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  • Culture
    Culture
    Lily Blacksell performing on stage at Glastonbury

    Ventnor Fringe to host high-energy poetry show championing overlooked voices and unsung songs

    Gem Bell's pictorial history of Isle of Wight Festival made up of collage of different musicians who have played there

    Isle of Wight artist’s pictorial history of the festival comes to Dimbola this summer

    Visitors at 'Translating Frequencies639', All Saints’ Church, Calbourne, 2025. Photo Credit Pete Johnstone

    Acclaimed sound installation returns to Calbourne church as part of Biosphere Festival

    Medina Community Choir members

    Medina Community Choir marks 20 years with Island concerts and France tour

    Two women performing on stage with rope entwining them

    Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to host walk-through circus programme across two evenings

  • 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.

    Lily Blacksell performing on stage at Glastonbury

    Ventnor Fringe to host high-energy poetry show championing overlooked voices and unsung songs

    Gem Bell's pictorial history of Isle of Wight Festival made up of collage of different musicians who have played there

    Isle of Wight artist’s pictorial history of the festival comes to Dimbola this summer

    Visitors at 'Translating Frequencies639', All Saints’ Church, Calbourne, 2025. Photo Credit Pete Johnstone

    Acclaimed sound installation returns to Calbourne church as part of Biosphere Festival

    Medina Community Choir members

    Medina Community Choir marks 20 years with Island concerts and France tour

    Two women performing on stage with rope entwining them

    Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to host walk-through circus programme across two evenings

  • Sustainability
    Sustainability

    If you want to find out more about sustainability and the issues that affect our environment, you’re in the right place.

    Whether it’s details of changes you can make at home, or at your business or work, we lay out the facts and let you share your opinion.

    Below are articles relating to sustainability and green issues on the Isle of Wight.

    Volunteers planting at Calshot Restoration Site

    Record number of seagrass seeds planted in Solent this spring in major restoration effort

    Lucia Para sitting by beach painting

    Isle of Wight Biosphere Festival programme returns with more than 100 events across the Island

    Chris Packham and others in the People's Emergency Briefing film

    Green Room to screen People’s Emergency Briefing film with post-show discussion

  • Community
    Community
    The St Catherine's tuck shop stall at Isle of Wight Festival

    St Catherine’s School brings charity stall to Isle of Wight Festival

    Volunteer at Ventnor Fringe Festival

    Ventnor Fringe seeks volunteers for 2026: Join the ‘festival family’

    Pride in Place set up at Department

    Drop-in sessions offer Ryde community a say on neighbourhood funding priorities

    New site for Citizens Advice

    Citizens Advice Isle of Wight relocates to Exchange House in Newport after County Hall departure

    lots of five pound and twenty pound notes sterling cash money

    Next week’s Island Independent Lifeboat Lotto jackpot reaches £3,900

  • News
    News
    Head Brewer Josh Davies, left and David Yates (Jnr)

    ‘Old Man Yatesy’ ale keeps Isle of Wight brewery founder’s legacy alive for hospice charity

    Gem Bell's pictorial history of Isle of Wight Festival made up of collage of different musicians who have played there

    Isle of Wight artist’s pictorial history of the festival comes to Dimbola this summer

    Visitors at 'Translating Frequencies639', All Saints’ Church, Calbourne, 2025. Photo Credit Pete Johnstone

    Acclaimed sound installation returns to Calbourne church as part of Biosphere Festival

    Medina Community Choir members

    Medina Community Choir marks 20 years with Island concerts and France tour

    Two women performing on stage with rope entwining them

    Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to host walk-through circus programme across two evenings

    Flight Lieutenant Barry Simpson Herridge Wadham in uniform

    Remembering Cowes-born Lancaster pilot killed just weeks before the end of WWII

    County Hall

    New Isle of Wight councillors complete induction ahead of first meetings

    The St Catherine's tuck shop stall at Isle of Wight Festival

    St Catherine’s School brings charity stall to Isle of Wight Festival

    Members of the WWSCC lifeguard team, from left, Ian McAndrew, Deacon Hapgood, Jack Pickford and Elden Clevett

    Local children to learn life-saving water skills during national Drowning Prevention Week

    home educated girl working at table with computer by Annie Spratt

    Island has highest rate of home education in England, new figures suggest

    Isle of Wight council offices - County Hall building

    Isle of Wight Council to debate no confidence vote in Southern Water

    Volunteer at Ventnor Fringe Festival

    Ventnor Fringe seeks volunteers for 2026: Join the ‘festival family’

    Pier Street Toilets

    Town council takes on Pier Street regeneration challenge

    Pride in Place set up at Department

    Drop-in sessions offer Ryde community a say on neighbourhood funding priorities

    gurnard parish council meeting

    Gurnard parking problems described as ‘biggest issue’ facing residents

    Photo of J B Priestly on a ferry called Saga

    New Dimbola exhibition explores J.B. Priestley’s Isle of Wight years

  • 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.

    traffic information sign at side of road

    Fairlee Road one-way system returns for Isle of Wight Festival week

    gurnard parish council meeting

    Gurnard parking problems described as ‘biggest issue’ facing residents

    one-network road closures map

    Checking before you travel could save you time and frustration: Isle of Wight roadworks map

    teenagers on a bus

    Isle of Wight families set to save thousands under Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme

