it along to the major Isle of Wight Hidden Heroes exhibition at Quay Arts earlier this year,King Arwald at Quay Arts you’ll have seen the very striking artwork by Island artist, Nigel George, created in response to our Hidden Hero, King Arwald.

We absolutely loved this artwork, not simply because of how it looked (which is fabulous), but because of how it was created – using the latest 3D modelling technology, some old newspapers and blue slipper clay.

Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that King Arwald was not packed away in a dark and dusty corner, but has found a welcoming new home at the excellent Newport Roman Villa. You can pop along now to see Arwald sitting among his Roman peers.

Archaeology Day
If you wait until Saturday 28th July, you can also take part in the Archaeology Day event at Newport Roman Villa.

This is a free, entry-drop in event running between 11am and 3pm. Take along your archaeological finds along to be identified and meet expert archaeologist, Frank Basford, from the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Frank has a wealth of knowledge and experience and really knows his stuff!

There’ll be plenty of fun for families too, with sand pit excavations and even a photo hunt.