Yesterday we brought you part one of a visitor’s impressions of a return trip to the Isle of Wight. Today, he travels on from Blackgang to Ventnor and gives us his views on how the Island has changed. Ed
On to Ventnor …. Man, was I keen to go back and find the St. Maur Hotel and see how it had changed.
I never knew where it actually was in Ventnor, but the trusty iPhone guided us in.
As I knocked on the door a familiar face came to open it – David Groocock, the present owner and son of the owners back in the day.
I remember him well and he remembered us…well, he remembered my Dad being in the bar! Fair enough, we did spend a good few nights in there I suppose and I have no clue how long Dad stayed in there after I’d gone to bed.
David showed me around and despite refurbishment, it still felt like I remembered it.
As we hit the beach I said to Jackie that it “must’ve shrunk”, because I’m sure it was wider and longer than it appeared in front of me now.
The rest of the day we toured the north of the Island, but we didn’t get to Robin Hill, which was a shame, but then again I’m not 13 anymore.
I was quite amazed at how little had changed in 25 years.
Sure, places have been updated – new rides at Blackgang and more stuff to do at Alum Bay – but under the surface the Isle of Wight is just the same and just as enticing.
It’s for different reasons now than in 1985, but I still find that my enthusiasm for the place is unwavering.
They say that change is for the better, but tell that to the locals in Blackpool or other less fortunate seaside towns that now rely on stag and hen weekends. Would anyone want that for Ventnor or Shanklin or Ryde?
Maybe it goes on, I’m not sure, but that’s not the impression I got.
No, the Island has updated itself, yet kept all it’s understated charm intact and surely should continue to draw a more discerning crowd.
And yet, updating is being done in the right ways, at least to my eyes. David Groocock at the St. Maur was telling me about the various events that happen throughout the year.
Bestival, cycling, walking plus more that I can’t recall. And it seems that there is another opportunity for the Island in that it could become a serious destination for extreme sports fanatics.
I missed White Air by a couple of days and being a keen kiter was a little peeved. But it is exactly this kind of modernisation that the Island should strive for…in keeping with it’s character and not cheapening it in search of easy money.
If White Air is to move to Brighton, I think it would be a huge shame.
So, just a few hours have re-ignited my love for the Isle of Wight. I’ll be back next year for a few days I hope and I’ll be checking straight into the St. Maur and getting more acquainted with the progress of the last 25 years.
Paul Carruthers, 13 going on 36.