    Towngate Bridge, Newport

    Weight restrictions lifted on seven Isle of Wight bridges

    Quay wall at the ferry terminal

    Red Funnel submits plans to repair failing quay wall near ferry terminal

    General highway maintenance signage

    Fairlee Road night works to improve two sections of Newport road next month

    Steve Cooper at community meeting

    Ventnor Town Council renews community bus contract and freshens up public conveniences

    Two Hovertravel craft at Ryde

    New hovercraft route linking Lee-on-Solent with the Isle of Wight begins trial this summer

    staff with cockroaches

    Cowes cleaner discovers box of Madagascan hissing cockroaches during town round

    new green electric bus

    Isle of Wight’s new electric bus fleet cuts emissions by 75 per cent

    Joe Robertson speaking in parliament

    Isle of Wight East MP raises £511 Solent ferry fare in Commons energy debate

    road closed sign laying flat on the road

    Daytime closure of road between Brading and Ryde this week

    Electric cars lined up in the car park

    Wight Community Energy brings Going Electric back to Newport for fifth year

    Class 444 Train Platform 18

    Faulty radio system causes widespread train disruption across southern England

    Red Jet coming into harbour at night

    Red Funnel launches late-night Red Jet charter service for Isle of Wight travellers

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  • 15, June 2026
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Mary Ellis, WWII Pilot

Mary Ellis had her first flying lesson in August 1938 and was later trained to fly fighters and bombers. She served as a First Officer in the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) during the Second World War.

Flying over 400 Spitfires and Seafires, Mary achieved an impressive record of aircraft flown and was also Commandant of Sandown Airport for twenty years from 1950.

In February 2017, Mary celebrated her 100th birthday by going for a ride in a Spitfire (and taking the controls).

January 2018, Mary was awarded the Freedom of the Isle of Wight.

Sadly Mary passed away on 24th July 2018. Below are some of the articles about her.

Mary Ellis in a spitfire - Cam-Ara
3, May 2022·1 min read

Mary Ellis featured on BBC R4 as new Royal Mail stamps celebrating the ‘Spitfire Women’ launched

The Isle of Wight's Spitfire heroine, Mary Ellis, was featured on BBC R4 today in advance of the release of four Royal Mail stamps celebrating the ‘Spitfire Women’
mary ellis
5, September 2018·1 min read

Mary Ellis to be honoured at Memorial Service with Spitfire flyby

She delivered over 1,000 aircraft on her own during WW2 to the RAF – including Spitfires and Wellington Bombers – equipped with only a compass, stopwatch and map to find the airfields. Later this month, the amazing Mary Ellis will be remembered at a Memorial Service with Spitfire Flyby.
Mary Ellis talking to Stan Baker by Graham Reading Photography
26, July 2018·1 min read

Who was Mary Ellis? WW2 Spitfire pilot (Video)

Mary Ellis, one of the last WWII 'Spitfire Girls', was a truly remarkable woman. Read about her considerable achievements.
mary ellis
26, July 2018·3 min read

Mary Ellis, WW2 Spitfire pilot, passes away aged 101 on the Isle of Wight

Thoughts go out to Mary's family and friends at this very sad time. She was an inspiration to many and her legacy will continue as her memory lives on.
Benedetta and Hurricane 2 - cropped
9, July 2018·1 min read

Time for Benedetta to be recognised as one of first women to get RAF Wings

Benedetta Willis of Bembridge was one of the first five ex-ATA women pilots who their full RAF Wings in the 1950s. A documentary is planned to highlight this fantastic achievement.
Wight Aviation Museum - Design Concept
6, March 2018·4 min read

‘The Beagle has landed’ at the Wight Aviation Museum

The Scottish Aviation Beagle Bulldog 120 G-CCOA has become the first exhibit at the new Wight Aviation Museum, opening this summer at Sandown Airport. Find out how to share your aviation memorabilia.
mary ellis in the council chamber
17, January 2018·2 min read

Mary Ellis, WWII Pilot, given Freedom of the Isle of Wight: Watch Video

The extraordinary former WWII pilot, Mary Ellis, has been granted to the Freedom of the Isle of Wight. The long campaign to honour her has paid off.
mary ellis
17, January 2018·2 min read

Council consider Freedom of the Wight for former WWII pilot Mary Ellis

In a remarkable - and very welcome - u-turn on what OnTheWight had been told by the Isle of Wight council's Head of Legal, members will tonight consider granting Mary Ellis with Freedom of the Isle of Wight.
mary ellis
22, November 2017·2 min read

Mary Ellis ‘Freedom of the Isle of Wight’ campaign looks like it’s winning!

It's fantastic to see that the OnTheWight campaign to award Wartime Spitfire pilot Mary Ellis the Freedom of the Isle of Wight looks like it is coming to fruition.
Mary Ellis and Alison Hill
26, September 2017·1 min read

Mary Ellis, Isle of Wight centenarian WWII pilot, receives more honours

The honours keep coming for Isle of Wight Centenarian, former WWII Spitfire pilot, Mary Ellis.
mary ellis
23, February 2017·1 min read

Let’s give Mary Ellis, former WWII pilot, Freedom of the Wight: Sign the petition now!

We all remember the love that went out to Mary Ellis, Isle of Wight's inspirational former WWII pilot, when she turned 100. She gave so much - Now there's something we can all do for her: Sign this petition to have her honoured with the Freedom of the Island.
Mary Ellis Air Pilots cert 3A cropped
2, February 2017·1 min read

Birthday wishes to Isle of Wight centenarian, Mary Ellis (updated)

Many happy returns to the inspirational WWII female pilot, Mary Ellis, who celebrates her 100th birthday today.
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