Isle of Wight Conservative landslide and more in days gone by

We've delved into the archives to find out what was happening in days gone by.

125 years ago, in November 1899:

Following the departure of the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade from its Parkhurst barracks, the St John Ambulance HQ in Newport received a letter asking the centre if it could provide help to the sick and wounded in the South African war. One suggestion was for a working party to make clothes to be used in the field hospitals.

The Royal Brewery Company hosted a dinner at the newly rebuilt hall attached to the Star Hotel, Newport. The hall had been wrecked by winds of almost hurricane strength earlier in the year and the principal officers of the Oddfellow and Forest friendly societies, who would use the new building, attended the dinner.

100 years ago, in November 1924:

Island Conservative candidate Capt Peter Drummond Macdonald was elected by a record majority of 5,402, as the party achieved victory throughout the country. The Conservatives won a sweeping victory by a margin not anticipated, even by the most optimistic supporter.

It was reported that rates on the IW were among the highest in the country. Although rates in 13 of 48 administrative counties were lower than the previous year, the Island's had gone up significantly, despite the fact that the lower education rate of 1s 2d (6p) was the lowest for any area.

75 years ago, in November 1949:

A Lancaster from Upwood, Hants and a Mosquito, from West Malling, Kent, collided about 10 miles south of Bembridge plunging, in flames, into the sea. Bembridge lifeboat took part in a five-hour search, but there was little hope of finding survivors among the nine crew from the aircraft.

Many aspects of youth work were discussed at the Further Education Centre, Castlehold Lane, Newport. Speaker Neville Goodridge discussed problems adolescents had in adjusting themselves to the different atmospheres of home, work and leisure activities.

The second body to be washed ashore in Sandown Bay within a fortnight was of an unknown naked man. He was believed to have been aged between 25 and 35 and the coroner ruled out any connection with two boys who had gone missing from a sailing boat which had set out from Hayling Island two months previously.

50 years ago, in November 1974:

A fire caused extensive damage to the Grand Hotel on the seafront at Sandown. The flames damaged over 40 per cent of the main hotel and the rest of the building was badly affected by smoke and heat.

A fire at J. Samuel White's waterside engineering works kept firefighters busy for nearly six hours. It started in a contractors' hut and quickly spread to a portable office.

Island ratepayers voted overwhelmingly against a suggestion that they should foot the bill through a special rate levy for a proposed Island indoor swimming pool. Three-quarters of the 2,064 who responded to a CP poll were against the idea.

Members of the Island Natural History and Archaeological Society discovered three new species of fungi, not previously recorded on the Island, in Great Combley Woods.