100 Years Ago - December 25, 1909
HEAVY rain caused the railway tunnel between Ryde St John’s Road and Ryde Esplanade to flood for only the second time in 20 years.
The volume of rainwater coming off the Ashey valley was unable to escape to the sea and it filled the tunnel overnight.
The fire services had to manually pump rainwater out and all railway services had to be cancelled, causing disruption to Christmas holidaymakers.
A horse and cart provided a replacement service between the stations.
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Staff at the County Asylum were busy preparing for a three-week Christmas and new year entertainment programme.
A host of activities were lined up, including concerts by pupils at the County Secondary School, Sandown, and the Sandown Town Band.
Other musical concerts and pantomimes would be held in the hall at the asylum, while officials and patients were set to take part in a games night.
A Boxing Day ball and a new year party also featured in the programme, which would last until January 12.
75 Years Ago - December 29, 1934
An employee of J. S. White & Co died from the injuries he sustained in an accident at work 11 months before.
Frank Twort, 26, of Cowes, was working in the factory when a metal plate, weighing about eight hundred-weight, fell on him, fracturing his spine and paralysing him from the waist down.
He died in the National Hospital, London.
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A teenager from Lake had to be rescued from the sea after he fell off Ryde Pier.
Lawrence Chiverton, 16, had just got off the train at the pier head when he fell over the railings and into the water.
His friend heard a cry for help and, within minutes, a seaman from Southern Railway launched a boat from the pier to rescue him.The boy was taken to hospital suffering from shock and an injured leg.
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Ryde Rowing Club held its annual Christmas ball at Ryde Town Hall.
More than 350 members attended the event, including Father Christmas, who distributed paper snowballs for a snowball fight.
Southsea-based Handley’s Orchestra played at the ball, where a number of dance competitions were held.
50 Years Ago - December 26, 1959
A fire at a barn in Bembridge caused thousands of pounds of damage — just weeks after another farm blaze in the village.
The fire, on the East Cliff estate, was confined to the barn, which was filled with hay and straw for feeding animals during the winter.
Horses and foals in the stables were unharmed.
Police began an investigation, after linking the fire to a blaze at Walisend Farm, earlier in the month.
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Oranges, apples, grapes and vegetables were scattered over the road after a fruit lorry crashed in Binstead.
The three-ton lorry overturned on a bend near Quarr Abbey, as it was travelling from Cowes to Ryde.
The driver, Mr Perry, and his colleague, were both unharmed.
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Lighthouse keepers at the Nab Tower had to wait for their seasonal gifts after gales put paid to Bembridge Lifeboat’s annual visit.
However, calmer conditions three days later meant the trip could be made and a Christmas service was held at the tower, conducted by the Rev Sims-Williams.
Coxswain Peter Smith presented gifts to the keepers, including the only Islander on duty, Arthur Harper, of Cowes.
25 Years Ago - December 28, 1984
A Bristol woman, visiting her dad for Christmas, was killed in a road accident while she was walking on a road with no pavement.
Judith Knight was hit by a car as she walking along Briddlesford Road, Wootton.
She was taken to the Royal IW County Hospital, Ryde, but died on arrival.
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Work was expected to start on a town centre development in Newport, which would include retail outlets and 35 flats.
Island Builders Ltd said it would soon be starting work at the former Savoy Cinema, on the corner of Pyle Street and Town Lane.
Employees of the firm would carry out the work on the four-storey complex — expected to last 18 months.
10 Years Ago - December 23, 1999
A new community on the outskirts of Newport, with plans for residential areas, employment, leisure and retail, was proposed in a major scheme — the largest ever submitted on the Island.
The multi-million pound plans for land at Pan was submitted by Bath-based developers Kingcross Ltd, and would include a 70-bed budget hotel, a family pub/restaurant, business units and about 600 homes.
It was understood Island housing associations, including Medina Housing and Care Group, had been involved in discussions.
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Chicago Rock Cafe planned to open a venue in Newport, creating about 60 new jobs. Plans were lodged for the themed diner to occupy about a third of the ground floor of the Coppins Bridge multiplex development. The company submitted an application for a public entertainment licence operating until 1am Mondays to Saturdays and midnight on Sundays.
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A millennium bug was not to blame for 40,000 copies of an IW Healthcare NHS Trust calendar being wrong.
The errors prompted a flood of complaints after the calendar was distributed with the wrong dates on it.
The mistakes were blamed on a printing error and not the early manifestation of the millennium bug.