Hip hip hooray for Westminster Day!

A big thank you to everyone who took part in Westminster Day – by all accounts, our day in the City was a Capital success™. If you’ve missed all the local and national media coverage then here’s a quick recap. Representatives from Ventnor were invited to the House of Commons on 17 October 2013, as guests of Visit Isle of Wight and Andrew Turner MP. We were the only town from the Island, which was quite a coup. Our mission was to showcase the best the Island could offer. We did that by displaying a range of locally sourced products in a magnificent beach hut, constructed by Paul Hutchins from the Windsor-Carlton. Paul: you nailed it.

Our team handed out postcards highlighting the culture and glamour of our town – and nabbed everyone in sight with our colourful Love Ventnor stickers. We also promoted our competition with The Hambrough. Our display included a fabulous knitted beach and deckchair made by the Woolly Minded craft group (they meet in the library every Wednesday afternoon). Some images from the day are shown at the bottom of this page.

Flying the flag for our town were members of the Ventnor Business Association, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ventnor, Ventnor Fringe and the Isle of Arts. Other exhibitors included Osborne House, Isle of Wight Radio, Red Funnel, Wightlink, a giant dinosaur and Queen Victoria with her encourage.

You can hear Bob Ventress, the Chair of the VBA, discussing the day with Paul Topping from Isle of Wight Radio by clicking on the link at the end of this article.

I’ve just been having a look at your Ventnor stand, which must be one the most impressive right here! I’m loving the whole look of Ventnor. Ventnor really has seen a resurgence over the past few years.
Paul Topping, Isle of Wight Radio

We would particularly like to thank Ann Hutchins who coordinated our effort, and Linda Chester for all her hard work. Plus a massive well done to Bob and Wendy Ventress, and Sue and Chris Cooper – guys, you stole the show. We are also grateful to Jason Mack, the Councillor from Lowertherville, whose images from the day kept us all entertained on Twitter (@LoveVentnorUK).

Bob Ventress, Chair of the Ventnor Business Association, is delighted with how the day went. He says: “Our model beach hut caused much attention and comment, and drew attention to the quality and diversity of our town. The exhibition was attended by MPs, Ministers, Lords, Ladies, the media and investors. All were encouraged to ‘LoveVentnor’ with our unique stickers inspired by our super website.

“Thanks to Lindsay and Catherine from Words&Stuff for their inspiration. And I’d also like to give a special mention to the IW shortbreads, baked by Ventnor Country Market, they were nectar and much sought after.”

“The whole experience was positive, with comment from MPs and Lords that the Isle of Wight exhibition was the best that they had in those rooms – in their words it was ‘buzzing’”.

“Many thanks to all the Members and businesses who contributed.”