The Island’s new High Sheriff has launched plans for Isle of Wight Day, a major new event in September. Robin Courage MBE was sworn in on Monday at a grand ceremony held in the Durbar Room at Osborne House. Robin has lived on the Island for 16 years and with his late wife Serena, ran Made on the Isle of Wight.
Speaking at his declaration, Robin asked businesses and the Island community to join him in celebrating the Isle of Wight on September 24th.
“Like everyone who lives on this idyllic Island, I adore this place and am incredibly proud to be an Islander. But what makes this place so special is its disparate community of talented and interesting souls. Being so disparate, we rarely come together as one and this is what I would like to change.
“With the help of all the leaders of our community I have created an Island Day. Saturday, September 24th will become Isle of Wight Day. On this day, I hope that the island will all celebrate together. Like Red Nose Day or Children in Need I hope that Islanders, Island communities and Island companies and organisations will come up with hundreds of different projects to celebrate this day and to raise money for local causes. We have created a bunting logo for this day, so I hope that on September 24th every town and village will be decked out in celebratory bunting”.
Robin will serve this office for one year and he takes over from Ron Holland. This is the first time that a High Sheriff’s Declaration ceremony has been held at Osborne.
“Although the office of Sheriff had its origins in the 10th century, I feel that it is entirely fitting for me to be standing here before you today because it was during Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Year that the Sheriff’s Act of 1867 was passed by Parliament redefining the duties of the office.”
