August 1974
Isle of Wight County Press:
Aug 3rd 1974: DIVE INTO POOL – A car ended up in Ryde Canoe lake children’s paddling pool on Tuesday afternoon. The car, driven by Mrs. Martine JACOBS of Sandown, was in collision on the canoe lake perimeter road with another driven by Mr. Howard BROWN, of Newport, and ran down the bank into the pool. Several policemen waded into the pool and pulled the car back on to the road. This action took place before a holiday crowd—one onlooker was so impressed he promptly donated 50p for police charities.
Aug 3rd 1974: LETTER TO THE EDITOR – I, am a war widow, cringe to think my husband gave his life for a country that is now being run by the trade-unions, instead of a true democracy. As for the vote-catching mini-budget and the increase in pensions, almost causing the small businessman to close down because of extra taxation and that £500 million borrowed from the Shah—let’s hope the workers now get on with it without strikes.
Aug 3rd 1974: BOTTLED HISTORY – A history of Ryde in bottles can be seen in a window display at the branch of the Hastings and Thanet Building Society. It represents the hobby of a Ryde resident, Mr. MURRAY, of Hill Street. About 50 stone jars and bottles on display are all from bottlers of beers, spirits and mineral waters. Oldest is a two-gallon stone jar of W. H. LAKE and Co., who traded at one time at 38 High Street, and bears the date 1887. The oldest glass bottle which Mr. MURRAY dates to the early 1900s, is one from A. J. DRANSFIELD, of the Redan, Union Street.
Aug 3rd 1974: HOTEL FIRE – A portable fish fryer overheated in the snack bar at the London Hotel, Swanmore Road, Ryde, on Saturday, and the fat caught fire. A member of the staff smothered the blaze, but owing to the intense heat Ryde fire brigade were called in.
Aug 10th 1974: RETIREMENT – Miss May STACEY retired from the domestic staff of Ryde School after 43 years’ service. Miss STACEY received presentations from the governors, staff and pupils. She now plans a long-awaited tour of Scotland later in the year.
Aug 10th 1974: YOUTH FETE – Star attraction of the Ryde Youth Club summer fete at the London Hotel Garden, Swanmore Road, Ryde, were the new majorette group, the Flamettes. The group attached to the Ryde United Reformed Church youth section, gave a colourful display during the afternoon. Over 300 people attended the event on Thursday week which was opened by Ryde Carnival Queen, Miss Ann TILTMAN.
Aug 17th 1974: HOTEL BLAZE – Damage estimated at more than £1000 was caused by a fire which broke out at the Royal Squadron Hotel, Union Street, Ryde, early on Monday morning. Firemen used breathing apparatus to fight the blaze—the second at the hotel in 12 months—in the kitchen at the rear of the building at 2 a.m. The hotel’s 19 guests were evacuated via the front staircase. Five appliances, three from Newport and two from Ryde, were used to fight the fire.
Aug 17th 1974: B.R. THINK AGAIN – As a solution to the vexed question of abolition of the Ryde Pier tramway, that two motor operated conveyor belts be fitted to take passengers up and down the pier, as installed on the Victoria line in London. A covered way also to be provided over the full length. Estimate costings were a million pounds. The suggestion was finally shelved by British Rail and the train service, so rightly criticised, substituted.
Aug 17th 1974: TERRIBLE STATE – How it angers and saddens to see the tatty condition of the trains and many of the stations. It really is a disgrace that an industry that belongs to the nation should be allowed to get away with the decay and dereliction which is now obtrusively evident. Surely the tourist-conscious local authorities could do something about these eyesores which confront the traveller.
Aug 31st 1974: ST JOHN AMBULANCE – Cups and certificates were handed over at a Brigade presentation on Friday week. The cup for the best Ryde division cadet in 1974 to Colin BEER.