VIDEO AND PICTURES: As another year comes to an end we take a look back through the Island Echo archives and review the past 12 months in pictures.
The year has certainly flown by, so here is a reminder of the stories that made the headlines. You can also see our video highlights below.
January
Just days into 2015 the Island and its surrounding waters became the focus of the national and international news when the Hoegh Osaka vehicle transporter ran aground off Cowes.
Island Echo was the first news source in the world to report the incident, which saw crew members rescued by the Island’s RNLI lifeboats and the Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent.
As in the previous year, January saw a series of road traffic collisions with some wet and windy weather battering the Island.
February
The glam of Hollywood came to the sleepy village of Mottistone in February when A-Lister Benedict Cumberbatch tied the knot to Sophie Hunter. The couple wed at a ceremony at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, followed by a reception across the road at Mottistone Manor.
A party was held at The George in Yarmouth the night before which saw friends and family gather amid secrecy.
In Ryde, a fire claimed the life of 67-year-old Andrew Davis. Emergency services raced to the scene at Tredegar House in Wood Street. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus sets entered the building, forced entry into the flat and rescued Mr Davis, however sadly he succumbed to his injuries.
An inquest has since discovered that a portable heater set fire to furniture inside the property.
March
Hundreds of Islanders said farewell to respected firefighter Martin Poynter, who sadly passed away on 25th February.
Watch Manager Poynter – known as Pin – turned out from Newport Fire Station for the last time when he was carried through the streets of Newport on a turntable ladder appliance with full fire service honours. A guard of honour was formed by members of the emergency services stretching the length of South Street.
The procession, led by two Police outriders, travelled from the fire station in South Street to St Thomas’ Church for a public service, which was relayed outside the packed-out church.
A charity, The Martin Poynter Trust, has now been set up to raise money for the Stroke Association.
April
The Island’s coastguard teams and lifeboat crews were kept busy in April when a man in a dingy was rescued off Ryde Sands in rough seas. It came just two days after reports of two men on the sands at Appley, which turned out to be fisherman.
A little bit of the Isle of Wight Festival came to the River Medina back in April when celebrities took part in a charity dragon boat race at Island Harbour.
Meanwhile in Ryde, local residents were getting excited about the opening of the town’s first Poundland, the third on the Island.
There was an unexpected turn of events at a large straw fire on the outskirts of Chale when a calf was born on the farm whilst firefighters tackled the blaze.
May
Ryde was transformed into a street circuit for the Pearl Izumi cycle race series. Roads were resurfaced and barriers erected for the event, which will not returning to the Island in 2016 due to costs.
Andrew Turner MP was re-elected as the Island’s member of parliament having been challenged by the likes of Iain McKie and Vix Lowthion.
It was a busy month for the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service who were tasked to tackle a large garden fire which engulfed a shed and began to spread to the roof of a property in Ryde. A potential explosion was thwarted by firefighters in Sandown after a van caught fire at Marsh Close and crews also attended a boat fire in Bembridge.
Fears for a little boy were sparked when a car rolled onto him in Gunville. Thanks to the efforts of neighbours and the emergency services, Aston Williams was saved and managed to give Island Echo readers a big thumbs up from his hospital bed.
Sadly, one life was claimed in May when a motorcycle collided with a car on the Shanklin to Ventnor Road.
Red Funnel announced that Red Jet 6 was to be built in East Cowes.
June
June was a month of celebration for Sean Harrison of the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, who was awarded an MBE for his work with The Firefighter’s Charity.
The celebrations continued as Royals from across the world descended on Cowes for the Royal Yacht Squadron’s bicentenary, which saw a number of events take place both on and off the water.
Damage was caused to properties on Union Road in Ryde when a mattress was accidentally set on fire around the back of a block of flats, leading to flames spreading to the roof space of The New Carnival Company and Bate Brand, a web development agency.
Contrasting the celebrations of the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Solent claimed the life of Scott McKinlay following a collision between a RIB and a luxury motor cruiser.
Michael Davies, a pensioner on holiday from Wales, went missing from his hotel in Sandown.
July
Flames shot into the air following an arson attack on The Island Learning Centre in Lake, which totally destroyed the building. Fire crews were called to the scene during the early hours of the morning after the blaze broke out. Despite the best efforts of firefighters, the building became engulfed and was later demolished.
