West Wight Heritage Centre

12/10/2026

Guess what?

We now have a limited number of copies of our last publication "Totland Reflections" available at the West Wight Heritage Centre Totland.
Still £20 cash or card. Pop in to secure yours, before they all go!
Ideal present for Christmas!

https://west-wight-heritage-centre.sumupstore.com/

28/09/2026

Can we add our personal thanks to all the lovely people who gave generously at the gate, to the stall-holders who always greet us cheerfully and give us lots of positive friendly feedback and lastly to Helen and Totland Parish Council for giving us the opportunity to raise much needed funds. 😍

28/09/2026

26/09/2026

We're nearly full up at Colwell Car Boot Sales . Come along, grab a bargain and support us@

25/09/2026

It's our turn to set up Colwell Common tomorrow for the Car Boot Sale. This will be the last one for this season.
Weather promises to be ok! Keep your fingers crossed.....
Thanks to all the regular stall holders, good to see familiar faces!

Grateful thanks should go to the Totland Parish Council for allowing local organisations to raise funds from this event.
It's also a brilliant way of making the public aware of who we are and what we do in the community.

21/09/2026

The Carnival display is now ready!
A wonderful selection of images from 1950s, 1970s and 80s on the boards and a selection of photo albums and scrapbooks to browse.
Open at 2.00pm until 7.00pm.

Some footage of 1986 Carnival as well!
Plenty to see!

Please pop in. Totland Village Hall..

18/09/2026

One of the most successful Freshwater & Totland Queen's float was that of 1981. Based on the popular Wedgwood Blue Jasper design, it looked fantastic.
It won 9 awards when visiting other Island Carnivals.
Carnival Queen that year was Bonita Lodowski (who was selected as Queen of Queens that year) and Carnival Princess was Jan Plucknett.
On the float, pictured here, on the top left is Jan and right is Bonita.
In front, from left, are Ann Humphrey(Senior Maid of Honour), Joanne Amos(Junior Maid of Honour), Angela Tapster(Junior Maid of Honour) and Jacky Lowe(Senior Maid of Honour).
Also pictured is a list of awards and the trophies held for one year.
See the photos on the display boards on Monday 21st September.

16/09/2026

There are some wonderful images amongst our collection of Carnival photographs that will be on display next Monday 21st September.
Those from the 1950s are black and white, like the one shown here. Pam Piper selected Queen in 1953 and is seen centre of the photo. Pat Piper is on the left and Kath Stevens( nee Miller) on the right.
There are lots of colourful photos as well including those from 1976 when the Carnival was revived after a long break.
Photo albums and scrapbooks will be available for browsing and footage of the 1986 Carnival can be viewed.
All in all, we believe it promises to be a very interesting display.

Don't forget it's from 2.00 pm to 7.00 pm at Totland Village Hall, The Broadway Totland. Entry: donation at the door.

08/09/2026

The very first Freshwater & Totland Carnival Queen, after the long gap, was chosen at a grand dance at the Savoy Country Club (now West Bay) Halletts Shute in April 1976.
There were about 20 entrants all dressed in their best dresses! Judges were TV/Radio presenters of the time and local dignitaries.
The room was absolutely packed full such was the support and interest of the event.
Susan Vine was selected Queen with Shirley Greaney(on the left) and Carolina Butterworth her Attendants.
They had a busy year appearing at local Carnival events and visiting all the other Island Carnivals on the Queen's float.
This was built by local builder John Dove and was based on the form of a huge swan.
The photos were taken when the procession was assembling along Colwell Common Road. Our Queen's float always led the procession behind the marching band.

08/09/2026

Totland Village Hall is now owned by Totland Parish Council. It was built in 1932 and then owned by the church (so was obviously called Totland Church Hall).
It has been used over the years for many activities including pantomimes, plays, meetings, rehearsals, concerts, birthday parties, wedding receptions, table tennis, Brownies and many more!
It is in the process of being refurbished inside and looking very smart with a recent coat of paint on the exterior.
We plan to use the hall for some of our events.
Here are photos of the hall in 1932 and today.