The Little Book of the Isle of Wight

Everything You Always Wanted to Know?

April 1st saw the publication of The Little Book of the Isle of Wight by island author Jan Toms. The book, covering everything from Art to Spies aims to answer those assorted questions that might cross your mind.

Did you know that:

• With the £5 earned from composing his piece of music Salute d’Amour Edward Elgar paid for his honeymoon at Ventnor.

• In 1894 Queen Victoria was entertained at Osborne by Mr Alfred Loding and his boxing donkey.

• In East Enders, Dot Cotton has an Alum Bay glass ornament on her mantelpiece.

• There are 30 named bays and 21 chines around the Island’s coast.

• In 1842 Prince Albert’s favourite dog, Eos was shot by Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg. On hearing the news Leopold King of Belgium responded that it would have been better if he had shot a member of the family.

• Mr William Hosking of Ventnor made it his business to install one of his clocks at every railway station on the Isle of Wight.

• In 1782 William Matthews was before the court for stealing nectarines. When his father undertook to give him a good beating, he was let off with 7/6d costs.

These and hundreds of other snippets are designed to inform, entertain and sometimes cause laughter.

Jan will be signing copies of her book on Saturday 30th April from 10.30am