Isle of Wight crew find message in bottle in days gone by

125 years ago, in November 1899:

Following the departure of the 1st Rifle Brigade from the pontoon at Cowes to the seat of war in the Transvaal, a bottle, which had been thrown overboard as the ships left, was picked up by two customs men. The message read: "To the inhabitants of the Island, The men of the battalion were very pleased with the manner in which they were respected and hope to return and shake hands with all our friends on the Island."

After the War Office intimated that a second contingent of St John Ambulance Brigade would be required for South Africa, four people from the Ventnor division volunteered their services. However, as the response from volunteers in other areas was so great, just one man, Mr G. Sanderson, from Ventnor Post Office, was chosen.

100 years ago, in November 1924:

A woman and her baby had a lucky escape from a motor accident on Clatterford Road. Mr A. E. King was driving his motor bus towards the village when Mrs Cheverton suddenly appeared in front of the vehicle. The baby was thrown from the pushchair onto the bank, and the mother was found lying in front of the bus when it stopped, but fortunately, neither suffered anything worse than bruising and shock.

A young woman suffered serious injuries when she was thrown off her horse at Barton's Corner, Binstead. Constance Loader was an experienced horsewoman and it was thought that the horse, on nearing its previous home at Binstead House, had bolted in its eagerness to return.

75 years ago, in November 1949:

An inquest was held into the death of Annie Sophia Abbot, who was found dead in her gas-filled home in Gordon Road, Cowes, by the milkman. Mrs Abbot, 82, had noticed that the taps on her gas stove were loose but did not feel it worthwhile to buy a new one at her age.

A guide with the 1st Binstead Troop became the first guide on the Island to become a queen's guide. Margaret Cooper, 16, who lived in Fishbourne, received all her training on the Island.

50 years ago, in November 1974:

Totland and West Wight bore the brunt of a downpour, which resulted in firemen being called to pump out premises and motorists being marooned. The heavy almost continuous rain caused a stream on the downs to burst its banks adding to flooding that was a foot deep in many arts of Totland.

Cowes Harbour Commissioners spacious new £25,000 offices and stores were officially opened by Sir John Nicholson, vice-lord lieutenant of the Island. Sir John said he had been sailing out of Cowes for more than 50 years and considered it his home port, and was thus pleased to carry out the ceremony.