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00:00Four miles south of mainland Britain sits a diamond in the Solent, an island
00:10paradise blessed with golden beaches. Who wouldn't want to look after something
00:17as beautiful as this? Verdant forests, ancient valleys and chalk white cliffs.
00:26It's a land steeped in rich history. I love the location here, I look at the view
00:33it's fantastic. Farmed by ancient civilizations. It's a Roman coin, it's about
00:391700 years old. Favoured by kings and queens. This is where King Charles used to
00:46apparently stay. And today home to a thriving community. Proud of their
00:53heritage. The high sheriff. Madame. And tradition.
01:00Every year millions visit these shores. To step back in time. Immerse in the culture.
01:10Every year you say Yemen. Yemen. And experience the raw power of nature.
01:19Welcome to an island of old memories. You're touching history. It's a lovely feeling.
01:26And new stories. It's just so different compared to the mainland. Welcome to the Isle of Wight.
01:40It's the height of summer and the island is basking in a prolonged spell of glorious sunshine.
01:51Along the lush green cliff tops, seabirds circle lazily on warm flurries of summer air.
01:58While down below, holiday memories are being forged as families weave happily along the chalky
02:05coastal pathways. Exploring this beautiful landscape is an adventure through time. Breathing in the rich
02:13history and tradition with every new turn. And for one proud islander, it's local tradition which has
02:20given him a livelihood. A few miles west of Newport, Master Thatcher, Darcy Monsa, is working on a 300-year-old cottage
02:32with wingman Trevor and Maisie, his beloved miniature schnauzer.
02:39Maisie's role today is the chief dog watch. So she'll keep an eye on us. She lets me know when it's tea break.
02:48I started thatching by accident. I was working in a local pub. A couple of Thatchers came in.
02:53Once later, I was with them. It really is that simple.
02:59Three decades on, his craftsmanship is keeping the local heritage of Thatch alive and healthy.
03:06I love living on the island. I was born here. I did move away. And like a lot of islanders, I came straight back.
03:13So I moved away as a youngster, came back when I was 18, and I've stayed there ever since.
03:19And who could blame him? Working above ground in this landscape has some spectacular fringe benefits.
03:26I love the location here. I look at the view. It's fantastic. We've got all of the west white here and the downs as well.
03:33Go up on the top of the roof and you can see the Solent. You can see the mainland. You can see the needles just over there.
03:39Well, not everyone gets a view.
03:47On this job here, we're re-thatching the front of the roof and obviously the ridge that goes with it.
03:54Thatching is actually the oldest known building crafter for lots. It's actually international, but there is a distinct English or British taste to what we do.
04:02We have our own various techniques and styles which are very much in keeping with local tradition.
04:09Darcy is one of three island-based master thatchers. It's a responsibility he doesn't take lightly.
04:17Some of our properties date from the 1500s.
04:21You are really dealing with archaeology, so you have to look after the properties, definitely.
04:25But working high up does come with its downsides.
04:29Making hay while the sun shines isn't easy, especially in the sweltering heat of summer.
04:35Not only do we get the heat from above, we also get it from below.
04:39If we're actually on the roof itself, the natural thatch itself will heat up and you'll get all that heat coming straight off of it.
04:45It's a bit of a nightmare.
04:47Things might be hotting up on this roof, but with a long waiting list of locals desperate for his services,
04:53it's never a dog day afternoon for Darcy.
04:56Along the north shores of the island, the shimmering blue waters of the Solent
05:04are an enticing playground for the many holidaymakers who are making the most of the summer heatwave.
05:10At the very northern tip lies a historic town of cows,
05:16once the beloved holiday retreat of Queen Victoria,
05:19and still home to one of the most famous sailing regattas in the world.
05:23It's a tourist haven, and for local B&B owners Carl and David,
05:28the perfect location to start a new life together when they moved here over 30 years ago.
05:34I'm very good at my breakfast, you know.
05:36David might be a trolley-dolley that flies in the sky,
05:39but when it comes to breakfast, he's got absolutely no idea.
05:44Well, it's also called delegation, darling.
05:46We first came to the Isle of Wight from Yorkshire,
05:51and I got an interview here to do a youth and community job.
05:56I don't think Carl knew really where the Isle of Wight was.
06:00I didn't.
06:01I knew, but I don't think Carl did.
06:02I thought we were going somewhere up Northampton, not Southampton.
06:06East Cows is one of those areas we like to think of as royal east cows, don't we?
06:11Because this is where all the royal family lived in the old days,
06:14and we've still got lots of connections.
