Welsh row pair offered free trip

Two sisters asked to leave a gift shop for speaking Welsh during a trip to the Isle of Wight have been offered a free holiday there by island leaders.

Rosemary Dean and her sister Ann were shopping for gifts at the end of their holiday when they say the shopkeeper told them not to speak Welsh.

The shopkeeper claimed she only asked them to leave after they had a row.

Mrs Dean, from Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, near Ammanford, complained to the Welsh Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The incident took place in Grange Gifts in the resort of Shanklin, which is run by Sue Pratley.

Mrs Dean told BBC Radio Wales: "We were in this little gift shop - I was going to pick a gift up for my grand-daughter.

"We were discussing prices amongst ourselves, my sister and I.

"All of a sudden this lady said she wouldn't have any Welsh spoken in her shop and please leave."

Ms Pratley admitted she had said she wished they would speak English, but had only asked them to leave when the sisters took issue with her comments.

'Lovely gesture'

The Isle of Wight council leader David Pugh and chief executive Steve Beynon have now offered the sisters an all-expenses paid holiday.

Mr Beynon said in a statement: "Irrespective what might have happened, visitors left with a negative impression of an island where we pride ourselves in being friendly and respectful.

"I want to make it clear this council does not condone discrimination in any form. I can understand the concerns of the people who took the trouble to contact us and I would like to assure them of our sincere belief all visitors should be treated with respect."

Mrs Dean said the holiday offer was a "lovely gesture" and would now be consulting with her sister, who lives in Bath, as to whether they would accept the holiday.

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