TEN years ago: The controversial Koan at St Mary’s Hospital enjoyed a facelift for its tenth anniversary.
Although its erection put many Islanders in a spin, it never fulfilled its promise to rotate and its coloured lights only worked intermittently.
The Land Sea Light Koan was installed in March 1997 for around £55,000, £31,550 of which came from the National Lottery Fund and private sources, including the Arts Council of England.
It was commissioned from artist Liliane Lijn by Healing Arts, the charity which promoted healing through the arts. FILE

100 Years Ago
July 28, 1917

DUBBED a ‘fictitious Frenchman’, James Warder was charged with having made a false statement to officers upon arriving at Southampton.
Mr Warder, steward of the SS Aquitania, stationed in Cowes, pleaded guilty to claiming to be French — an oddly common occurrence at British ports.
He said: “I am sorry. I was only having a game; I was acting drunk.”
He was fined 10s or seven days in detention.


75 Years Ago
July 25, 1942

More than 100 houses in Cowes were deemed unfit for habitation, following a report from the urban district council.
The report also stated the year had been a healthy one, with the number of notifiable diseases small and only one case of diphtheria.
The infant mortality rate was also low, at 31 per 1,000 against the national average of 59.


50 Years Ago
July 29, 1967

The county council was criticised following a report from both Houses of Parliament concerning the scheme to build a fixed bridge over the River Yar at Yarmouth.
Plans to replace the existing opening one were opposed by the Royal Yachting Association, Royal Solent Yacht Club and the Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners, along with many other local groups.
They objected on the grounds the new bridge would be built 500ft upstream and would make it impossible for larger craft to navigate the upper reaches of the river during high tide.


25 Years Ago
July 25, 1992

Proposals for a Medina Bridge, linking East and West Cowes, moved a step closer when county councillors accepted an environmental statement and agreed to submit a planning application for the scheme.
Assistant county surveyor Eric Mawdsley said the most significant effect would be the visual impact and noise levels.
He added tree planting and landscape programme would help disguise the structure and restore the wildlife habitat of the area.


10 Years Ago
July 27, 2007

The efforts of green-fingered locals paid off when their Northwood patch beat off rivals Calbourne and Yarmouth to be named Calor Village of the Year for England.
As well as being named overall winner at the awards ceremony, at Quay Arts, Northwood picked up a clutch of cash prizes and certificates for winning the information communication, young people and community life categories with competitor Calbourne winning the older people and business category.