Inscription on Daphne's bench

Memorial bench, handcrafted by great nephew, now in place for all to enjoy

This week, has seen a happy and very welcome ‘coming-together’ of a Ventnor community fund-raising and memorial project known as Daphne’s Bench. It heralds the culmination of three years’ planning and work, since the passing of a much beloved local lady, Daphne Carter.

Daphne, as those who knew her will remember, lived for a considerable time in Dudley Rd, and was one of the town’s many colourful characters. She lived a quiet life, but was nonetheless passionate about her garden, Art and Community health and projects.

Daphne's bench

She was once herself an Art therapist in the earlier days of its pioneering benefits. She never failed to keep her interests going on that score, and was writing about her experiences and her life memoirs for her wider family up to her death.

Love affair with the town
Daphne was involved in the Community Cafe projects, and had been a keen active local photographer and amateur sound recordist for the duration of her life in Ventnor.

The view from Daphne's bench

Her photographic albums, in particular, were testament to a love affair with the town she had eventually retired to, and with the people and events that were endemic to life here.

Photo collection donated to the Library
Shortly before Daphne died, she had kindly donated her albums to the Library and, in conjunction with John Carter and the Heritage Centre, funding was acquired to digitise her photos which could be considered a valuable social-historic documentary of the ever-changing face of a local seaside community, alongside the more static but iconic Victorian features of the town.

John Carter fitting Daphne's bench

Handcrafted by great nephew
Daphne’s bench lovingly handcrafted and carved by her great nephew Ed, is now situated in a beautiful and accessible spot, ideal for Winter Sunsets. It lies at the bottom of the Dudley Rd steps, leading down on to the coastal path, thus on the seaward side of Salisbury Gardens (below the Council offices). It has been carved out of oak and sweet chestnut, so should need no maintenance and will silver down nicely.

A QR Code has also been placed on one side, which will enable mobile phone users (once tapped on), to access Daphne’s photos on the ‘Ventnor Remembered’ website.

The view from Daphne's bench

Enjoy a few peaceful moments there
So, do enjoy a few peaceful moments there….and, who knows….you may see yourself, family or friends, in a photo that will hopefully jog wonderful memories! Happy Musing, everyone!

Support
Thanks, for helping me to bring the project together, go to:

Ventnor Town Council, Brian (our stalwart TC handyman ), Nick Cook, John Carter, Peter Ewbank and Lucy Boynton (photographer)……and, of course, all those who knew and loved Daphne as a friend, and those who kindly contributed to the fundraising.

A big Thankyou to you all! Here’s to a Merry Christmas, and a much brighter, healthier year ahead!


News shared by Fran Parnell-Thomas in her own words. Ed

Advertisement
Subscribe
Email updates?
2 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
The Eponymous Cowherd
24, May 2011 12:34 pm

I wish, just wish, that Pugh would just tell the truth. Its about saving money, nothing more, nothing less.

Asite2c
Reply to  The Eponymous Cowherd
24, May 2011 12:54 pm

The letter looks like a standard council reply that has been thought up and written by somebody high up in the back office.

It’s no wonder very few people have any trust in politicians these days when they continually spin and distort the truth.

Vix
24, May 2011 12:42 pm

I’ve read that. And read it again. And – for once – I agree with him!

Senior Service
Reply to  Vix
24, May 2011 12:58 pm

Including the bit about looking at the anomaly of children from South and West Wight that have to go to school in Newport anyway? I’m pleased that he has recognized that part of the issue.

Wendy V
Reply to  Vix
24, May 2011 2:09 pm

Have to agree – and am equally surprised! Incidentally, on the issue of there being no “leave things as they are” option on the consultation preferences, that also happened with the consultation about school reorganisation; there was no option to retain the current middle schools. That didn’t stop the reorganisation going ahead. I also remember that we never had any choice at all as to whether we… Read more »

Sailor Sam
24, May 2011 1:01 pm

I’m not a big fan of Mr Pugh but on this occasion i think his response is open, fair and common sence. Let me put it this way; us parents whose children don’t qualify for free school travel who are in the same catchment situation as the CTK parents, should start a campaing to get our children free travel IF their concession remains in place. Otherwise we… Read more »

