All the headlines from 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 100 and 110 years ago, including a proposal for a new floating bridge a century ago.
30 years ago (1993)
ISLE OF WIGHT MAN CONS HIS WAY INTO TOP HOSPITAL JOB
Roy Grimshaw – from the Isle of Wight – was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for bluffing his way into a management job at Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, London, by using a bogus CV.
The previous year he had been jailed for exactly the same offence: using a fake CV to secure a top job at Guy’s Hospital, also in London,
Had either hospital made proper background checks, they would have discovered Mr Grimshaw had already served a 6-year prison sentence for posing as a gynaecologist at a private clinic in Lytham St Annes.
Grimshaw – who had been placed in charge of a £7million budget – had been arrested following an expose in the News of the World.
40 years ago (1983)
2 ISLE OF WIGHT GREENHAM COMMON PEACEWOMEN TAKE US GOVERNMENT TO COURT
Isle of Wight residents Sue Bolton and Simone Wilkinson, both aged 38, took the United States government to court over their siting of cruise missiles in Britain.
Mother-of-4 Sue said: “It is like our final scream – things are so desperate now that we feel we must go to America to the place where cruise is coming from, to appeal with everything we have got to the American people.”
The injunction against the United States government was brought under international law forbidding the indiscriminate killing of civilians and the infliction of unnecessary suffering.
50 years ago (1973)
RYDE COUPLE HAVE LIFE SAVINGS STOLEN
A thief stole the £6,000 life savings of Reginald and Eileen Squibb as they were watching television.
The elderly couple had saved £4 a week for over 30 years and kept the money in a bedroom wardrobe above their cafe in Union Street.
60-year-old Mr Squibb said: “We have watched our savings grow week by week, We never got round to talking about putting the money in a bank,
60 years ago (1963)
COWES SPORTS KNOCKED OUT OF FA CUP
A crowd of nearly 3,000 packed into Westwood Park to watch Hampshire League Cowes take on Southern League Yeovil in the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.
The Island side were sadly beaten o-1. This was only the 2nd time Cowes had reached this stage of the competition, 1957-58 being the previous occasion.
Cowes goalkeeper Malcolm Smith – said to own the safest hands in the Hampshire League – was awarded the man-of-the-match accolade.
90 years ago (1933)
WIDOW AWARDED PENSION AFTER LOSS OF HEROIC HUSBAND
A widow was given a pension of 5 shillings (25p) after the loss of her husband Ephraim Pulley, who drowned off Ventnor attempting to rescue a nursemaid from drowning. Ephraim’s daughter received an allowance of 2 shillings and 6 pence (12 1/2p).
Ephraim Pulley had been butler to Admiral Lord Jellicoe, who lived in St Lawrence. In today’s money, his families pension came to £22.50.
100 years ago (1923)
PENSIONER STRUCK BY TRAIN AT SMALLBROOK
A verdict of accidental death was returned on 74-year-old William Thraves of Sandown, who had been struck on the head by an engine near Smallbrook Farm and found lying close to the railway tracks. It was said at the inquest that Mr Thraves was in the habit of taking long walks alone.
NEW FLOATING BRIDGE PROPOSAL
A railway under the Medina or an overhead bridge over the river were proposed at a meeting of Cowes and East Cowes Urban District council. It was claimed that as so many millions were being allocated for bridge and road building throughout the country, then would be the time to apply for a grant. This would provide work for a large number of men who were walking the streets.
The council were said to have reserves of £8,000 (£400,000 in today’s values) at its disposal. The Chairman requested the proposal be carefully considered by the Ferry Committee.
110 years ago (1913)
FORMER RYDE MAYOR LEAVES £23,000 IN WILL
Michael Maybrick – who was a famous song writer under the name ‘Stephen Adams’ and became Mayor of Ryde – left £23,012 to his wife (£2,310,489 in today’s values).
Maybrick is best known in recent times for being named as a prime Jack the Ripper suspect in a book by film director Bruce Robinson.
It’s thought that Maybrick Road in Binstead is named after him.
I do love these interesting stories.
There is a really good book named ‘ The trials of Island Life’ which you can get on wightbay or eBay , which has such interesting iow tales like these.
Had one for my birthday highly recommend
Thank you for letting me know, much appreciated.
And the floating bridge actually worked.