The world-renowned Dimbola Museum and Galleries on the Isle of Wight is set to be on the route of the final stage of the Tour of Britain on 11th September.
To mark the occasion, the famous Jimi Hendrix statue situated in their gardens will be getting into the spirit, with an ‘Ezy Ryder’ makeover of Lycra® and bike helmet – just as Jimi would have wanted.
Hippies and Victorian gentry
The iconic statue, commissioned in 2006 by Isle of Wight Festival organiser John Giddings in tribute to Jimi’s iconic performance at the 1970 festival (52 years ago this month), will be joined by a crowd of well-wishers dressed-up as hippies and Victorian gentry to wave on the cyclists as they come through the area on the day.
Giddings: A momentous occasion for the Island
Giving his blessing to the makeover, Giddings commented,
“I am very happy to lend the rock ‘n’ roll spirit of Jimi Hendrix to what is a momentous occasion for the Island.”
Hinton: A man for all seasons
Brian Hinton, Chair of Dimbola says,
“Jimi is now immortal, a man for all seasons, and it is lovely to dress him up to celebrate cultural and sporting events in the vicinity of the Afton site, where he very much helped put the West Wight on the map, as did Mrs Cameron and Alfred Lord Tennyson a century earlier.”
Broadcast to the world
With less than 30 days until the UK’s leading cycling event becomes the biggest sporting event to ever take place on the Island and promotes it to an international audience.
Over 100 of the world’s best riders will tackle a 148.9km (92.6mi) stage that begins on Ryde Esplanade (11am) and culminates at The Needles (approximately 2:25pm) on Sunday 11th September.
The route will pass through Bembridge, Sandown, Freshwater, Yarmouth, Cowes, Newport, Shanklin, Ventnor and Freshwater Bay.
See News OnTheWight’s Tour of Britain Isle of Wight archive for more information.
News shared by Jasleen on behalf of Isle of Wight Festival. Ed
Image: london road under CC BY 2.0
