Looking Back at the Isle of Wight December 16

Ten years ago: David and Doreen Perkis became proud grandparents twice within the space of just two hours.
First, their son and daughter-in-law Chris and Signe Perkis, of Victoria Cresent, Ryde, became parents, with Signe giving birth to Emma Louise after a 32-hour labour, pictured.
Then just under two hours later, their daughter and son-in-law, Jo and James Wilson, also became first-time parents to son, Thomas.

100 YEARS AGO December 17, 1916
THE cost of repairing damage to Sandown by the recent great storm was reported to be in the region of £30.


75 YEARS AGO December 20, 1941
A flag-day arranged by the Joint War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St John of Jerusalem was held on the Island.
It was in aid of Winston Churchill’s Aid to Russia Appeal and the totalled £780.


50 YEARS AGO December 10, 1966
A Bembridge man was gearing up for a job in Antarctica as a diver with the British survey team.
Gerald Pearce, 23 was set to complete an 18-month tour of duty, which he told the CP he was "quite excited" about.
Gerry was a former pupil of Carisbrooke Grammar School and member of 1st Bembridge sea scouts.


25 YEARS AGO December 13, 1991
Sandown corner shop owners, Geoff and Barbara Sartin, started a campaign to get the Island out of the European Economic Community.
The couple had been working on a petition to send to the Queen.
Mrs Sartin, 38, said: "We are very serious about this. The Island must get enough independence from the mainland so it can break away from the EC and become a tax haven like Jersey."


10 YEARS AGO December 15, 2006
A Ryde middle school headteacher had come up with a novel way of ensuring pupils didn’t play truant.
Bishop Lovett School headteacher, Ursula Hutchinson, sent a member of staff round to tell the children to get out of bed.
It worked in nine out of ten cases, it was reported.