The first of an eight-part series produced by Tyne Tees Television on a year-in-the-life of residents of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne off the Northumberland coast. In this first programme Christmas and New Year are celebrated as the new landlords of the islands two public houses are introduced along with the owner of the local shop. The islands children hold their annual Nativity inside St Mary the Virgin Church while rangers for Natural England rescue a seal pup who has taken up temporary...

The first of an eight-part series produced by Tyne Tees Television on a year-in-the-life of residents of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne off the Northumberland coast. In this first programme Christmas and New Year are celebrated as the new landlords of the islands two public houses are introduced along with the owner of the local shop. The islands children hold their annual Nativity inside St Mary the Virgin Church while rangers for Natural England rescue a seal pup who has taken up temporary residence on the road onto the island. Title: Diary of an Island An opening montage on and around the Holy Island of Lindisfarne with narrator Bob Johnson introducing this eight-part series that will follow the lives of some of its hundred-and-sixty-two residents over the period of a year telling their stories. The sequence ends with a group of islanders waving up at the camera from the village green beside The Market Cross. An aerial of a spit of land on a bitterly cold day in December changing to Phil Davey Site Manager for Natural England sitting in his vehicle near to a baby grey seal who has come up and is currently in the middle of the road. He talks about the animal looking fit and healthy but needing to get it off the road and back into the sea. Andrew Craggs also from Natural England arrives with a large piece of tarpaulin and the two men use to herd the seal back towards the shoreline. Phil talks about not wanting to stress the animal too much and Andrew explains why he looks forward to the winter season. As the seal makes its way back towards the water, seabirds feeding on and around the muddy causeway and Andrew heading back to his office for a warm cup of tea. As Clive Massey serves a customer inside the Oasis Café, Bob Johnson explains that Clive is a 33-year resident of the island having run the Lindisfarne Hotel for 32 of those years. In a garage Clive uses a hammer and chisel to put the final touches to a figure of the Virgin Mary he has carved. As he continues his work he talks about how his wife volunteered him to do the job, behind him four other life-sized Nativity figures plus the baby Jesus in the manger he has already completed. He explains once finished the figures will go on display in the Gospel Gardens over the Christmas period after which they will be stored away until next year. Over a montage of the natural beauty of Holy Island, Clive explains why he moved to Lindisfarne and why he wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Out on the dunes fencer Simon Dodds hammers in a fence post, part of more than a mile of fencing that is being erected for the 38 cattle which are to arrive soon, the first-time cattle have been on the island in thirty years. As Bob Johnson explains the cattle are on a mission, Andrew Craggs explains that they are non-selective grazers and that all the duneland on the island will be grazed as it is out-competing with choice species also growing there such as its nine varieties of orchid and Marsh grass of Parnassus. As Simon works with his assistant to hammer in more posts he talks about enjoying working on the island even if the tides are a challenge. Sunset at low-tide and in the distance a murmuration of Starlings while in the foreground the tall, vertical poles through the tidal sandflats marking The Pilgrim’s Way footpath. At the Crown and Anchor Inn Rachel McAnany opens the door on opening night for her and her fiancé Keith Shell who stands behind the bar. With glasses of Champagne beside them Rachel and Keith talk about never expecting to become landlords. As Rachel hugs and kisses an older woman who arrives, she and Keith talk about their family connection to the island. She came to Lindisfarne aged seven and has strong roots here. As the bar fills with customers happily chatting over their drinks, Rachel and Keith are asked about the pressure of having to serve so many of their relatives. Rachel’s mother Lynn McAnany talks about the challenges of young people on the island buying a home with many properties being bought up by ‘outsiders’ as holiday lets. Keith’s mother Joyce Shell confesses that he wasn’t actually born on the island rather at Ashington on the mainland arriving on Holy Island aged one week. It is five days until the Christmas Nativity and pupils from Holy Island Church of England First School are rehearsing a carol inside the Lindisfarne Priory Museum watched