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.
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November 1961

Isle of Wight Times & County Press

Nov 2nd 1961: MARCHERS – Teen-age “Ban the Bomb” marchers have been on the roads of the Isle of Wight this week. Three girls and nine boys from Sandown Grammar School on Tuesday morning left Ryde on the second leg of a two-day march to protest about the latest H-bomb explosion. They created attention, too, with “Ban the Bomb” slogans and a tiny gramophone whining out the appropriate strains of “I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire.”

Nov 2nd 1961: IMPRACTICABLE – A helicopter service to operate during the 1962 Island Industries Fair at Warner’s Puckpool and St. Clare camps could not be carried out at competitive prices. A member of the I.W. County Council said that he did not think such a service would come into being between the mainland and Island for many years.

Nov 2nd 1961: YOUTH CLUB WEEK – In connection with National Youth Club Week, Ryde Youth Centre held a dance on Monday when 250 members and guests, mostly teen-agers, were present. Music was provided by “The Invaders” and the “Medina City Jazz Band.”

Nov 16th 1961: HOLIDAY TRADE – At the monthly meeting Councillor Crighton MERRILL said: “It is incredible that any member of this council thinks that without the holiday trade we can exist—it is the life blood of the borough. Every inhabitant of this town has to realise that he must sacrifice personal convenience in the summer months so that he can live through the winter. We should thank God for living in such a lovely place. To say our amenities are poor is frightening.”

Nov 16th 1961: APPRENTICESHIP – Ryde Council’s “moral obligation” to employ young people as apprentices and help provide jobs for school-leavers was stressed by Cllr. George DORLEY-BROWN, chairman of the Public Works Committee. He was answering criticisms of his committee’s resolution to employ apprentices in the trades of carpenter, painter and decorator, mason and pavior and gardener, subject to certain conditions.

Nov 16th 1961: £50 TO SPEND – With £50 to spend on extra illuminations, should Ryde: Put the money in the bank; use it to add to sea-front lighting at Appley; or spend it on brightening the town centre. Opinions were divided when the Parks and Entertainments Committee reported their half-yearly statement.

Nov 16th 1961: TRAIN DELAYED – While “pop” music blared from a portable gramophone, a packed train was held up for 20 minutes at Ryde St. John’s Station on August 28 while a railways inspector tried unsuccessfully to persuade the owner to turn it down. Finally police had to be sent for after the owner had told the inspector; “I’ll knock your teeth down the back of your neck if you touch the gramophone!”

Nov 16th 1961: EXPERIMENT – An experiment in education being carried out at the Bishop Lovett Secondary Modern School was disclosed by the headmaster, Mr. V. P. EVANS, at the annual speech day at Ryde Town Hall on Thursday. The experiment is to replace references given to a pupil at the end of the pupil’s school career with a system of record cards.

Nov 23rd 1961: BUDGERIGAR SOCIETY – Because of decreasing numbers in their annual shows, the I.W. Society may have to consider including foreign birds in future exhibitions. The judge, Mr. E. COX, of Newport, gave special praise to a grey-green entry from Ryde, belonging to Messrs. F. COCKAYNE and K. SMITH, the show secretaries, which was awarded the best in show.

Nov 25th 1961: THEFT – During the weekend Haylands Sub-Post Office was broken into and £6.10s. was missed. The discovery was made on Monday morning by the sub-post mistress, Miss Irene SAUNDERS. Goods in the shop, including cartons of cigarettes, were untouched. (CP)