If you were lucky enough to get a ticket you would have had the chance to slip and slide down Union Street in Ryde when the first ever Ryde Slide event, powered by Bestival, came to the town. Children and adults of all ages were able to speed down the middle of the road whilst raising funds for local charities. The event will return in 2016.
After weeks of searching, the body of Michael Davies was sadly discovered in Sandown after local workman alerted Police. The cause of death has never been determined.
It was another busy month for the Island’s fire service with a large tyre blaze in Brighstone and a car hanging over the sea wall at Shanklin Esplanade. The incident happened not far from the Shanklin Cliff Lift, which was closed for an extended period due to concerns for the gangway after a routine Council inspection.
August
On the same day as the Shorham air disaster that claimed the lives of 11 people, the Island’s emergency services responded to a plane crash at Sandown Airport in which a French national was pulled from the wreckage. Members of the public were able to drag the pilot away from the light aircraft before it burst into flames.
On lookers feared the worst when a popular member of staff on the Cowes Chain Ferry was run over on the vessel, before being pinned against the ramp at the other end. Thankfully, Jonathan ‘Theo’ Lloyd survived the incident and is now back at home making a recovery. The driver, 85-year-old William Thomason, was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving and recently was jailed for 4 months, suspended for 1 year, and banned from driving for 2 years.
Over £2000 was raised by firefighters during their ‘I’m a Firefighter’ challenge held at Ryde Esplanade. Teams had a number of not-so-nice challenges to complete over a 24 hour period, including an eating challenge and a slippery game of tug of war.
A military exercise took place on the Isle of Wight with up to 180 reservist personnel from The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) taking pan Exercise Vambrace Horizon. Local residents were treated to a rare glimpse of the US Air Force V-22 Osprey plane, which flew over the Island before landing at Jersey Camp – the base for the exercise.
September
Bestival once again wowed the crowds with top acts including The Jacksons and Missy Elliot, as well as the likes of The Chuckle Brothers and the Island’s very own Mark King of Level 42.
A major joint exercise involving Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service was carried out at Osborne House in East Cowes, with several appliances and crews from the mainland heading over on the Red Funnel ferry to simulate responding to a major blaze at the historic property.
There were plenty of real incidents for local firefighters to respond to when a shed caught fire in Warwick Street, Ryde and on New Road in Brading. Crews were also called to a bedroom fire on Furrlongs, Pan.
The largest Co-Operative in the south of England opened in Freshwater.
October
Alan and Jane Slater were celebrating their double National Lottery win back in October after their dog discovered a second identical winning ticket in the car. The couple scooped £149,089.30, twice.
October saw a number of road traffic collisions on the Island’s roads including a motorcycle into a wall in Whitwell, a pedestrian collision outside St Mary’s Hospital and a motorcycle collision on The Downs. A drunk driver was involved in a collision with a pedestrian in Wellow, a Ford KA overturned at Yaverland and a VW Polo collided into wooden posts on the main Binstead road.
Dolphins off the Ventnor coast caused excitement for many when Island Echo published photos captured by Daisy Blake. A video also uploaded by Island Echo was been viewed over 100,000 times.
November
Travelodge opened their second hotel on the Island at Lind Hill in Ryde. The national chain welcomed invited guests to see the new hotel, which was officially opened by David Thornton of Visit Isle of Wight and Cllr Roi Milburn, Mayor of Ryde.
November was a sad month with the discovery of a body in East Cowes and a body in Freshwater.
Police were involved in the pursuit of a Vauxhall Corsa in Sandown, which was abandoned down a narrow lane near to Shanklin and Sandown Golf Club. Dog units and the National Police Air Service helicopter from Bournemouth found the occupants.
The Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team were called to St Helens when a local resident discovered what was thought to be a potentially live shell. It was deemed that the object was safe, however it was removed to be destroyed.
December
The Long Lane Christmas Lights once again provided entertainment for children and adults for the 15th year running, raising thousands for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. Poor weather didn’t help the fundraising efforts in comparison to 2014.
Islander Kim Murray headed off to Lake Placid in New York as she continued her training for the Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022. Kim will return to Lake Placid for her first race in March 2016.
A man was extricated from his car after colliding with the railway bridge at Rowborough Lane, Brading. The road was closed for several hours as Police waited for an update on the driver’s condition. He survived the head-on crash.
Scoot Ferries, who launched their cross-Solent service back in July, went bust in dramatic style leaving hundreds of passengers stranded on the mainland. 32 members of staff were made redundant just days before Christmas.
