Local headlines from 50, 60, 70, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 years ago, including a Newport Mayor who amused Queen Victoria in November 1893…
50 years ago (1973)
FOG-BOUND FERRY FINALLY SAILS Around 400 weary passengers were forced to spend the night on board a cross-Solent ferry in Portsmouth harbour after thick fog had prevented them from making the crossing to Ryde. Normal services were resumed at 06:10 the following morning.
60 years ago (1963)
AIR SERVICE FROM LIVERPOOL TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT Manchester-based Mercury airlines announced a new service between Liverpool and the Isle of Wight woulf begin on 30th May the following year (1964). The service would be provided by 4-engined Heron aircraft, which would make a once-weekly flight to the Island every Saturday.
70 years ago (1953)
6 STROKES OF ‘CAT’ FOR PARKHURST PRISONER A Parkhurst prisoner was sentenced to 6 lashes from a ‘cat of nine tails’ for assaulting a Prison Officer with a shovel.
90 years ago (1933)
FRESHWATER NONAGENARIAN LEAVES 140 DESCENDANTS Mrs Ann Mitchell – who died in Freshwater aged 91 – was survived by 140 descendants. At the time of her death, 7 of her 13 children were still living, together with 49 grandchildren, 84 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.
100 years ago (1923)
JACK SEELY BECOMES LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT Major-General Jack Seely was adopted as Liberal and Free Trade candidate for the Isle of Wight at a well-attended meeting at Unity Hall in Newport. Seely had previously been elected as Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight in 1900 when on military service in South Africa. On that occasion, his election had come as a complete surprise. When told he had won, Seely asked for what constituency. When told the Isle of Wight, he then enquired: “As what?” It took 3 weeks for Seely to be informed he had been returned as a Conservative. His response was to ask: “Am I?”
110 years ago (1913)
BLAZING SHIP SAVED BY SUPER-DREADNOUGHT BATTLESHIP IRON DUKE OFF VENTNOR The Scotsdyke – a steel screw steamer of 2,622 tons – caught fire some 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight before being rescued by the super-Dreadnought battleship Iron Duke. The stricken vessel was carrying a cargo of esparto grass and pig iron together with 26 passengers. The Iron Duke arrived in the nick of time. 2 of the Scotsdyke lifeboats were destroyed by the blaze, with the remaining 2 boats unable to be launched due to the heavy seas. The situation for the passengers and crew had appeared hopeless – facing an unhappy choice between death by fire or drowning – when the searchlight of the Iron Duke appeared on the horizon. All on board escaped with their lives. The Bembridge lifeboat crew made a valiant attempt at rescue, rowing hard for 20 miles before being compelled to return home.
120 years ago (1903)
WROXALL PARISH COUNCIL ATTEMPTS TO BRING ELECTRICITY TO THE VILLAGE Wroxall Parish Council – who sought to supply electricity to the village – received a reply from the Isle of Wight Electric Company, who stated that it might be possible to take a cable through Ventnor railway tunnel.
130 years ago (1893)
NEWPORT MAYOR’S SPEECH AMUSES QUEEN VICTORIA Queen Victoria had her photograph taken at a gallery in Newport. As she was posing for the camera, the Mayor arrived with a bouquet, which he intended to present in a prepared speech. The Mayor was flustered and became stuck in his lines, causing Her Majesty to burst into laughter. At this point, the photographer captured the Queen’s image. The resulting photograph – with the usually solemn monarch’s face lighted with a smile – was said to have given an altogether different impression of the Queen to those who viewed the image.
jack Seely had previously been elected as Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight in 1900 he was a good man they say Bob seely is now our Conservative MP for the Isle of wight what can i say
I was on that ferry in 1973, all the passengers that disembarked at Portsmouth were well oiled from having to wait for a long time prior to docking in Portsmouth because of the thick fog.
Did the Queen like the photo? Or was she not amused by it?
Good to see they have been trying to get electricity to wroxall for the past 120 years. You’ll get it one day boys don’t worry