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Isle of Wight: Best Kept Village Award

Champion village is clear winner

By Jon Moreno - Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Champion village is clear winner
VILLAGE CHAMPION: Peter Hall takes a great deal of pride in his work as Brighstone’s litter warden, and is one of those who has contributed towards Brighstone winning the Isle of Wight Best Kept Village Award. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
LITTER warden Peter Hall is one of the many unsung heroes who have done their bit to help win Brighstone this year’s Isle of Wight Best Kept Village Award.
Brighstone, which won its seventh top award in the competition, also gained the best-kept large village award.
Mr Hall, a retired electronics engineer, of Main Road, Brighstone, has twice lived in the village — first in 1974 and back in 2001, when he retired.
The 66-year-old took over as the village litter warden, a voluntary position, six years ago.
He said: “I was looking to do something part time and heard Brighstone Parish Council was looking for a litter warden. I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Mr Hall recently extended his patch to include the villages of Brook, Hulverstone and Mottistone.
“It is a job I enjoy doing in the summer but not so much during the colder, wetter, winter months. What I enjoy about it is there is scope to meet people, with the bonus of getting exercise.
“Litter is one of the things that downgrades a place. I take a lot of pride in what I do because it is good to see the village looking smart and well looked after for villagers and visitors alike.
“I meet a lot people and when they say how nice and clean and well-kept the village is, it gives me that feeling of pride. Brighstone and the surrounding villages winning awards in this year’s competition is very pleasing. It is nice to know I’ve been doing my bit for the community.”
• The hard work Niton Primary School’s youngest children put into their successful campaign to rid their village of dogs’ mess has reaped the reward of a top prize in the Isle of Wight Best Kept Village Awards.
A special award for the competition’s 40th anniversary will be presented to the school in September.
The school’s 28 reception children campaigned for extra dog bins after plotting dog mess found around Niton on a map. The youngsters also met with dog walkers, reminding them of their duty of care to the village in disposing of dogs’ mess carefully.
• Full story and picture in the Friday, July 25, County Press.