The eighth and final part in a series produced by Tyne Tees Television on a year-in-the-life of residents of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne off the Northumberland coast. Life on the island comes full circle as winter closes in. Lindisfarne Castle hosts a special wedding before shutting up for winter, the island remembers its war dead in the annual Armistice Day service and Gary the shopkeeper fulfils his dream of returning to the island to live. The discovery of important Viking remains...

The eighth and final part in a series produced by Tyne Tees Television on a year-in-the-life of residents of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne off the Northumberland coast. Life on the island comes full circle as winter closes in. Lindisfarne Castle hosts a special wedding before shutting up for winter, the island remembers its war dead in the annual Armistice Day service and Gary the shopkeeper fulfils his dream of returning to the island to live. The discovery of important Viking remains threatens a new affordable housing scheme and the wildfowling warden goes duck shooting. The programme and series end’s as it began with local children in rehearsals for the Christmas Nativity and the whole island goes carol singing. Title: Diary of an Island Over a montage around the island narrator Bob Johnson explains that the year has almost come full circle and winter is closing in on Lindisfarne. Dog walkers out for a bracing walk around Holy Island Village changes to signs telling visitors that Lindisfarne Castle is closed for the season except for special occasions. On a windy but sunny day wedding guest arrive for the marriage of David Parry and Helen Mason. Following the brides arriving the ceremony takes place inside with the bride and groom kissing to the applause of family and friends. Out on the battlements photographs of the happy couple are taken and they explain why the castle was a perfect venue for their wedding. Inside guests chat over glasses of Champagne. With the party over at the castle, it is closed to the public until the following March. However, inside essential conservation work begins with two members of National Trust staff placing a dust cover over a piece of furniture. As someone places an acid free tissue paper hats over an Oriental jar, Catherine Atkinson Property Manager at Lindisfarne Castle explains that this and other work is being done to protect all the objects from dust and light as they cause damage. In another room decorative curtains are removed to protect them and replaced with blackout curtains. Inside Holy Island Church of England First School it is party time. As the six pupils from the school are joined by those from their sister school at Lowick on the mainland, everyone tucks into plates of cakes and plays happily together. Christine Thirlwell Headteacher for Lowick and Holy Island Schools explains the party is a celebration that both schools have been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. As the parents, governors and the island vicar Franciscan monk Brother Damian arrive some of the pupils are asked if they know what the party is about, not all of them do. Kerry Lofthouse the teacher at Holy Island School explains how for her every day is different on the island and that she couldn’t see herself being anywhere else. From an elevated position Holy Island Village below with Bob Johnson explains how for the young living on the island finding an affordable home has become a nightmare, however the people of the island are tackling the problem themselves. As Dick Patterson from the Holy Island Development Trust talks about the issues of affordability and provides details on what has been done by the development trust to create seven-units, one of the newly built properties that is being rented to a young family at an affordable rate. An empty plot of land which the trust hopes to build four more units should funding become available. In his shop ‘The Island Store’ owner Gary Watson is stocking his shelves with bottles of Lindisfarne Mead. Bob Johnson explains that Gary doesn’t need to wait to find a place to live as his mother and sister already live on the island. Sitting on the stairs of his Berwick-upon-Tweed home he talks about his move back to Holy Island. As he packs some of his belongings he talks about being drawn back to the island. After explaining what he is most looks forward to, he removes a watercolour painting from the wall produced by his mother of Holy Island Harbour and Lindisfarne Castle seen from her garden. This, he explains, will soon be a view he will see every day. Inside St Mary the Virgin Church Brother Damian leads the Armistice Day service remembering those lost in war. On the wall of the church porch photographs and details of those from the island lost in two world wars. A Union Jack leads the procession of parishioners to the village war memorial overlooking Lindisfarne Priory. Around it the Armistice Day service continues with the Union Jack as well as British Legion flags being lowered as wreathes are laid around the memorial and Father Damian reads out names of the fallen. Following the service, he explains that this is a small community and the names of those read out are still known today making it all very real. Title: End of Part One Diary of an Island As Wildfowling Warden Collin Teago walks along to the shoreline of the nature reserve with his dog Isla, he talks about the skills he has as a wildfowler being passed down to him generation to generation. Explaining the sport was once popular with working men such as miners, he begins to layout a series of duck lures talking about they are there for. Taking up a spot in the dunes, he prepares his shotgun for the returning wildfowl as the tide begins to rise. Back in the village Gary Watson drives to work for the last time unloading goods from his car and taking them into his shop. As he talks in voiceover about how he is going to miss the fantastic drive to work each morning across the causeway, the road itself at sunrise with various birds feeding in the mud near to the raised shelter. In his back garden he holds up the painting seen previous of the view he sees now of the harbour and castle. For him, he explains, it is a feeling of coming home. Back in his hide Collin Teago and his dog Isla sit waiting on the wildfowl to fly into his sights. He is asked what are the ideal weather conditions for wildfowling, easterly winds, frost and a touch of snow, anything to keep the birds on the move he explains. As a flock flies in, he shoots hitting a bird sending Isla to collect it from the water. Walking back to the shore with the bird he explains why he believes wildfowling is the nearest thing to nature and why they make good eating at Sunday lunch. He is asked what he thinks about during the hours of waiting, he talks about meditation and enjoying looking at the many different varieties of bird. With the sun going down he and Isla leave for home. On the site for new the affordable home being built by the Holy Island Development Trust a problem with the location which is now earmarked by archaeologists as the possible site of an Anglo-Saxon house that may have been burned down during a Viking raid. While Dr Ian Stwart the Archaeologist working on the site is excited about what they may find, Dick Patterson from the development trust is more concerned about the here-and-now as delays could add tens of thousands of pounds to their costs. He complains that even after 1200 years the Vikings are still causing problems for the islanders. Inside St Mary the Virgin Church the children of Holy Island Church of England First School are in rehearsals for this year’s Nativity. Teacher Kerry Lofthouse directs them and is asked who the stars are, she replies all of them. A few days before Christmas Brother Damian leads islanders around the village carol singing. Outside ‘The Island Store’ Gary Watson and his mother hand out mince pies and glasses of sherry to singers singing ‘Away in a Manger’ some of whom are carrying lanterns. Brother Damian explains that more and more people are coming to the island and it needs to prepare as it is getting more challenging to live and make a living on the island. He doesn’t believe that providing more facilities is the answer as it is the people that count. As the sun goes down on another year on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne Bob Johnson states that the jewel of the Northumberland coast is being left in peace once again and while visitors in any numbers won’t return until spring, life in their unique community goes on. 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