06:17It's a great little town, loads of royal heritage.
06:21Am I not royal enough for you?
06:23Well, you are a queen, but not that big, darling.
06:26But running a busy B&B isn't Carl's only job.
06:30He's also the deputy mayor of East Cows.
06:33But I can't begin to tell you just how proud I am of Carl,
06:38because we both come from very humble beginnings,
06:43and to see him representing our town, that's totally accepted us.
06:46It's really quite something, and that's, I think, the ethos of the island.
06:53Right now, breakfast needs serving.
06:56Carl and David are hosting married couple Meryl and Dave from Wales.
07:02Here we go, Dave.
07:03Oh, lovely.
07:04One coffee, one tea, Meryl.
07:07Brilliant. Thank you.
07:07Thank you very much. Can I take these? Is that OK?
07:09We're finished with those.
07:11So, and we'll just come and get your main course over in a second.
07:15Whatever that word boutique is,
07:18we are that, you won't get sauce bottles on our tables,
07:21and you won't get paper napkins.
07:26I'm just getting worried about the softages, David, a bit.
07:29Why? Are you overcooking them?
07:30I think I've overcooked them.
07:33Shall I turn them down a little bit?
07:34Turn them down.
07:35Just smile when you go in.
07:40Sorry, I've just slightly overdone your sausages this morning.
07:43But a full English isn't the only thing on the menu today.
07:47Carl has arranged a special treat for Meryl and Dave,
07:50a VIP tour of East Cowes in Henry, his Tuk Tuk.
07:54Never been on a Tuk Tuk.
07:56I've ridden a motorbike, but never a Tuk Tuk.
07:58Don't give everybody a ride, but some people do get a ride,
08:02and we'll just have a little ride around the town.
08:04Yeah, it's quite fun, really.
08:05Later, the breaks are off on Carl's magical mystery tour.
08:19And stay tuned, because the proms are in town.
08:22And did those feet in ancient time
08:27walk upon England's mountains green?
08:32Oh, that gets me excited.
08:33I love it!
08:34Across the island, the midsummer heat is starting to wane.
08:52In the countryside, the fields are a patchwork of greens and golds,
08:57while late summer blooms add a vibrancy
08:59to parched churchyards and cottage gardens.
09:04But despite the subtle shift in seasons,
09:08the island is busier than ever.
09:10Festivities are in full swing,
09:12including at Northwood House in Cowes,
09:15where final preparations are underway
09:17for the cultural event of the year, the white proms.
09:23I'm particularly excited,
09:24because, of course, we've got six days of shows.
09:27It's our biggest ever festival for our fifth anniversary.
09:30Mike Christie is the driving power behind the proms.
09:35It's a huge undertaking that requires meticulous planning.
09:39But he's not just running the show.
09:42He's also one of the weekend's main acts.
09:45I'll be performing there on Sunday with my mate, G4,
09:49having the best time in my hometown.
09:51I cannot wait.
09:52Mike's been singing professionally since he was eight years old,
09:57but found fame back in 2004 with the chart-topping band G4.
10:03I honestly never thought I would do an event on the Isle of Wight.
10:07I kind of escaped the mainland for a bit of anonymity
10:09and to get away from it,
10:10and I just found the island was so calming.
10:13I just felt like I was always on holiday,
10:14even though I was working hard.
10:15Now a proud resident in the local cows community,
10:19Mike has assembled an army of helpers
10:22to pull off this extraordinary event.
10:25In the run-up to the festival, I do it all single-handedly.
10:29And so it's great this week, I can really delegate,
10:31and that really helps because we set up this whole site in one day,
10:34and that is quite a lot to do.
10:38But the show must go on,
10:40and Maestro Mike knows just the number to get his party started.
10:46And did those feet in ancient time
10:51Walk upon England's mountains green?
10:56Oh, that gets me excited. I love it!
10:59And once he's on a roll,
11:01there's no stopping this chariot of fire.
11:03With only two hours to go,
11:15Mike heads to the main stage
11:17to give the opening act some words of encouragement.
11:22How's it going, guys?
11:23We get into a bit of a rhythm with it, don't we, really?
11:25Just setting them on and it has to be quite a specific order
11:27of how to get into and wear the bright sleeve is and stuff.
11:29Oh, I see.
11:30How's the set up going, Mike? Are you all ready to rock?
11:32Everyone's calm, which is brilliant.
11:33The sun is shining, so it's all good.
11:36Fingers crossed it doesn't rain.
11:37Absolutely. It's not going to rain.
