By Mal Butler
Three people with strong Island connections were recognised in the New Year’s Honours list announced this week.
Peter Morton, founder of Wight Shipyard, from Cowes, has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).
Peter has been recognised for services to shipbuilding. Wight Shipyard was established following the restoration of a classic motor cruiser for entrepreneur Sir Charles Dunstone.
Fiona Newnham, from Ventnor, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to sport. Fiona is a former powerboat racer turned cricket scorer for Hampshire. While famous gardener and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh, a former High Sheriff, who lives in Hampshire, but has had a home in Cowes for more than 20 years, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to horticulture and to charity.
Under Peter’s leadership, Wight Shipyard has become an Island success story.
The firm has built many ships, including Red Jets for Red Funnel and is currently constructing the UK’s first fully electric cross-river passenger ferry for Thames Clipper.
Its exports include two passenger ferries to Mexico, a 40-metre boat to Austria and four boats to Malta.
Peter, speaking to the IW Observer from Brazil, where he is on holiday, said: “I’m extremely honoured, but it’s bitter-sweet. Personally, it’s a great honour, but I can’t share it with the rest of the team at work – although I am sure I’ll find a way of celebrating with them.
“It’s good to be recognised for manufacturing in the UK and goes with our Queen’s Award for International Trade. It proves we are going in the right direction and bringing more business to the Island.
“I have had some of these guys with me since I started in 2015 and their loyalty and comradeship offsets any of the extra costs we incur having our building works here. We have all mucked in together and got through Covid and supply problems and I like to think this shipyard gives people some pride with whatever they do, whether they are an engineer, fabricator or painter.
“And, despite being told by everyone in the world that you can’t build ships in the UK, we have proved them wrong and will continue to do so.”
Fiona was once the fastest woman on earth in her inshore powerboat, clocking a top speed of 130 mph. Since retiring from powerboating, Fiona has enjoyed success as a cricket scorer and has been involved with Ventnor Cricket Club for 50 years. She said: “I was very surprised; it has been a long time since I retired from power boat racing. But cricket has been my main focus for many years especially with Ventnor. Next season I will be scoring for the Hampshire Men’s First XI team.
“It’s interesting to get such an award later in life and, for once, I was speechless when I read the letter, I never thought I would get one.
“The Lord-Lieutenant presents the BEM, which is nice because the ceremony will be on the Island so more of my family and friends can attend.”
Alan has already received the MBE and said: “I nursed my MBE very happily for 25 years and thought that was that, after all, I’m only a gardener, that’s my stock in trade.
“It’s wonderful this citation recognised my work with horticulture, as well as charity, which was very satisfying. They are both interlinked, I have been President of Perennial, formerly, the Gardeners’ Benevolent Society, for more than 20 years, now, and the charity Plant Heritage which safeguards the contents of our gardens and future proofs the contents of our gardens against climate change.
“There’s lots of things I am connected with and I hope it’s done some good for them. The fact is, horticulture is important, it’s the sharp end of nature conservation. We are lucky enough, each of us with a patch of ground, to help with the bigger issues which sometimes seems overwhelming.”
Alan has been a familiar face on television screens for many years, first covering the Chelsea Flower Show for the BBC in 1983. In 1996 he began presenting BBC programme Gardeners’ World, which he fronted until 2002.
He also presented the garden makeover TV show Ground Force, which propelled him, Charlie Dimmock and Charlie Walsh to fame. More recently he narrated the ‘Jewel of the South’ television series which focussed on the Island.
Isle of Wight Observer