100 Years Ago - December 30, 1911
A children’s skating carnival with fancy dress attracted scores of youngsters to Ryde’s Pier Pavilion.
The costumes of the children made a pretty spectacle and various amusing competitions were keenly contested.
Prizes were handed out to the best dressed youngsters, while a display of fancy skating was given by Prof Bradfield and the Misses Milcie, Mona and Rita Gill.
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Various Christmas services were well attended at churches across the Island.
At Holy Trinity Church, Bembridge, there were tasteful decorations with white chrysanthemums and lilies, while scores of people attended Christmas Day services in Brading, Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Shanklin and Sandown.
The morning service at St Boniface Church, Bonchurch, was described as bright and musical.
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It was a record-breaking Christmas at Ryde Post Office, with thousands of letters and parcels sent and delivered.
The amount of correspondence handled was heavier than previous years, with outward mail showing a large increase, while 9,145 parcels were delivered in the town.
There was an extra mail boat put on to cope with the deliveries and 25 extra people employed in the office.
75 Years Ago - January 2, 1937
Christmas Day was the brightest, sunniest and warmest on the Island for many years.
Nearly six hours of sunshine was recorded at Ventnor Park meteorological station, which was visited by a good number locals and hikers.
The good weather also meant people ventured out on Christmas Day and a winter ball at the Winter Gardens was well attended.
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THERE was a Christmas Day accident at Lake Post Office corner, between a saloon car travelling towards Shanklin and a Post Office motorcycle.
The car was damaged and the motorcycle front wheel was buckled.
Both drivers escaped unhurt.
50 Years Ago - December 30, 1961
The Island experienced its coldest Christmas since 1947, encouraging people to stay at home.
There were few cars on the roads and only a small number of accidents over the Christmas period, none on Christmas Day.
A popular event was the meet of the foxhounds in St James’s Square, Newport, attended by thousands from across the Island, but other events fell victim of the cold weather.
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The Bembridge Lifeboat, Jesse Lamb, was involved in one of its toughest rescues for many years when it was at sea continuously for 18 hours, in icy weather.
The crew received a call to go to the assistance of the 50-ton French fishing trawler, the D.I. Patience, eight miles off St Catherine’s Point.
After several attempts to tow the vessel in high winds and rough seas, it was eventually taken into Cowes, with help from the British steamer, Cheshire Coast.
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A boatbuilder from Cowes and his wife had a lucky escape when their car skidded on a patch of black ice at Quarr Hill, Binstead.
The man was driving towards Ryde and had just started going up Quarr Hill when his car went into a skid.
It sliced through a hedge and rolled several times before coming to a standstill on its wheels. The car was extensively damaged but the occupants escaped unharmed.
25 Years Ago - January 2, 1987
The Arthritis and Rheumatism Council for Research and Cervical Cancer Research benefited from the tenth annual Boxing Day barrel run, by regulars of the Wishing Well pub, Pondwell, in fancy dress.
Starting from County Hall, Newport, the barrel, weighing 140lb, was carried 11 miles to Pondwell on the outskirts of Ryde.
The barrel was carried on a stretcher over two hours and 40 minutes.
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After much discussion it was decided a pair of sheep wearing frilly knickers would not appear in cabaret at Sandown nightspot, Zanies.
It was suggested the idea would upset animal rights groups and it led to a warning from the RSPCA.
The co-directors had no idea of the plan until they saw a leaflet produced by the promoter and the plan was scrapped.
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Turkey bones thrown out after Christmas could be dangerous to animals, said a Newport pet owner.
The man warned Islanders of the dangers of throwing out the bones, which could be consumed by animals and cause them serious harm.
A veterinary surgeon also confirmed all poultry bones were potentially dangerous to cats and dogs.
10 Years Ago - January 4, 2002
Health service staff across the Island were stretched to the limit to cope with a flu-like bug, which hit patients in epidemic proportions.
The workload of the out-of-hours GP service broke all records and, at one stage, was the busiest doctors’ co-operative in the country per head of population.
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Shoppers eager to bag themselves a bargain hit the streets of Newport as the post-Christmas sales began.
They got off to the usual early start on Boxing Day outside the Next clothes store, with the first shoppers arriving just after midnight for the 6am opening.
Many shops, including Marks and Spencer and BHS, reported a high volume of sales on the first few days of the new year as well an increase in business throughout December.