The sixth 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. It is high summer and two of the island fishermen go lobster fishing and introduce their daily companion - Sammy the seal. There’s folk music at the maize maze and it's the school sports day on one of the hottest days of the year. The famous Gertrude Jekyll Garden at the castle gets a new look and a new lobster boat arrives...

The sixth 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. It is high summer and two of the island fishermen go lobster fishing and introduce their daily companion - Sammy the seal. There’s folk music at the maize maze and it's the school sports day on one of the hottest days of the year. The famous Gertrude Jekyll Garden at the castle gets a new look and a new lobster boat arrives in the harbour as strawberries and oysters go on sale to the tourists. Title: Diary of an Island It is 3.30am on a small fishing boat off the coast of Holy Island owned by partners Richard Ward and Shaun Brigham. As the two men who have been partners for seventeen years work to bring in their catch of crab and lobsters Richard, who is originally from York, talks about how he first came to the island and decided to become a fisherman. As the dawn sun begins to rise the two men continue their work. As an older couple in shorts make their way along the causeway onto Holy Island, they watch out for cars and other vehicles speeding past. Performing near to the entrance of a maize maze built by local farmer Robert Brigham and business partner Danny Hodgeson is local folk band Head on The Block whose music is hopefully attracting visitors. Inside the maze visitors attempt to complete the mile-and-a-half of pathways that only three months previous was an empty field covered in biodegradable polythene. Standing beside a nearby van is Danny who talks about how the hot dry summer has helped the maize grow so quickly. As the band continues to play a mother takes her two small children into the labyrinth to see if they can find their way out again. As the music comes to a stop a watching crowd applauds with Robert, who sits in the van beside Danny, stating that his wife got lost in the maze that morning. In the grounds of Holy Island Church of England First School the six pupils are joined by their contemporaries from their sister school on the mainland. Schoolteacher Kerry Fieldhouse and her colleague from Lowick explain to the children that this will be an Olympic games as the pupils are all learning about the ancient Greeks. The games begin with the oldest and youngest pupil lighting an Olympic torch. Parents and members of the local community, including the island vicar Franciscan monk Brother Damian, watch the games from the sidelines with some parents videoing the day on camcorders. The first race gets underway, a Greek-form of an egg-and-spoon race. On a table set up on the road near to the village car park punnets of strawberries with farmer Robert Brigham tempting visitor to buy them. In the nearby field two Lithuanian students Jurgita Bataityte and Inga Bertyte who work for Robert fill more punnets with him explaining what superb workers they are and what a great relief it is to have these two women working for him. Jurgita and Inga talk about wanting to improve their English, visit new places and meet new people as well as earn money. Robert’s business partner Danny Hodgeson shows the camera a nest for a Common linnet hidden in the strawberries containing several eggs. He believes they should be fine. Back at the stall Robert sells a punnet to a passing group of tourists. A montage of visitors enjoying a warm sunny beach and two women sitting beside the Market Cross in Holy Island Village. From a converted horsebox Oyster Farmer Christopher Sutherland sells a locally produced oyster to a woman who gulps it down happily. He explains he is the only producer in this part of the country as he prepares another chilled oyster with a bit of lemon. A second woman consumes it doing so with a contented nod of the head. Back at Holy Island Church of England First School the sports days continues with children competing in a race. Kerry Fieldhouse is asked if everything is under control, she points out a packed lunch sitting on the track which isn’t good news. Following another egg-and-spoon race Brother Damian comments that it is a wonderful day and full of young people with the right kind of sportsmanship. At the National Trusts most northernly garden next to Lindisfarne Castle, narrator Bob Johnson explains it is also one of the smallest in England covering just an eighth of an acre. From a window inside the castle the garden below with Bob providing details on its provenance being designed by Gertrude Jekyll. In the garden Philippa Hodkinson from the National Trust talks about the work she and her five volunteers have done over the past four years to restore the garden and explaining how Jekyll’s selection of plants and flowers were perfect choices. As people wonder around it, a honeybee collects pollen from a flower. The Olympic sports day at Holy Island Church of England First School comes to a close and awards are presented by Sylvia Shell, one of the oldest residents on the island. Watching on Kerry Fieldhouse who talks about how she felt the day went. Title: End of Part One Diary of an Island On board their fishing boat the early morning sun warm Richard Ward and Shaun Brigham as they continue to bring in and check their lobster pots. A friendly face appears; a grey seal they’ve named ‘Sammy the Seal’ whom they feed bait. The seal takes the sprats from both their hands while on a sandbank other seals basking. In a pot a collection of smaller Velvet crab which is popular on the continent and in a buckets several larger Brown crab which are popular locally. As he holds up one of the lobsters Shaun is asked what size is best for eating, he admits he doesn’t like lobster but believe an average size is best. An octopus in one of the pots which Richard feeds to Sammy. As Richard packs their catch of eighty-eight lobsters Shaun makes his way back to harbour passing Lindisfarne Castle in the distant morning mist. Back on Holy Island members of the Community of Aidan and Hilda makes their way down onto the beach near to St Mary the Virgin Church for a special ceremony. Sitting in a coracle, a small, rounded boat, is Jan Sexton from Norfolk who is on a week’s retreat. Ray Simposon from the community provides details on the event in which Jan will take a special vow of commitment and take ‘a voyage of the Coracle.’ Jan Sexton talks why she is doing it and her thoughts on the island. At the Port of Berwick-upon-Tweed Ryan Douglas and his father Paul attach chains to a crane that will lift their new boat off the back of a low-loader lorry into Tweedmouth Harbour. Watching over proceedings is Ryan’s grandfather Tommy who has sold his fishing boat and bought this lobster boat from Ireland called the Jenna H. With the Jenna H now in the water, it is made ready for the final part of the journey back to Holy Island. Ryan is happy as being a lobster fisherman he will be seeing his father more often; however, he doesn’t think there is a future for him in fishing. With Tommy at the wheel the Jenna H leaves harbour for Holy Island passing a group of basking seals. Sitting outside Town View Cottage is Sylvia Shell who has lived in this house since 1945. As Bob Johnson talks about how Sylvia, who is originally from Yorkshire, came to the island, a photograph of her and her husband on their wedding day. Over a montage of other images of the village from the 1930s and 40s she talks about how she fell in love with the island and what it was like before the motorcar. Inside she writes about the old days for the community magazine The Holy Island Times. Also contributing is 91-year-old Elfreda Elford. A photograph of her father, who was vicar on Holy Island during the 1930s with Elfreda hoping when her times comes her ashes will be scattered with her parents who are buried in the local churchyard. She talks about knowing all the children on the island and that she knew all their great-grandparents when she was younger. Putting together the magazine is Associate Priest Kate Tristram who for 28-years has been Warden Priest and Curate at St Mary the Virgin Church. As she posts some of the 150 editions through people’s letterboxes, she talks about wanting to preserve through the magazine something of the older islanders rather special way of living as well as their memories. Still at the wheel of the Jenna H is Tommy Douglas who sees this boat as something to look forward to. Arriving at Holy Island Harbour a welcoming party at the jetty including Tommy’s wife Beatha and Ryan’s mum Lesley. Tommy helps his wife onboard and cans of beer are opened for guests who toast and give good wishes. Amongst the guests is Brother Damian, the island vicar, who blesses the boat. Beatha believes the future is in fast boats like these. 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