November 1974
Isle of Wight County Press:
Nov 2nd 1974: PRESERVING CHARACTER – Main concern of members of Ryde branch of the IW Society at their monthly meeting was the future of Franfer House in St. Thomas’s Street, Ryde. It was felt by all attending that the building of multistorey blocks of modern flats must continue to be firmly opposed if the character of Ryde’s shoreline was to be preserved.
Nov 2nd 1974: PROJECT – Members of Ryde and District Round Table, Ryde Youth Club and the Friends of Ryde Youth Club met to celebrate the conclusion of a joint project to provide a new minibus for Ryde Youth Club. For their part, members of the youth club have been working for many months trying to raise the sum needed by running sponsored events, sales and dances. They raised nearly £900.
Nov 2nd 1974: FAREWELL GIFTS – 2 senior members of the Isle of Wight pilotage service, who are retiring, received farewell gifts from Trinity House colleagues. Captain Bruce BELL, senior pilot, who made the presentations, said at the time of the Normandy invasion there were 53 inward pilots. A pilot office was established at Ryde, and Mrs. SALISBURY was the first volunteer worker. In addition, they used Seaview pier.
Nov 2nd 1974: COUNTRY FOLK – Post buses carrying passengers as well as mail are making an important contribution to local life in rural areas with no bus or rail services. The idea developed from a recommendation in the 1961 report of the Committee on Rural Bus Services, that the Post Office should consider allowing fare-paying passengers to travel in its vans where there was no reasonable alternative transport.
Nov 9th 1974: FLUORIDE ISSUE – The Island area dental officer writes “Fluoridation of the water supply is infinitely cheaper and over twice as effective as the other methods. It is an ideal public health measure because it requires neither dental manpower nor the co-operation of the family. The present dental manpower on the Island is such that there is no hope at all of meeting the dental needs of the population.”
Nov 9th 1974: CHURCH RESTORATION – Work has started in restoring Ryde Parish Church, the Island’s largest church. At present the roof is being made watertight, and the initial work is expected to take about six months. The remaining work will be phased as the money becomes available.
Nov 9th 1974: SCHOOL’S FIREWORKS – Ryde St. John’s Primary School’s sixth annual Guy Fawkes Night bonfire and fireworks at Appley Beach proved the most successful yet. Pupils, parents and staff were joined by spectators from as far afield as Wootton, and the number of guys, exactly 40, was a record.
Nov 9th 1974: ‘PINTA’ – A recent survey of the Island showed that some café owners were selling glasses of milk at up to 27½p per pint, and the amount of milk served varied considerably. Mr. G. HOLDEN, county trading standards officer, requested that the committee consider whether some sort of quantity control should be exercised over the sale of milk for consumption on the premises of the seller, as in the case of beer.
Nov 16th 1974: SEA RESCUE – Passengers aboard two cross-Solent ferries watched a dramatic rescue off Ryde pier on Saturday, when two men from the Ryde area were winched aboard a helicopter after their small dinghy overturned. Mr. Michael MANSELL, aged 36, of Woodstock, Quarr Hill, and Mr. Anthony SALMON, 38, of Pellhurst Road, Ryde, were spotted in the sea by the crew of the Portsmouth-Fishbourne car ferry Cardmon. They were taken to Haslar Royal Naval Hospital suffering from exposure
Nov 16th 1974: BEACH RIDER TRAPPED – After a riding accident on Tuesday a Binstead woman was trapped beneath her injured horse on the beach at Appley sands nearly a quarter-of-a-mile from the shore. The plight of 35-year-old Mrs Joyce HOWARD, of Pittsview, Binstead Hill, who was unconscious, was spotted by a passer-by who telephoned the police. Mrs HOWARD was quickly freed and taken to the Royal IW County Hospital, Ryde. She recovered conscious on Wednesday and was discharged after treatment.