Isle of Wight Day is back!

The celebration of all things Island is returning this September and Lord Lieutenant Susie Sheldon is determined it will be a weekend of fun, Covid-19 remembrance and thanks to remember.

The remembrance will come in the form of a service at Newport Minster to start off the weekend of events on Friday, September 10.

Conducted by IW Archdeacon, The Ven Peter Leonard, the service will specially remember the 300 Islanders lost through Covid over the past 16 months.

Mrs Sheldon said, “It is particularly appropriate this year we should all get together for Isle of Wight Day.

"The last year and a half has been very tough but we have much to celebrate.

"The Island community has shown how it can pull together and Isle of Wight Day this year is especially highlighting, and thanking, our many volunteers.

The following day, Saturday, September 11, will see the return of the annual Isle of Wight Day celebrations, when all Island residents are encouraged to come together to celebrate the Island, with this year’s focus on thanking the thousands of volunteers who have supported us through the pandemic.

Island communities are encouraged to stage their own local events across the Island but the centre of the celebrations will once more be at Carisbrooke Castle.

Island residents will only need to pay £1 for entry to the castle grounds for this Family Fun Day, with coronavirus volunteers having free entry.

More details of the Fun Day will be announced in the coming weeks.

The weekend will continue on Sunday, September 12, with the staging of the Mountbatten Walk the Wight, one of the largest walks of its kind.

The event was rescheduled from its regular date in May because of Covid restrictions and this year Mountbatten is hoping for a record-breaking turnout for this annual fundraiser.

The finale of the weekend will be the annual Songs of Praise concert, with the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra and choirs, at Cowes Enterprise College on the afternoon of September 12.

Robin Courage, founder, said “Isle of Wight Day was always designed as a day of celebration for our wonderful Island and this year’s special day will also provide an opportunity for all our communities to come together to say a huge thank you to the thousands of incredible volunteers, who have done so much to help us to get through this very difficult time.

"Massive thanks also to David Bailey and his team at English Heritage for making entry to the wonders of Carisbrooke Castle affordable to all Islanders on this special day.”

Community Action Isle of Wight is helping Isle of Wight Day to provide a thank you to volunteers.

CEO Mike Bulpitt said: “The Island always benefits from the huge commitment of volunteers, year in year out, but the Covid crisis has seen an even greater response, which needs to be recognised and celebrated”.

Nigel Hartley CEO of Mountbatten, said: “When we were forced to reschedule this year’s Walk the Wight we did not expect it to coincide with the Isle of Wight Day celebrations, so we are hugely grateful to the Lord Lieutenant for arranging for this fitting weekend of remembrance and celebrations”.