The Wight as was

I picked up a copy of this delightful account of the Isle of Wight written based on the authors experiences in the 1950's and very early 1960's.

The reason I was so interested, was my Mum took me to the Isle of Wight in, I guess 1962 or 63.

I actually remember getting off the paddle wheel steamer at Ryde pier looking nervously down at the water, before getting aboard the local train which took us to Sandown, where we were staying. Exactly as the picture above. We had traveled down from London Waterloo on an express steam train, this  local one was so different, slow and stopped at lots of rural halts, as it was in the days before the Beecham closures.

Cowes week 1960's, actually not that much different, these days, certainly more crowds and a lot more lycra.  Still a few black tie outfits and blazers to be seen today, and plenty of folk in jeans and blue jerseys.

Totally disappeared, about the only hint of ship building on the Medina these days is the Hammerhead  crane in West Cowes.
 

Yarmouth harboour looking very familiar, if much less crowded that it is today.

Sailing off the needles, I'm guessing not a race as they are flying their ensign. Lovely boat.