100 years ago

June 8, 1918

There was one name on the King's Birthday Honours list that was regarded with special pleasure by Islanders.

Sir Harry Thomas Hatt, ex-mayor of Bath and an esteemed Newport resident, was awarded a knighthood.

He was a member of the Newport Debating Society and a fond name within the town.

***

An extremely sad fatality occurred at Springvale Bay when a seven year old girl drowned.

Mildred W. Grant had been boarding at St Leonard's, Springvale, when she had gone into the sea on the other side of a diving board out of sight.

A number of residents went into the sea to try and find her but had no luck.

75 years ago

June 5, 1943

A young bus driver who joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve became a squadron leader just three years after joining.

The is the third promotion Mr R. H. G. Boosey, of Newport, who was formally a conductor with Southern Vectis, has received in his time with the force.

The official statement said: "Flight-Lt. Boosey has displayed courage and coolness of a very high order."

***

The Fire Service were called to a fire in Shalfleet church hall after two men, walking home from Newport in the early hours, spotted the blaze from two miles away.

It started in the kitchen, which was built on a wooden structure, then spread to the wooden rood and gained complete hold of the building.

A piano and most of the chairs were saved, but the hall was left unusable.

50 years ago

June 1, 1968

An Island nurse was extremely successful in her training at Chichester School of Nursing at the Royal West Sussex Hospital.

Not only did she receive her S.R.N. certificate, but was invited to attend the annual prize giving ceremony.

Here, she received the third year prize, the hospital theatre prize and the Morley prize for medicine.

***

The problem of providing an accurate definition of the Island's hovercraft was raised in the House of Commons for a second time.

Island MP Mark Woodnutt said he was concerned about the accuracy of the definition as it excluded the SRN6 hover used on the IW.

After discussing with experts, he put forward a definition from the British Hovercraft Corporation: "A hovercraft is an air cushion vehicle."

25 years ago

June 4, 1993

Residents of St Cross Court, off Crocker Street, Newport, spoke of their outrage after a 'mass execution' of their trees took place.

Medina Housing Association defended the decision to cut down around 30 trees and said: "They would have eventually killed each other."

However, one resident said he was furious that he hadn't been consulted or even told about the change.

***

Four crew members were airlifted to safety from the salvage barge, Weapon 4, after it was swept aground by gale-force winds off Ventnor.

The barge, which had been working on the removal of the seaward end of the Ventnor Pier, had two of its three anchor cables broken in the blasts before the coastguards were called.

None of the crew were harmed and were all lifted to safety successfully.

10 years ago

June 6, 2008

Islanders mourned the death of two former Shanklin hoteliers who were killed in a horrific freak accident in France.

The former owners of Roseglen Hotel died when their car's handbrake failed while they were helping their daughter move house.

Friends and family across the Island paid tribute to the beloved couple.

***

It was announced that freebie festival-goers would be allowed to line the Riverside Park during the IW Festival, despite concerns from the organisers.

John Giddings said: "We were reassured by the council that it would be closed. We're amazed as we believe there are serious health and safety issues."

IW Council Leader David Pugh said he believed the site should remain open with extra steps to ensure the safety and good order of people using it.

Picture story: A unique new composting facility that was expected to save thousands of tons in waste to landfill sites each year was opened at Wight Salads'. Sue Starke, right, and Jan Organ, of the IW Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, looked sheepish trying to spin yearn from the plastic flock made of recycled polycarbonate by Steve Gale, of East Cowes, left. 0608-L29847