Ten years ago: A taxi driver claimed he had been excluded by a cabal of Cowes drivers during the latest row to hit the Red Funnel taxi rank.
Brett Sampson, 35 from Thorness Bay, alluded to the colourful nature of his taxi as a possible reason for his exclusion, seeing no other possible excuse.
The vehicle, which was painted pink and purple and decorated with flowers.

100 Years Ago
March 30, 1917


THE price of coal was crippling the IW economy, retailing at £3 a ton (£191 in today’s money) and causing considerable hardships.
However, when the issue was raised in parliament, it was revealed the IW authorities had not taken advantage of an offer made by merchants to limit retail prices.


75 Years Ago
April 4, 1942


It was chaos on the streets of Sandown when a bus ran out of control, careering into two shops on the High Street.
Fortunately, neither of the two passengers on board was injured, though the fronts of Colenutt’s, a stationer, and MacFisheries were both badly damaged.
The Farmers Dairies Cafe and Warder Harvey’s shoe shop also failed to escape unscathed, suffering minor damage.


50 Years Ago
April 1, 1967


The heroic exploits of Island lifeboat crews were recognised at the 104th annual meeting of the IW Lifeboat Board.
Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten of Burma, governor of the Island, made three presentations — the British Empire Medal, a long-service award, and a journalistic award to County Press reporter Bob Clegg.


25 Years Ago
April 3, 1992


A Sandown High School pupil’s artistic efforts were immortalised in stamp form as part of an Island-wide contest.
Russell Brook, 17, of Green Lane, Shanklin, won the contest to design a special Island cover for the official stamp marking the 100th anniversary of the death of the Victorian Poet Laureate, Alfred Lord Tennyson.


10 Years Ago
March 30, 2007


The Island’s very own Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was finally fit for the roads after it passed its MoT.
It was a long road from its conception but Nick Pointing had managed to
pull the project together for his wife, Carolyn.
"It was a wonderful feeling to finally finish the project," said Nick.
"The MoT was the final piece of the jigsaw."