100 Years Ago
March 30, 1912
The charm of a Shanklin church convinced a German couple it was the perfect venue for their wedding.
Herr Kurt Schmidt and Franlein Annemarie Kirchhoff were marred at the Old Church, Shanklin, after they fell love with it during a visit to the IW in 1908.
After the wedding ceremony, the couple held a reception at Daish’s Hotel, before they left the Island to return to Germany via Paris, where they spent their honeymoon.
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A steamer, which ran aground at St Catherine’s, was so close to the shore lighthousemen were able to see people moving around on it.
The steamer grounded in thick fog, where it remained for several hours, before the rising tide enabled it to continue its voyage.
Although the ship’s identity could not be ascertained, it was believed to be a British steamer heading for Germany.
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The golf course on St George’s Down, Newport, came in for criticism after it opened up to golfers to play on Sundays.
County Press reader Arthur Page wrote a letter to the editor, stating Sunday was God’s day and it was not appropriate for golf to be played.
In his letter, Mr Page wrote: “To my mind, and the minds of many others, golf playing is but the thin edge of the wedge.
“If golf, why not football, cricket or theatres.”
75 Years Ago
April 3, 1937
The 8th Battalion Hampshire Regiment (Princess Beatrice’s IW Rifles) was to be converted into a brigade of heavy artillery, tasked with providing a coastal defence.
The announcement was made by Sir Richard Haking, the esteemed veteran colonel of the Hampshire Regiment, at a meeting at the Artillery Drill Hall, Newport.
The regiment would man some of the IW batteries, which were part of the outer defences of Portsmouth and Southampton.
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There was great satisfaction in Cowes after the Admiralty commissioned J. S. White and Co to build two destroyers.
The order to the firm was part of a national programme to build 16 vessels, which demonstrated the immense resources possessed by the British Admiralty.
The 1,850-ton destroyers would be able to travel at 36 knots.
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Sandown received its award for being the sunniest spot in the country.
The Daily Express Sunshine League diploma was won by Sandown in 1936 and an award was presented to the chairman of the District Council, Mr A. J. Mew.
Mr Mew said he hoped Sandown would be as lucky in years to come.
50 Years Ago
March 31, 1962
Island MP Mark Woodnutt warned the public not to panic about rumours surrounding the future of the Island’s railways.
Speaking at the annual dinner of Ventnor Professional and Businessmen’s Association, Mr Woodnutt said the less heard about the matter the better.
He said the people responsible for such a cock-eyed scheme such as closing the Ryde to Ventnor railway must be stopped, because it was a vital lifeline.
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Yarmouth fire brigade was called to deal with an unusual problem — a sinking dredger.
The vessel had a six-inch hole in its side, believed to have been caused by a collision with the ferry slipway while it was dredging the harbour.
In seven hours, the firemen pumped 65,000 gallons of water out of the dredger.
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An 89-year-old Totland resident was amazed to find a photograph in the County Press that he had taken at the age of nine.
William Brodie, of Summers Lane, opened the County Press to find a copy of the photograph he took of Wroxall carpenter Jack Orchard, who had renovated a disused observatory off Manor Road.
After seeing the photograph, Mr Brodie revisited the site in Wroxall and found it was exactly the same as when he took the picture.
25 Years Ago
April 3, 1987
Gales gusting to 100mph cut a swathe of damage across the Island, ripping away roofs and chimneys and putting schools out of action.
High winds caused between £5,000 and £7,000 damage at Swanmore Middle School after large sections of roof felt were torn away.
And children were sent away from Kitbridge Middle School because building work on the site posed a danger to them.
A roof was torn off a stable in Freshwater where horses were resting but they were not injured.
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Conservative councillors were confident they could transform the appearance of Ryde Esplanade.
As part of the plans, the gateway to the Island would be given an upmarket look, which would include banning buses from parking in the marshalling area.
The taxi rank would be moved and there were plans to provide a Sunday market-style area near Quay Road.
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If it was good enough for the Pope, it was good enough for Bembridge resident Dave Stewart.
Cycle shop worker Dave had been looking for work for six months when a television programme, which featured the Pope riding in a rickshaw, gave him an idea.
Using spare bicycle parts, Dave made two rickshaws, which he planned to used for a tourist taxi service.
10 Years Ago
April 5, 2002
Farmer Ken Hicks and his passenger had a miraculous escape when their microlight aircraft dramatically plummeted 100ft on to his farm at Bembridge.
Mr Hicks, who had flown for 45 years, sustained leg injuries but said the pair were saved by their safety harnesses.
Mr Hicks also said it was very fortunate the microlight, which suffered engine trouble, did not catch fire.
Passenger Norman Smith was battered and bruised but suffered no serious injuries.
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Secret cameras were installed on Southern Vectis buses to catch teenagers who were putting lives at risk.
Groups of pupils on school buses were getting together to force whole panes of glass out of top-deck windows on to the pavements.
Company managing director Alan White said if one landed on a pedestrian, they could be killed.