Isle of Wight newspaper cuttings and photos from the 1920s

As the saying goes: “Times may change but human nature doesn’t.”

These County Press items from the 1920s illustrate the point. We start with a laugh from February, 1920.

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This Aerofilms photo from 1924 shows the Coppins Bridge area. In the upper left corner is Sea Street, the two railway viaducts are carrying the lines to Ryde and Sandown, and Snooks Hill runs across the bottom of the picture. (Image: IWCP/Brian Greening Collection)

“How many people work in your place, father?” “About half of them, my dear.”

There were even laughs in court. This report is from October 1920: ‘Robin Jacobs of Newport, was charged with cycling without a rear-light at Hunnyhill on the 10th inst. PC Butcher said he was caught and told he should have a rear-light. He replied “What for? I don’t ride backwards.” (laughter). Fined 10 shillings, or seven days.’

Under the July 1922 headline ‘Parkhurst Convicts Amused At Song Titles’, the County Press reported: ‘On Sunday afternoon the convicts at Parkhurst Prison were provided with another concert by a party of vocalists from Newport. On the announcement by the chaplain of two of the solos, “How lovely are Thy dwellings” and “Entreat me not to leave Thee” an audible titter ran round the audience.’

In February 1926 we read: ‘A hen belonging to Mr. George Martin at his yacht-yard in Medina-road, Cowes, has recently formed a habit of daily visiting the offices to lay an egg on his table. Having duly informed those in the office with a cackle of pride at its performance, the hen rejoins its feathered friends in the yard.’

In March 1927, 17 dog owners were summoned for failing to renew their dog licences…. ‘Frank Whittington, of Carisbrooke, told PC Homewood that his terrier had already had two fits, and he was waiting for it to have the third, when it would die (laughter). Fined 10s.’

There were more courtroom laughs later that month: ‘George Lee, gipsy, of Bartons-village was summoned for non-payment of arrears for the maintenance of his son, who is in a reformatory-school. Defendant was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment in 1925 for non-payment. Defendant said he would not pay anything and would never do. Ald. Millgate: What does the man do when he is out of prison? Superintendent Salter: I had better not say. Sentenced to a month’s imprisonment without hard labour.’

‘Chanticleer’s Fate’ was the headline to this September 1927 article: ‘William Wynn, of 15 Warwick-street, Ryde, pleaded guilty to “keeping a noisy animal, to wit a cockerel,” thereby causing a nuisance to his neighbours. Mrs. Florence Fuller, of 12 Warwick-street, said that on June 2, as on many occasions, she was awakened at 4.30am by the crowing of a cockerel in defendant’s backyard. The magistrates’ clerk: Will you abate the nuisance? Yes, sir. I will get rid of the cockerel. The chairman: The case will be adjourned for a week. If during that time the nuisance is abated you will hear nothing more about it. Defendant: Yes, sir, I’ll boil it for dinner tomorrow (laughter).’

Smoking was part of the culture as this March 1928 report illustrates: ‘Cigarette smokers will be interested in these facts about Players cigarette factory in Nottingham, the largest tobacco factory in the British Empire: 400 tons of silver paper are used every week. An automatic device weighs cigarettes to the hundredth part of an ounce. For 25 years the builders have never stopped building extensions to the works. Cigarettes are now packed in tens and 20s instead of sixes and 12s, because decimal counting is easier. Four customs officers are always on the premises at Nottingham.’

Now a sticky moment in July 1928: ‘A Vectis bus driver and his passengers were surprised to see a boy standing in the centre of Fairlee-road frantically waving his arms as the bus approached. The driver pulled up to find that the boy’s shoes were so firmly stuck in a patch of asphalt, melted by the hot sun, that he could not extricate himself, and he had to be assisted to safety.’

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In August 1929, news of the The Old Curiosity Shop in Cowes had reached London: ‘The London Evening News describes the curiosities of Mr. W. Cole, of High-street, including a four-legged robin found at Calbourne, a two-headed calf, a calf with six legs, a double-headed pig, a three-eyed kitten, and a one-eyed puppy.

Finally, from October 1929 comes this uplifting story: ‘Last summer Mr. George Fisher, a porter at the Esplanade Railway-station lost his terrier “Jack” as the result of a motor-car accident. Jack was well known to the thousands who use the station, for he was a well-trained animal with a penchant for collecting pennies. His master carried the luggage of the Westwing College girls and when the pupils there heard of his untimely end, their kindly hearts were touched. Mr. Fisher was presented with a dog’s collar, suitably inscribed, together with sufficient funds to procure a successor to Jack. The new arrival, a small terrier, has been christened ‘Wing’ as a compliment to his many godmothers.’ Aaah!