100 years ago - December 21, 1918

An islander's horse was shot as it could no longer be fed.

The horse was discovered at stables by Ryde Borough Police inspector William John Hickmoth, where a gardener in charge of the animal claimed to be feeding it a handful of oats and bran per day.

The animal belonged to Miss Augusta Clifford of Spencer Road and should have been fed at least four times the amount it was getting.

The County Press reported that a veterinary surgeon found the horse starving, but Miss Clifford had no idea she was offending, and was fined five shillings for breaking food rationing rules.

Food control rules of the day meant the sale of grains to Miss Clifford's gardener were illegal.

75 years ago - December 11, 1948

St. John Ambulance Brigade held their annual competition in stretcher work for the Blake Challenge Shield at the Howitzer Drill Hall in Newport.

The venue was borrowed from the Home Guard's Major Damp who in command of the Newport Company.

Teams from Yarmouth, Ryde, Cowes and East Cowes took part, with the latter taking home the shield.

The competitors were congratulated on the effectiveness of their drills by the judge, Lieutenant P.L. Mollison of the RAMC.

50 years ago - December 21, 1968

The first two Britten-Norman 'Islander' aircraft left Bembridge Airport on their delivery flight to Singapore and Kota Kinabalu.

They were ordered for Malaysia Singapore Airlines to run operations and rural air services in East Malaysia.

The aircraft were handed over to Captain T.M. Robertson, operations manager for Borneo by Brian Partridge, sales manager for Britten-Norman.

The Islander aircraft were to begin scheduled flights connecting Kota Kinablu with the rural areas of Kudat, Samlakan, Semporna, Hanau, Keningau and Sepulot, as well as other locations that had few roads.

The Islanders would land in jungle strips and fly for up to 15,000 hours annually.

25 years ago - December 17, 1993

An ousted Tory councillor was named councillor of the year after she was thrown off the Conservative group at Medina Borough Council.

Mrs Barbara Foster voted against the ruling group on a sensitive planning issue and was rewarded with the councillor of the year title by environmental group, Islandwatch.

The Carisbrooke councillor voted against a controversial development off Rosemary Lane at Ryde.

Mr Ron Smith, chair of Islandwatch, praised Mrs Foster as a 'staunch supporter of conservation and environmental issues'.

Mrs Foster said: "I think this award has vindicated my actions over Rosemary Lane and I am grateful to the people who put me forward."

She received a book on tress as her prize.

10 years ago - December 19, 2008

'One of the most ingenious men who ever lived' was remembered by an Island society at the unveiling of a plaque in his honour at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Freshwater-born scientist Robert Hooke was remembered by a small party who travelled to London for the unveiling of a stone plaque in his honour.

Paul England, chairman of the Freshwater-based Robert Hooke Society, lead the trip that saw society members take part in a 60-strong procession to the churches crypt.

Sybil Kent, the society's treasurer and archivist said: "This is a fitting memorial for a brilliant man whose work and achievements were not fully recognised."

Dr Hooke was born in Freshwater in July, 1635 and became a well respected inventor, mechanic, astronomer, anatomist, geologist, meteorologist, microscopy expert, watchmaker, experimenter and architect.