100 years ago - February 26, 1910
TWO youngsters were charged with stealing the contents of collection boxes in Sandown. There were also further charges of stealing an alms-box and its contents from Bembridge and of stealing money from an alms-box at St John’s, Ryde.
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The population of the IW was 82,418 and showed an increase of 3,726 since 1891, according to the latest census. There were 405 births and 288 deaths registered during the last three months of 1909.
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The Island suffered a heavy storm, with a strong south-westerly gale, accompanied by a violent thunderstorm.
The storm lasted almost two hours and a large elm tree was blown down in Love Lane, Bembridge.
Further disruption occurred in Cowes, with people narrowly missing injury from falling slates and tiles.
The roof of Taylor’s sweet shop, in Castle Street, East Cowes, was also wrecked.
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75 years ago - March 2, 1935
A collection of valuable coins were stolen from Seaview House, at Niton Undercliff.
The stolen coins included a gold crown, first issue, Tower Mint Charles I, 1625, a gold broad sovereign, Charles II, 1661 and silver and copper English, Roman and Egyptian coins.
A large quantity of old silver that was in the same room as the coins, was untouched.
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Mr Reuben Reed, of Alvington Manor View, Carisbrooke, won first prize with a golden retriever, Lola of Aldgrove, at the Portsmouth Canine Association’s show.
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Firefighters in Shanklin were called to extinguish a fire at the Melbourne Hotel, Queens Road.
The brigade wore smoke helmets and worked their way in and located the outbreak in a cupboard underneath the stairs.
One member of the brigade had an unfortunate mishap however, when on route to the fire station, in the dark, he collided with a lamppost, rendering him unable to proceed to the fire.
50 years ago - February 27, 1960
The Hants and IW police reached the semi-final of the All England Police Football Cup, after they beat Birmingham City police in a thrilling match.
The score stood at 2-2 at half time, before the Hants and IW police went on the record an impressive 4-3 victory.
Island goalkeeper Whittington was voted one of the outstanding players of the game.
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Members of the 1st Ryde Troop sea scouts went to their headquarters at Player’s Beach, Binstead, to find that their hut had been ransacked.
Boatbuilding tools and brass and copper fittings valued at more than £50 were missing.
Ryde police told the County Press that there were no signs of the building having been forcibly entered.
A motor trader launched a campaign for people to buy their cars on the Island.
Mr Woodnutt referred to the increase in the county rate and the fact the Island was economically out of balance with the mainland, to encourage others to keep trade on the Island.
'Buy on the Island and the money comes back’ was his phrase, and was a principle he adopted for every item, from a suit to his wife’s hair-do.
25 years ago - March 1, 1985
A section of road costing almost £900,000 was officially opened — two months behind schedule.
The opening of the Newport south-eastern relief road, between Pan roundabout and Coppins Bridge, had been delayed because of bad weather, which had held back workmen.
County surveyor, Mr P. Richardson, said that the final cost would be more like £900,000 than the predicted £810,000.
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Island school teachers escalated their industrial action over pay, forcing the closure of two Island schools and causing disruption to 32 others.
High schools and middle schools were hit by the strike by 284 local members of the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers.
The members had become frustrated at central government constantly undervaluing them and the education.
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Urgent repairs to the linkspan at Lymington Pier caused traffic chaos and disruption.
Vessels had to use the old slipway, which resulted in vehicles crossing the railway line under direction, causing delays.
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The first 140mph Ford Capri arrived on the Island.
The supercar was handed over to Longcamp Leisure Ltd director, Colin Bedford, at a cost of £12,000.
The car had been modified and customised on the outside and under the bonnet and the 2.8 litre fuel-injected engine was fitted with a turbo-charger, giving a top speed of more than 140mph
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Twenty five years, a new two-bed intensive care unit was officially opened at the Royal IW County Hospital, Ryde (see picture).
The unit was equipped with all the basic necessities of an intensive care unit and was seen as a significant step forward for the IW Health Authority’s efforts to improve services on the Island.
Mr G. O’Brien, director of nursing, said although the unit could cater for most patients requiring such facilities some would still have to be transferred to the mainland for specialist care.
10 years ago - February 25, 2000
Five people were arrested by police swooping to crack a major suspected heroin ring on the Island.
An operation that involved 30 officers culminated on raids on premises mainly in the Newport area.
Police said the raid had yielded a substantial quantity of drugs and cash — believed to be the profits from the ring.
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The first production Britten-Norman Islander plane was rescued from the scrapheap in Puerto Rico, to be restored to its former glory.
G-AVCN Charlie November was originally delivered to Aurigny Air Services, before being used for delivering food, medicines and other essential items to the islands surrounding Puerto Rico.
But it was then grounded and seemed destined to be pulled apart, before Airstream International Group sponsored buying the aircraft and returned it to Britten-Norman’s Bembridge hangar.
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Parkhurst prison inmate and former gangster, Charlie Kray, donated his week’s prison wages to a charity on the Island.
Charlie was one of several inmates who handed over a cheque for £350 to a support group for autistic children.
And mums who received the money were amazed to learn one of the chief contributors was Charlie, the eldest of the notorious Kray brothers.
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Town councillors demanded an explanation from the IW Council, after scores of roadside trees had been severely cropped, leaving them looking like props from a horror film.
Cowes town councillor, Elliott Hamilton, said: "I have spoken to many people who share my belief that the trees have been butchered."
Heather Humby, IW council member for Sandown, said: "We are supposed to be a holiday island that relies on its image, yet the trees have been pollarded so they look terrible."