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.
  • MENU

February 1966

Isle of Wight Times:-

Feb  3rd 1966:  RETIREMENT – After completing 47 years service at the Royal I.W. County Hospital, Mr. Gordon WHITTINGSTALL, of 275 Upton Road, Ryde, retired on Monday. Since 1936 Mr. WHITTINGSTALL had been a stoker, his other duties included ambulance driving, portering and assisting the nursing staff.

Feb 3rd 1966:  FOGGY CONDITIONS – The world’s first night passenger hovercraft service got under way in difficult conditions between Ryde and Southsea on Monday.  Hovertravel Ltd., who run the service have previously ceased winter services at 4 p.m., and the summer runs ended at dusk. A radar scanner mounted on the roof of the Royal Esplanade Hotel can plot a safe course “blind,” so they can operate later if there is sufficient demand.

Feb 3rd 1966:  INTERNATIONAL CAT – The cat that put the organ at Binstead Parish Church slightly out of tune recently, by walking across the pipe has received international recognition. Paragraphs (reported in the “I.W. Times” on Dec 23) have since appeared in many local and national newspapers. The cat’s reputation has stretched even further, recently appearing in a newspaper at Edmonton, Canada.

Feb 3rd 1966:  HIS CAR “LEAPT” AT HERS – As Mrs HARVEY of Whitefield House was driving in the upper High Street, passing a line of parked cars, one “leapt out” and crashed into the side of her vehicle. The Borough Magistrates fined the driver of the “leaping” car, £5 for careless driving.

Feb 3rd 1966:  PARISH MAG TERRIBLE – The Rector of Binstead Parish Church, the Rev. Clifford TARGETT, thinks the average parish magazine is “terrible.” To this end he has set about giving a “new look” to his monthly parish publication. The circulation averaged 260 copies monthly. Mr TARGETT hopes to boost its successor to 400, giving it a readership of 1,500.

Feb 3rd 1966:  FIREMAN – A former Ryde fireman, Mr. L. G. BALLARD, of 10 Swanmore Road, who retired at the end of last year after 27 years as a sub-officer, was presented with a wall clock and billiards cue case by the County Chief Fire Officer, Mr. R. J. ROOKE on behalf of the Ryde division.

Feb 10th 1966:  50 YEARS – At the Salvation Army Corps on Thursday, the worship took  the form of a service in recognition for a local Salvationist, Mrs. R. E. WARNE, of 10 Station Street, who on January 19 completed 50 years with the Salvation Army. Lieut.-Col READ, in making the presentation of a long service badge, referred to the faithful service which the emblem represented.

Feb 10th 1966:  ONE TRACK MIND – Whatever the future of Island railways, Ryde Corporation would be on the right lines to bear in mind a possible alternative use for part of the track, said Ald. Stanley BIRD. It might be possible to use the Ryde-Newport section as a relief road between the towns, he said, and it would be a pity to lose sight of this.

Feb 10th 1966:  COACH SERVICES – Isle of Wight coach operators have accused the hovercraft passenger service of aggravating the town’s traffic problem. They claim that since the service began, more and more motorists are leaving their vehicles in the Quay Road car park adjoining the terminal—frequently in spaces allotted for coaches.

Feb 10th 1966:  PURCHASE – Just under three acres of land at Marlborough Road, Ryde is being purchased at a cost of £2,100 for allotments, although part of the area will be let for grazing.

Feb 10th 1966:  PHOTOGRAPHS – Having just inspected photographs of the visit of H.M. the Queen and Prince Philip to the town on July 26, the council is having two framed for display in the council chamber.