PLAQUE STRIKES A CHORD FOR VENTNOR

By Elaine Squire - Thursday, November 29, 2007

Inspecting the new plaque to mark composer Sir Edward Elgar's visit to Ventnor are Andrew Neill, left, chairman of the Elgar Society, with Graham Bennett, curator of the Ventnor Heritage Museum. Picture by Peter Boam.

THERE was plenty of pomp and circumstance at the unveiling of a replacement plaque outside the Ventnor house where Sir Edward Elgar spent his honeymoon.
Andrew Neill, chairman of the Elgar Society, travelled from London and said he was honoured to unveil the plaque outside Bermuda, 3 Alexandra Gardens, not least because 2007 is the 150th anniversary of Elgar’s birth.
He told onlookers that in May 1889, after visiting Shanklin, Edward and Alice Elgar stayed at Alexandra Gardens where they took the drawing-room floor for their honeymoon.
Graham Bennett, curator of Ventnor Heritage Museum, said the Royal Victoria Pier had been opened in the town in 1887 and it was possible the Elgars had taken a promenade along it, to enjoy the views, or even taken a steamer trip.
The new plaque, which has been bought by the current owner of the house, John Allen, in conjunction with Ventnor and District Local History Society, replaced the original, which was provided by former owners the late Peter Parsons and his wife, Laurie.
Another plaque, which was put up by the late Mr and Mrs E. Pimm, owners between 1969 and 1976, was lost when a new porch was erected in December 1974.
The ceremony was attended by Mrs Parsons and Doreen Buck, of Godshill, Mr and Mrs Pimm’s daughter.
Fay Brown, secretary of Ventnor and District Local History Society, said: “Details about the plaque are available at Ventnor Heritage Museum and on the Ventnor blog, www.ventnorblog.com.
“A lot of people have been to look at the plaque since the unveiling.”

PLAQUE STRIKES A CHORD FOR VENTNOR

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