11:38It's going to be fine, isn't it?
11:42A best-selling singer he may be,
11:44but when it comes to predicting the weather,
11:47Mike's not quite as in tune.
11:49Yesterday, when we were setting it up,
11:51it was the most amazing sunshine.
11:52I was sweating so much because it was so, so hot.
11:55We're just over an hour to opening,
11:57and it's starting to rain.
11:58It can all change, can't it, in an hour?
12:00It's all fine.
12:00Just fingers crossed.
12:01We'll see what will happen.
12:09Along the coast,
12:10the warmer waters of late summer
12:12glow bright blue against the shoreline.
12:16With its unique maritime location
12:18and many hours of annual sunshine,
12:21the Isle of Wight benefits from a climate without extremes,
12:24making it remarkably rich in plant life,
12:28which is particularly good news for the island's bee population.
12:34Godshill, on the south of the island,
12:37is the perfect place for beekeeper Mary Case to keep her hives.
12:42In the last few years, beekeeping has got better here
12:51because we've now got farmers growing crops
12:54which are much more suited, like beans,
12:58and also all those nectar strips
12:59which farmers are encouraged to grow
13:01around the field margins,
13:03and they're fantastic for bees,
13:05so it's a win-win situation.
13:07It's been great.
13:09Mary is from Farming Stock,
13:11an 11th generation islander
13:13who can trace her farming family back 300 years here,
13:17but it's the bees that are her pride and joy.
13:20A little bit of smoke to calm the bees down.
13:26When we do that,
13:28you can see that that's just beautifully full of honey.
13:32European honeybee managed to store more honey
13:36than they need through the winter.
13:38We're going to be able to go home and extract some of this
13:41and then be able to put it in the jars.
13:50Only 15 more to go.
13:53Good job, I'm nice and strong.
13:58I think there are some lessons that we as humans could take
14:01from bees, working together, not against each other,
14:05might be a good one.
14:07Having one woman in charge is an interesting phenomenon.
14:14After all that work, the whole season,
14:17now this is really my harvest, you could say,
14:19which is really gratifying
14:22to find the bees have done so well this year.
14:27The wax being scraped off
14:29goes to make candles and beeswax polish.
14:33The frames go into this extractor
14:35where they're spun at speed,
14:37which flings the honey out.
14:39In just a few moments,
14:41the first drops of liquid sunshine appear.
14:45This honey's quite dark-coloured,
14:47so I imagine it's probably come from blackberry.
14:50We could have a taste, couldn't we, and see?
14:54Oh, yeah, that is definitely blackberry.
14:57It's really nice honey.
14:58It's quite red-looking, too.
15:00Delish.
15:01This is a bittersweet harvest for Mary.
15:07The honey she gathers today
15:08will be among the last she ever sells
15:11at the local farmer's market in Newport.
15:14After over two decades,
15:15the market will shut for good.
15:17It'll be sad taking honey only to the shops
15:22and not dealing direct with the customers
15:24because when you deal with the customers direct,
15:27you're able to explain exactly what's going on
15:29rather than just leaving it on the shelf in the shop.
15:33But there you go, that's one of those things.
15:35The farmer's market's coming to an end
15:36and I have to look to the future.
15:39It's the end of an era,
15:44but Mary's hoping her honey
15:46will create one final buzz
15:48before the market gate's shut.
15:55In East Cows, B&B owner Carl Love
15:59is taking his guests Meryl and Dave
16:01on a tour of the local area,
16:03but this is no ordinary taxi ride.
16:06So this is Henry Tuk-Tuk.
16:10He's a supercharged Tuk-Tuk.
16:12Remember, when I touch the brakes,
16:13just make sure you hold on.
16:16There you go.
16:24This is such a laugh, Carl.
16:27First up on the Tuk-Tuk Trek
16:29is a jaunt on the cow's famous floating bridge,
16:33a chain purry that allows safe passage
16:36across the River Medina.
16:40Yeah, finally on.
16:41It's rather hot on here, though,
16:43because it's metal, is this thing.
16:44It radiates the heat.
16:45And we're on and it's exciting.
16:47Yeah, it's good fun.
16:48When we're not moving,
16:49it's a bit like a sauna.
16:55We'll be back in a minute.
16:55As well as his chauffeur duties,
16:58Carl is also deputy mayor of East Cow's.
17:01And with his encyclopedic knowledge of the town he loves,
17:05there's always a tasty Tuk-Tuk tale to tell.
17:08This is where the first speeding ticket
17:12is believed to be issued anywhere in the world.
