RYDE East councillor Michael Lilley has written a book for children about the Island’s rocket science past.

This comes with the launch of the Rocket Island project by the Wight Aviation Museum.

The British rocket Black Arrow was built at Saunders Roe and tested at The Needles.

The project, which is the brainchild of Cllr Lilley, is to tell the story of the Black Arrow in Island schools, thanks to a £9,900 National Lottery grant.

Cllr Lilley is a founder trustee of Wight Aviation Museum and recently published the children’s book, Papa Owl goes to Rocket Island.

The project involves volunteers from the Wight Aviation Museum working initially with Year 5 children in Dover Park School, Ryde, before the project rolls out Island-wide.