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Friday, May 2, 2008

By Elaine Squire - Friday, May 2, 2008
LOOKING BACK
100 Years Ago
May 2, 1908
Four people were dead and 23 missing after a Naval disaster in blizzard conditions near Yarmouth on April 25. The victims were on board HMS Gladiator, which was accidentally rammed by an American liner, St Paul, at about 2.30pm. Water gushed through a 40ft hole cut in the Gladiator’s side and within ten minutes, the ship had run aground settling on her starboard side. Many of her crew either jumped or were thrown into the sea but the majority scrambled on the top or portside of the ship as it tipped over.
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For the first time, the IW Football League Championship was won by Newport, who also won the Island Cup.

75 Years Ago
April 29, 1933
Two people were rescued from The Solent after their sailing boat capsized in strong winds and rough seas off Gurnard. Retired RAF officer Capt Halliwell, a powerful swimmer, kept his companion, Nora Litchfield, of Solent View Road, afloat in icy water for half an hour before the pair were rescued by Messrs Tubb and Gibbons, in a rowing boat. After the incident, a recuperating Miss Litchfield was said to be none the worse for her thrilling experience and warm in her admiration of the gallantry of Capt Halliwell.
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A cleaner at Ryde St John’s Road Station died after being crushed between the buffers of two locomotive engines in the cleaning shed. William Orchard, 32, who had lived with his wife, young child and father at the Blackwater Post Office, was rushed to hospital where he died shortly after. On returning a verdict of accidental death, an inquest jury suggested a more efficient warning be introduced for engines entering the cleaning shed.

50 Years Ago
May 3, 1958
Twelve boys from the Priory Secondary School, Newport, returned to the Island after three days of rock climbing in the Lake District. The trip included climbs on Needle and Arrowhead ridges on the south face of Great Gable.
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Yachtsman John Goodwin, from Norton, near Yarmouth, won a race in South African waters, in his boat, Speedwell. In 1956, Mr Goodwin, 28, sailed Speedwell from Yarmouth to Gibraltar, then across the Atlantic single-handed to the West Indies.
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A couple, who had been separated for only two weeks of their 50-year marriage, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Of his wife Elizabeth, Albert Fry of Ashey Road, Ryde, said: “Whether I was sailing, fishing or shooting, my wife was at my side and as for her prowess in a boat, I would rather have her crewing for me than any man.”
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Scouts and guides took part in traditional St George’s Day parades and services across the Island.

25 Years Ago
April 29, 1983
Probation officers on the Island went on strike for the first time. More than half of the 16 Island members of the National Association of Probation Officers obeyed the strike, which was called in protest at Home Office plans to cut the salaries of trainee probation officers by up to 25 per cent.
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A routine hang-gliding lesson almost ended in tragedy when a glider’s pilot was trapped underwater after ditching into the sea about 200 yards off Compton Beach. Robert Moulford, 32, from Kent was rescued by his instructor, Mike McMillan, of Clay Lane, Newbridge, who dived into the sea from the beach, swam out to his pupil, released him from under the glider and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

10 Years Ago
May 1, 1998
Victory was claimed by both aggrieved and perpetrator after the IW Council standards committee passed judgement on its first complaint. In one of two attacks on parish councils, which had landed him in front of the committee, Cllr Jeff Manners had branded Wroxall parish councillors “boring old farts” after they objected to a topless charity event in the Worsley pub. Chairman Keith Lacey said the committee found Mr Manners had every right to express his opinion, although the language used was inappropriate.
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Scarrots Lane was just one number away from becoming Millionaire’s Row when a 16-strong lottery syndicate scooped £61,611. Members of the syndicate, covering Newport’s Central Market and several shops in Scarrots Lane each found themselves £3,850 richer when they matched five numbers and the bonus ball.