I'll share a couple of fond memories I have of the Isle of Wight. It was 1977 during the Queen's Silver Jubilee and I had come to the Island to work. I am from South Dakota, USA and had never experienced such a wonderful celebration in all of my life. I had employment with a wonderful family, the Fred Newnham family from the Atherfield Bay Holiday Camp. I spent the summer working with them in various functions and truly enjoyed every minute I spent in their employ. I had the opportunity to witness first hand the Ark Royal sail in review of Her Majesty's Royal Navy as I rode the ferry between Ryde and Southampton. Throughout my life, I have tried to explain to various people the spectacular event this was, and how much I felt inspired by the sight. It's near impossible to explain to anyone that didn't experience it first hand.

I arrived at the island approximately 23 June 1977, it was a wonderful sight to see the house on the hillside from across the Solent. After having traveled from South Dakota to Chicago, Iceland, Luxembourg, Calias, Dover, London, Southampton and then Ryde without taking any time out to rest, I was exhausted. When I rode the ferry for the last leg of my trip to the island, I wasn't as focused upon the sight as I would have been with the proper rest. No matter, it was great to finally arrive at the Isle of Wight and find a bed and breakfast to rest. I arrived at Atherfield Bay Holiday camp the following day and met Margaret Newnham and settled into my duties and responsibilities for the next several weeks. At first, I spent fewer days and hours working than Margaret probably would like have wanted me to, however during these first two weeks, I traveled to Bath, London, Bristol and other places all by train, bus or walking. Upon my arrival back at the Holiday camp, I soon learned that the sights, sounds and friendships made at the camp became personally greater than the sights of Stonehenge, Tower of London and other wonderful attractions. I met Barry Daniels at the camp and we became long lasting friends. To this day, I still regard Barry as a mate and share special events via cards and letters. We sang, laughed and toasted everyone from the custodians to the grounds keepers to Her Royal Majesty. There were many pints shared and memories made. Anyway, I could go on and on about how when I was young and "foolish" I left my home and traveled alone across Europe to see for myself the wonders of England. Now that I have a wife and children of my own, it would be grand to let them experience just a glimpse of what the Isle of Wight has to offer. Of course it will never be the same as the summer of 1977 when the Queen herself sailed through the Solent and reviewed her fleet. It was the same summer that Elvis Presley died here in the USA at Graceland in Memphis. How dreadful that was for so many people everywhere in the world, but that's a whole story by itself.