100 Years Ago - August 3, 1912
A LARGE crowd assembled to see the King of Spain arrive at Osborne Cottage.
A day after arriving in London, His Majesty was met at Southampton by the Princes Alexander and Leopold of Batternberg, who accompanied the young monarch to Cowes in the steam-yacht, Sheila.
During his stay, the King of Spain would join in with the racing and festivities at Cowes Week.
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The annual summer meeting of the Hampshire and IW branch of the Institute of Journalists was held.
Members from Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Winchester and the IW met at Sandown, while their lady friends enjoyed a drive to Yaverland and Brading.
Walter Findon was praised for his enthusiastic and skilful organisation of the event.
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An elderly man who was caught stealing wood and coal from Newport Railway Station broke away from a police officer and jumped 20ft into the river.
George Mundell was arrested at station yard and taken to the police station. However, he broke away and jumped over the rails of the bridge at the station approach into the river.
Another police officer climbed down the bank to get him out of the water, none the worse for wear.
75 Years Ago - August 7, 1937
A record number of passengers used Ryde Airport during July.
Air ferry services between Ryde and Portsmouth had to suspend bookings on occasions, as passenger numbers reached more than 1,000 a day.
Pilots and traffic staff were congratulated for their efforts.
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Two young women were picked up by a Red Funnel pleasure steamer after getting lost in fog in a canoe.
Despite being warned about the fog, the holiday-makers, who were staying in Carisbrooke, found themselves in a perilous position off Ventnor.
However, they were fortunate to have drifted into the path of the steamer, Bournemouth Queen, which picked them up and took them to Cowes.
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For the second successive year, Cowes Week was without the presence of royalty. The absence of the King and Queen meant the royal yacht, Victoria and Albert, was missing from its customary position.
The yacht racing also lacked the J class.
However, despite being deprived of its main attractions, Cowes Week was hailed a great success.
50 Years Ago - August 3, 1962
The first block of flats to be built in Newport designed specifically for elderly people was nearing completion in John Street.
The block comprised ten bed-sitting-room flats designed for a single occupant, plus two flats with a separate bedroom and living room, suitable for married couples.
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Two members of staff at Warners Holiday Camp, Puckpool, were stranded on a sandbank for more than three hours when a launch they had organised ran aground.
The men were heading back to the IW from Hayling Island, when they struck two sandbanks, before getting stuck on the third.
They had been expecting an expert to pilot them back but when he failed to turn up, they decided to make the journey alone.
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A 90lb skate, caught off The Needles, was given to residents at The Briars, Sandown, to enjoy.
The skate, a new Island record, was caught by Mr J. MacAuley, of the White Lion, Niton.
25 Years Ago - August 7, 1987
Vandals put lives at risk after tampering with the new £2 million-plus Yar Bridge.
A final check on the centre rotating section of the bridge, due to open in September, revealed 24 bolts securing the vital mechanism had been loosened.
Security was stepped up as CID officers mounted an investigation.
Speaking about the incident, deputy county surveyor, Mr C. D. Court, said he was amazed anyone would carry out such a mindless act.
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Sixty workers faced redundancy after it emerged Newport’s Army and Navy department store was to be sold to a mainland property company.
Staff were upset at the news and annoyed they had not been kept informed. The announcement also raised fears over the future of the site, which was situated in the heart of Newport’s conservation area.
However, Hardanger Properties said externally, the building would stay the same.
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The Royal Navy at Portsmouth was to carry out an investigation into allegations a warship caused havoc for young water sports enthusiasts in Sandown Bay.
Eye-witnesses said a series of waves, the highest above 5ft, capsized canoes and swept sailboards crashing broadside on to the shore at Wight Water Adventure Sports, Lake. The water sports school blamed the trouble on a frigate exercising in the bay.
10 Years Ago - August 2, 2002
Trinity House was planning to close its engineering base in East Cowes — ending a 160-year link with the town.
The blow meant more than 60 jobs were under threat and it came hard on the heels of the GKN Westland job losses earlier in the year.
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A fish threatened with extinction in British waters was standing in the way of an ambitious environmental scheme to improve the river through Newport.
An ugly concrete channeled stretch of the River Medina, home to dumped shopping trolleys and rusting bikes, would have to stay that way if shad were discovered there.
The Island 2000 Trust had spearheaded a drive to return the river to its natural state but said it would have to alter its scheme if shad were spawning there.
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Proud grandparents were celebrating a remarkable double family achievement.
Jack and Joan Lavender, of Newport, were celebrating after their grandson, footballer Rio Ferdinand, became the world’s most expensive defender by completing a £30 million move to Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Rio’s brother, Anton, signed professional forms with West Ham.