100 Years Ago - February 10, 1912
Two Cowes men were charged for playing football in the street, causing a nuisance to passing vehicles and pedestrians.
PC Randall said he saw the pair in Bellevue Road playing with a full-sized ball, rushing about the road and struggling in a heap on the pavement. The defendants claimed they were simply playing while they waited for a friend. The chairman of the bench took a lenient view and dismissed the men with a caution.
-------
Things were set to brighten up in Shanklin with the addition of 20 new street lights.
The lighting committee reported the candle lights were to be provided by the Electric Light Company and would include the Old Village, Regent Street, High Street and Wilton Park Road.
Despite claims North Road was one of the worst lit areas in the East Wight, the road wasn’t included in the plans.
-------
Two burglaries occurred at pub/restaurants in Newport and Northwood, just days apart.
A restaurant in Newport High Street had its door forced and £10 was stolen from the till, with eight bottles of gin and whisky, boxes of chocolates and cake. A couple of nights later, the Horseshoe Inn, Northwood, had its window smashed and intruders took a bottle of brandy, a quantity of tobacco and 15 shillings.
75 Years Ago - February 13, 1937
After a lapse of some years, boxing was revived at Ryde with a tournament at the Town Hall.
The chief contest between Frank Barton and Billy Pleace, with Barton claiming a victory in the second round by knockout.
The best contest of the night was Mr Jones, from Gurnard, and Mr Ventress, of Newport, which lasted for 12 rounds, with Jones winning on points. The ten bouts were watched by scores of people, who were delighted to see the sport back in the town.
-------
The Sandown to Shanklin cliff path had to be closed to the public following a huge cliff fall.
Enormous cracks appeared in the path by the front of the Overstrand property on the Shanklin side and a 15ft gap was left following the slip, which was caused by days of heavy rain. The area was expected to be cordoned off for some considerable time.
Hundreds of West Wight residents turned out for a meeting to discuss how to deal with a potential air bombing or mustard gas attack.
Medical officer of health Dr Wallace explained his suggestions, which included the appointment of a voluntary controller, the provision of first aid posts, casualty clearing stations and the storage of gas masks.
The chairman of the meeting said the West Wight was unlikely to be bombed, except perhaps by accident.
50 Years Ago
February 10, 1962
The Home office revealed an attempted escape from Parkhurst Prison by Britain’s two most notorious escapees was foiled.
Special security guards were drafted into the prison after one of the men stated he would escape. The plot was discovered when one of the men started bashing down his door with a pick axe after tying up a prison officer. The second man was found to be asleep but was hiding two civilian suits.
-------
Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners agreed plans to build a shelter on the quay for passengers using the British Railways ferries.
Commissioners had initially expressed strong doubts about the idea but after further consultations with the architect it was decided the shelter would be suitable and a welcome addition to the quay.
At a meeting of the IW Car Club, it was suggested by a member to sponsor an entry into the famous Monte Carlo Rally.
Mr Boynton said it would be a good thing for the club to do but would cost about £600, divided by the 120 members which would amount to £5 each. He said: "I think it’s well worth considering, in view of wonderful publicity it would bring the Island."
25 Years Ago - February 13, 1987
An Island girl who wrote to the Jim’ll Fix It television programme was delighted when she received an invitation to the studios.
Joanna Coghlan, from Lake, wrote to Jimmy Saville asking to be taught how to play the spoons. Her wish was granted and she received a Jim’ll Fix It badge by the TV legend.
-------
A giant German mine, which for more than 40 years posed an unrealised threat to shipping off the Island, was finally dealt with by the Royal Navy.
Trawling five miles south west of The Needles, the Poole fishing boat Ben Thomas accidentally winched up the cylindrical 9ft by 2ft mine in her nets. It was returned carefully to the seabed, before a bomb disposal team arrived and dealt with the bomb, which contained 1,500 lb of explosives.
-------
A 24-ton lorry, the biggest tipping vehicle owned by the county council, was severely damaged by fire.
The blaze was thought to have started when rainwater short-circuited electrical equipment. Fire crews used hoses and prevented the whole vehicle from going up in flames but the cab area was destroyed.
10 Years Ago - February 15, 2002
The cost of damage caused by landslides on the Island was said to be the highest per head of population than almost anywhere else in the world.
With an estimate putting the bill to the local economy at £2 million a year, only Japan fared worse than the IW on a world scale.
The shocking figure included stabilisation work, damage under roads to utility services, cost of landslides and remedial work.
-------
People were out in force at various events across the Island to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.
In Yarmouth, races and games were held for all ages, while 70 people took part in a pancake race in Ventnor.
Children in Whitwell also joined in the fun, while youngsters at The Riverside Centre, Newport, were taught how to make the perfect pancake.