May 1919
Isle of Wight Observer:
May 3rd 1919: RECOVERY OF SUN RECORDER – A valuable glass sun recorder, which had been missing for over a week from the Eastern Esplanade gardens, has been recovered from a workman who found it discarded on the seashore where it had been presumably left by some children.
May 3rd 1919: THEATRE ROYAL – “Raffles,” created much interest at the Theatre this week, the picture being excellently shown. For Thursday and Friday “Nan of the Music Mountain,” a Western play with a love story of the most romantic interest will be presented.
May 3rd 1919: ROLLER SKATING – The winter season for roller skating in the Pier Pavilion, closed last Saturday after a successful season, and we notice that spring cleaning is underway for the summer concerts.
May 10th 1919: PAPERS BY AEROPLANE – The first arrival of morning newspapers by aeroplane, was witnessed by a considerable number of spectators about 8 am. yesterday. The machine was seen manoeuvring in the direction of the Pierhead but it was not found possible to land the parcel there, and a small boat picked it up at sea as it was released from the parachute.
May 10th 1919: SALE OF CASTLE STORES – a very large company assembled at the Castle on Thursday when the annexe and hospital stores were submitted to auction by Mr. J. B. PURNELL. The whole of the 500 lots were sold off within 4½ hours most of them at top prices.
May 10th 1919: COUPONS – An excellent suggestion was made that the old disused coupons which are piled up in one of the public offices, might be made into a bonfire at the Peace Celebrations. So far as the tradesmen are concerned, the coupon books would depart “unwept, unhonoured, and unsung.”
May 10th 1919: DAMAGED – The old stone arch at the east end of Binstead Church has been badly damaged by the tapping of a tree nearby. A favourite with the children in the shape of an old man carved in stone “that used to come down and walk round the churchyard when he heard the bell ring,” has entirely disappeared. According to BRIDDON’s handbook 1867 it is “a piece of crudely carved stone work representing a semi-human figure, supported by a ram’s head, over the church gateway. The figure as well as the doorway, formerly existed in the ancient church.”
May 17th 1919: MEDICAL OFFICER’S REPORT – The Isolation Hospital has been less constantly occupied. Six cases of diphtheria, seven of scarlatina, and one of enteric fever have been treated there and all recovered. A severe epidemic of influenza began in the latter part of September and lasted till end of November. The infant mortality has been higher than usual. Thirteen deaths of infants under one year, this is largely attributable to the influenza epidemic.
May 17th 1919: JUMBLE – There was another rush of bargain hunters at All Saints’ jumble sale at the Welby Institute on Thursday. One lady was provided with a special ticket, yet all she could secure were a pair of pyjamas, one for herself and the old man.
May 24th 1919: CONVERTED – The old Victoria Inn in Monkton street is being converted into a Silver Badge tea rooms. The premises are being thoroughly done up by Mr. WILLIAMS of the D.S.O. who states that the establishment (which will be opened next month with a flourish of trumpets) will be run by ex-servicemen, but will be open to the general public. The house has been closed for three years.
May 31st 1919: CHURCH – St Thomas’s Church, which will always be identified with the name of BRIGSTOCKE, is a quaint building with old fashioned pews, but it should be a favourite with visitors because of the excellent accommodation that it sets aside for them there. This cannot be said of some of the other churches where the claim to “our seat” is very much in evidence.