Residents of the Isle of Wight have many things to be grateful for, from picturesque sea views to delicious local food.

Another one is Island treasure David Rann, aka Mr Randini, who has been entertaining people from the Island and further afield for over 30 years. 

David grew up in Ryde, and trained under his father, The Great Randini, who was a firefighter, volunteer in the St. John Ambulance and part time magician.

The Great Randini assumed his title after local GP Dr Thomas Sim affectionately nicknamed him, and David has taken the Randini name forward in his career.

David Rann, aka Mr Randini, pictured in the Isle of Wight County Press in 1978David Rann, aka Mr Randini, pictured in the Isle of Wight County Press in 1978 (Image: IWCP Archive)

David also was a disco dancing champion in his youth, and a member of the St. John Ambulance.

To train and hone his magic craft, David went out to Atlantic City in New Jersey, USA.

"The close up magic that I do, they call it restaurant magic in America.

A crowd at a Mr Randini show (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

"It was getting quite big out there but it wasn't very big over there.

"I went out there with a couple of other friends of mine to study the American ones.

"I said that I'd come to learn from them, and they said that I was doing different stuff to what they were doing, so we taught each other."

Mr Randini has performed magic internationally throughout his careerMr Randini has performed magic internationally throughout his career (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

David also travelled to Shanghai in the 1990s, acting as a cultural ambassador for the UK alongside magician Ali Bongo.

He said: "I took information from the Isle of Wight Council about the Isle of Wight.

"Since then, I met this man who ran a turbine company in Seaview, and Chinese businesses had heard of the Isle of Wight. 

"It gave them the open door to go in."

David has been a key figure in the lives of both children and adults on the Island, with children that were once entertained by his seaside shows now taking back their children to experience the same.

He has also done educational road safety magic shows for primary school children across the world after the deaths of two Island children from road accidents.

At one of his first road safety shows at Nine Acres Primary School, a young Mitch Ward assisted Mr Randini, who went on to become a magician himself.

Mitch Ward with David Randini in 2006Mitch Ward with David Randini in 2006 (Image: IWCP)

"I did a wedding for a girl, and she said that I did her fifth birthday party, and asked me if I felt old.

"I said not really because you're the grown up, so it's you who should feel old.

"That is the nice thing because I'm involved with the nicest moments of people's lives, the celebrations, the birthdays, the wedding anniversaries, the weddings.

"It's moments that mean something to someone.

"I'm humbled by it, to be honest."

David Randini performing magic in East CowesDavid Randini performing magic in East Cowes (Image: Contributed)

David will have a busy rest of 2024, with National Road Safety Week coming up, as well as a couple of new projects in the pipeline.

"I learnt face-reading in China which was very interesting.

"I wish I hadn't now because I can tell when someone is lying!"

"I was going to call it alternative psychological entertainment, Mr Randini goes APE!

"It's all in the pipeline."