100 Years Ago - July 23, 1910
AT A meeting of the IW Rural District Council, attention was drawn to the fact the clock in the boardroom was an hour fast, and it was probably for that reason that certain members hurried away. It was suggested the clock should be set right, but the chairman said, among laughter, that it couldn’t be done without consent from the guardians.
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Islanders were getting ready to welcome the King and Queen of England to the Island. A Royal Salute was to be fired from the battery of the Royal Yacht Squadron as the pair sailed into Cowes. Their majesties, whose stay in Cowes was to be a completely private one, were expected to pay a visit to their son, Prince Albert, at the Royal Naval College. A special telegraph cable was also to be laid from Cowes post office to the Royal Yacht’s mooring.
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An aviator made a dare-devil flying stunt as he swooped over the Needles golf links in his Farmna biplane after a thrilling over-sea flight in pouring rain and high winds. The few people who braved the elements to watch the stunt took shelter under the walls of the Coastguard observation house to watch Robert Loraine fly near to the cliffs before landing safely.
75 Years Ago - July 27, 1935
A programme of swimming sports and exhibitions of diving, water tricks and swimming attracted a large crowd to the Sandown Pleasure Pool. The sports were carried out under the direction of Mrs Wilbur Davies, who gave an impressive exhibition of swimming. She was assisted in dual tricks, including double revolving and double somersaults.
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A soldier was summoned for having driven a motor car on the footpath at Cowes. PC King said he saw a touring car stationary in the narrow part of the High Street, when the defendant proceeded to drive the car on the pavement forcing pedestrians to get out of the way. When asked for an explanation, the defendant stated that he went on the pavement to avoid other cars and this was the only way he could get past. He was fined £2.
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Some beautiful artwork was put on display at Northwood House, Cowes, by the Cowes and Wight Art Club. The exhibition featured more than 250 oil and watercolour paintings, drawings, etchings and photographs from Island artists. A section of black and white images and paintings proved particularly popular with visitors.
50 Years Ago - July 23, 1960
An East Cowes woman pleaded guilty to stealing a lady’s bicycle valued at £8. PC Galpin stated that a man had borrowed his sister’s bicycle and left it against a wall, but when he returned a few minutes later, the bicycle had gone. The bicycle was spotted in Newport almost a year later, when it was proven that it was the bicycle in question. The woman was given a 12 months’ conditional discharge and fined 15s costs.
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Two prisoners who escaped from Camp Hill Corrective Training Prison, Parkhurst, were recaptured in Brighton. Detectives with a police dog surrounded a house, before surprising two men in the kitchen. They were recaptured without a struggle. Both had escaped at a working party by climbing over a prison wall near to the governor’s house.
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About 60 passengers heading to the mainland spent an uncomfortable night at sea, when the British Railways car ferry broke down while on her final crossing of the day. She left Yarmouth in a gale and, 20 minutes later, the main shaft to one of the paddles broke as she approached Lymington River.
25 Years Ago - July 26, 1985
Prince Michael of Kent paid a flying visit to the Island to inspect Sandown-based ARV Aviation’s new ARV Super2 light aircraft. The Prince spent more than three hours with Britain’s latest light aircraft company, which is headed by world and land speed record holder, Richard Noble. After watching a 20-minute demonstration flight of Prototype 001, flown by ARV chief test pilot Hugh Kendall, the Prince attended a buffet lunch at which he was presented with a desk top scale model of the aircraft.
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A buzz of activity coming from St Helens Youth Club was louder than usual due to a swarm of 40,000 bees settling behind a boarded up window in the roof of the building. Youth club leader, Barbara Dyer, said the bees could not have moved in at a worse time, as the club was about to be rented out to raise much-needed funds.
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A concert was staged by Bembridge Playgroup to mark both the end of term and to say goodbye to the children leaving to start at primary school. Dressed in brightly coloured summer clothes, 24 youngsters performed a selection of action songs to an audience of parents. After the entertainment, 13 children received farewell gifts presented by Mrs Kunz, reception teacher at the nearby Bembridge CE Primary School.
10 Years Ago - July 23, 2000
The first Hoffman’s two-toed sloth to be born in captivity for 55 years was thriving at Amazon World. Delighted staff were unaware at first that the tiny creature’s mother, Amber, was pregnant and curator Derek Curtis was concerned she might die because her stomach was swelling.
Mr Curtis said: "We were worried. We never dreamed about her being pregnant, it is such a rare event. It is a beautiful thing and made quite a story."
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Newchurch was selected as the Island’s best kept village after scoring just one third of a point more than Brighstone. It was the first time the picturesque village had won the award and the judges were delighted to see the village looking so good, with a complete absence of litter and well-kept verges.
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The Island scooped two awards in the prestigious tourism Oscars. Flamingo Park was named visitor attraction of the year and Lower Hyde Holiday Village, Shanklin, was named caravan holiday park of the year. The two popular attractions were to go on to represent the region in the national finals later in the year.