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  • Culture
    Culture
    Man jumping off a car with audience standing around

    Ventnor Fringe returns for seventeenth year with 130 shows, new music venue and secret locations

    Robert Carter's painting in the window of Peer Studios

    Robert Carter brings new oil paintings to Ventnor for Isle of Wight Open Studios

    Children on stage performing Les Miserables

    Theatretrain Isle of Wight seeks young performers for Les Miserables

    charlie lovell-jones playing at iwso concert in jan 22

    Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra welcomes back violinist Charlie Lovell-Jones in May concert

    artists studio with paintbrushes in pots and painted fabric on the walls

    Promote your Isle of Wight Open Studios event with OnTheWight’s competitive package

  • What’s On
    What's On

    Below you’ll find the latest features highlighting the upcoming events here on the Isle of Wight.

    If you would like to promote an event to OnTheWight readers, find out more.

    Man jumping off a car with audience standing around

    Ventnor Fringe returns for seventeenth year with 130 shows, new music venue and secret locations

    Robert Carter's painting in the window of Peer Studios

    Robert Carter brings new oil paintings to Ventnor for Isle of Wight Open Studios

    Children on stage performing Les Miserables

    Theatretrain Isle of Wight seeks young performers for Les Miserables

    RNLI crew carry a dummy along the seafront

    Cowes RNLI invites public to 999 Emergency Services Day on the Parade this Saturday

    charlie lovell-jones playing at iwso concert in jan 22

    Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra welcomes back violinist Charlie Lovell-Jones in May concert

  • Community
    Community
    Tiger drinking water at Wildheart Animal Sanctuary

    Wildheart Animal Sanctuary marks 50 years and asks Isle of Wight community to share memories

    lifeboat lotto balls

    Join the Lifeboat Lotto for your chance to win up to £5,000

    Dementia UK cheque presentation

    Dementia UK leaders visit Isle of Wight as Hovertravel backs Admiral Nurse fundraising

    Amy Jolliffe playing guitar in the studio

    Wessex Cancer Support brings community funday back to Ryde in May

    Head of King Arwald by Nigel George

    Last pagan king of Isle of Wight celebrated by Pagans on St Arwald’s Day

  • News
    News
    Man jumping off a car with audience standing around

    Ventnor Fringe returns for seventeenth year with 130 shows, new music venue and secret locations

    road closed sign laying flat on the road

    Parish councillor reveals 37 road closures on single day as Isle of Wight frustration mounts

    Children on stage performing Les Miserables

    Theatretrain Isle of Wight seeks young performers for Les Miserables

    two woman sat at a computer with one looking into the camera by alexey demidov

    Parents urged to extend Child Benefit before it stops automatically in August

    RNLI crew carry a dummy along the seafront

    Cowes RNLI invites public to 999 Emergency Services Day on the Parade this Saturday

    the front of county hall

    Reform UK predicted to win most Isle of Wight Council seats in May elections

    Nick and Sue (Evalyn’s parents) with Evalyn, Becky McGregor, Mountbatten CEO, teacher Paula Blackley

    Shalfleet pupil’s sunflower design to feature on 1,000 Walk the Wight medals

    charlie lovell-jones playing at iwso concert in jan 22

    Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra welcomes back violinist Charlie Lovell-Jones in May concert

    Tiger drinking water at Wildheart Animal Sanctuary

    Wildheart Animal Sanctuary marks 50 years and asks Isle of Wight community to share memories

    polling station sign by a park

    Ultimate candidate guide: Isle of Wight 2026 local election

    Polling station sign outside a church

    Helping you decide who to vote for: May 2026 elections

    artists studio with paintbrushes in pots and painted fabric on the walls

    Promote your Isle of Wight Open Studios event with OnTheWight’s competitive package

    ian dore by closed sign at firestone copse

    Independent review of highways PFI contract sought following Isle of Wight Council elections

    Big Red & The Cava Boys with Angelina, Jo and Dick

    ‘Jimi and Friends Part Two’ draws enthusiastic crowd to Dimbola for Isle of Wight festival tribute

    Audience seated in fold up chairs in the field at Wolverton Manor for the Folk and Blues Day

    Wolverton Folk and Blues Festival returns to Shorwell with award-winning artists

    roadworks on fairlee road

    Councillor calls for full committee review of Isle of Wight roadworks disruption

  • Travel
    Travel

    Our Travel section is the place to check for fast and accurate travel updates from all the ferry companies, bus, train and hovercraft operator.