on my several parents. Christine Thirlwell Headteacher of Lowick and Holy Island Schools explains that the school on the island is paired with another at Lowick on the mainland with the children spending a third of their time on the island and the rest at Lowick. Inside St Mary the Virgin Church teacher Kerry Fieldhouse directs the children rehearsing the nativity and hopes it will be all okay on the day. Title: End of Part One Diary of an Island Early morning on Lindisfarne and Gary Watson is one of the first to drive onto the island from his home at Berwick-upon-Tweed to open his shop ‘The Island Store’. Getting out of his vehicle he heads inside and as he turns on the lights he talks in voiceover about coming from an island family, working in the travel industry and about the decision to open the shop and challenges of the first few years. However, he does love the shop as well as the island and wouldn’t want to work anywhere else. Standing behind the counter Gary talks about having to diversify from selling food to gift items and the challenges of opening in the winter when he made only 31p the previous day selling a packet of polos. In the shop window the store Christmas opening hours. With Clive Massey’s Nativity figures on display inside the Heritage Garden, the islands vicar Franciscan monk Brother Damian in his habit and cowl greets members of his congregation. Leading the children in a rendition of ‘Away in a Manger’ Brother Damian watches as two of the children place the carving of baby Jesus into the manger. After talking about how busy it is at this time of year for him, he gives the blessing and leads the congregation in prayer. Inside St Mary’s Church families and friends arrive for the Nativity, at the back of the church Brother Damian explains why it is so lovely to see people from the island coming together and how they see the church as a valued place. The performance begins with the children coming down the aisle performing in the nave singing ‘glory, glory, hallelujah.’ At the side of the church Christine Thirlwell explains why she is always amazed the children can pull it off. At the end of the Nativity everyone chatting happily while in the kitchen Kerry Fieldhouse provides cups of juice to her pupils. For her it has been a long day, but the children will be performing again that evening in Lowick. A montage of the natural beauty of the island on New Year Eve changes to Brother Damian standing at the bar inside the Crown and Anchor Inn enjoying a pint of beer and chatting with one of the locals while behind the bar Rachel McAnany puts another pint of beer. Inside the island’s other public house The Ship a carnival atmosphere with patrons in fancy dress. Behind the bar the landlords and incomers Janice Cowan and Andrew Hnat who talk about arriving on the island in September and the support they have received from the local community. As everyone countdowns down to midnight they all cheer with some kissing when the clock strikes twelve with some singing Auld Lang Syne. Outside a firework display while back inside the Crown and Anchor Inn several women, some standing in tables, sing and dance to ‘Time Warp’ from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. In the living room of farmer Robert Brigham New Year revellers are in a sentimental mood with 63-year-old fisherman Tommy Douglas drunkenly sing along to the television the seafaring hymn ‘Let the Lower Lights Be Burning.’ He ponders how much longer he can carry on as he doesn’t see a future with the boat he currently has. Back inside the Crown and Anchor the party continues with patrons singing and dancing along to ‘Saturday Night’ by Whigfield including new landlord Rachel McAnany. She talks about the hard work put in getting the pub up and running and is now going on pure adrenaline. Returning to Tommy Douglas he talks of his hope that he will soon be rid of his boat and be done with fishing, a livelihood in his family going back many generations. Back at the Crown and Anchor it is nearly 4am and Rachel is cleaning up after everyone has gone home. New Years Day and a family makes their way along the path towards the currently closed Lindisfarne Castle; the island is quiet. A man walks his dog along the shoreline as the tide comes in. Over a montage of clips details are provided on next week’s programme. Title: With thanks to the people of Holy Island Credit: Narrator Bob Johnson Cameras Alistair McKenzie, Phil Driver, Alan Robinson, Janusz Ostrowski, Dave Dixon Sound Robbie Carruthers, Andrew Bennett, Chris Corner, Colin Lang, Rob Tickell, Dave Venus Sound Post-Production The Edge Titles Music McGregor Cook Graphics Jon King Production Manager Christine Stewart-Tilling Editor Kerry Plummer Assistant Producer Sal Brecken Producer Sheilagh Matheson Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Series Producer Derek Proud Title: © ITV Tyne Tees 2006 End title: Production for ITV