Isle of Wight news from previous decades for the week ending 23rd September some 30, 60, 70 and 90 years ago…
30 years ago (1993)
ISLE OF WIGHT PETTY OFFICER ABSCONDS WITH WREN FROM AIRCRAFT CARRIER INVINCIBLE
An Isle of Wight Petty Officer hit the headlines on 24th September 1993 when he went absent without leave from the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible with a Wren. Around £11,000 of the aircraft carrier’s cash was found to be missing when the pair absconded.
The lovers left the ship after being confined to the carrier when it docked in Corfu. Romances between Wrens and Naval Officers are strictly forbidden. However, the couple fell for each other soon after the ship had set sail from Plymouth.
The Wren – whose husband was a sergeant in the Parachute Regiment – stated at the time that the affair began 2 days after she had met the Petty Officer. Official warnings to the pair to cool off their relationship were said only to have brought them closer together. Before long, they decided they were in love.
The twice-married Petty Officer told reporters: “This would never have happened if there were no Wrens on ships.”
60 years ago (1963)
SCHOOLBOYS FOUND AT FOOT OF FRESHWATER CLIFFS
2 schoolboys were rescued from the foot of 400ft cliffs in Freshwater after a search by a lifeboat, rocket life-saving crew and police. Barry Rawlings of Totland and David Sheppard of Yarmouth – both aged 13 – had gone for a walk along the cliffs the previous night. However, a sea mist came down and the pair failed to return to their homes.
The boys were found on the ledge trapped at the foot of the cliffs. The lifeboat picked them up and landed them in Freshwater Bay. They were then taken home by the police, apparently none the worse for their ordeal.
ISLE OF WIGHT ROCKET CHIEF QUITS FOR UNITED STATES
Chief rocket development engineer Charles Tharratt from Cowes – the top man behind the Black Knight rocket, constructed on the Isle of Wight – resigned to move to the United States. His move was described by contemporary newspapers as an example of the “brain drain” – highly skilled and educated British citizens choosing to live and work overseas.
70 years ago (1953)
WOMAN ABSCONDS TO ISLE OF WIGHT LEAVING 3 CHILDREN ‘HOME ALONE’
A Worthing woman left her 3 children – aged 14, 12 and 9 – at home in Sussex to go on holiday with a male friend to the Isle of Wight in August of that year. She did not return the following month. The children – 2 boys and a girl – were placed in a Children’s Home.
Inspector S.H. Blake of the NSPCC visited the woman’s house to discover the children had hardly any clothing and that their shoes were without soles. At a hearing of Worthing Juvenile Court, the children were asked whether they were happy at the Children’s Home, to which all 3 replied: “Yes, Sir!”
PRISONER ESCAPES FROM CAMP HILL
26-year-old Frederick Walter Howard escaped from Camp Hill Prison by climbing over the wall in the engineers’ workyard. He was recaptured in Gurnard 4-and-a-half hours later and offered no resistance to those recapturing him.
90 years ago (1933)
CENTENARIAN CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY
Mrs Amelia Warne of Robin Hood Street, Newport celebrated her 100th birthday. She had been a widow for 23 years and had never ventured off the Isle of Wight. Altogether, she had 132 descendants, nearly all of whom lived on the Island.
When Mrs Warne was first courted by her farm labourer husband, he was earning 2d a day leading a team of oxen at the plough. When the pair got married, his wages rose to the princely sum of 9s (45p) a week.
The Mayor of Newport sent Mrs Warne a letter of congratulation.
DESTROYER AND MINESWEEPER SEARCH FOR MISSING SEAPLANE
A seaplane that had been catapulted from the German liner Bremen was reported lost off the south coast of the Isle of Wight. A wireless message was received from the plane stating that it had run out of petrol. The plane had been carrying mail from the United States to Europe. It was due to land in Southampton.
A naval destroyer and minesweeper were dispatched from Portsmouth to search for the missing seaplane. Fortunately, the seaplane was found by French fishermen, who towed the seaplane closer to shore. However, language difficulties prevented the German pilot from communicating with the French fishermen to find out exactly where he was.
The plane took to the air again after 24 hours at sea and eventually reached Southampton safely.
Really enjoy articles like this.
More please.
Oh what interesting stories…more please. Thanks
A very interesting read. Thank you, and please keep ’em coming!
Excellent articles. Keep up the good work!