Between Friday 11 & Sunday 13 May the church held its annual Flower Festival. This year’s theme of “Wish You Were Here” saw a wonderful display of floral arrangements covering a variety of reasons why visitors flock in their thousands to the Island each year. Beach & seaside displays, The Needles landmark, places of interest such as Osborne House, the Donkey Sanctuary and Shanklin Chine, arts such as Ballet at Shanklin Theatre and crafts such as those enjoyed by the Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, along with the Island’s Walking Festival, iconic red squirrels and motto “all this beauty is of God” were all beautifully represented in a stunning array of floral glory filling the church with colour and scent. Pupils from St. Blasius Primary Academy drew pictures and posters which adorned the Academy’s display board in church. On arrival, visitors to the festival enjoyed the beautiful rhododendrons, coming in to bloom right on time. A church trail brought a fun yet informative element to the festival with visitors finding out facts about the church and our Patron Saint. Refreshments were also available for visitors with a wide selection of homemade cakes. The warm weather on Friday afternoon also resulted in an impromptu accordion recital at the Lych Gate by our very own choir director Coral Bratherton! Culminating in choral evensong with the excellent choir and organist, Lawrence Bate, under Coral’s direction, with music including Stanford in B Flat, Smith Preces and Responses and anthems by J.S. Bach & Purcell, the festival and evensong raised over £750 for church funds. Express thanks go to our supporters Mon Cherie Florist; William Hall Funeral Directors; The Party Shop, Shanklin; Pam Nye; Karen Ogier, the Isle of Wight Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers and all contributors and volunteers who helped make the event a success.