October 1962

Isle of Wight Times:-

Oct 4th 1962: SPEAKING CLOCK COMPETITION – First round of the competition for this district to find a new voice for the P.O. “speaking clock” was won at Ryde last week by Miss Jennifer Ann FRY, telephonist at the Bembridge exchange. She will now go forward to the second round to be held at the Telephone Manager’s Office, Southsea.

Oct 4th 1962: CRASHED INTO BACK OF CAR – A 79 year old taxi driver who crashed into the rear of a stationary car at Ryde Esplanade was fined £20 and ordered to pay £3.17s.2d. costs on Thursday by Ryde Borough Magistrates.

Oct 4th 1962: HOTELIER’S SON WED – Mr. Brian Kenneth KNIVETT, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. William KNIVETT, of the Terminus Hotel, St. John’s-road, Ryde, was married at St. Saviours on the Cliff Church, Shanklin. His bride was Miss Jennifer Helen HARCOURT.

Oct 4th 1962: FACTORY EXTENSION – Columbia Products Ltd., of Binstead, is to have its factory extended by 5,000 square feet at a cost of £10,694 by the County Council.

Oct 4th 1962: THE STRIKE – Despite the one-day token strike which put British Railways’ car and passenger ferries out of action yesterday, the Island got its mail on time—in fact earlier than usual. Island bus services ran non-stop and Island children who attended schools in the Portsmouth and Southampton areas were given the day off. Ryde Pier was strangely deserted.

Oct 4th 1962: CONVENT SCHOOL – A new £21,000 extension to the St. Therese Presentation Convent School, Ryde, built of Island stone and designed by Mr. K. E. SOUTER, of Ryde, was dedicated yesterday afternoon by the Coadjutor Bishop of Portsmouth, His Lordship the Rt. Rev. Thomas HOLLAND.

Oct 11th 1962: NIGHT SILENCER – Earlier in the year the corporation successfully defended a summons brought against them by people who wanted the Town Hall clock’s striking and chiming mechanism silenced during the night. Soon after that, however, the clock stopped chiming of its own accord and ever since it has been under repairs.

Oct 18th 1962: FANCIERS’ SHOW – The reputation of the Ryde Fanciers’ Association open pet show, held at the A.T.C. Hall, Newport-street, was considerably enhanced. Whilst the cavy and poultry sections were well up to average in numbers, there were substantial increases in the rabbit, pigeon and cage bird sections.

Oct 18th 1962: POSTMAN – The Imperial Service Medal was presented on Tuesday at the Ryde Head Post Office, Union-street, by head postmaster Mr. Patrick BUNNELL, to Mr. William John LATHAM, to mark his 31 years service as a postman.

Oct 25th 1962: GO-KART MEETING – Go-kart enthusiasts from many parts of the country, including the Channel Islands, gathered at the Ryde Airport track on Sunday when the first major kart meeting ever held in the Island was staged. 60 drivers from nine clubs competed.

Oct 25th 1962: BRAVE ACTION – Two doctors, one of them from Ryde, risked death while on holiday in Spain, to bring a body from the sea. Dr. Stewart DUNCAN, of the Esplanade, Ryde and Dr. Felix MCKNIGHT, from Ireland, together they brought a man ashore and applied artificial respiration but it was no good.