100 years ago

May 4, 1918

AN ISLAND officer serving on the Western Front wrote to his parents to wish them a perfect Easter.

He said: “I feel I must send my love and every good and perfect wish for Easter. Picture a piece of opened ground sandwiched between shell-battered houses, in the forefront a little knot of men standing around singing the favourite old hymns.”

75 years ago

May 1, 1943

An Island Land Army girl, Audrey Ruth Allen, was killed in an accident with a farm tractor at Newbarn Farm, Shorwell.

She was driving the tractor while working at Bowcome Manor when it overturned across a sharp incline.

50 years ago

April 27, 1968

Admiral of the fleet, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, governor of the IW, paid the Island a visit.

He viewed the works of Messrs Ratsey and Lapthorn when he opened a weaving plant, addressed a meeting of the Solent Protection Society and was guest of honour at the annual dinner of the IW Rifles Comrades’ Association.

25 years ago

April 30, 1993

A Cessna 150 two-seater plane crashed into a Bembridge garden — yards away from the property.

The plane, which had been on its way to Jersey from Surrey, was diverted to Bembridge following bad weather conditions.

Resident of the property, Daniel Arthure, was completely unaware of the drama as he was listening to music through headphones.

10 years ago

May 2, 2008

Alan Titchmarsh was the first to tread the boards of the newly refurbished Yarmouth Pier at its re-opening ceremony.

Residents gathered to mark the event, which included a ribbon cutting by Mr Titchmarsh. The Island’s MP, Andrew Turner, councillors and school children from Yarmouth also attended.