Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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WW1 CENTENARY EVENTS

Ryde Characters
Ryde Characters

We have been continuing with our WW1 Centenary Project.

In mid-October some of our WW1 cast of characters visited the Adelaide Club in Ryde. Kate as narrator, first introduced Mrs Fetherstonhaugh, who with her husband, the Major General, was at the forefront of the war effort (indeed at the forefront of most things) in Ryde at the end of 1914. Harry Baxter, recently sworn in by the Mayor as Honorary Special Constable, was also on hand to explain his many duties, not only to help keep law and order in the absence of so many young policemen who had enlisted but also to implement the new orders from the Southern Defences, such as extinguishing public lighting. Finally Mrs Eddis, wife of the vicar of Holy Trinity, told how the Day Schools and Sunday School were fund raising and making garments for Belgian refugees. She also mentioned how busy she was with the sad job of visiting the bereaved. The audience was very appreciative and there was quite a lot of discussion afterwards, as well as the most welcome tea!

Later in the month some members were also busy at Ryde Library encouraging people to contribute to our Garden of Remembrance by making poppies, each one representing one of Ryde’s 500 Fallen in the Great War. Quite a few children participated but unfortunately we had not remembered that children like to make things but also like to take them home. Petals and lolly sticks disappeared very quickly as each child made a poppy for the garden and a poppy to take home!