THIS month, we go back to the 1960s with a second look at the oddities and quirky items that used to appear under the heading Island Notes.

In April 1965, the Beatles released their new single, Ticket to Ride.

Councillors at Ryde wondered if there was any publicity to be had from what they assumed was just a coincidence of wordplay.

The County Press reported: “The Beatles may unknowingly help to publicise Ryde as a holiday resort this summer with their latest record, Ticket to Ride, which is currently number one.

“At a meeting of Ryde Town Council on Tuesday, Mr R V Bourn said there was a first-class opportunity to use a play on the title in their national advertising.

Isle of Wight County Press: JS Whites shipyard at Cowes was a major employer on the Island. Here, passenger ferries Caesarea and Sarnia, built for use on the Weymouth to Channel Islands route, sit awaiting fitting out shortly after launching in 1960. JS Whites shipyard at Cowes was a major employer on the Island. Here, passenger ferries Caesarea and Sarnia, built for use on the Weymouth to Channel Islands route, sit awaiting fitting out shortly after launching in 1960. (Image: John Groves Collection/County Press.)

“One of his suggestions was: Why not take a ticket to Ryde this summer?

Well, had the councillors known it, the title was actually a very deliberate reference to Ryde.

McCartney’s cousin, Bett, and her husband Mike, happened to run Bow Bars on Union Street, Ryde, and he and Lennon had, in fact, bought several tickets to Ryde by that time, beginning in 1960.

As McCartney revealed in his book Many Years From Now, Lennon was taken with the punning potential of the phrase, leading him to use it as a title.

Islanders certainly had a healthy appetite in those days.

Isle of Wight County Press: This is Newport Station, part of the Cowes to Ryde railway line, looking towards Cowes from the footbridge linking the platforms. The line closed in 1966 and Medina Way was built on the site of the station. This is Newport Station, part of the Cowes to Ryde railway line, looking towards Cowes from the footbridge linking the platforms. The line closed in 1966 and Medina Way was built on the site of the station. (Image: Brian Greening Collection/County Press)

In July 1965, the County Press reported: “Visitors to the country fair at Shalfleet on Thursday disposed of two whole roasted sheep, 500 sausages, 500 rolls and 32 loaves of bread in two and a half hours!”

In July 1966, a little bit of the mainland came to Newport.

“On Monday, a set of traffic signals at St James's Square were switched on.

“These lights, and another set which came into operation at the same time in South Street, Newport, are the first road junction traffic lights to be installed on the Island.

“The only others of a similar nature are the signals controlling single-line traffic over the road bridge at Yarmouth – installed some 30 years ago.”

In September 1966, Benjie, a budgerigar, made County Press headlines.

“Benjie the budgerigar, a prolific talker, and pet of Miss Pam Triscott of Seaview, escaped last week.

“Nothing further was heard until the Chale police constable advised his owner that he had been picked up at Chale somewhat exhausted and hungry after a flight of about 15 miles.”

In September 1967, colour television arrived.

A chance to see it at an open day at the BBC’s Rowridge transmitter attracted a huge number of visitors.

“A two-mile queue of cars stretched from the road to the transmitter at Rowridge to the top of Carisbrooke when an open day was held at the station on Saturday.

“More than 9,000 visitors, in 3,000 cars, came to view the facilities and, particularly, colour television.

“Many waited an hour in their cars and queued for another half an hour to enter the buildings.”

In April 1968, Tim Medland, 11, of Noke Farm at Parkhurst, had a shock when he picked up what he thought was a grass snake.

“Grass Snake was an Adder” read the County Press headline.

“Tim will not touch a grass snake in a hurry again. For the one he tried to catch in Parkhurst Forest on Sunday afternoon turned and bit his thumb.

“It was then he realised it was an adder. He obtained a lift to St Mary’s Hospital where he received seven injections to combat the venom.

“Tim leaves hospital tomorrow after a week under observation.”

A twelve-week gun amnesty in May 1968 produced some surprising results.

“A bizarre assortment of 61 guns and about 1,000 rounds of rifle and revolver bullets represents the Island response to a three-month firearms amnesty which ended on Tuesday.

Police Inspector Hoar showed the County Press the weapons.

They include 22 shotguns, 14 rifles, nine revolvers, seven pistols, and three airguns.

“The most interesting weapon was a rifle made by J. Stevens, stamped: Cherokee Falls, April, 1794.”

In June, 1969 it was ‘last orders’ for a Newport pub: “Patrons of Mew’s ‘Prince Regent’ public house in High Street, Newport, had their final drink there last Friday.

“The house is to be demolished in connection with the Coppins Bridge roundabout development.

“It was a sad occasion for the licensees Mr and Mrs Lawrence. They are moving to the Plough Inn, Nodehill, and accompanying them will be their parrot, Bobby, who sits outside his cage and is an avid television viewer."

Four months later, the brewing of beer at Newport also came to an end.

No more would Mew’s Ale be a part of Island life, and no more would the townspeople of Newport wake up to the heady, promising smell of yeast and hops in the air on brewing days.

“Mews, which has been in existence for more than 300 years, bowed to the needs of economy on Tuesday, when the Royal Brewery, Crocker Street, Newport, produced the last ever batch of beer.

“Mr Robson, of Mews, said that the 23 women and 14 men who have lost their jobs would receive redundancy payments.

“The company will still employ 90 at the brewery.”

And on that note, cheers.