"The last time I was on the Island was probably 1947 or 1948. The war had ended three years ago and things were still pretty tight in many areas. I can't remember what was still rationed at the time. I know we'd gone through the bit about rationing potatoes and certainly things like bananas were still in short supply

Now, my memories tell me quite a few things about the Island at that time. First let's go to Ventnor. Is my memory failing or was there somewhere, probably on the Undercliff, a notice for motorists advising them to go up the hill in reverse gear? Perhaps this was only intended for the drivers of the lower powered cars of the late twenties and early thirties.

Then there's the Chain Home Low (CHL) - the early radar station on St. Boniface Down. Probably dismantled by now but I hope it's still remembered if only by a marker of some sort.

My early memories date back to family holidays at Southsea and glorious day trips. You could go from several places; Portsmouth Harbour Station, Clarence Pier or South Parade Pier but you always ended up at Ryde Pier Head station. I think you could go on to Cowes on some of the trips but we always went to Ryde. If you wanted to take a car you went from Southampton to Wootton. At Ryde there was usually a friendly Labrador collecting for the blind society (I think) with a collecting box on his back.

But for me, a typical small boy at the time (late 1930's) the aim of the trip was the journey itself. I don't know if today's kids get the same thrill. Sure, the Red Funnel fastcats or whatever are efficient people movers and quite reasonably priced but they ain't paddle steamers! So when we got on board there was no messing about on the upper deck. As soon as I set foot on board it was down below to where all the action was - in the engine room. In those days you could look straight in at the main engines (two, port and starboard completely independent of each other) and in fact had to step over the main shaft (in a tunnel) to go forward or aft. The magnificent examples of Victorian engineering had mysterious oilers which were pots of melted grease scattered around the engines and when they were working, equally mysterious bits of machinery would hit strips of leather hanging out of the bottom of the pots once per revolution. The con rods and cranks were truly massive and drove the paddles directly. All in all it was a small boy's heaven and even occasionally, if you were lucky, you would see the stoker when he emerged from his dark little coal dust smelling and hot hideaway.

There always seemed to be a crowd of steamers at Ryde jockeying for position and landing and picking up passenger loads as quickly as possible. And there was the electric tram running down to the Esplanade Station alongside the 'real' railway which was of course still steam in those days. Or you could walk the three-quarters of a mile along the pier if you wanted to.

Then there were the names of the steamers - Shanklin, Sandown & Ryde. They were the modern ones run by the Southern Railway I think, the Yellow Funnel Line. I can't remember if all the 'towns' were SR or only some of them but I do recall the slightly earlier generation of paddlers Ventnor, possibly another which escapes me, and most beautiful of all Whippingham. The last was a superb, fine lined Victorian. Two funnels, counter stern and elegant as anything. Built very early 1900's or possibly even earlier. Funnily enough, the only Red Funneler I can remember was their newest, the Gracie Fields and she was sunk during the war, minesweeping.

I remember coaching trips around the Island sightseeing and going to Alum Bay to collect coloured sands. I hope you're not allowed to do it anymore, it must have been eroding the coastline somewhat. And the postcards which told you all about the place. Very descriptive with bits like 'Ryde where you walk' and 'Freshwater which isn't' and of course 'Cowes which don't give milk'. Corny humour of the 1930's!

Finally don't let them dig a tunnel. You would lose your and if people want to get there the occasional bit of seasickness does no harm.