100 years ago - March 5, 1910
TWO men were fined for being drunk and disorderly while walking up Bonchurch Shute.
PC Andrews said the men could be heard shouting a quarter-of-a-mile away.
The defendants said they were excited after winning a rings match and were singing the Pompey Chimes.
They were fined 1s and 6s 6d costs.
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A £5 reward was offered for information leading to a conviction about a large number of oysters stolen from Newtown Fishery.
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Plans to form a chamber of commerce on the Island were given the thumbs up at a meeting at Newport Guildhall.
The chairman said the plan was of vital importance to the Island’s trading community.
75 years ago - March 9, 1935
A large family bungalow in New Road, Shanklin, was gutted by fire.
The owners’ daughter was woken by the crackling of burning wood and alerted her parents.
After failing to wake her neighbours, Miss Leigh decided to drive to the fire station but her car would not start.
Instead, she ran a mile to the station.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze at 8am the following morning.
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Music lovers from across the Island attended a recital by famous pianist Moiseiwitsch, at Ryde’s Theatre Royal.
The musician delighted his audience with a brilliant performance, opening the show with Beethoven’s piano sonatas.
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Rumours were rife Golden Hill Fort and the surrounding area, which belonged to the war department, was to be used as a station for a brigade of anti-aircraft artillery, housing between 400 and 500 men.
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A 21-year-old man who was serving a three-year sentence at Camp Hill Borstal Institution, scaled a low wall and escaped into Parkhurst Forest.
The escape was spotted by an officer and a hunt began.
He was later recaptured by two employees at Fleetlands Farm, Shalfleet.
50 years ago - March 5, 1960
A new fire station, costing £9,500, opened at York Avenue, East Cowes.
The new building combined efficiency with comfort and replaced the old temporary building built during the Second World War.
Chairman of the county fire brigade commitee Mr King said he was proud to open the new station as his committee had fought hard for it.
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A five-year programme of road improvements on the Island, likely to cost £500,000, was approved at a county council meeting.
A report by roads committee chairman N.G Shears said work would go ahead as long as funds were made available by the Ministry of Transport.
Included in the list of improvements was Lake Hill railway bridge, Lake (£12,000), Fishbourne Lane, Ryde (£29,000) and Broadfields link road, Cowes, (£45,000).
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Two Islanders took part in a non-stop marathon darts event to score 1,000,001.
David Hiles and F. Hiles from Newport, were part of a nine-person team who managed to complete the challenge in a time of 27 hours and 50 minutes.
25 years ago - March 8, 1985
A father and son made their first parachute jump to help raise money for victims of the Ethiopan famine.
Geoge Marsh and his 16-year-old son, Brian, from Porchfield, managed to raise more than £200 for Oxfam.
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Ryde Rotary Club celebrated its 60th anniversary with a dinner at the Solent Court Hotel.
Special guests included Robin Ford and Maggie Pooley, mayor and mayoress of Medina, and J. Watts, president of Rotary International.
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Rumours supermarket chain Tesco had an interest in setting up a store in Newport were denied by the firm’s Cheshunt office.
"Funnily enough, we are considering a development in Newport — but that is Newport, Gwent," said Tesco’s publicity department.
10 years ago - March 3, 2000
Police appealed for witnesses after a shop worker was robbed of £4,000 in cash as she walked to the bank.
The 31-year-old woman was walking towards Wootton Bridge post office when her shop takings were grabbed by two men.
The woman was unhurt.
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Pupils at Trinity Middle school skipped lessons to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.
The students skipped in teams of six, non-stop for three hours and managed to raise £800 for the charity.
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Island football official Barrie Wade was confirmed as assistant referee for the 2000 FA Cup semi-final, between Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers.
The 32-year-old policeman, from Shanklin, said: "It’s my tenth season as an official, having started my career on the Island, before making my way through the leagues and on to the national list.
"It will be the biggest game of my life, at the mecca of English football," he added.