17:15The policemen stood over there with a flag
17:17and another one at the bottom and a stopwatch,
17:20and they timed it going down
17:21at the principal speed of 17 miles an hour.
17:24That's not as fast as we go.
17:25The monument is just outside the entrance to Osborne House,
17:30the holiday home built for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
17:34Not so much a B&B, more a royal palace.
17:37This is the original entrance
17:39through which Queen Victoria would drive,
17:42and those gates are only opened when we have royal visitors.
17:45Like us?
17:46Like us, except they haven't opened the gates for us, have they?
17:50That's the end of our little tour.
17:51Well, thanks a lot.
17:52Let's get on.
17:53It's been fun.
17:55Lovely.
17:55Yeah.
17:56Bye for now.
18:01Back at Bosun's Lodge,
18:03Rolo the Poodle joins the tour party for a sundowner.
18:09Come here, little boy.
18:11What's this?
18:12Come here.
18:13That's it.
18:13Come on, you're part of the family.
18:14It's a little Rolo doggie.
18:16Sit down.
18:16Sit down.
18:19Certainly a day we didn't imagine having on holiday,
18:21and certainly not a day we could have planned.
18:23Absolutely different.
18:24Unique.
18:25It's been great.
18:26It's been great.
18:26We felt like royalty in the back.
18:28Yeah.
18:28It was...
18:29Celebrity, as you were.
18:30We'd certainly come back.
18:31Yeah.
18:32Absolutely.
18:33Cheers.
18:34Cheers.
18:35Oh.
18:39Later, it's Tuk Tuk Take Two,
18:43when duty calls for Carl.
18:45Have you pass on your belt?
18:46Yeah, yeah.
18:46Yeah, yeah.
18:47Oh.
18:48It's time to go and meet the people,
18:50the good people of Indonesia.
18:53There's a mix-up at the beach hut,
18:55when vital supplies go missing.
18:57So I press the button on the computer,
18:59I was like to order stuff.
19:00I've just found out something's not coming.
19:02And things are hotting up for Hotelier Howard,
19:05as he prepares for his end-of-season blowout.
19:08These big 15-litre bottles,
19:11they take quite a lot of cooling down.
19:13On the most easterly tip of the island,
19:24the waters around Bembridge Harbour
19:26are sparkling in the sunshine.
19:29Yachts and fishing boats sit side by side,
19:32riding the gentle waves
19:33and attracting the attention of passing tourists,
19:37keen to breathe in the essence
19:38of this magical seaside village.
19:42It's a timelessness
19:43that also persuaded local resident Emma Guy
19:46to pursue a long-held dream
19:48of opening a seafood cafe on the beach.
19:53I'd love food.
19:55It's just been a real passion of mine.
19:57My grandad was a chef in the Merchant Navy.
20:00My mum's a great cook.
20:01My nan was a great cook.
20:02So I was always surrounded by it.
20:03And one of the things I really enjoy cooking is seafood.
20:07So when an opportunity came up
20:09between myself and John, my husband,
20:11to be able to buy somewhere,
20:12we just sort of looked for somewhere
20:14that was just going to be perfect for seafood,
20:16which is here.
20:17The Isle of Wight was the annual family holiday destination
20:21before Emma's parents moved here permanently
20:23when she was 14 years old.
20:26She worked away for a time in her 20s,
20:28but her childhood love for the island soon drew her back.
20:32She's now settled in Ryde
20:34with husband John and six-year-old daughter Olivia.
20:37I had a really good, high-powered job in London.
20:42I worked in marketing.
20:44I had a fantastic client, but it was really high pressure.
20:47So I came back to the island.
20:49I had some time off.
20:51I sat with my mum along the beach
20:53and thought, what shall I do?
20:55She followed her dream
20:57and bought a seaside diner in Bembridge.
21:00Here we are.
21:00We're down at Thorlands,
21:02which is our beautiful beach down at Bembridge.
21:05Come on in through the back gate,
21:07past the newly plumbed-in toilets,
21:09and then we come down here
21:11through the sea of umbrellas
21:12to our seating area,
21:14which is the main part of the cafe,
21:17which is beautiful.
21:18We're really lucky today
21:19because the tide's out during the day,
21:21which makes a lot of difference to us
21:22because people can walk to us on a day like today.
21:28There's been a sea change for the family this year.
21:32Husband John has started a new IT job working from home.
21:37I do miss being part of it,
21:39but Emma's now in charge of running the beach up,
21:42and I help out a bit at weekends when I can,
21:44but it's all down to her.
