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A winner has been
chosen from the hundreds of entrants who took part in
the competition to choose the names for Wightlink’s three new ferries for
its Lymington to Yarmouth route.
Mark Southwell
(51) from Cowes on the Island, chose the three names, ‘Wight Light’, ‘Wight
Sky’ and ‘Wight Sun’, as he wanted them to reflect some of what the Island had to offer. He felt
that the 'WIGHT' class of vessel would be
very fitting to the character of the Island and could help to attract tourism
and maybe even more residents.
Mark, his wife
and two teenage children, have lived on the Island since 1982 and feel that
is it one of the loveliest places to live in the whole of the UK. Mark’s job
as a Customs Officer originally brought him to the Island, and he loved it
so much he stayed. Until his retirement Mark was the last full time Customs
Officer on the Isle of Wight and has many tales to tell of some of the
things he encountered during his work at Cowes.
As a result of
winning the competition to name the three new ferries, Mark and his family
will be invited to the dedication ceremony for the first of the new ships
which will then be followed by an inaugural cruise for invited
guests. It is anticipated that this will take place in the early summer of
next year.
Commenting on
choosing a winner for the names of the new ferries, Kerry Jackson, Marketing
Manager of Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries, said: “From the hundreds of
names we had suggested to us, Mark’s submissions stood out as both original
and memorable. He obviously has a great affinity with the Island and the
names he has chosen reflect both the beauty and atmosphere
of the Isle of Wight. We look forward to welcoming him and his family to the
dedication ceremony next year.”
ENDS
5th November 2007
For more
information, please contact: -
Kerry Jackson,
Marketing Manager, Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries
Tel. 023 9285
5427, e-mail
kerryjackson@wightlink.co.uk
or
Christopher Clode
at Christopher Clode Public Relations
Tel. 01243
431343, e-mail
chris@chrisclodepr.com |
