March 1913

Isle of Wight Observer:-

Mar 8th 1913: PRIZE CHOIR – The Portsmouth Wesleyan Central Hall P.S.A. Prize Choir attacted a very large attendance at the Garfield-road Wesleyan Church on Wednesday evening, when they rendered a sacred concert. This choir consisted of 60 preformers.

Mar 8th 1913: OLIVER TWIST – The eighth lecture of the course held under the auspices of the Ryde Y.M.C.A., at the Town Hall, on Tuesday evening, took the form of a dramatic recital of DICKENS “Oliver Twist,” delivered by Mr. Arthur HAYNES of Nottingham.

Mar 15th 1913: DISTRICT NURSING ASSN – There is a difficulty procuring nurses for district work, and the increasing expenses for their training is annually becoming greater. The committee of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Institute has decided that in future (commencing with the engagement of a new nurse) £4 per annum must be paid for each nurse employed. The employment of a Queen’s nurse will be a guarantee of her training and proficiency.

Mar 15th 1913: MILITANCY – Previously suffragette meetings were tolerated with good humour. Now, however, the militants are having a rough time of it at the hands of an outraged public, and their meetings—north, south, east and west, are being broken up.

Mar 15th 1913: FIRE – An alarm was received by telephone at the Fire Station that fire had occurred at Mr. RICKARD’s shop in High-street. The brigade under the Chief Constable GREENSTREET and Superintendent HAMMOND were soon on the scene. Boards were cut away from the hearth in an upper bedroom and large supporting beams below were charred through to such an extent as to necessitate replacement.

Mar 15th 1913: LICENSING – At the Ryde Borough Bench on Monday Messrs. H. C. and W. SWEETMAN were granted an occasional license for the Town Hall on the occasion of a National Reserve smoking concert on March 25th.

Mar 15th 1913: BOWLING CLUB – At the annual meeting of the Bowling Club Committee, Mr. COLENUTT said he had noticed that the greatest item in connection with the expenses was the entertaining and he thought they could cut expenses by getting up more competitions amongst themselves (hear, hear).

Mar 15th 1913: POPULATION DECLINE – Apparently Ryde does not share in the increase in population witnessed in other parts of the country. The Medical Officer of Health in his annual report estimates there has been a further decline in the population, a decrease in five years of 217. One reason being the decrease in births and the increase in deaths.

Mar 22nd 1913: TREE FELLING – Years ago the land surrounding Ryde was the most luxuriantly wooded area in the Island, but today, as one looks over the country from Rowlands Cross, he cannot but be struck by the bare and uninteresting appearance which this unrestricted tree destruction has given to the landscape. People used to come to Ryde for its beautiful surroundings, but these beauties are diminishing each year.

Mar 29th 1913: PROPERTY SALE – The Appley Towers have been purchased by a gentleman from the North of England. The present building will be altered and improved a great deal. The people are hoping he will have no objection to mend the sea wall, and thus take the public duty on his own shoulders.