21:45I miss John all the time here.
21:52Don't tell him that, really,
21:53because his head will get big.
22:00Going alone here this summer
22:02has been quite challenging, really.
22:04I've had to change the way I work.
22:09This summer needs to be really successful for us.
22:12We've got a brand-new kitchen,
22:14and that cost a fortune.
22:16And we also put a new roof on the building,
22:18which cost us about £35,000 in total.
22:20But trying to run a successful eatery on her own
22:23is a huge task.
22:28Right, well, thank you for your patience.
22:29Is there anything particularly complicated you would like?
22:31Because we're very good at that today.
22:32As the pressures pile up,
22:37small mistakes can often creep in, too.
22:39Oh, there's supposed to be anchovies on it.
22:41If you just check your delivery note,
22:42I had anchovies on it.
22:44So I pressed the button on the computer last night
22:46to order stuff.
22:47I've just found out something's not come in,
22:49which is a fairly integral part of one of our dishes.
22:51So that's going to be a bit of a problem now
22:53that we'll have to deal with.
22:54Every time someone orders that dish,
22:56that particular item won't be on it now.
22:57Despite the daily challenges,
23:00Emma is living her dream.
23:02And with her office overlooking a beautiful beach,
23:05it's easy to see why she has no regrets or anchovies.
23:10I look back on when we started 10 years ago,
23:14I can't really quite remember how we got through it
23:17because it was utter carnage and chaos.
23:19Sometimes I just look in amazement and think,
23:21how did I do this?
23:23How did this all happen?
23:27On the west side of the island,
23:33Master Thatcher Darcy is halfway through his latest assignment.
23:37He has four weeks to rebuild the thatched roof
23:40on this 300-year-old cottage.
23:44While modern building techniques
23:46are causing some traditions to disappear,
23:48thatching is enjoying a renaissance.
23:51A few years ago, our waiting list started rocketing,
23:55and there's a two to three-year waiting list for us.
23:57It's a good problem to have.
23:59Darcy and Trevor need to strip out and replace
24:02thousands of damaged reeds used to construct the ridge.
24:06I'm just looking for anything that doesn't really match in
24:09with the rest of the reed,
24:09if there's got anything that's got a bit of bend to it.
24:12So, for instance, a piece of that's got slightly bent.
24:15Obviously, I can't pull it all out,
24:17but I pull out what's necessary
24:18to actually make the coat look nice and tight.
24:20The methods might be old,
24:22but there are surprising timely advantages
24:25to keeping and maintaining a thatched roof.
24:28One of the good points of a thatched roof
24:29is that it has excellent thermal values.
24:31Ideally, it's going to be hot in the winter,
24:34warm in the winter, and cooler in the summer.
24:37Going to a thatched cottage in the summer,
24:38it'll be lovely and cool inside.
24:39With so much history and learning woven into every roof,
24:45Darcy's the custodian of a rich island tradition.
24:49But it all came quite naturally to him.
24:52Some people are like a cow with a musket.
24:54They just literally grab hold of this.
24:56They'll be like an octopus fighting.
24:58If they handle a bundle easily
25:00and don't really think much about it,
25:02then, again, that's probably the right person.
25:05Thankfully, Darcy has found his right-hand man in Trevor.
25:09But the real secret to their success
25:11is chief timekeeper, Maisie.
25:14As the afternoon sun beats down,
25:16their four-legged friend decides
25:18it's time for a well-earned break.
25:20Give me a paw.
25:21Good girl.
25:22Good girl.
25:22Good girl.
25:24We're a good team, aren't we?
25:26Yeah, yeah.
25:26We've been working for 15 years now.
25:28Yeah, yeah, 15 years now.
25:30Trev just keeps me on the straight and narrow.
25:32That's probably just as well, really.
25:37Pride is at work here.
25:39Each and every cross is made with expert precision
25:42and bundles of TLC.
25:45Very proud of my work.
25:47It is quite central to my life, I think.
25:50My reputation is very, very important to me.
25:53And you're only as good as your last job,
25:56so you really, really have to do your best job every time.
26:00It's as much an art form as a craft.
26:02But it's hard graft, too.
26:05One of the views that people get of Thatchers
26:07is there's all sort of big, white, billowy shirts
26:09and green sleeves playing in the background.
26:11Half the time, I come home looking like a coal miner.
26:13There's no coal dust or canaries here,
26:19just a small dog calling time on today's busy shift.
26:23Is it time to go to bed?
26:25Is it time to go home?
26:26There's a signal.
