IW council share this latest news. Ed
His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex is to carry out a number of engagements on the Isle of Wight, when he visits later this month.
The Earl of Wessex will officially open the Isle of Wight Literary Festival at Northwood House in Cowes on Friday 14 October. His Royal Highness will meet the event organisers and trustees who will explain the origins of the festival and the programme of events before being introduced to volunteers and visiting Blackwell’s Book Shop and the Jazz Café.
His Royal Highness will then visit the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes where he will meet the trustees of the newly formed Royal Yacht Squadron, Isle of Wight Foundation, of which he is Patron.
Next stop Newport
The Royal party will then travel to Newport to visit Newport Minster, where His Royal Highness will be updated on the church’s restoration works and ongoing fundraising appeal.
Next, His Royal Highness will visit Isle of Wight Radio, where he will meet staff and presenters and learn about the work being carried out at the station after broadcasting for 25 years on the Island.
On to Quarr
The Earl of Wessex will then visit Quarr Abbey, where he will attend a short service. Following a private lunch he will tour the Abbey and gardens, viewing the new visitor centre and gift shop, a new paraplegic facility which has been provided by the Friends of Quarr, the Southern Housing allotments and hen rescue unit before visiting the abbey’s farm shop containing produce from the gardens.
Before departing, His Royal Highness will be invited to lay the first brick for the rebuilding of the garden wall, a project funded by the Friends of Quarr, which continue to raise funds for its completion.
Visiting the Villa
Finally, His Royal Highness will visit Brading Roman Villa, of which he is Patron. The Earl will be invited to view designs for new interpretation panels in the museum before being shown the masks exhibition. He will also be updated on a craft project Brading Roman Villa is undertaking with the Island’s prisons and view prisoner’s artwork submitted for the Koestler prize.
Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Major General Martin White CB CBE JP, said:
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming The Earl of Wessex back to the Isle of Wight. He has a busy day of engagements across the Island, finding out more about the wonderful work which is being undertaken on our Island.”
Image: hfdscouncil under CC BY 2.0
