TEN Years Ago: The Friends of Ryde school made a splash for cash at the annual summer fete. Among other festivities, youngsters were encouraged to pelt wet sponges at deputy head Stuart Watson and sports teacher Peter Dickinson.

100 Years Ago
June 23, 1917

Two conscientious objectors were put before a Sandown Military Tribunal in unusual circumstances.
The two men, both of Albert Road, Shanklin, had asked for exemption based on the grounds of employment with British Oil and Cake Mills Ltd. Upon arriving in Bristol as labourers they deemed the area of town where they were living to be “unhealthy” so had returned to the Island.

75 Years Ago
June 27, 1942

The Borough of Newport launched a salvage campaign and said bones were urgently required and vital for the war effort. “They have no known substitute and are 100 per cent usable”.
Apparently 50,000 tons a year of bones were wasted. The council offered half a pence per pound of bones delivered to its depot.?They were used for making glue to be used in the aircraft industry.

50 Years Ago
June 24, 1967

The old fire station in Bembridge was given a new lease of life, after going out of service in 1965 following 33 years of service. Plans to convert the building into a village library were approved by the County Library and Museums Community. The conversion was estimated to cost £775 (£12,908 in today’s money)

25 Years Ago
June 26, 1992

A new slip road was a source of controversy, with Medina Borough Council wishing to name it after committee chairman Eric Pickford, “against the wishes of Medina”.
When the unofficial highway sign appeared, it seemed unclear who was going to take responsibility for it. It was reported Mr Pickford chuckled when he heard of the official sign — but saw nothing to laugh about over Medina’s refusal to call the new slip road after him.
The county planned to challenge the decision in the magistrates’ court.

10 Years Ago
June 23, 2007

Road safety experts were not allowed to stand at the entrance to a Sandown night club to deliver their anti-drink driving message because the club owner feared it would put people off drinking. The IW Council road safety team launched their campaign, involving offering clubbers half-price bus tickets and asking people how they were getting home. Part of the campaign involved showed a short, sharp DVD on screens within Island clubs showing the consequences of drink driving.
However, the nightclub owner at Colonel Bogeys declined the offer saying it would put people off drinking in the club.