100 years ago

April 6, 1918

A WELL-KNOWN Newport cricketer, L/Cpl B. R. Somerville, played superbly in a cricket match in India.

He scored 117 in the first innings, enabling his side to gain an exciting win that was reported by the Rangoon Gazette.

75 years ago

April 3, 1943

The Home Secretary announced the ban on pleasure visits to the Island would be re-imposed.

He said: “The time has come when the question of access to coastal areas must be considered from the point of view of the use of this country as a base for offensive operations against the enemy.”

50 years ago

March 29, 1968

The building plans for the nation’s first two-form entry middle school were approved. Mayfield Road Middle School was set to replace the Player Street School with open plan centres and independent libraries. The Department of Education was said to be very pleased with the plans.

25 years ago

April 2, 1993

Former deputy head girl of Ryde School, Vicky Stevenson, was among nine students aboard a Royal Navy patrol boat seized by knife-wielding French fishermen.

She said the occupation had been a frightening experience but had not deterred her from her ambition to join the Royal Navy and become a naval surgeon.

10 years ago

April 4, 2008

Dame Ellen MacArthur was described as a symbol of Franco-British friendship by French president, Nicholas Sarkozy.

He presented her with France’s highest decoration, the Legion d’Honneur, at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich