Three people from the Isle of Wight were recognised with honours from HM The King, in the Birthday Honours List:
Dr Philip Edward Charles LEWIS, lately President, Mouth Cancer Foundation
has been awarded a MBE for services to the Detection of Oral Cancer.
Hazel Jean BRITTON
has been awarded a BEM for services to the community in the Isle of Wight, particularly during Covid-19
Stephen Alexander Neil DOUBLE
has been awarded a BEM for services to the community in Ryde
On Wednesday 12th June, HM Lord-Lieutenant presented the Isle of Wight Literary Festival with the Kings Award for Voluntary Service. IW Literary Festival chairman Maggie Ankers received the award on behalf of the volunteers.
Volunteers also received commemorative pins to mark their contribution.
On Saturday 8th June the Lord-Lieutenant took the salute at a D-Day 80 commemoration event at the Victorian Recreation Ground, Newport.
The parade with three bands formed up in Drill Hall Road under the direction of the parade Marshall, Mr Simon Tutton. The Lord-Lieutenant took the salute as the parade entered into the arena. The Vice Lord-Lieutenant, the High Sheriff and other dignitaries were also present.
On Wednesday 5th June, HM Lord-Lieutenant, Deputy Lieutenants and the High Sheriff joined the community in the lighting of a beacon on Culver Cliff to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings.
The event was organised by Bembridge Parish Council. The Royal British Legion standard bearers were in attendance with members and instructors of the Ryde Sea, Army and Air cadets. The Parade Marshall was Simon Tutton. A D-Day Community choir performed. The Archdeacon, Steve Daughtery with Rev David Plumb held the service.
The last post and reveille were sounded. The Lord-Lieutenant pushed the lever to ignite the basket beacon with a bang as the sun set in the west.
On Sunday 19th May, the Lord-Lieutenant attended a DDay 80 commemorative service at Christ Church in Sandown. The Bay Primary School unveiled the Ships Bell from HMS Sandown and Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely planted a commemoration tree.
On Thursday 16th May 2024, HRH The Princess Royal visited the Island. Her first visit was to Bembridge National Coastwatch Station. As patron of the National Coastwatch Institution she met the volunteer watchkeepers at the station, which is shared with HM Coastguard.
Her Royal Highness then went on to visit t0 Sea View Yacht Club where she met children, accompanied by parents and teachers from the various Island primary schools that have benefitted from the Seaview Sailing Trust (SST) training programme. As president of the Royal Yachting Association she officially opened their new training centre and boat park.
Two Island companies have been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in the category 2024 International Trade
AJ Wells – Established on the Isle of Wight in 1972, is family business with 172 staff, known for designing and manufacturing Charnwood clean-burning wood stoves, Vlaze outdoor kitchens and innovative architectural vitreous enamel solutions.
More information about AJ Wells & Sons can be found here.
Stainless Games – founded in 1994, is a videogame developer of international renown. Over the last 30 years, Stainless Games has made games for some of the biggest companies in the world, including Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Hasbro, with best-selling titles including Carmageddon, Risk: Factions, Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers and Scrabble.
More information about Stainless Games can be found here.
On Sunday 5th May, the Lord-Lieutenant attended a Remembrance Ceremony for the ORP Blyskawica at the memorial on Cowes Seafront. The High Sheriff, MP and other Island dignitaries also attended.
Representatives from the Polish Embassy in London and from Gdanzk where ORP Blyskawica is a museum ship, were joined by many of the local Polish community.
The ceremony, organised by the Friends of the ORP Blyskawica Society, annually commemorates the defence of Cowes and East Cowes by Polish destroyer ORP Blyskawica, an event which took place on the night of the 4/5th May 1942 claiming the lives of 70 townspeople from the two towns.
ORP Blyskawica and her sister ship ORP Grom were built in a local Isle of Wight shipyard, J.S. White & Co.