26:27Time to go home.
26:29Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
26:31Happy days.
26:32Happy days, indeed.
26:35And with a growing order book of roofs
26:37in need of repair across the island,
26:39for Darcy and his team,
26:41there are plenty more high times to come.
26:44Thatching itself isn't really dying out.
26:46Our three-year waiting list is testament to that.
26:48So I think it's quite a vibrant trade.
26:51We do need to look after the future of the Thatching industry.
26:54We need more apprentices.
26:56The legacy I'd love to leave behind
26:57is people looking back on what we've achieved.
27:00We've done an awful lot in the last 30 years.
27:02We've still got more years to go,
27:03but it'd be really nice
27:04if we could actually let someone else
27:05take over from us in the end.
27:11In East Cowes, B&B owners Carl and David are up early,
27:16cleaning the bedrooms while their guests are off sightseeing.
27:20I'm more the finer furnishings type of guy
27:23rather than the cleaning type of guy.
27:25What it means is that he fluffs and he puffs,
27:27and I get all the crap in terms of cleaning toilets, don't I?
27:30Well, I've been fluffing and puffing
27:32for quite a few years, actually, some would argue.
27:35Yes.
27:37You could eat your dinner off my toilets.
27:41Or at least I like to think so.
27:44We have to make our money in the summer
27:46because the island is a very touristy place.
27:49Our B&B is essentially our livelihood.
27:52We need this money so that we can do the voluntary work that we do.
27:57After cleaning duties this morning,
27:59Carl has a civic duty to perform this afternoon.
28:03The Isle of Wight is home to a small Indonesian community.
28:07Today, the town hall is hosting an event
28:09to mark Indonesian Independence Day
28:12and thank the community for its contribution to island life.
28:16As deputy mayor of East Cowes,
28:20Carl needs to brush up, ready for the big day.
28:22Can you get on with it, David?
28:24We've got to go out.
28:26Going out to support Carl sometimes with his civic duties,
28:30it's a difficult balancing act sometimes,
28:32but ever so rewarding.
28:34I'm so proud of him.
28:35I haven't even thought about what I'm wearing.
28:36A lot of the time, I decide what Carl wears for his civic duties
28:40because I've got a better eye for the occasion, let's say,
28:45for what he's attending.
28:46And today, I've got him a nice Asian, black Indonesian shirt.
28:53What?
28:58So, what do you think, then?
29:00Perfect.
29:01I know it's supposed to be worn there.
29:02It won't stay there. It'll slip off.
29:04So that's where it'll end up.
29:06Yeah.
29:06It starts like this and ends like that.
29:08And it's not just the shirt.
29:10That'll be making an entrance.
29:12Carl and David plan to arrive in style
29:14on their trusty, three-wheeled steed, Henry the Tuk-Tuk.
29:19Can we pass in your belt?
29:20Yeah, yeah.
29:21Oh.
29:22It's time to go and meet the people.
29:24The good people of Indonesia.
29:33Hello.
29:33Indonesians arrived on the Isle of Wight in the late 90s
29:42to bolster the workforce at the island's famous hovercraft factory.
29:46And Carl wants to acknowledge their historic efforts.
29:51Thank you for inviting David and I to this wonderful event that you've put on
30:02to celebrate your Independence Day.
30:05Well, we're really thankful and grateful on the Isle of Wight
30:07for having such a wonderful, diverse community.
30:10And certainly coming here all those years ago
30:13to work for a small company that works just down the road
30:17has brought great richness to our island.
30:20Thank you for your wonderful efforts over there
30:23and to the children and to all of you for this event.
30:26The celebrations start with a traditional Indonesian dance.
30:33This is one of our favourite ones. We like this.
30:41Do you know what's special about the Isle of Wight?
30:44For, like, this very large village, one big community.
30:48It's a community built on unity and togetherness.
30:53That's what Carl and I strive to support.
30:56It's the community, that welcome does to the island.
31:00Now it's our turn to give something back.
31:02Today has been much more than civic duty.
31:11Let's make sure there's no-one behind us.
31:17It's been a proud celebration of equality and diversity,
31:21which is about as Isle of Wight as you can get.
31:26As the shadows start to lengthen along the island's promenades and beaches,
31:31the buzz of high summer is giving way
31:34to a more relaxed end-of-season atmosphere.
31:37But as the holiday sun sets over the western town of Yarmouth,
31:41the fun isn't quite finished yet.
31:44Hotelier Howard Spooner is planning one last big blowout.
31:48A party for friends and family at the George Hotel.
