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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October 1970

Isle of Wight County Press:

Oct 3rd 1970:  WOMAN IN WHITE – Seldom in their 24 years and 83 productions can the Ryde amateur company, the Bellevue Players, have given as much enjoyment to as many people as at the weekend.  Their three performances at the Esplanade Pavilion, ending on Saturday, of Constance COX’s play “The Woman in White” were an instant hit with the large audiences.  James WARMAN was well cast as the out-spoken family solicitor, and it was his hearty foil to the quivering FAIRLEE which relieved the sinister plot.

Oct 3rd 1970:  SEA CADET CORPS – The first annual Royal Naval inspection of the local unit in its new headquarters was carried out on Saturday by Commander LENTAIGNE, R.N.  After being piped aboard, he inspected the guard, then followed the ceremony of colours, and the assembled ship’s company were inspected.  Commander LENTAIGNE spoke to each of the 31 cadets present and also met some of the parents of the boys.

Oct 3rd 1970:  FASHION SHOW – St John Ambulance supporters presented a fashion show by Lady Katie, Union Street, and Margaret, High Street, at the Osborne Oasis ballroom on Thursday week, which raised £30 in aid of a local minibus for the elderly.

Oct 10th 1970:  UNFAIR – Alderman CAPLE rose in open council on Tuesday to say that it was a very sad occasion to have to admit that the rent that the two clubs, the Vectis Boating & Fishing Club and the Ryde Rowing Club, would have to pay British Rail was totally unacceptable.  He could not absolve British Rail from taking a lot of the blame because for many years they had been receiving rent from both clubs with no repairs whatsoever, with the result that the substructure deteriorated.  Now they turned round and told the clubs “Either pay this money or get out.”

Oct 17th 1970:  DEMOLISHED – The Almshouses in Newport Street, Ryde, built in 1854 in memory of Francis WILDER, may be demolished in the near future. Ryde Town Council, as reported last week, is negotiating with the trustees with a view to purchasing a substantial part of the land, so that eight dwellings for old people can be built.  The development is to be a joint venture between the council and trustees, who will keep four dwellings as almshouses.

Oct 24th 1970:  FIRE AT THE COMMODORE – The Fire Brigade answered a call on Thursday morning to the Commodore Bingo Club, Star Street, where the stage curtains had caught light.  The outbreak was quickly extinguished.

Oct 24th 1970:  CORONARY CARE UNIT – Mrs. S. R. BIRD, of the I.W. County Hospital Guild of Past Patients, writes that she can now say that the final £1000 for the coronary care unit will be available as promised, by Christmas, making a total of £3700 which the guild will have raised for this project.

Oct 24th 1970:  DECIMALISATION COURSE – The first of a series of decimalisation currency lectures was given in the Town Hall last week.  Staff from Fowler’s Fashion Shop, Hill’s of Ryde, Pack & Culliford and Jack’s Beauty Shop attended and completed their course on Tuesday afternoon.  The courses are being organised by the I.W. Technical College.

Oct 31st 1970:  HARD STANDING – Certain council tenants in the Winston Road area have “jumped the gun” over a proposal for the provision of hard standing for cars on council property, and have been preparing sites within their gardens.  They had gathered from newspaper reports that the council had approved the scheme.  The Council still had to find out the costs of the scheme, then they had to get loan sanction for the job and Ministry approval.  The Housing Officer stated that at this stage no other tenant should undertake work himself without obtaining approval from the council.

Oct 31st 1970:  RYDE CHURCH ARMY – Mr. Alastair MILLER, governor of Pentonville Prison and former governor of Parkhurst Prison, praised the prison work of Church Army officers when he addressed a meeting at the Church Army Holiday home at Thornbury, Spencer Road, Ryde, on Tuesday.  At his request Church Army officers had dealt with troubles between prisoners.  They did their work quietly, purposefully and with great meaning.  He paid tribute to the support given to him when governor of Parkhurst.