Memories of the summer of 1954

I along with my mother, father and younger brother Philip first visited the IOW in July 1954. I had just passed my 11+ exam and as a reward we were off to a holiday far removed from Skegness, Mablethorpe or Scarborough. A taxi ride (what a novelty for post war years) to Nottingham Midland Station to catch the 11.55 to London St Pancras. Couldn't sleep - too excited - plus being a train spotter - but can't see numbers in the dark. Transfer by taxi to London Waterloo to take the train to Portsmouth Harbour. Just getting light at 4.30 am. Electric trains ! - never seen them before. Long queue for the train but I don't care I can keep running up and down to view all 16 platforms and collect numbers.

At last we can board the train and enjoyed the journey as geography was my favourite subject and we passed through places I knew from maps - Wimbledon, Woking, Haslemere etc. Arrived at Portsmouth still early morning to board the ferry. A traditional paddle steamer the 'Ryde' which will take us to Ryde Pier Head. A boat with cafes and things aboard just for a 30 minute journey ! Off the ferry and almost straight on to the platform of Ryde Pier Head Station. The IOW railway is operated using delightful little tank engines (around 30) and all bearing the names of IOW towns & villages. The train is absolutely packed. No room for luggage- the racks above the seats are bulging. First stop Brading - only a few get off. Next Sandown - hundreds get off. Then Shanklin - loads more get off - then Wroxhall more get on than off and finally we emerge through a long tunnel at Ventnor a station built hundreds of feet above the town. Another taxi ride down zizag roads - but wait a minute this street is actually called Zigzag Road !

Soon arrive at the Marina Hotel on Marina Terrace (now flats). Nice hotel and we are here for a full fortnight. I fall in love with one of the guests a Sally Eade from Watford but unfortunately my love is unrequited. Anyway she was 13 whilst I was only just 11. The older woman ! The weather here is fantastic - 1954 was a very good summer even at home but here it seemed so much brighter, clearer - non of that smog we endured in the Midlands. Directly from the Hotel ran a narrow passage which brought you directly on to the front between two shops owned by the Blake family (still there but now a longshoreman's museum) and almost directly in front was a curious little tower that recorded weather patterns and temperatures etc. I checked it first thing every day. We walked - oh boy did we walk- from Ventnor across the downs to Wroxhall and across Boniface Down to Shanklin. We walked the Undercliff to Niton and beyond and sometimes barely saw another living soul. This place is another world to an impressionable teenager. Little coves we found - Steephill, Wheelers Bay etc. all with there own atmosphere. The fortnight passed almost instantly. The hotel was nice despite me somehow locking myself in the loo and Sally did warm to me eventually ! I shall carry the memories of this magical place for ever and maybe one day I shall return with hopefully my own children or who knows - grandchildren !

I hope this sentimental discourse will persuade you and your family to return to The Island and Ventnor one day.