EinsteinsGhost
Reply to  Sailor Sam
24, May 2011 1:42 pm

You may well get your wish Sailor Sam. I totally support the withdrawing of this unfair subsidy. That said, you can almost guarantee some parents will play the ‘discrimination’ card. Theirs no way of knowing, but I do wonder how many of the parents who are/will complain actually have a religious bone in their bodies, or or they one of the many who became Christians over-night when… Read more »

Senior Service
Reply to  EinsteinsGhost
24, May 2011 6:19 pm

And why would they do that? (Lie to try and get into CTK)

wight portal
24, May 2011 3:41 pm

You no longer have to be a bible thumper to get into CTK like back in my day when the Carisbrooke Vicar decided who would and wouldn’t be allowed to go to Wellington Road Middle as it was, depending on who turned up to his sermons. Both me and my brother ended up at Nodehill because of this.

wight portal
24, May 2011 3:46 pm

Suddenly a lot of the parents started to go to church regularly. Mind you Nodehill having the cane back then might of made some of the kids push their parents into going.

John Ward
24, May 2011 4:15 pm

Surely by doing this some parents will be forced to pull their children from CTK to goto more local school, isn’t there already a problem of over subscribed schools with all the schools being closed? And correct me if i am wrong but werent the faith sector of schools urged to be in a central location with the proviso of getting free travel, now it is all… Read more »

Sailor Sam
Reply to  John Ward
24, May 2011 4:40 pm

If anything the ‘goal posts’ certianly do need to be moved. I pose the question to you John that I have posed to others; why should I pay for my son to trvael to his chosen school (which is out of our catchement area), when there are other children getting free travel? If free travel is available to one section of school children but not others, then… Read more »

John Ward
Reply to  Sailor Sam
24, May 2011 5:17 pm

Because as i see it, (and this is where i say correct me if i am wrong) The council wanted faith schools to be in a central point so that pupils could get to them from anywhere on the Island, And agreed to pay fares to get to those schools. Personally i would rather see all pupils going to any school to have a bus pass from… Read more »

Vix
Reply to  John Ward
24, May 2011 5:29 pm

From the 3 options above, it is possible that pupils already at CTK would get subsidised travel until they finish school. It’s also possible that if a student is more than 3 miles from carisbrooke or medina or any other high school (highly possible) then they would still qualify for free travel to CTK.

Sailor Sam
Reply to  Vix
24, May 2011 5:57 pm

I havn’t got a problem with CTK children getting free school travel providing the same concessions apply to all other children going to other schools. But everyone knows that is never going to happen and it is unjust to expect the LA to pick up the tab for children’s bus travel when parents choose to send them to a school further away than their nearest one. It… Read more »

John Ward
Reply to  Sailor Sam
24, May 2011 6:23 pm

Then the answer is open more faith schools over the island, but we all know that given the way this council is closing and selling everything that isnt going to happen either. I am sure faith pupils and parents would much rather goto a school closer to home but they can’t. It is their right to be able to send their kids to faith schools as much… Read more »

Wendy V
Reply to  John Ward
24, May 2011 7:46 pm

Personally all I want are good, non-selective local schools. Selection, on whatever measure – including on the basis of faith – tends to undermine the other schools that are not selective, so becomes divisive.

adrian nicholas
24, May 2011 5:29 pm

Suprisingly have to agree with Pugh on equitable school travel commonsense statement although the economics underpinning transport and infrastructure are rather less commonsense and savings and real vfm and cost effieciency in practice at consequential odds with stated objective which are short term and inequitable for common isladers by result. Neverthesless, the equitable commonsense part should be recalled when the inequitous economic and social consequences impact further… Read more »

John Dale
27, May 2011 3:48 pm

Mr Pugh is totally correct in what he says, but it does not surprise me in the slightest that the religious seem to think they should get special treatment. If I were to choose to send my child to (for example) Carisbrook because of its emphasis on sports, and my neighbour were to send theirs to (for example) CTK because of its religious affiliation, why should my… Read more »

YarmouthLee
17, June 2011 10:25 pm

Right ok then, lets open a secondary school in the West Wight so the children here can walk to school! The kids in the West Wight have no choice in travelling on a bus everyday to get to school, unless parents drive them in. I believe any child who is that far away from school should get free bus travel, simple as! If the council cannot provide… Read more »

reCaptcha Error: grecaptcha is not defined