31:55This next weekend is the last weekend before schools go back.
31:58I just really want this final summer weekend to go smoothly, to be fun.
32:03I want people to have a lovely time.
32:05On this island, no self-respecting celebration is complete
32:11without plenty of rosé to wash away the day.
32:15And Howard has the perfect show-stopping centrepiece in mind.
32:19I've got to go across shortly to Livington and pick up a 15-litre bottle.
32:24A 15-litre bottle is called a Nebuchadnezzar
32:31and holds the same amount of wine as 20 normal bottles.
32:36That's a lot of liquid to lift.
32:38So Howard's called in the heavyweights to help.
32:41Namely, his big brother Julian.
32:43And the G-Dog, his 32-foot-long, 600-horsepower speedboat.
32:49These big 15-litre bottles, they take quite a lot of cooling down.
32:55So I just want to make sure we've got it plenty of time.
33:01With the clock ticking and the motor at full throttle,
33:05it's only a 20-minute round trip to the mainland,
33:08which gives them a fighting chance of keeping the prized bottle chilled
33:12for tonight's big event.
33:15Happy days, eh?
33:17It's looking very good.
33:19It feels like we've got a smuggling a small person in the coffin.
33:22It does.
33:24You're probably fit with a small person in there.
33:26Right.
33:27Ready?
33:27Yeah.
33:28Let's go.
33:34I just hope the weather holds up,
33:37because if it rains,
33:39it's just...
33:40there'll be not as much fun for everybody.
33:42But if it holds up, it'll be a lovely day
33:44and we'll really push the boat out for our customers and friends.
33:48Howard can organise most things,
33:52but the weather?
33:53For that, he'll need to raise a glass to the gods.
34:00Later, Howard's bottle is tested
34:03as the locals get into the party spirit.
34:06A little soiree with some nice people.
34:10And the proms prepares for Mike's final flourish.
34:16The moment has come.
34:17We're now heading towards breakfast stage.
34:19I'm feeling actually really excited.
34:20With its rich agricultural heritage,
34:29the Isle of Wight has been providing the nation
34:32with delicious local produce
34:34since early settlers started farming the land many centuries ago.
34:38But for island beekeeper Mary Case,
34:41this summer marks the end of an era.
34:44After 23 years,
34:46the farmer's market she helped to establish
34:48is about to close its gates for good.
34:51When the market first started,
34:56we had at least 20 stalls.
34:59So it's dwindled as people decided
35:01it was better just to supply the farm shops.
35:03People tend to go to a farm shop
35:05where they can get everything in one hit.
35:08The Newport market is down to three stalls today,
35:12but that won't stop Mary and her fellow traders
35:15from enjoying one last pitch-up together.
35:18Ah, that's good.
35:19John's turned up with his bread
35:21and also Lisa's turned up with a coffee stall.
35:24Hurrah, we can get a coffee.
35:26What goodies have you got today, then?
35:28All sorts, Mary.
35:29Oh.
35:30I see you've got some Isle of Wight honey flapjack.
35:32I wonder who supplied your honey, ha-ha.
35:36Second rate, but, you know, it's all right.
35:38Ha-ha-ha, cheeky devil.
35:40We met Mary 12 years ago
35:42when we started doing the markets.
35:43I think at that stage
35:44she'd already been doing them for 10 years before that.
35:48But as the final hours tick by,
35:53customers new and old
35:55are still keen to taste her wares.
35:58This one is a very hard set
36:01and that one is a soft set,
36:02so it's going to be spreadable,
36:05but it won't run off your toast.
36:065.70, then, please.
36:08Thank you, very much.
36:09Yeah, thank you.
36:12Mary has been here as long as I can remember.
36:15Walked through the square of the Friday,
36:16Mary's here selling her honey.
36:17I mean, I've seen it diminish over the years.
36:19It's desperately sad that it's going.
36:21Thank you very much.
36:21Thank you very much.
36:22This golden chapter might be closing,
36:26but a new one is just about to start.
36:28For Mary, where there's a will, there's a way.
36:31I'm not desperately sad that things are changing.
36:36Obviously, we have to keep up with the times,
36:38and so the farm shops are a change for the farmer's market.
36:43I don't think we can be rooted in the past all the time,
36:46so I'm quite happy with change.
36:50It's midday.
36:51Mary performs the ritual of packing away for the very last time.
36:55But there are many sweet memories to savour here
36:59and real hope for an even brighter future.
37:08In the historic port town of Yarmouth,
37:11hotelier Howard Spooner is making the final preparations
37:14for his last big hurrah of the summer.
