100 years ago - October 5, 1918

The Mayors of Newport and Ryde received a telegram from the Chancellor of Exchequer thanking them for the Island’s war effort.

It read: “At the close of the first year’s campaign for National War Bonds, with its magnificent results, I should like to take the opportunity to thank you for you efforts. I am sure I can rely on your continued help during the new campaign.”

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Deep and widespread grief was caused by the death of Capt Collingwood Bertram at the age of 43. The sad news came when the captain died after an operation at the County Hospital. Capt Collingwood Bertram, coming from a one of the best known sporting and farming stocks, was a fine example of Island traditions.

75 years ago - October 2, 1943

A young soldier was killed in a tragic car crash in Wootton.

Pte Sidney Clifford Paskell, 18, was serving in an infantry regiment when knocked down at Kite Hill.

He was taken to the Sloop Inn where he passed away.

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Police officer L. Rossner, who Islanders remembered as the Island Police swimming champion in pre-war days, left the IW to serve as a flying officer in North Africa.

In a letter back home, he wrote: “I managed to get into Tunis the other day and found a swimming gala in progress. I entered the diving and got third place.”

50 years ago - September 28, 1968

Ryde Town Council agreed to bring a complaint about hovercraft noise to the notice of Hovertravel.

The council said they would ask Hovertravel whether experiments they were to carry out to cut noise down had proved fruitful.

Seafront residents had described the sound as ‘an awful din’.

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The second phase of a dream conceived five years prior came true when the Medina Training Centre was opened.

The £42,000 facility provided training and employment facilities for disabled adults and children and formed an extension to Medina House School.

It was opened by the Marquess of Milford Haven OBE.

25 years ago - October 1, 1993

Just days after determined Binstead residents won a battle to protect meadow land from residential development, a mechanical digger went on site.

Residents of the adjoining Millgrove estate looked on in horror as heavy plant cut swathes through the land despite Medina planners rejecting the development.

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The Duchess of Kent chatted to pupils at the new £1 million Broadlea Primary School before officially opening the building.

The duchess confessed to having a soft spot for the Island and said: “It is so beautiful and I have many happy memories of coming here as a child.

“My ancestors had a home at Appuldurcombe House at Wroxall.”

10 years ago - October 3, 2008

More than 400 litres of diesel was spilt on roads between Brading and Shanklin after the fuel tanks of a lorry and bus were ruptured.

The bus, recently bought by Southern Vectis, and the lorry both suffered a damaged fuel tank while negotiating roadworks in Brading.

Around ten other vehicles were involved in collisions as they lost control on the spilt fuel.

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“The high cost of ferry fares are like the bars of a prison for those wishing to travel to the mainland”, said a supporter of the Campaign to get Fair Trading to check ferry services.

Wightlink said it feared the credit crunch, rising oil prices and the cost of maintaining an ageing fleet would increase financial pressure.