Next Sunday (October 16) marks 35 years since the Great Storm of 1987 — and it’s a night many Isle of Wight residents will never forget, myself included.

Millions of pounds worth of damage was caused to homes and businesses as gales of 100mph ripped through the Isle of Wight.

Scroll through the gallery of pictures above to see some of the damage across the Isle of Wight...

Shanklin Pier was torn apart and the theatre sank to the seabed, while 13 Islanders were taken to hospital with shock and minor injuries.

In the early hours of Friday, October 16, 1987, County Hall in Newport was swamped with calls as people rang to ask for help with fallen trees and damaged buildings.

Isle of Wight County Press: Fallen trees blocked Queens Road, Shanklin, following the 1987 Great Storm. Photo: IWCP Archive.Fallen trees blocked Queens Road, Shanklin, following the 1987 Great Storm. Photo: IWCP Archive. (Image: IWCP Archive)

Weather reports the previous night mentioned wind but indicated heavy rain would be the main feature, not strong winds.

CLICK HERE to read what the Met Office has to say about the storm.

I was 12 at the time and my father was working in the middle of The Solent on a 40ft pilot boat, then owned by Trinity House.

Miraculously he was unscathed. But a house further along my road had roof damage; my middle school, Somerton at Cowes (now Lanesend Primary), lost its fishpond and fish to a fallen tree and my former primary school, Love Lane, had one of its mobile classrooms turned to matchsticks, such was the power of the wind.

WATCH: This short video with pictures of Shanklin Pier past and present

Across the UK, it was deemed the worst storm since 1703 and around 15 million trees were blown down.

Have you got memories of the 1987 storm?

I would love to hear them! Simply click on the submissions box below to send details and photos to me.