37:17So today we're just going to be throwing a little drinks party
37:21for friends of the George.
37:23It's important to recognise that we all support each other.
37:27Helping proceedings run smoothly
37:30is a huge 15-litre bottle of rosé
37:33that Howard brought over from the mainland to make a big splash.
37:39The party's in full swing,
37:41and the wine is flowing like water.
37:45Hi, how are you doing, dude?
37:47Hi, how are you doing, dude?
38:00Little soiree with some nice people.
38:03George, how are you?
38:05How are you?
38:06Yes, how are you?
38:08Among the many friends Howard has invited along
38:11is singing legend Derek Sandy.
38:14We had so much sunshine this year
38:16that, you know, it was marvellous.
38:18I ain't going to complain.
38:19This was one of the best summers
38:20we ever had on the island by it.
38:22Cheers, everybody.
38:23Cheers, cheers, cheers.
38:25Cheers.
38:25Cheers.
38:26Cheers.
38:26And always up for a summer social
38:31are B&B owners, Carl and David.
38:34To us.
38:35Yarmouth, East Cowes, you know, the new Sainte Pernet of the South Coast.
38:43Maybe not quite pronounced quite right, but I know what you're saying.
38:50It's been a great day.
38:51We really enjoyed it every second of it.
38:53Howard's party has been a big success.
38:56The weather held, the wine flowed, and community spirits are high.
39:00A fitting finish to a sensational summer on this wonderful island.
39:08At Northwood House in Cowes, organiser Mike Christie
39:12is getting ready for the biggest night in their cultural calendar,
39:16the last white of the proms.
39:19We're about to open, and you can already see.
39:21A bit of a queue for me.
39:22This is the official opening now of the white proms.
39:25For Mike and his band, G4,
39:29tonight's performance will be a particularly special occasion.
39:34It's an amazing thing,
39:35because you don't get to perform with full orchestra very often,
39:38and that is an absolute thrill.
39:47Outside the venue, the queue is snaking out of sight,
39:51and for some lucky fans already inside,
39:54a chance for a selfie with the stars of the show.
39:58This is our fourth prom,
40:01but I couldn't miss this one with G4 being the headline act on the last white,
40:05so that's why we're in it.
40:07At the end of the first time, you've got to do that.
40:10With expectations high, the pressure is mounting.
40:14Will they still have the X Factor?
40:17The moment has come.
40:19We're now heading towards the back of the stage,
40:21and I'm feeling actually really excited.
40:22Fingers crossed, we hit all the right notes with the right words,
40:25in the right order.
40:26To be honest, I'm just giving you my still fist in these trousers.
40:30Okay.
40:31Okay.
40:33So please, welcome to the stage,
40:35G4!
40:36The boys are hitting their stride,
40:53and the fans are lapping it up.
40:55Just time for a short break
41:17before G4 retake the stage
41:19for a roof-raising proms classic.
41:24Oh, Britannia, Britannia goes away
41:29Britannia, never shall they stay
41:35The boys pulled it off,
41:42the crowd are happy,
41:44and Mike is overwhelmed.
41:47I feel a bit emotional.
41:49Incredible.
41:50I don't think I've got much of a voice left,
41:52and everyone enjoying themselves,
41:54having an amazing time,
41:55singing along, waving their flags.
41:57It doesn't get much better than that,
41:59and what a way to finish the white proms for this year.
42:03Tomorrow, the bunting will come down,
42:05and the flags be rolled up,
42:07ready to be packed away.
42:09It's been an extraordinary summer.
42:15For the thousands of visitors
42:17to these enchanting shores,
42:19the glorious sunshine
42:23has cast a lasting spell
42:25on many happy holiday memories.
42:28For the local community,
42:30I'll put one.
42:34It's been an unforgettable season.
42:37It's true.
42:38Demanding and rewarding in equal measure.
42:43The sun might be setting on another year,
42:46but the enduring spirit of the Isle of Wight
42:49is timeless,
42:51and the proud heart of this magical island
42:54beats louder than ever.
43:00We're back on the island
43:01next Thursday night at 8.
43:03Great to see Annika back on the TV,
43:06her powers of persuasion
43:07doing fantastic things for a food bank.
43:09New Challenge Annika,
43:10Saturday night at 8.30.
43:12New Next,
43:13transporting 80 animals
43:14for a country life
43:16for half the price
43:17in Orkney
43:18in just a moment.
43:19You can continue to understand
43:21if you think of letting in
43:21the sea of the U.S.