    In this section, we’ll also let you know about road closures and diversions.

    Below are articles relating to Isle of Wight travel.

    road closed sign laying flat on the road

    Parish councillor reveals 37 road closures on single day as Isle of Wight frustration mounts

    ian dore by closed sign at firestone copse

    Independent review of highways PFI contract sought following Isle of Wight Council elections

    roadworks on fairlee road

    Councillor calls for full committee review of Isle of Wight roadworks disruption

    Lane closed on start of Fairlee Road

    Visit Isle of Wight CEO warns roadworks crisis is causing measurable damage to Island businesses

    Dementia UK cheque presentation

    Dementia UK leaders visit Isle of Wight as Hovertravel backs Admiral Nurse fundraising

    car loading on to the floating bridge on the first day of service

    Letter: ‘Temu’ Floating Bridge 6 wastes £1 million a year of your council money

    roadworks sign

    Councillor Price reassures residents over access during Fairlee Road roadworks

    Roadworks lights and signs

    Councillor questions Fairlee Road diversion plan as two-week closure looms

    General highway maintenance signage

    Fairlee Road to close for two weeks from 20th April for utility works

    Ryde Pier Head train station canopy

    Asbestos canopy among works proposed for Ryde Pier Head station

    Karl Love with the hovercraft propellor

    Isle of Wight councillor shares story behind hovercraft propeller plan for East Cowes

    Paul Merton standing next to a steam train and coal pile with shovel in hand

    Paul Merton’s upcoming ‘Driving Amazing Trains’ series features the Isle of Wight

    Artist impression of the hovercraft propellor

    Hovercraft propeller from iconic SR-N4 could become East Cowes heritage landmark

    Environmental Services Manager, Jez Mew, with the gritting fleet

    Isle of Wight records mildest gritting winter in 13 years with just 22 runs made

    MMC Rope Access team hanging off Castle Rd Bridge in Wroxall

    Rope-access teams to survey hard-to-reach retaining walls in Ventnor this month

    electric vehicle charging by possessed photography

    Isle of Wight set for major EV charging expansion with over 1,500 new chargepoints planned

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  • 1, May 2026
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Drunk Hovercraft Pilot

A Drunk Hover Pilot was discovered at the controls of a Hovercraft on 22nd June, 2014.

Initially the incident described him as ‘Taken ill’.

On the 12th August 2014, he was found guilty of drink driving, with over three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood stream, at the Magistrate Court in Newport, Isle of Wight.

During the hearing, the prosecutor for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), said this was the first case of this kind they’ve had to deal with.

On 10th October he was given an eight month prison sentence by the judge at Newport Crown Court.

Drunk driving hovercraft pilot - cctv footage
10, October 2014·1 min read

Video of ‘Drunk driver’ Hovercraft Pilot attempting landing

Watch the video footage shown in court of the attempted landing incident that resulted in the ‘Drunk driver’ Hovercraft Pilot going to prison today.
Hovercraft
10, October 2014·1 min read

Hovercraft pilot jailed for ‘drunk driving’ had flown multiple journeys, MCA

The judge told the pilot the incident was "a grave dereliction of duty and your actions could have resulted in tragedy"
Prison bars
10, October 2014·1 min read

‘Drunk driving’ Hovercraft Pilot sentenced to jail (Update 3)

After pleading guilty in September to drunk driving, the Hovercraft pilot today was sentenced in Newport.
Hovertravel terminal
16, September 2014·1 min read

Hover pilot admits to being over the alcohol limit

The Crown Court heard the 50 year old pleading guilty to being over the alcohol limit whilst in charge of Hovercraft. He now awaits sentencing.
Island Express
12, August 2014·1 min read

Hovercraft pilot in court after being charged for being over the alcohol limit

The 50 year old pilot now faces a preliminary hearing at the Crown Court in September.
Island Express
10, July 2014·1 min read

Hover pilot who was ‘taken ill’ arrested for being over alcohol limit

Passengers were originally told the pilot had been taken ill. He was arrested by police after being found to be over the alcohol limit.
Island Express
22, June 2014·1 min read

Hovercraft pilot ‘taken seriously ill’ (updated)

The Pilot was unconscious when taken off the craft, a passenger tells OnTheWight. Our thoughts are with their family and the Hovertravel staff.
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