100 years ago - March 12, 1910
A YOUNG gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery was charged with the theft of a bicycle, worth £8, and clothes worth £5.
The man was caught by an undercover policeman as he tried to sell the stolen bike.
When questioned about, the young man said: "Well I give in. I’m had."
He was sentenced to three months’ hard labour.
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Brooks Pride, a dog belonging to Alfred Brown, of Dunesbury Farm, Brook, shared the first prize in the Strood Stakes, at the open meeting of the Sussex County Coursing Club, held at Barnham.
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A runaway horse gave shoppers in Newport a fright.
The horse spooked and collided with a bank, causing it to breakaway from its cart’s shafts and bolt down the road.
PC Welch tried to stop the horse outside Newport Guildhall but the animal finally came to a halt at Palmers Brook, Wootton, before any damage was caused.
75 years ago - March 16, 1935
Despite being without several of their best runners, the Island’s J. Barton won the second annual cross-country race between IW and the 43rd Light Infantry in Newport.
Barton finished in a time of 32 minutes 57 seconds, ahead of Island runners Pte Powell, H. Taylor and G. Pritty.
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County council highways staff introduced 30mph speed limit notices in 60 built-up areas.
They were erected in Newport, Ryde, Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor.
The signs were circular with the figure 30 in black writing on a white background.
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Houses in Cowes and East Cowes shook after an explosion and a fierce fire at the oil refinery works of the Agwi Petroleum Corporation, on the Calshot side of Southampton water.
Flames and smoke were clearly visible from Cowes and many people on the esplanade witnessed the flames, which, at one point, were more than 200ft high.
50 years ago - March 12, 1960
A brilliant summer for Island trade was reported at the annual IW Chamber of Commerce meeting.
Hon secretary F. W. Bright said the fall in ferry use in 1958 was more than covered by the summer’s profits.
There were 350,000 more passengers using Island ferries compared to the same period in 1958, and, in total, more than four million people used the ferries in six months.
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A Ryde man was made a Companion of the Order of Knights of the Road — which was sponsored by the News of the World — in recognition of his courtesy and consideration for other road users.
Mr Greaves won the award after finishing second in a road safety trial on his motorcycle. He then entered
the competition in his car, winning it on three occasions.
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To celebrate the 300th anniversary of Charles II erecting and establishing a post office, Island post offices opened their doors to the public. Residents got an insight into the processes behind sorting letters and parcels.
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25 years ago - March 15, 1985
Detectives appealed for information after a valuable haul of liquid gold was stolen from a Shanklin factory.
After raiding the Teknacron premises, in Landguard Manor Road, a thief drained 48-litres of industrial gold, used in the maufacturing of printed circuits, and refilled the vat with water.
The liquid was said to be worth £6,240.
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The lordships of five of the Island’s ancient manors were sold at auction in London.
A top price of £6,500 was paid for the lordship of Brook. The others — Brighstone, Bowcombe, Rowborough and Whippingham — raised between £3,600 and £4,500.
The lordships were put up for sale by a member of the Seely family.
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A cheque for £700 was presented to St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, by members of the Vectis Historical Vehicle Club.
Ray Thompson, hospital administrator, said £300 would be split among the wards for the elderly.
The money was raised during street collections in Newport.
10 years ago - March 10, 2000
A 14-year-old Bembridge schoolboy was rescued from mud — by a whisker.
Tom Jones’s pet dog, Whisker, barked frantically to raise the alarm when her owner sunk waist deep in cloying mud at Forelands.
The Sandown High School youngster was trapped for more than 30 minutes before two passers by heard Whisker’s barks and Tom’s calls for help.
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Friends who met through a murder mystery weekend plotted a cheeky deed for charity — by posing naked for a calendar.
And what started as a joke managed to raise several hundred pounds for victims of the Chernobyl disaster.
The special edition calendar featured 12 professional men in a variety of poses at the Old Park Hotel, St Lawrence.
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A huge war galley crossed The Solent in a second Roman invasion of the Island, when a new ride, named Colossus, was transported to Robin Hill.
Seating 42 slaves at a time, visitors enjoyed the thrill of swinging through 180-degrees on the new ride.
Park manager Tim Butcher said: "This is the biggest and best new ride on the Island and is sure to be a hit with our customers."