April 1972
Isle of Wight County Press:
Apr 1st 1972: SLIP LEASE REFUSAL – Ryde Town Council on Tuesday, ended, temporarily, the bid by British Rail Seaspeed to open a hoverport at Ryde next to the terminal of Hovertravel Ltd. At present Seaspeed operate from Ryde pier head to Portsmouth harbour.
Apr 8th 1972: FORMER BOROUGH POLICE FORCE MEMBER – Writing from Christchurch, Mr. A. T. HAYES recalled the absorption of the old Ryde Borough Police into the county force. He writes “I am wondering if there are any others who served in the borough force. I joined the Ryde force in 1910 and retired in 1936 on pension – I shall be 88 years young on Sunday. When I joined, my wages were £1.3s.7½d a week, the 7½d. was boot allowance. I married in 1911 and my wages were £1.5s., my rent was 6s. a week, leaving 19s. a week to live on. — Some difference today.”
Apr 8th 1972: RESCUED FROM SEA – Three 18-year-old players from the Reigate, Surrey, Rugby Club, on an Easter tour of the Island, were returning to Seahaven Hotel, 36 St. Thomas’s Street, at about 12.30 a.m. on Saturday when they heard shouts for help coming from the sea, just west of the pier. They jumped over the sea wall and brought ashore a young man, who was by then unconscious. He was given first aid and taken to the Royal I.W. County Hospital, where he was treated for exposure but not detained.
Apr 8th 1972: BELLEVUE PLAYERS’ – For their 90th production since 1946, Bellevue Players, chose Falkland L. CARY’s comedy-thriller “Candied Peel” as Easter holiday entertainment at the Esplanade Pavilion on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. With a large audience in the comfortable warm theatre, on the opening night, the Players, skilfully directed by Millie LACEY, made the most of the twists and turns of the nevertheless largely predictable plot.
Apr 8th 1972: RESCUE CRAFT – Carnival 71, a mini-inshore rescue craft, was launched on Ryde Canoe Lake on Wednesday week. The £320 launch was handed over to Ryde Lifeguard Corps by Alderman J. LANGDON, mayor of Ryde and president of Ryde Carnival Association. The boat was purchased by the profits of last year’s carnival. Two of the lifeguard cadet members took it on a demonstration run around the lake. After the ceremony about 80 guests attended a buffet supper at Dene House Hotel.
Apr 8th 1972: CHARITY GIFT PUZZLE – Ryde police are appealing for an anonymous donor to come forward to confirm that a package of comparatively valuable articles left in the doorway of the St. John Ambulance shop at Cross Street is in fact a bona fide gift to the brigade. Items include a brass kettle stand, the figure of a horse, electric hair clippers, three silver rings, two nine carat gold containers, and others.
Apr 8th 1972: RADIO STATIONS – The Post Office are considering a plan to use their coastal radio stations for urgent personal messages to yachts and small craft. Any vessel carrying a small receiver would be able to pick up messages, which would be sent out at regular times and at first would be restricted to emergencies.
Apr 15th 1972: YACHT RUNS AGROUND – Ryde Inshore Rescue launch seaspray brought ashore two teenage girls among a crew of six aboard the sailing yacht Clonque, which ran aground on Ryde sands, about a mile and a half from the beach on Tuesday afternoon. The Clonque, of five to six tons, was hired from Chichester by a sailing teacher, and was sailing westwards through Spithead when the incident occurred.
Apr 22nd 1972: BUCCANEERS’ TRIBUTE – The Buccaneers, in costume, “invaded” the Osborne Oasis on Tuesday evening to add their tributes to the retiring proprietress, Miss Jose WELLSPRING, who had assisted their efforts greatly throughout the years. On behalf of his crew Mr. Barry ROWE (captain), presented Miss WELLSPRING with a specially engraved pewter pint tankard as a token of the Buccaneer’s appreciation and esteem.