OUR exciting new Facebook group, We Grew Up on the Isle of Wight, has broken the 5,000 members milestone this week.

Launched at the end of October, the group has gone from strength to strength and has reunited people from across the globe, with many lovely comments from as far afield as New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

Scroll through our gallery of photos above to see this week's selection of pictures...

People who grew up here in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s have reconnected with old schoolfriends and neighbours via the group and it has been wonderful to see old pictures and read so many memories.

There have been fond memories of old nightclubs and favourite drinking spots, former schools, bygone carnivals and events, old hotels which are long gone, former cinemas, record stores, favourite bakeries and shops and so much more.

Isle of Wight County Press: British Hovercraft apprentices rugby team, circa 1970. Picture: Michael Lamb.

British Hovercraft apprentices rugby team, circa 1970. Picture: Michael Lamb.

This week, we loved Derek John Tomlinson's picture Garfield Road Methodist Youth taking part in Ryde Carnival, circa late 50s/early 60s (main image above).

Derek said he is on the far left dressed as a rat. The picture also includes Mr Hayden, Ian McMahon, Tina Tait, Ann Collingwood, Liz Overend, Barbara Reynolds, Mary Rollinson, Ian Murray, David Brading and Dave Hall.

Julie Taylor's picture of the Shanklin keep fit club in the early 1970s was also commented on and includes Julie's mum, Flo Brown, second right on the top row, and her nan, Kay Kettle, in the bottom left of the picture.

Isle of Wight County Press: Shanklin keep fit club in the early 1970s. Julie Taylor's mum, Flo Brown, and nan, Kay Kettle, are both in the picture. Picture: Julie Taylor.

The Shanklin keep fit club in the early 1970s. Picture: Julie Taylor.

Steve Powell shared a picture of the official opening of the 1st Shanklin Scout Hut by Lord Mountbatten in approximately 1974.

He said: "I remember a few names - the back row includes Dave Wiggins, Martin Townsend, me, Richard Hall and the boy in front with the flag had the surname Turnball.

"I had such fun, some of the younger boys went to Ryde private school and were a brilliant laugh as was my mate Kevin Mundy. Always remember the scout camps at Newtown creek, pug fights and war games."

Group members loved seeing Michael Lamb's pictures of the Convent of the Holy Cross Socceroos in 1960 and the British Hovercraft apprentices rugby team, circa 1970.

Michael said the picture of the Socceroos from East Cowes includes in the top row, left to right, Paul Regan, John Boyle and Michael. The middle row, left to right, is Kev Fagan, Peter Curry and Freddie Brenchley. The front row is thought to include Liam Kelly, Jimmy Green and Harry Gallagher, but Michael can't remember the other names.

Isle of Wight County Press: Lisa Newnham's picture of some of the IW Tech College teachers in 1969.

Lisa Newnham's picture of some of the IW Tech College teachers in 1969.

His British Hovercraft apprentices rugby team picture, circa 1970, is thought to include Pete Bedouine, Philip (Ped) Palmer, Frank Palin and Ron Shynne, among others.

Lisa Newnham posted a picture of some of the Isle of Wight Tech College staff in 1969. They included, left to right, Mr Peach, Miss Sewell, Mr Say, Mrs ? Brown, Miss Burrell, Mrs ? and Mr Gordon. The picture drew lots of comments and many group members remembered Laurie Say was a well-known Island singer.

June Sheehan also shared a lovely picture of the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers carnival float in the early 1960s, in which her sister was in the front row on the far left and June was sat behind her in the second row.