100 years ago

April 20, 1918

The Isle of Wight Women's War Agricultural Council stated "never had women been so necessary as in these days - she had proved her value on the land and the old prejudices have passed into oblivion."

16 women were working the farms on the Island, eleven Island girls and five imported, and 14 Island girls were working on farms elsewhere.

The Land Army were praised for their resilience and vigorous spirit.

75 years ago

April 17, 1943

A serious fire occurred at Kite Hill, Wootton, at the former property of the mayor of Newport.

The thatched roof of the property was well ablaze and the property was severely damaged.

50 years ago

April 13, 1968

The world's first hovercraft, designed and built by Saunders Roe at Cowes, was accepted by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu.

Lord Montagu said it was with great pleasure that he accepted the hovercraft for permanent exhibition.

It was appropriate that the hovercraft should rest there at it was tested in the Beaulieu river.

25 years ago

April 16, 1993

An Island baby, Daniel Hadlow, was offered a pioneering iron lung treatment as he suffered from a polio-type virus.

The Shanklin baby was based at Southampton General Hospital and was the first Island person to receive the treatment.

10 years ago

April 18, 2008

A Naval officer from Sandown completed a mercy dash from the gulf to St Mary's Hospital in 11 hours to be by his sick daughter.

The Royal Navy pulled out all the stops to get chief petty officer Mathew Askey to St Mary's, travelling by helicopter to a US Navy Ship and then to Bahrain Airport, where he caught a flight to Heathrow, by-passed customs and given direct escort to a Royal VIP RAF helicopter which flew him straight to Bembridge Airport.