Island Echo takes a look back at the local headlines from 30, 50, 60, 70, 90, 100, 110 and 120 ago, including the Isle of Wight man who created a synthetic lugworm half-a-century ago.
1993 (30 years ago)
CHRISTMAS GIFTS DELIVERED TO NEEDLES LIGHTHOUSE FOR LAST TIME A 135-year tradition ended in December 1993 when Christmas gifts were delivered to the Needles Lighthouse keepers for the final time. The lighthouse was automated the following year.
1973 (50 years ago)
ISLE OF WIGHT MAN CREATES SYNTHETIC LUGWORM Isle of Wight fishing tackle retailer Gordon Allsop created a synthetic lugworm from Apothogel – a substance looking and feeling like plastic, but edible. For hungry fish, the imitation worm tasted and smelled like a real lugworm. 50 years ago, there was a world shortage of lugworms, which were fetching ever-higher prices in fish tackle shops. Allsop set up a factory churning out 72,000 make-believe worms a week. The fish tackle retailer saw a potential world market of at least 20 million synthetic lugworms.
1963 (60 years ago)
WORLD’S BIGGEST HOVERCRAFT COMPLETES TRIAL IN SOLENT The world’s biggest hovercraft – the 37 1/2 ton Westland SRN 3 – completed trials off Cowes. The SRN 3 had the capacity for 150 passengers and had been ordered by the Ministry of Aviation.
1953 (70 years ago)
ISLE OF WIGHT BOAT STRIKE THREATENS PORTSMOUTH’S MILK SUPPLY Portsmouth milk distributors were afraid a strike on British Railway boat services between Ryde and Portsmouth would cause a milk shortage in the city. Around 5,000 gallons of milk a day were sent across the Solent daily.
1933 (90 years ago)
INTENSE COLD DRIVES YOUNG MAN TO STEAL WARM CLOTHING A young married man, who pleaded that the intense cold had driven him to steal, was bound over for 2 years by Newport magistrates. 20-year-old groom George B Collop stole an overcoat and scarf, valued at £2 14s 6d (£170 in today’s values).
1923 (100 years ago)
LIFEBOAT WITH 6 DEAD BODIES FOUND ADRIFT OFF NEEDLES The steamer Innisholm – bound for Southampton – made a macabre discovery of 6 dead bodies in a boat adrift off the Needles. The boat was the lifeboat of the steamer Rosa, which was presumed sunk in heavy seas. When the Innisholm got alongside the lifeboat, it capsized. After righting itself, only 2 bodies remained on board. The lifeboat – containing the 2 corpses – was towed to Southampton, where an inquest was held. The deceased men were not identified. Nor was anything known of the Rosa’s fate.
1913 (110 years ago)
MOTOR AMBULANCE TO BE PROVIDED FOR ISLE OF WIGHT The County Hospital Committee were asked to consider a proposal for a motor ambulance for the Isle of Wight. Previously, a charge had been made for the men, horses and an accompanying nurse that came to 3 guineas (£3.15 – around £300 in today’s values). The new motor ambulance would be free of charge for those requiring its use in an emergency. However, it was hoped that those who could afford to do so would make a voluntary donation towards the cost of the service.
1903 (120 years ago)
200 SOLDIERS RIOT IN NEWPORT Around 200 soldiers from the 2nd Sherwood Foresters marched around the County Town between 16:00 and 24:00 in small gangs, singing, shouting and breaking windows. The men were all due to be deployed to Hong Kong. The Police were said to have had the greatest difficulty in getting the men out of the town, having to use their truncheons and call on the townspeople for help. Stones were thrown and blows struck by several of the soldiers. Newport Mayor Mr C Salter took the opportunity to thank Superintendent Ayres and the Police of the town for the excellent services they rendered to pacify the soldiers, who had placed a very great strain upon the small staff of Police.
