Memories of The Isle of Wight
I am always interested to hear from new visitors to my site please do not hesitate to contact me. People's distant memories are very special and sometimes unique and by sharing with others new contacts or friends may be found that were otherwise thought to be 'lost'. Many thanks in advance for any memories sent to me.
Email me at, isle-of-wightattractions@ntlworld.com
I am just off out for a stroll, Ethel. That was my grandfather. That was his hobby and from my time as a baby whenever we were on the Island [there is only one] I was part of it. If my mother wanted a break from childminding, I was loaded into the pram and away we would go.
My father was Harbour Master on the Isle of Wight at the seafaring town Cowes and I believe I was born there in a seaside tavern by the name of The Bolton Yacht?
My first visit was with my parents when I was very young in the early 1950`s. On the ferry from Portsmouth and train to Sandown where we stayed in a little caravan at Fort Caravan Site. The end window of the caravan had been broken and we were greeted by a cow from the adjoining field poking her head through that window.
I remained at RAF Ventnor for six idyllic months until Christmas when I was posted away to an icy Yorkshire. During my stay I came to love the Island and also met my future wife.
I vividly recall the occasion in 1965 when the Queen and Prince Philip visited Yarmouth. I remember seeing them come ashore in a launch from the Royal Yacht Britannica - and was later amused at the minor controversy when Prince Philip described the Ryde councillors' robes as " dressing gowns ".
I was brought up by my paternal grandmother in Sandown between 1923 and 1940 whilst my father was serving in Burma.
Fishing for tiddlers in the Mill Stream. The wonderful carnivals and the silver and brass bands and The Castle Cafe as a teenager and those Teddyboys!
I was sent to St. Catherine?s Home in 1961, aged 8 years of age. It was a boarding school and was also known as St. Catherine?s Open Air School. It certainly lived up to its name as an ?Open Air School? as fresh air seemed to be a key ingredient in the treatment of asthma
I still recall the evening walks to Binstead shore, the bonfires lit on chilly nights, the scent of seaweed and the prominence of winkles on the rocks just along the coast at Players. Then there was the walk up the hill near the golf course towards a well-earned rest on the bench by the huge tree at the top near the church
It was 1977 during the Queen's Silver Jubilee and I had come to the Island to work. I am from South Dakota, USA and had never experienced such a wonderful celebration in all of my life.
The IOW was the place we went to for our first holiday in the 50’s! We used to go to Freshwater, stayed in a B and B in The Avenue – even remember the name of the house “Lucerne” run by a Mr and Mrs Cook.
My parents used to take me to the IOW every year from when I was about 3 to 10 years old. I clearly remember sitting in a sack bag and coming down the slide on Shanklin pier.
My childhood up until the age of 8 was spent on two holidays a year staying at The Beach Hotel, Ventnor, room 23 with balcony overlooking the beach.
In 1949 I was courting a young 19 year old who's parents were not very pleased about our relationship and took her away for a holiday in 'The Cottage', Niton and forbade me to follow.
I had just passed my 11+ exam and as a reward we were off to a holiday far removed from Skegness, Mablethorpe or Scarborough
and his hunt for the whole story of what happened. "What a tragic event. Here was a young girl who only the day before was probably excitedly opening her Christmas presents and then, just a few hours later, lay dead in the waters of Bembridge."
My father was barman for a while at the Buddle Inn, and my grandmother did the cooking there; the food is still good, but these days you could die of starvation while waiting for it! One of my greatest delights when a child was to drink from the waterfall at the back, which tumbled out of the wall at thousands of gallons an hour.
Fishing for tiddlers in the Mill Stream. The wonderful carnivals and the silver and brass bands and The Castle Cafe as a teenager and those Teddyboys!
When we got back up to the top we found a place that sold fancy bottles and shapes that you can fill with the wonderful coloured sand. We just had to have one. We each bought one. Mine is the shape of the Island. I keep it on my desk to remind me of a fantastic day
