Interesting Facts about Ryde
Here at I Love Ryde we are always looking for something different to write about Ryde, so we thought a list of unusual facts about Ryde might be an interesting undertaking. Hopefully we will be able to add to this on a regular basis.
- David Essex - acted in the film "That'll be the Day" which was filmed at Puckpool and the Bow Bars in Union Street, parts of Monkton Street, and the Ryde Youth Club.
- Ringo Starr - played a Fairground manager in the film "That'll be the Day" and acted along side David Essex.
- Sam Browne - the soldier after whom the belt was named, retired and lived the last years of his life in a house called Argosy on East Hill Road, Ryde.
- Philip Norman - the writer who attended Ryde School and has written about his childhood on the island.
- Karl Marx - visited Ryde for health reasons in the summer of 1874.
- Michael Sheard - the actor who played Mr Bronson in the Grange Hill TV series and appeared in Star Wars, lived in Ryde and died there in 2005.
- Raymond Allen - the TV writer who attended Ryde Secondary Modern School and wrote the BBC series Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.
- William Hutt MP, - the colonial administrator, was educated in Ryde.
- William Booth - the founder of the Salvation Army spent the first part of his honeymoon in Ryde.
- Mark King - the Level 42 musician, originally from Ventnor, opened a Wine Bar & Restaurant, Joe Daflos, in Union Street, Ryde in the 1980s, it was named after his children.
- Anthony Minghella - the Hollywood director was born in Ryde in 1954. His parents are well-known local residents, and own Minghella's ice cream factory in Wootton Bridge (about 2 miles away). At the time of his birth they ran a cafe in Ryde High Street.
- Albert Pollard - the historian was born in Ryde on 16 December 1869.
- John Lennon and Paul McCartney - the title of the song Ticket to Ride was inspired by a trip they took to Ryde in the 1960s supposedly visiting Paul’s cousin who worked in the Bow Bars public house in Union Street. Paul also mentions the Isle of Wight in the song "When I'm 64".
- M J Trow - the British military historian and detective fiction writer, who used to teach history and politics at Ryde High School.
- Keith Brading - Designer and manufacturer of the Frog Eye Sprite, a replica of the 1959 Austin Healey.
- Reginald Marsh - Film and TV Actor retired to Ryde, he was well known for his parts in 'The Good Life', The Persuaders and The Saint. His films include Mark of the Devil, Never Say Die, Shadow of Fear, The Sicilians, It Happened Here, Grandpa Called It Art, Sky Pictures, Jigsaw, The Day the Earth Caught Fire and Beserk.
- John Ackroyd - Project manager for Project Thrust, Thrust 2 and the budget-flying ARV Super2 light aircraft and the Virgin Pacific and Global balloons.
- Chris Bland - CEO of Hovertravel and manufacturer of Hovercraft on the island for local and worldwide use. Hovertravel operates the first and longest running Hovercraft service in the world.
- Queen Victoria and her daughter Princess Beatrice attended the 1888 Ryde Carnival.
- Ryde Carnival is the oldest carnival in England, and the first to be held on the Isle of Wight.
- The Prince Consort Buildings formerly the Royal Victoria Yacht Club was built c1845, as a yacht club for Queen Victoria as she was refused membership of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes. The name was changed when the Royal Victoria yacht club moved to their present location at Fishbourne.
- Robert (Bob) Roberts - The last commercial unpowered Thames Sailing Barge skipper and author.
- Micheal Horne - mould maker of the body parts for the Steam powered land speed record attempt, and former high speed workboat manufacturer.
- Peter and Virginia Bottomley - the famously tone deaf Conservative minister spent part of her childhood on the Island and owns a home in Seaview.
- David Icke - is a Ryde resident, famous for his years as a Pro footballer, and more recently as a writer and political/green activist on the world stage.
- Margaret Thatcher - stayed at The Pier Hotel in 1959 and after that she rented a house in Seaview.
- Vectis Hall Melville Street - was the first free school on the Isle of Wight and was commissioned by Countess Spencer, Great Grandmother of Princess Diana.
- Vera Lynn - This boat which now forms part of the landscaping features at the Ryde Boating Lake was made famous by its appearance in an episode of BBC's Dr. Who, where John Pertwee beached her at Seagrove Bay.
