The Isle of Wight County Press has been bringing Islanders the news since 1884. We've delved into our archives.

125 years ago, in August 1899:

The IW Railway was offering cheap return tickets to a number of the Island's top summer events including Ventnor Grand Carnival, Fireworks and Illuminations, plus Ryde, Bembridge, Sandown, Shanklin and Totland Bay regattas.

100 years ago, in August 1924:

Six years after the end of the First World War,  the County Press was still carrying in memoriam messages for those who had died. Those remembered in this issue included men killed in battles at Ypres and Gallipoli.

The ancient Newtown Randy - or fair - was successfully revived, on the suggestion of Laura, Lady Simeon. The randy, which had originated in about 1318, had been discontinued for more than half a century. 

The legendary, big racing cutters, Britannia, White Heather, Lulworth and Shamrock IV were among those in action during Ryde Week.

75 years ago, in August, 1949:

Cowes-based company Saunders-Roe gave up hope of finding the remains of a crashed flying-boat fighter sunk off Cowes. Incredibly the pilot Lt Cdr E.M. Brown, who was chief Royal Navy test pilot, was uninjured and was able to fly his own plane home from the Island the following morning. The single-seater jet flying boat, one of three of its kind, cost around £100,000 to build and was originally created to work during hostilities in the Pacific.

More than 500 children in fancy dress flocked to take part in the children's procession at the newly-revived Newport Carnival. Among the other entertainments included an evening firework display at Newport Football Club, a procession of around 50 vehicles and a swimming gala at the Municipal Swimming Pool at Seaclose, which attracted more than 800 entries.

For the first time, two Ryder Cup players played a match against each other at Ryde Golf Club. The two visiting players, Reggie Whitcombe and Percy Alliss, played a four-ball match with  J.I Tulloch, Ryde's club champion, and Gerald Newbury, the club player with the shortest handicap.

50 years ago, in August 1974:

Ten fishermen aboard 25ft fishing boat Lucky Strike used their lifejackets to plug a 4ft hole in her bows after she was damaged in a collision with a yacht off Bembridge Ledge. No-one was injured.

Plans were afoot for further development of library services on the Island. Among the plans were a new library at Orchard Street, Newport; a nautical museum at Cowes and a zoological museum at Sandown.