Following her work experience with On The Wight in the summer, journalism student Rosie Saban, returns for our 2012 recap. Ed
March sprang into action with a bundle of events and occurrences.
Volunteers took to the sandy shores of Grange Chine to remove 459kg of rubbish during the big spring beach clean as part of the national initiative Surfers against Sewage.
Free Art Fridays was launched on the Island, with the clue pretty much in the name the project consists of pieces of art being hidden on Fridays that the lucky finder can then keep.
Sporting talent
12-year-old Kieran O’Reilly fulfilled every young boys dream when he was signed by professional scooter team Grit Scooters.
The Olympic torch list was revealed for the Isle of Wight stretch.
MP Andrew Turner encouraged primary school children to take part in the national competition to invent and design a new sport for the year 2050.
Ryde Castle fire
The iconic Ryde Castle caught alight and continued to burn for hours on end, causing terrible damage and a lot of heart ache both for the owners, and for couples with weddings booked at the hotel.
New Isle of Wight community radio station Wight Island Radio was launched.
One man and his fridge took on the four corners of the Island in four days as Jono White hitchhiked with his friendly appliance to raise money for Cancer Research.
50ft Lego tower
The Island branch of the National Autistic Society invited schools and groups to come and help build a 50ft lego ladder as part of their new event Reach High for Autism in celebration of 50 years of the National Autistic Society and to mark World Autism Awareness Day.
The Island fire service received a boost when the council secured a £1 million grant for two new high tech incident command centres.
Plans for Ventnor Botanic Garden were revealed by preferred bidders, John and Mylene Curtis (who have since taken over the gardens).
